Cindie Wilding Celebrate Everyday

Suzanne & Daniel

 

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

Every couple has a story.  Every life passage tells a story of a journey.  When two people decide to marry and pledge their love and commitment to one another, it feels sacred to stand there and tell their personal story and I feel so very blessed to share it.  Suzanne and Daniel came from Arizona to Yosemite because they love the outdoors and nature and because Daniel proposed right there in Yosemite while they were hiking, during the winter, up the arduous trail to Yosemite Point. 

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

The two of them complement each other, two puzzle pieces that fit together well. Daniel is an exceptional listener who will let Suzanne talk as long as she needs to.  He is kind and patient with a keen eye for detail.  Suzanne is one of the most capable and driven people Daniel has ever met.  She is able to do anything she sets her mind to and do it well.  She possesses an amazing dedication to the things she cares about.  There are a million little things they love about each other and they look forward to learning even more as the years go by. 

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

Yosemite always offers a most unique background for a wedding for couples who feel most at home outdoors and who are looking for something more unique and special.  We had an intimate group of guests which included only their parents and Suzanne's brother, which made it the perfect size for beginning the ceremony with a ring blessing.  After the ceremony, we remained at Lower Yosemite Falls for a toast with champagne from a Swell bottle and cupcakes from Safeway!  

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

With the falls roaring behind us, a few tourists walking by and cheering, and the guests forming a half-circle in front of us, Suzanne and Daniel spoke their personal vows to each other and the trees bowed their blessings.  

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

We all (including the photographer) toasted, clicked plastic glasses and wished them all the best. I have no doubt their married life will include many adventures, many mountains climbed, and many vistas viewed, hand in hand.  

May you have the love only two can know.  May you go where only two alone may go.  May the sun rise and set in your bonded hearts, and the moon never find you too long apart.  May you cherish each other's dreams as your own and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.  May you brave life's mountains and miles together.  May there be no storm your love cannot weather.  May you always be lovers and allies and friends.  May your souls' conversation never end.  May you capture on earth what's in heaven above.  May your hearts know the rapture of an uncommon love.

  An Uncommon Love by Terah Cox

 

Aleia & Anders

Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

Aleia & Anders are really country people.  Even though Aleia grew up in the city, her heart was always in the country, and she never felt more free than when riding horses. Farm life played an important role in their relationship and you could even say it was responsible for them deciding they wanted to be together forever.  Early in their relationship Anders took her on a tour of the farm on his quad.  During their ride he shared his dreams and future plans with her; plans that included farming, marriage and kids.  Aleia thought to herself, "I want to be a part of that plan".   And if there had been any doubt in Anders' mind that Aleia was the one to complete that vision, it melted away the first time he saw Aleia on a horse and knew she was a true country gal at heart.

Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

And so it was only appropriate that they married on the family farm surrounded by so much family and friends.  It was a gorgeous and fun wedding and I was delighted to include a couple of rituals that were so appropriate for them.  Being farmers, we did a unity seed planting.  From the time he was 5, Anders understood the importance of seeds and the land.  I chose ivy seeds for them because ivy symbolizes fidelity and eternity.  It can also flourish in any situation, no matter how challenging, much like their marriage as they encounter good times and tough times along their road ahead.   

Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

And, the very best part, in my mind, was at the end, when a crop duster friend of theirs, flew over the ceremony site, dusting us all with rice.  It was an amazing experience I have to say and quite exciting!  

Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

 Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

 

Image courtesy of Elisabeth Arin Photography

Everyone at this wedding was exuberant!  Our flower girl Macy had so much contagious heart and soul, she was a natural for leading the wedding party out.  

Anders and Aleia I wish you eternal happiness.  May you be better together than you could ever be apart, and may your future always include a porch, a yard, a horse to ride and family and friends by your side.  Much love ~ 

"We first encountered Cindie when she was officiating another wedding and we were blown away by how personalized and meaningful the ceremony was. I barely knew the bride and groom, yet I found myself tearing up and walking away feeling like I better understood the newly wedded couple. Fast forward a few short months to our own engagement, and my now-husband and I knew that we had to have Cindie be the officiant for our own wedding. Cindie is such a warm and genuine person, and it's clear that she is truly passionate about learning your love story and weaving that into a personalized ceremony. The ceremony that she created was so beautiful and truly captured the unique nature of both my husband and myself, while also sharing how we met and fell in love. Wedding guests were moved to both tears and laughter, and we heard from so many guests that the ceremony was the most beautiful one they had ever heard. In fact, one month later and guests are STILL talking about the wedding ceremony. We highly recommend Cindie Wilding!" ~ Aleia & Anders

Lowela & Ryan

The California Auto Museum is an awesome place to get married, especially if you have the "restore an old car" gene and have an equally awesome car that you can display on the stage with you and your wedding party.  That is what Lowela and Ryan did and look how cool that 1955 Fairlane, given to Ryan by his grandparents,  and the 1928 Model A which Ryan and his dad worked on together, both look with the two of them, their 3 daughters and the rest of the wedding folks.  Those cars deserved to be sharing the stage with them!   

