A couple celebrating 47 years of marriage has paid tribute to their lengthy love story with a sweet photo shoot, while revealing how union has lasted for so many years, despite the duo facing two cancer battles, battling other illnesses, and a brush with poverty.
Wanda and Marvin Brewington, from Raleigh, North Carolina, college sweethearts with two grown daughters, took part in a photo shoot taken by one of their children, Amber Robinson, a wedding photographer, in celebration of their milestone anniversary, and the resulting images have quickly earned the romantic couple a place in the viral hall of fame.
The shoot is unbelievably glamorous, showing Wanda, 67, in a full-length rose gold sequined gown, while Marvin, 70, cuddles her in a dapper suit. And not only does the pair look sharp and dressed to the nines, they also look blissfully in love.
True love: Wanda and Marvin Brewington from Raleigh, North Carolina, are college sweethearts who got married in 1970 and have been married 47 years
Survivor: Marvin, 70, is a two time colon and prostate cancer survivor, and her is currently battling MS
While the photos are heartwarming on their own, the real reason why this couple has gone viral is because of their love story.
They’ve both conquered cancer twice and are currently battling diseases, but throughout it all, they’ve remained more in love than ever.
Marvin is a two time colon and prostate cancer survivor, who is currently battling MS and according to his daughter, Amber, he is winning this battle.
Wanda, on the other hand, is currently battling Parkinson’s disease and is also, thankfully, winning.
When Amber first posted a photo of her parents in their fancy outfits from the shoot to her Instagram, over 7,000 users immediately reacted, gushing over the couple, but mostly over the heartwarming caption Amber wrote.
‘”I never dreamed of my wedding… only dreamed of a beautiful marriage.” In this wonderful creative industry that I worked in, I focus so much on providing couple hours with a day of beautiful photography.
‘To be honest, rarely do I stop to think about the day, weeks, months or years that follow a wedding day.
‘So today I share with you what those years after can look like when true love exists. These are my parents: married for 47 years, they have triumphed over cancer…twice.
‘Have raised two successful daughters. They have been poor together and rich together. They have fed, sheltered, and advised countless lost souls. They love with out expectation and give freely, whatever it is they have to offer.
Battles: Wanda, 67, is fighting Parkinson’s disease, but is winning
Happy: The couple shared the secret to a lasting marriage is ‘truth, honesty and not letting the small things get you down’
Forever: ‘It is hard work, but it has always been worth the work it takes,’ the couple shares
‘I am SO proud to call them Mom and Dad. They are the epitome of where I strive to be in my own marriage and a constant reminder that a wedding is only a day, but a marriage is forever.
‘If you are one of the millions in love, or maybe one of the millions of broken-hearted that need a visual reminder that love always endures, I would love for you to share this as a way of letting my mom and dad know, they are an inspiration to anyone who wants, believes, or is in love,’ she shared.
Daughter and photographer of the couple, Amber Robinson, (pictured) said her parents ‘are an inspiration to anyone who wants, believes, or is in love’
One user said, ‘This brought tears to my eyes. I feel the love!’ while another commented, ‘Such a beautiful inspiration thank you and your parents for sharing something priceless.’
The happy couple met at Livingston College in Salisbury, NC and went on to get married in 1970.
The wedding was an intimate backyard ceremony in Wanda’s hometown of Wilkesboro, NC.
Wanda and Marvin shared with FEMAIL that they found the strength to help each other through their difficult battles, ‘by our love for each other and faith in God.
‘We made a vow on our wedding day, through sickness and health and have always been determined that we can and will overcome anything. On the days that one of us is down, the other one picks us up,’ they said.
As for the secret to a lasting marriage, the couple shared, ‘truth, honesty and not letting the small things get you down.
But most of all never forgetting to laugh and have fun. It is hard work, but it has always been worth the work it takes.’
Plus, the glue that holds their marriage together is, ‘strong belief in God and our love for each other.
We both also had excellent role models as parents. They had it way tougher than we did, and we know that is they were able to do it, with what they had, we certainly can,’ they concluded.
Their daughter and photographer, Amber also shared with FEMAIL, why she decided to shoot her parents, saying, ‘We do a small session every year for their holiday card, this year we decided to go glam in the look and mom and dad went along with it.
‘My goal is to capture real emotion between couples. I didn’t have to do much with these two, they lit up in front of the camera,’ she continued.