Before and After
Long ago, my family lived in Wisconsin. One of my parents’ good friends was a professional photographer and in his studio, he had a photograph of a couple and their two young boys in formal attire out in a field with a full dining table. My parents thought this was spectacular and talked for years about recreating it.
Then, in 1998, my grandparents, who also lived in Wisconsin, announced that they were moving away and my parents decided that if they were going to do this picture, now was the time. And so, on our last visit to my grandparents’ Wisconsin home, we took this photograph:
Because of rain, we ended up taking this picture at around six a.m. The ground was incredibly muddy and it was freezing cold outside. A very large copy of this picture has hung in my parents’ dining room for the last twelve years.
Soon after this picture was taken, my dad mentioned how fun it would be to recreate the picture ten years down the road, with us all grown up. Possibly, there would even be some spouses and grandbabies.
2008 came and went.
But then this past fall, everyone was going to be together in Austin for Ella’s baby blessing. And it was determined that this would be the moment the photo was recreated.
The amount of effort that went in to making this happen was insane. Ralphie (who took the new rendition of the photograph) spent tons of time scoping out a spot. My grannie mailed the dishes that we’d used from her house for the 1998 photo to my apartment in Texas. Another friend lent us the chairs, tablecloth and goblets. We rented tuxedos, borrowed the table from the church, and ordered the flowers and the cake.
Once again, we took the photo early in the morning. We had a procession of two mini-vans and a car. This time it was blazing hot. When we opened the cake box, all the frosting had melted and Merrick had to use baby wipes to get the strawberries looking decent again.
The husbands kept the wee babies in the air-conditioned car, dashing out every time the cloud cover came over, then racing back to the car.
All the girls were wearing knee high soccer socks in a (successful) attempt to avoid chiggers and red ants.
But, in the end, this photograph now hangs in my parents’ dining room:
That is a freaking whole lot of effort that I'm pretty sure you will all be sooo glad you went through if you're not already.
It's gorgeous.
Oh wow, both pictures are amazing! Totally worth all the effort, I think.
Love the pics (both of them) but it sort of kills me to realize I'm probably the same age as your parents!!
Your version is so much more fun than these…
http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/
The photos are gorgeous! (You have a beautiful family.) But the story makes them even more lovely.
I can't even tell you how happy this makes me! I have been dying to know whether or not the idea panned out, and oh my goodness it couldn't have panned out more perfectly! I love comparing the two – right down to the yellow flowers! I also love the pop of color the cake and punch give the photo. You guys all look fantastic. I'm so curious to know if you had any curious passer-by's as you took it, ha! Beautiful job to your family and Ralphie!
Can we talk about the fact that your parents look exactly the same in both pictures- that is amazing! This is such a marvelous idea, I love it!
Love.
xox
That's a fantastic idea! The recreation turned out lovely!
this is great.
I love love love these sorts of things.
Thanks for sharing!!
That's awesome!
So fantastic! It reminds me of This French Exhibit.
I really love this idea! It looks great!
That is amazing.
This just gives me a little tear in my eyes…. beautiful! xoxo
Gorgeous photos! Wondering how I can convince my brothers to do something like this . . .
Becky
That was such a fun project! And what a HUGE bonus to meet all of your family. I'd like to consider myself an honorary member. Since I was "in" the picture and all.
I seriously love this picture. When your parents sent it with their christmas letter, I showed everyone who came over.
I think this might be the coolest family photo I have ever seen. Ever.
This is incredible!
Oh, and in case you are wondering- I found you through Design Mom's link.
Love the table in the field. It reminds me a lot of old paintings 🙂