Parenting

Couple Celebrates 63 Years Together With The Most Amazing Photo Shoot

by Jerriann Sullivan
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Shalyn Nelson / Instagram

Grandparents photo shoot was photographer Shalyn Nelson’s dream project

Grab some tissues and be prepared to swoon over a grandparents photo shoot from Shalyn Nelson, a professional wedding photographer from Texas. The couple’s talented granddaughter put the project together to celebrate the 63 years they’ve spent together.

Meet Wanda and Joe, who Nelson affectionally refers to as Papaw and Mamaw. “My Papaw planted a rose bush outside of their bedroom window when they built their house. He has always said, ‘Billie Wanda is the rose of my life…But it does have a few thorns here and there’, which is the reason he’s holding a bushel of roses in some of the photos,” she shared on her blog along with these incredible images.

Nelson’s grandparents are very important to her. “They would smile and celebrate the straight A’s, the blue ribbons, the trophies, and even praise me when I would get excited about the 30 doodle bugs I would dig up to show them,” she shared. “They helped in the smallest, most memorable ways. I don’t know if they will ever truly know how much I noticed, or how much I’ll truly be grateful for their unwavering love in my life.”

In addition to being amazing grandparents, Wanda and Joe are a living example of true love. Joe saw his future bride walking down the street one day and asked her out, Buzzfeed reported. They were engaged on Dec. 28, 1950, and two years later said “I do.” Nelson said of her grandparents, “They are without a doubt the best people I know. I call them my heroes.”

Nelson had them write love letters to each other then read them aloud at the photo shoot. She shared Joe’s on Instagram. “I think it was when I was working in Canada, that I wrote you last. Anyway, I still love you just as much, probably more,” he starts the letter. Then he talks about their beautiful life of kids, grandkids, work, businesses, and their golden years. “I will close this letter to you saying I love you as much today as the day I married you. And just think, the license only cost $2.00. The best bargain I ever made.”

“I knew I wanted to create something special, and celebrate what true love was to me. And that for me, was my grandparents,” Nelson explained. “[My Mamaw] loved every minute. It was so cute to see how excited she was to get all dolled up. And how did Papaw like the photo shoot? Well, we think he loved it. According to Nelson, he said, “Oh! I don’t think I’ve had this much action in a long longgg time.”

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