 

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

 Lowela and Ryan have 3 daughters and lots of family and friends with children.  So their wedding was full of the laughter and joy of children, even on the stage with us as they shared their vows with each other.  That is their littlest, Mallory who stayed right by her parents the entire ceremony.  I loved the creativity of their floral arrangements, paper hearts and flowers with so many pops of orange.  

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

 Lowela and Ryan met, got to know one another and bonded at work.  When they were first getting to know each other and becoming friends, Ryan stopped by Lowela's desk one day and gave her some friendship bread starter, telling her that they were now friends for life.  Lowela responded "that is quite a commitment!" Indeed friendship bread is a commitment as it takes 10 days to make it and good things like friendship, marriage and bread deserve time to grow and to thrive.  So just for them, I created a friendship bread unity ritual and the entire family literally broke bread together and enjoyed their own homemade friendship bread.

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

 

 Lowella and Ryan are down to earth, rather private, but very funny people, and their handwritten vows to each other were heartfelt and whimsical.   I loved the overall family feel of their wedding, with all the cute and colorful touches and the genuineness of the day, how everyone was welcome to be themselves and all the kids had a great time.

 

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

Images courtesy of Mia Hope Photography

All the best to you beautiful family.  May the next chapters of your lives be filled with many joyous moments and enough strength and patience to get through any challenges you face.  May you always work together to create a wonderful life, whether its in the kitchen making friendship bread, on the hiking trail, or around the table sharing your day with each other. Keep stargazing, because someday you'll find it, the rainbow connection.  xo 

"My husband and I wanted our wedding to be very personal. We aren’t normally very big on being affectionate or talking about our love publicly, even to our friends and family on any normal day, but for our wedding, we wanted to share in our story with all those we love. We sought out an officiant who could help us do this. Through personally meeting and through her questionnaire, Cindie pulled out those details that made our relationship and story so unique. She weaved them into a beautiful ceremony and thought of a lovely and fitting unity ceremony that was perfect for me, my husband, and our kids. Without question, Cindie was the best officiant choice. Thank you Cindie for making our wedding ceremony so perfectly us!" ~ Lowela & Ryan

Becky & James

I love the tiny details in a wedding, the pieces that more fully tell the story of that couple, what they love, what they do together, how they met, what their hopes are for their future, who they are, both individually and as a couple.  Of course this appeals to me, because story is what I am all about and my job in marrying you is to be your storyteller, to use my words the same way all the details lend the images.  Together we create your unique and special love story.  Becky and James met and bonded over a mutual love of rowing when they were both on a team in college.  And their relationship not only endured but strengthened during the many years they managed the challenges of a long distance relationship.  So rowing, nautical and travel themes were prevalent, in many ways, as well as sweet homemade touches like these hearts.  Becky is a quilter and like all quilters loves fabrics.  These hearts, each one unique, were made with the cutest and most whimsical fabrics, color coordinated to their wedding colors.  

Photo courtesy of Eli Pitta

Becky and James, and many of their family members, reside in the UK, but Becky's parents and some other family members reside in the US, so their ceremony was held here in the states, at a lovely winery in Livermore called Murietta's Well Winery.  Intimate, cozy and oh so perfect for Becky & James.  They bought a house together and that first Christmas in their new home they hosted both of their families for the first time.  And that is when James proposed.  

Being lighthearted and wanting to truly celebrate with their guests, "props" like hats and sunglasses were provided as a trolley car drove onto the winery grounds and guests posed with delight.  

Photo courtesy of Eli Pitta

These two are very active, and still enjoy rowing, biking, visiting beautiful places at home and spending time with family.  James' mum read the poem "The Cloths of Heaven" by WB Yeats, a poem that had a very personal significance for her and the family.  

More sweet nautical touches with little cards to write your best wishes to the couple.  These are the kinds of personal touches I love, the kinds of things that bring people together over a commonality of celebration and bond them in ways they didn't know possible, because they have shared something magical and personal together.  
 

Photo courtesy of Eli Pitta

Cheers!  Cheers to many happy rowing and biking trips to come and quiet afternoons spent sitting on a porch holding hands, surrounded by family.  

