Tom & Kathy’s Golden Anniversary | 50 Years of Love in Southern Pines

Tom & Kathy’s Golden Anniversary

50 Years of Love in Southern Pines, photographed by Nikki Belch

There’s something extraordinary about witnessing love that has stood the test of time. This summer in Southern Pines, I had the honor of photographing Tom and Kathy as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary—a golden milestone that few are lucky enough to reach, and one that deserves to be savored, remembered, and celebrated.

From the moment they pulled out their wedding album, I could see how vividly those memories still lived in their hearts. Kathy’s laughter as she flipped through those pages, Tom’s proud smile as he looked at her—these weren’t just photographs from half a century ago. They were living proof of a love that has grown deeper, finer, and more resilient with every passing year.

50 years isn’t just a number. It’s a lifetime of shared mornings and quiet evenings, of raising a family, weathering storms, building traditions, and finding joy in the ordinary. It’s holding hands that are no longer young but carry the fine lines of a life fully lived—lines etched with tenderness, sacrifice, laughter, and devotion.

As I photographed them, framed by the golden light of the North Carolina pines, I couldn’t help but think how fitting it was: 50 years is the golden year, and these two are truly golden together.

What struck me most wasn’t just their history, but their present—the way Tom looks at Kathy as though no time has passed since she walked down the aisle, the way Kathy leans into him with the same trust she did on that first day. The photos from their wedding day may have faded with time, but their love? That has only grown brighter.

Tom and Kathy, thank you for inviting me to document this incredible chapter in your story. May the next years ahead continue to be filled with laughter, light, and the kind of love that inspires all of us who are lucky enough to witness it.

Here’s to 50 golden years—and counting.