The Apathetic Groom: One of My Wedding Photos Shows the Truth

Josie Quinn
4 min readMay 12, 2021

A lifetime captured in one snapshot

Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash

I wish I could show you. I really really do. I am still debating about if I could or should. It was a photo of our wedding day. It was taken after we were pronounced man and wife. It was candid. We were walking the aisle to go back toward the exit of the church. I don’t think I had awareness of the camera so much, because all eyes were on us as we walked by everyone in attendance.

Bride

I look beaming and happy. I have a huge smile. I could not be smiling any bigger. My eyes are squinting from smiling so big. I am leaning into him. I have my hand holding his arm at the elbow. My hand holds him like he is the one I love and value.

Groom

His look is half relief and half- it is reminding me of the Beetlejuice character from the movie. His eyes were open, but there is no light or life behind his eyes. It was as if he was exhausting out a groan. I am also imagining Frankenstein. He also has a look that says: “Oh my God, I have a full bladder but I am pasting on a fake, feeble smile anyway.” It is not a smile. It is more baring his teeth. [OMG, I am feeling disturbed and horrified just looking at it. I have to put the photo away.] He seems to be focused on the photographer taking his picture. His arms…

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Josie Quinn
Josie Quinn

Written by Josie Quinn

Creative, curious, spiritual, explorer.

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