There is safety in opening up to a complete stranger. At my very first wedding photo gig in Santa Fe the bride nervously asked me what she’s supposed to do with the rest of her life. An officiant at a wedding in Austin asked for courage before delivering the service, then asked for feedback after. And in Chicago, a groomsman opened up to me as the first person he told that he thinks he might be gay.

The bride was shy too. She was confident until it was time to recite her vows, so we re-recorded it a few days later in a hotel room. She delivered impeccably. We also had a plan for a voice over interview to give options for audio. Her cold feet were comforted by a few light hearted

interview questions. Sometimes people just need some help opening up.

Rallie got her dream wedding, it was everything she hoped it to be. I had never met someone who put so much into every single detail. From the flowers to the flow, the shotlist to the songs, the aesthetic, and the guests, she knew exactly what she wanted. The ceremony itself was religious and traditional, and then the reception turned Bulgarian and stayed that way for the rest of the night.

Traveling for weddings is a special kind of joy. You are invited into someone's private party, and you RSVP from another state, starting as a stranger and often ending as a friend.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities, and I explore something new every time I am lucky enough to go. Steve Roach is one of my favorite ambient producers and I saw him play for three hours in a beautiful cathedral. I saw Glenn Underground. And long before I opened my rave, I met Tyree Cooper there. What I watched him do in that city is the reason he played my very first show.

So why do we travel for weddings? Because we love it.

I know it can be a bit nerve wracking to book someone from another city. Even if the majority of the time I don't meet my clients in person until their actual wedding, the ease of logistics in the same city seems like one less thing to worry about. With long distance, it feels less controlled.

But there are benefits. Speaking as a person that books DJs from all around the world in my other life outside of wedding films, the best are usually out there. Somewhere, someone you resonate with the most lives more than ten miles from you. And they are worth booking.

If you love someone's work, hire them.

After the wedding, I took the Groomsman to his very first rave. He came with me to Glenn Underground. His degree is in classical music, and house was something new. But I know the look. That expression when all the feelings hit, with music you never knew could be so completely yours. He danced harder than I did, for hours, until sweat drenched his hair and his

face was red. He found himself that night, on that dark Chicago dancefloor.

I spent three days in Chicago after that night. I rollerbladed along the waterfront. I spent the day trying to get a drone out of a tree. I went to the most exquisite conservatory and gardens I have ever been to. And for the record, the best pizza in the country is at Uno’s.

Weddings turn strangers into family. Music is the language we all share. Experiencing both in one trip has been one of the most memorable moments of my entire life. Art surrounds us. It's the beauty of what we all can create together.