Dana & Justin

When Dana & Justin contacted me about marrying them on the beach on a Wednesday, at sundown, up in Humboldt County, I was drawn in immediately, not just by that fabulous wedding request, but by the number of similarities we shared and from that initial email I found I already really liked them.  Originally living in Brooklyn, they had moved out west, to little Siskiyou county, which is where I spent my growing up years, and bought a farm, complete with goats.  They wanted to provide a healthy and simple country life for their daughter, 1 year old Kaya.  And they wanted to marry on the beach, with just us and two of their dearest friends.  Of course I said Yes! 

So that is how I found myself with this beautiful couple and their daughter, on Moonstone Beach at sundown, ready to share their love story and the giggles and our collective joy as the sun set over the water.  Dana and Justin were one of those couples who met and were instantly attracted to one another.  After spending only a few days with each other, they both knew they were in love and within a week they had moved in together.  They just connected very easily and deeply and they knew they were with their life partner. Once they had Kaya and moved to their farm, it was time to fulfill their dream of a wedding on the beach.  

 

 

Dana is passionate about yoga and taught classes in New York, another similar interest.  They are both clearly head over heels about Kaya and very tender and caring parents.  Kaya rotated between both her parents arms during the ceremony (until we got to the ring exchange) and I loved how she watched me, as if I were reading her a bedtime story, which indeed I was; her parents' love story. The two of them share a similar sarcastic sense of humor and that and their ability to communicate wholeheartedly with one another helped them through their early challenges of surviving on little money, while living in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn.  

They hadn't written any specific vows but I was touched by how they were each able to say beautiful words to one another spontaneously in the moment for their vows.  Dana and Justin, I wish for you an adventuresome life, exploring the fullness of your own and each other's true selves.  There is a wonderful life ahead of you.  Live it fully.  Let life amaze you and bring you great joy.  Much joy was spread that evening on the beach and the ripples are still undulating outwards.  Thank you for including me in its swell.  

Beginnings and Endings

Most of us struggle with beginnings and endings. Sometimes an ending or a beginning can be exciting and we are ready for it, anticipating it with relish, but most of the time it involves change, it's hard to adjust to and we are not prepared for it.

Last year I experienced two phenomenal changes, a beginning and an ending on the very same day within almost exactly 12 hours of each other. Neither of them were expected to happen on that day, and they represented a very happy beginning and a very sad ending.

On June 9, at approximately 3:30 in the morning, my granddaughter Addilyn Sophia was drawing her very first breath into this world and within 12 hours, at approximately 3:30 pm my mother, Betty Lee, was drawing her very last breath and we were gathered around her expressing our tearful good byes.

Sue Monk Kidd said in The Secret Life of Bees "You have to find a mother inside yourself. We all do. Even if we already have a mother, we still have to find this part of ourselves inside." June 9th and all the days since then have been about exploring what it means to be a mother, to mother ourselves, to live life without a mother and practicing those mothering skills.

When my mother passed away, I had already had time to work at mothering myself during a long absence from her. During that time I painfully learned what it meant to mother myself, to live without her and it was hard. But in the years right before her passing we reconnected and I found her place at the table of my life to be enriching, an extra bonus, frosting on the cupcake, and I enjoyed our time together, treasured our conversations, valued the time I had with her to reconnect to that "same old mom" she always was, full of stubbornness and also compassion .

I have thought of her often in the last year, perhaps even daily and I miss her. I miss her happiness, her ability to smile and find the good, to talk to people and make friends wherever she went, to be curious about life and her constant quest to learn and explore new things. She was intrigued by my veganism, frustrated by environmental issues (hated fracking), and loved when her great grandchildren would visit.  I miss her love, her generosity of spirit, her kindness. I will never erase the voicemail messages on my phone and when I occasionally accidentally play one, it's like she is still here, never gone far away, her voice still so clear in my ears. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday that she was here and sometimes it feels so distant and long ago.

I have tried to make my peace in the last year with those things I didn't do, any regrets of time I could have spent, things I could have done. In the end we reciprocated love to one another and that was all that was needed or can ever be asked of one to give to another. She knew that I loved her and she loved all of us with all of her heart. That I know for sure.

Within the space of these past 12 months it has been amazing to watch my granddaughter grow from a helpless baby to walking and making decisions on her own and talking and singing and laughing. I see my mother's joy in her face, my daughter's kindness in her eyes, and I feel inspired and gratified that life is designed to keep on going, for us to remember those who came before by continuing to love those we have here, with all of our being and might, to mother not only ourselves, but to offer that maternal nurturing to others.

We never know what is in store for us tomorrow or next week or next year. Likely there will be many beginnings and many endings. May we gracefully travel through them, gathering the strings left behind and using them to tie ribbons around our futures.

