ARIEL + SHAUN | INTIMATE ISLAND WEDDING
Not at any point in my life did I think I would be visiting a small island outside of Washington, let alone photographing a wedding there. So many pinch me moments happened there, starting with the night before. We met Ariel and Shaun to do their engagement pictures and then we all went to their wedding rehearsal at a tiny pizza place in town. We sat with their families and their closest friends, drank beer and had some good pie. To be invited into such an intimate moment was such an honor, and something we've never gotten to do before.
The next morning we drove around the hilly roads and met Ariel and Shaun at their separate cabins. A slow morning with coffee and meditation started the day off perfectly. They had their first look down in the woods and we made our way to the clearing where they would get married. To say it was serene is an understatement. A path down in the woods led to an open space, full of speckled light, a gorgeous handmade arch, and the special people in their lives. This was one of (yeah right, they're all like this) those ceremonies where you were crying and smiling the whole time.
After their vows we made our way up to the most insane outlook, and they had sweet moments together, where they could just soak it all in, with a gorgeous range of mountains in the distance. We ventured to the water, where they cuddled and cried, and headed out to their reception. They were welcomed with nerf guns by their people, followed by a spread of beautiful local foods, s’mores, and toasts.
So much magic was in this day. From Ariel's bouquet, to the handmade candles, to the end of the night s’mores, everything was perfect. To get to do things like this, and to get to see these places we would have never seen before, is the hugest blessing. But the blessing that outweighs it all, is meeting people like Ariel and Shaun that we literally never would have met if it weren't for this awesome job of ours. Witnessing love like this over and over again is why we do what we do.
