Essential Stuff

I can honestly say, Cara and Dan’s wedding featured some of the most lively dancing–if not THE most lively dancing–I have seen at a wedding, and it was all sans alcohol.  These two just have music in their bones.

Fitting, then, that these two met on a karaoke site online.  (I didn’t even know those existed!)  These two HAD to find each other somehow.

And once they started dancing, they REALLY started dancing (photographic evidence, as well as the highlights of the rest of the day, can be found here).  At one point I heard Dan tell his brother, “I don’t really know how to dance.  I’m just faking it.”  He had me fooled!  At any rate, it’s clear that Cara and Dan know how to have fun.  Their wedding was a kick.

Shawna and Eric live here in Spokane, which is where I met them originally, but they married in Yakima, at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Parish, rebuilt in this past decade after a fire gutted the original building.  Maybe it was the heat, or the cramped quarters in which he got ready, but Eric had a bit of nerves, but they all melted away when the ceremony started.  I am kind of a sucker for grooms that get teary during the ceremony.  And Eric didn’t even wait until Shawna came down the aisle–he started crying as soon as the first attendants made their way down.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, with Shawna and Eric serving the communion wine.  And then it was off to Yakima Arboretum, for a carefree, celebratory (and scenic) reception.  Pictures from the day can be found here.

After massive thunderstorms and rain the night before, all were pleased that the sun came out for Morgan and Matthew’s wedding.  Blue skies, photogenic clouds, and not a drop of rain.  Sunny all the way around.

I chose the removal of the garter as the “fun and festive” photo from the day, though I could have chosen one from the cake cutting.  Those in attendance know what happened.  Morgan knows.  Matt knows, and might be fearing retribution.  And while the photographic evidence does show that Morgan started it, there is also clear proof that Matt did some illegal holding.   Good times all around (as you can see here).  Beautiful day, beautiful setting, beautiful people.

When people see me and say, “You look familiar,” I always say, “Have you been to any weddings recently?”  It’s especially fun to say at weddings, and I had the occasion this weekend, because I looked familiar to the groom’s sister, who, in turns in, had been a bridesmaid in a wedding I photographed several years ago.  I love it when that kind of thing happens.

As for Christy and Travis, their wedding seemed perfect for their personalities–unpretentious, relaxed, casual.  Many of their family and friends had stayed up the weekend at the lodge, and so it almost seemed like a camping excursion / family reunion / WSU party / wedding all rolled into one.