There’s something magical about photographing the wedding of dear friends — especially when you’ve walked alongside them through so many chapters of their love story. Maristine and Hayden aren’t just any couple. They’re beloved friends of Jason and I. So to be the one capturing their forever? Truly an honor I’ll never forget.
These two were sealed at the Portland Oregon LDS Temple on June 21st, and let me tell you… the forecast did not hold back. It poured. And I mean Pacific Northwest poured. But you know what? Not a single drop could dampen the joy these two radiated that day.
Maristine had a feeling months before her wedding that it might rain. I remember her saying it so clearly. She didn't say it with stress or dread, but just a peaceful knowing. So she asked me and Jason to take her bridal portraits ahead of time, just in case. And thank goodness she did! We had the most beautiful light and calm for those portraits, and it gave her the chance to feel fully herself in her dress without any rush or worry. It ended up being such a gift.
Maristine looked breathtaking in her dress, glowing in that way only brides do. Hayden couldn’t stop smiling when they were walking after the sealing. Friends and family huddled close, laughter and raindrops mixing in the air. It felt intimate, sacred, and completely them.
After the temple, we grabbed a few quick portraits despite the weather, and I couldn’t be prouder of how calm, flexible, and present these two were.
It was a day that reminded me why I love what I do. Rainy or sunny, quiet or loud, every wedding has its own kind of beauty and this one will stay in my heart forever.
