Trash the Wedding Dress 10 Year Anniversary in Germany: Katherine + Eric

Katherine and Eric danced to Shania Twain’s “When You Kiss Me” at their Georgia wedding on May 14, 2005. To celebrate their ten year anniversary, Katherine decided to trash her wedding gown and involve her family. So with a Color Run theme, the United States Air Force couple and their two beautiful children took to the hills of Germany.

How did you meet?

We met in Eric’s college town which happened to be the same town where I was stationed as an active duty airman. We met at a pool hall and from that day on, we were inseparable. We lived 90 minutes apart for nearly two years so most of our free time was spent traveling to be with each other.

Tell us all about the proposal?

The proposal happened in Warner Robins in August 2004 at a restaurant where I worked and many of our mutual friends worked. Eric popped the question in front of over 30 friends over a dinner that he planned. The ring was brought out on a plate filled with rose petals from the kitchen as if it were meant to be my dinner. A complete surprise!

How did you know he was the one?

I knew that Eric was the one for me when I tried to imagine a day without him in it and it was painful to even fathom. Over the 13 and half years we have been on this adventure, there have been many ups and downs, but one thing has still remained the same; I wouldn’t want to share my life with anyone other than him.

On celebrating with an anniversary shoot: Tell us why you wanted to do this shoot. Where was the shoot? How did you decide on your location and photographer/vendors?

I wanted to do the shoot because we didn’t get great shots at our wedding. It was a way to rekindle that feeling and have the kids involved. They really enjoyed being there and seeing “Momma and Poppa” dressed up. The shoot was done here in Germany. Germany has amazing landscaping, but this view was stunning with a church steeple in the background and amazing rolling hills. There was a perfect sign that had the number 10 on it which just so happened to be the number of years we have been married. It was perfect. Leah, who has done my makeup in the past, did my makeup for the shoot. I wanted a very neutral makeup to accent the dress and the hair. My hair I did myself. Curls are very unique and temperamental, so I thought it was best to do it myself. I made the ‘unfloral’ bouquet. I wanted something whimsical and unique, but not flowers so I made a trip to the costume jewelry store and a craft store. I found all the pieces there and took them apart and put them back together to make the bouquet.

This shoot did have a deeper meaning to me that I didn’t even share with Eric. As we were doing the shoot, I was reminded of the years we have been together. As I stared at him in his uniform, that he wears so well and proudly, I found myself lost in the thoughts of the sacrifices we both have made being together. He serves his country, as have I, and because he serves, we serve together as a family but in a different way. There are times that I forget the sacrifices he makes each and every day and I focus on what the children and I have to give up. But it is he who puts on his uniform and goes to work and deploys and is away from us. And as I stood there and looked at him in his uniform, I was overcome with such pride for what he does selflessly.

When it comes to career, how do you make time for each other?

Eric is a Major in the United States Air Force in the medical field. I am a United States Air Force Veteran and now military spouse. I have had several jobs based on where we have lived which makes for a very colorful and fun resume. Right now, we are living in Germany so I am enjoying substitute teaching at the military schools on base here and being a stay at home mom the rest of the time to our 7 year old twins. Throughout the 13 years we have been together, we have a nightly tradition to sit down as an entire family at the dinner table. We sit and catch up from the day. No TV, no phones no work. Just us and the kids. It is a way to see each other, talk and enjoy a good meal (even if it’s from the local restaurant because of our busy afternoons and I forget to turn the crock pot on in the morning.) As a couple, we put the kids to bed every night at 8pm and sit together and talk on the couch or binge watch a series on Netflix. Being in Europe has afforded us the ability to travel now, and we take full advantage of that. We can’t wait to do more as the weather warms up.

Vendors:

Photographer: Allyson, Allyson B Campbell Photography
Makeup: Leah, Lavish Looks by Leah