Wedding photographer’s question leaves bride in tears (PHOTO)

After months of preparation — sometimes more, rarely less — the Big Day finally arrives. Those floor-length lists have been checked and examined ad infinitum and usually hovering somewhere near the top of that list will be the wedding photographer. Representing a pretty hefty part of the budget, the photographer has the all-important role of capturing the day for you to share with loved ones for decades to come. And if you’re lucky enough to find a really good one, they’ll be able to go way beyond the physical beauty to show the real essence of the day: the raw beauty that is love … and really, isn’t that what marriage is about?

Photographer James Day reminded us of this recently with his emotional pictures of an Australian couple, Adrian and Roslyn, on their wedding day that have had many in tears. Although he wanted to capture the couple in front of an exquisite sunset, as he was setting up the shot he felt it just “wasn’t enough.” He explained in a Facebook post: “Just as the light became amazing, I scrapped everything I knew and I walked up to them and said, ‘Guys, stop posing. Just enjoy your first sunset together as husband and wife.'”

It’s true on our wedding day it is so easy to be overwhelmed with the all the organizing, remembering vows and speeches, and making sure elderly relatives are not being deafened by the band, that we can forget that this day is the start of many firsts as a united couple, so it seems only fitting that the new spouses should take some time out to admire Mother Nature.

But Day goes even further and asks a question that every bride and groom should ask each other when they tie the knot: “Out of the billions of people on the planet, you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with Roslyn. Can you tell her why?” Day recounts how he “had him whisper it in her ear because it’s for her ears only. I like that they were able to share that moment privately.”

And as Adrian lent in to let his bride know why she was the chosen one, Day snapped away and caught the tender moment that saw Roslyn with tears rolling down her cheeks. While we will never know why she is the one in billions, the photo demonstrates the pure love that has brought these two together in matrimony.

While Day’s question is so apt for the start of the newlywed’s life together, it is also a question a couple could ask themselves throughout their married life. Imagine waking up on your wedding anniversary to a little note explaining why you are that one in all the billions. Over the years the reasons could change from the superficial “because you are the best coffee maker,” to the more meaningful “because you light up my day, even when it’s dark outside.” Just be sure to record them and add to your own wedding album!