Jennifer & Jeff’s wedding was one I had been waiting for all year long, if you remember their beautiful snowy engagement session you can understand why I was so excited for their backyard lake wedding. I have to admit this wedding to date was one of the most event filled non-stop weddings I have photographed to date.  It was also one of the funnest I had including the ceremony! Jennifer & Jeff really wanted to do a first look so that they could really enjoy their guest after the ceremony. Jennifer had a surprise for Jeff with a little book with all the reasons she wanted to marry him, it was so sweet and Jeff’s reaction to seeing Jennifer for the first time it was so sweet and I even shedded a few tears.

After first look, we did the bridal party and family photos then it was time for the ceremony. Jeff made the couples’ alter really making their ceremony spot super special with Rainier Lake in the background. So normally ceremonies are pretty quiet some funny moments but no real cheering until the end. Well that wasn’t the case with this wedding, all their friends and family cheered when Jeff & his parents walked down the aisle, and the same with most of the bridal party as well. But it was nothing compared to the cheers for Jennifer as her dad walked her down the aisle. Even Jeff was yelling and cheering as she walked towards him. It was awesome and really showed how much love there was for them with all their guest they invited.  The couple had a good friend marry them and they wrote their own vows to each other. After Jeff said his vows he threw them into the aisle and thankfully my second shooter got the shot of them in the air because it was such an awesome moment. He also did the same with the ring box after putting the ring on Jennifer finger. After they were announced as Mr. & Mrs., they kissed and Jeff did something I loved he carried Jennifer back down the aisle!

After dinner we did their golden hour photos right by the lake, the light was amazing and during especially during their first dances, that light is what EVERY photographer wants to have during golden hour! After dances it was time for the first of two firsts for me at a wedding.  About a month and half before the wedding Jennifer had contacted me to let me know they were expecting and that during the reception they would be doing a gender reveal since they would be surround by all their friends and families what a perfect time to find out their baby’s gender.  Their wedding coordinator was the only one who knew what the gender was so she could put the right color balloons in the box they were opening. This was definitely a first for me but totally awesome! And it was a GIRL, I had asked the couple at one of our last meetings if they had a preference on the gender and Jennifer felt they were having a girl, and Jeff felt it was a boy but no matter they just were excited to becoming parents.  So even though Jeff was “wrong” he was so excited and both of them were. I think it was pretty awesome that the couple included their moms on help the box.

So that second first was for me was, Jeff went water skiing and went on the ski jump in his suit that Rainier Lake has. Rainier Lake is a man made lake that was created by the residences of the neighborhood for water skiing and mainly water skiing jump practice and competitions.  They had to hurry because we were losing the light but it was so awesome, I of course was in the boat getting some pretty awesome shots of Jeff jumping in his suit while all the guest were on shore cheering him on! It was pretty amazing and I’m sure I won’t be having another groom water skiing or even doing a ski jump at his wedding again. And if you scroll down to the bottom there is a short video from my cell phone of Jeff doing his jumps!

Thank you so much to Jennifer & Jeff for letting me be part of your amazing wedding! It seriously will be one I remember for probably the rest of my career as a wedding photographer! And congratulations on the newest addition coming in 2017 I’m so excited for you guys to be parents and go team girl!

This is video from my cell phone of Jeff’s jumps. There was a guest in the boat willing to take video on my phone!

Venue: Private Residence on Rainier Lake
Coordinator: Danna Bostwick
Catering: Warthog BBQ Pit Catering
Flowers: Two Sissys Floral Design
Bride Gown Shop: Pearl and Lace
Hair: Rachel Zartner
Makeup: Miriah Major