How do I even begin to describe Vanessa and Justin's beautifully sweet intimate lake wedding last summer?? Besides the fact that it was my very first Pacific Northwest wedding after moving to Washington, it was also one of my favorites because Vanessa and Justin and their families were just so genuine, thoughtful, and loving to each other and everyone who attended.
I instantly connected with Vanessa when we chatted on the phone about a month before her wedding. She was so happy and excited as she told me all about her and Justin's amazing love story. She lived in Washington and he lived in Montana when they met online, and they dated long-distance for a while. Justin came to visit her whenever he could, and before long he proposed (and, of course, she said yes!). They planned their wedding in three short months, and I think it was the most perfect backyard wedding I've ever seen!
Their intimate ceremony and reception were held in early July at a friend's lake house in Kent, WA. Vanessa's bridesmaids wore mint dresses and carried gorgeous pink and white bouquets, and her adorable niece stole the show as the cutest flower girl ever. The forecast called for rain, naturally, but it held off until the reception was under way. The sky was covered in those amazing PNW clouds, but the sun managed to peek through every now and then.
There's so much I want to say about this wedding--like how Vanessa and Justin had the most beautiful and special First Look I've ever witnessed; how they were so cute together while we took bride and groom portraits on the dock; how their wedding party and families were so much fun as we took more pictures on the beach; how their wedding ceremony was so heartfelt and authentic; how the groom's brother teared up during his Best Man speech; how the Father/Daughter dance left not one dry eye in the place when it was finished (including the father and daughter); and how this amazing couple showed their love and faith with everything they did.
I'm so glad Vanessa and Justin were my first wedding couple in Washington. Their relationship is so inspiring and I'm very honored that they asked me to document their special day.
