It never ceases to amaze me that I’m invited to participate in one of the most singular and incredible days in the lives of people who start as perfect strangers. It’s a privilege I hope to never take for granted… to nearly become family for one brief, ephemeral day. I like to think I’ll see each one of them again, even though that may not always be true. But I’ll have them with me for the rest of my life, and I’ll play a small part in their lives every time they look at the images of their wedding day. The experience we had together, when they trusted me to come along on the whirlwind trip, one swirling day of preparation and anticipation and back and forth and here we go and — finally — a quiet moment of “I will” and “I do” and “We did it!” And then some hopefully not so quiet moments of congratulations! and then eating and dancing and talking and celebrating and the full, happy, exhausting sunset end of each perfect day. Because once they’re married, every single one of those days is perfect in completion. A summer of perfect Saturdays (and a Friday and Sunday here and there). I’m a lucky girl.

Lake Crescent Lodge was the setting for Suzanne & Jason’s wedding day.

Can I put some words to it? Here goes.

Green. Green/Blue/Green.

The greenest green and the bluest blue. Depending on what the sun and sky are doing on a given day. This might be a familiar little corner of the world for me, but I love nothing better than to share it with people for whom it’s new, or a sweet infrequent visit. A joy shared is a joy made double. Look! Isn’t it beautiful here? Yes, and over here too! The trees and moss and the motion of the water…

Sharing Lake Crescent with Suzanne and Jason was a joy. And they shared their beautiful day with me — and I won’t soon forget it.

Hi Jason. You can come out now.

 

This one makes me melt.

Could I pick a favorite from the day? No… but I love this one:

Seriously!

  

Suzanne and Jason said their vows in front of their closest family and friends in the lakeside meadow at Lake Crescent Lodge. New growth was just showing on the boughs of the surrounding fir trees, and a fresh canopy of green alder leaves whispered in a slight breeze.

And just a little bit of grandeur…