Many of you know, that I don’t really photograph weddings anymore. Since Ryan and I started fertility treatments and now are waiting to be matched with a child through adoption – it just left too much up in the air for me to feel comfortable taking on such an important event. I never want to add stress to my client’s life and the potential of having to fly across the country on the date of a bride’s wedding makes me too nervous to put a bride in that situation where I’m setting her up with a photographer she doesn’t know at the last minute. BUT…. my brother, Richard got married and I wanted to help so… I picked up my wedding photographer hat and captured their day.

You may recall these two cuties from their Beloved session a couple months ago. These are two of my favorite people on the planet… and it makes my heart so happy that they found each other! We’ve enjoyed many a dinner date with them and I just love their hearts and souls. There is so much goodness and wisdom and kindness in them. And to watch these two interact – to see the love between them – it’s just a beautiful thing!

The big day came together seamlessly, a gorgeous sunny day in May! We were so grateful for that sunshine since the wedding was an outdoor wedding in Cassy’s mom’s backyard. The ceremony site overlooked the pond and they had big round tables set up for dinner with their guests. I loved that their guestbook was a map and they had their photographic family tree hung on one of the trees near the “dance floor.”

We started with a First Look – a chance for Cassy and Rich to see each other for the first time. Cassy’s dress was made by her grandmother for her mother and father’s wedding. And now she wore it for her wedding. Such a sweet and beautiful piece of history and Cassy looked stunning in it! I love these little moments when the bride and groom just get to be on their own together, and enjoy one another.

Then we headed in on bridal party and family portraits. Rich’s family is spread across the world. His parents and siblings came from Africa and Canada for this special day and it was the first time in 10 years that they were all in one place together. So we absolutely wanted to be sure we got some photographs of them all together. Seeing the love between the Ndembe’s and Wilson-E__ is just inspiring too! It is rare you see in-laws genuinely love each other like these two families do. It’s a true picture of what Jesus’ love looks like.

Before we knew it – the ceremony began! Beautiful words were said by Pastor Jeff, Richard’s father, and Cassy’s mother. Rich and Cassy share vows they wrote for one another, exchanged their rings and then before all those who love them dearly became man and wife! There was food and dancing and lots of love and laughter to follow. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to and I’m beyond honored that we were invited to be there.

Here’s just a little glimpse into the day!