High school sweethearts tied the knot in 1946 but had no photos to reminisce about their special day. Things changed when granddaughter engaged a professional photoshoot for the couple, whose love remained strong, even after 70 long years.
Margaret Romarie wed her high school sweetheart, Ferris Romaire, now 90, on November 24, 1946, in Morgan City, Louisiana.
They tied the knot in a ceremony which lasted just 15 mins. The reception at the bride’s parent’s home was so simple that the couple had no photos to remember that special day.
“I’m sure people had cameras then but evidently nobody thought to bring a camera to our wedding,” recalled Margaret, 89.
“We didn’t have weddings then like people do today,” she said.
Down-to-earth and contented, the couple kept things simple. They lived in the same home they built 65 years ago, cherish each other’s presence and passed on their love and faith to their 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Last year, granddaughter Amanda Kleckley, 34, decided to give her ‘forever in love’ grandparents the “photos of their love they never had.”
“I wanted them to have something they could look at and be reminded of how special their marriage is,” she told ABC news.
“In this digital age, I feel like those of us in the ‘younger’ generation take documenting every moment of our lives for granted, I wanted my grandparents to have the gift of beautiful pictures, showcasing their love for each other, even if it was 70 years later.”
The Romaires were visibly excited and smiling from ear to ear.
To re-enact their wedding, Margaret wore a lavender gown and a veil. Ferris donned on a fitting tuxedo he found in his closet.
At dawn on their 70th wedding anniversary, the pair excitedly posed for the photographer, sipped champagne and melted into each other’s arms as they took the wedding photos they never got to take.
“You can see the love between them in the way they interacted with each other and laughed together as we would go from the different poses,” photographer Lara told The Huffington Post.
“She was just so pleasant and made us feel at ease, but we felt foolish, being 89 and 90 and playing dress-up like this,” Margaret said, laughing.
“I wanted my grandparents to have the gift of beautiful pictures, showcasing their love for each other, even if it was 70 years later,” said Kleckley, who proceeded to make a photo book for them to show their friends.
She credits their long, happy marriage to them both “always smiling and laughing” and staying active.
“They are a beautiful example of what marriage is meant to be.”
All photos in this story are credited to Lara Carter Photgraphy.
