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Kathryn and Mark were married on August 10th, with a ceremony and reception at the Mountain Home Lodge in Leavenworth, WA.

One of the things I adore most about my job is the chance I get not only to “work” but to be part of the most important and special days of people’s lives. Even though it’s scary and sometimes overwhelming, it’s also deeply humbling, especially for people like Kathryn and Mark! These are the kind of people that make your soul smile and make my job smooth sailing.

I don’t always get to meet couples in person before the wedding day, and that was the case here, as I met up with Kathryn and Mark the day before the wedding at the Welcome Barbecue they threw for close friends and family. Immediately after I arrived, Kathryn hugged me, just as if we had known each other for years!

The wedding day had the same laid back feel as the Welcome Barbecue—just with everyone dressed a little fancier. :) It was a hot day for early September, and the sun was shining splendidly, making the Sound of Music setting that much more gorgeous!

Kathryn was a little nervous about being in front of the camera so much, but those nerves quickly subsided after she saw Mark in the first look. We ended up having a blast during couples photos. They are such genuine, sweet, funny people, and they took in every moment and savored it, whatever happened. It made our time together so enjoyable!

The ceremony was simple and tender and framed with touches of humor. They had their sister and brother at their side for the wedding, and the simplicity of their family being together, with no big wedding party, made things flow even easier.

The reception was the highlight of the day—and like everything else, it had a casual, “let’s enjoy the moment,” kind of atmosphere. I especially loved the toasts full of honest, real family moments, with tons of laughter. This was a very special collection of friends and family. No one was trying to put on a “show;” everyone was simply down-to-earth.

We rounded out the day with plenty of dancing from dusk into the night under a dark, star-lit sky (there were endless stars!) Mark even made sure to have a dance just with his daughter, as if no one else was around, to express to her that she was still his “lady.” I also managed to catch a lucky shot when Mark and Kathryn grabbed a moment alone under the plum trees. It wasn’t set up, but it was one of those pure moments that photographers love the most.

Kathryn & Mark, it was a truly a joy to celebrate with you, to joke and laugh, and to feel the deep love you have for one another and also the love that surrounds you from your closest family and friends. I hope our paths cross again in the future, but until then, here’s to many days filled with sunshine!