Ashley & Mark

 

Images Courtesy of H & Co Photography

Lake Tahoe is a stunning place, any time of the year. Mountains, gorgeous lake, tranquility everywhere you look.  For many couples it is a peaceful and romantic dream for a wedding destination as well as a wonderful place to gather their family and friends from far and wide to celebrate.  It is the perfect and beautiful setting for getting married, especially if you can be right on the water with a million dollar view like the West Shore Cafe.  

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

Ashley & Mark had wanted a sacred and also a spiritual ceremony, one that included meaningful ritual, like recognizing and honoring their mothers by presenting them with roses and thanking their parents for all the many sacrifices they made and their unconditional love.  They wanted to bring together all of their family and friends, so they could meet and celebrate the fact that they had found each other.  They first met at their friends Adam & Allegra's engagement party.  They each felt an immediate crush on the other but it took some time for them to actually get together since they were living several hours away from each other at the time.   Meeting again the following year for their friends' wedding, they found themselves chatting, getting to know each other and having an amazing time.  

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

They persevered through a long distance romance, spending their weekends alternating driving several hours in order to be together and spend time with one another.  It was challenging, and through time, they both came to know that they did not want to be apart.  Once Mark came to live in Sacramento, many more blessings came to both of them as Mark's daughter Haley came to live with them as well.  Mark was living his dream, with both of his favorite ladies under one roof, and watching Haley and Ashley bond, he knew Ashley was the woman he wanted by his side forever. 

"Now Ashley, please take Mark's hands, palms up, so that you may see the gift that they are to you.  These are the hands of your best friend, strong and vibrant with love, the hands that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of your life."  This ceremony had laughter and a few tears of joy and deep emotion as Ashley and Mark made their promises and vows to each other. 

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

Because Haley is understandably a very important part of their family, there were family vows which Ashley and Mark each spoke to Haley, affirming their unconditional love, devotion and respect to her.  

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

Following that, we had a wine box ritual, where Mark and Ashley sealed love letters to each other in a box along with a bottle of wine.  On their first wedding anniversary, they will open the box, drink the wine and read their letters to one another, remembering all the reasons they fell in love and chose to marry.  

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

About this time, we experienced a very interesting, but not entirely unexpected event at our ceremony.  It started to rain.  And, while it began as a bit of a sprinkle, it didn't take long for it to turn into, shall we say a more "generous" sprinkle?  

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

I must say, while I have had many weddings where it rained right before the ceremony, then magically cleared, this was my first full blown raining down on us wedding.  I resisted the urge to race faster through the ceremony as all the words and the pieces were so important to them and to their guests.  I was very grateful though, for the fast action of our wedding planner, Fearon May as she brought umbrellas out to everyone and we collectively were washed clean in order for Ashley and Mark to enjoy a fresh new beginning to their married life. 

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

Like any good marriage, the ceremony took team work and assistance from their "village" and together, we were able to pronounce them happily ever after!

 

Images courtesy of H & Co Photography

Ashley and Mark I am so honored and happy that I got to know you, and your most touching love story.  As we approach your anniversary, I hope that you feel the same sacred feelings of connection you had on your wedding day, now and for all the days to come as you continue the chapters of your never-ending love story.  May your entire family be blessed to experience the eternal circle of your beautiful love.  xo

Amanda & Alex - Happy (Almost) 1 Year Anniversary!

 

 

Image Courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

Through a very interesting chain of events, Amanda, a Californian, and Alex, an Australian, both found themselves visiting in Paris, and out dancing with friends one night a few years back.  After sharing the dance floor and some of the treasures of Paris, they decided to spend the following day sightseeing together.  Even though Alex was scheduled to leave a few days later, there appeared to be no pressing reason for him to do so, and they continued to explore the food, wine and art of Paris while enjoying many adventures together.  When they finally left Paris, it was together, as they had both fallen very much in love.  It was a logical progression that eventually led to Amanda relocating herself to Australia.  

As Oliver Wendell Holmes said "where we love is home -- home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."  Recognizing that they have such a congregation of family, friends and Life Champions in California, they returned to Amanda's California home for their wedding in January of this year.  While it was a bit chilly, it was a lovely ceremony on the brick patio of The Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento.  

Image courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

 

One of the things I loved best about their ceremony, was the wonderful way in which Amanda entered with her father.  Choosing her "Life Champions" as her Women of Honor, as she entered, she stopped and took a flower from each woman, each one of them representing the values she had acquired on her road to marriage.  These included integrity, humility, determination, loyalty, compassion, patience and authenticity.  

Image courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

As Amanda approached, Alex, as so many of my Grooms and Brides, was becoming emotional.  I watched him carefully, tissue in hand. 

Image Courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

Once Amanda had gathered all of the flowers from her Life Champions, Alex tied a bow around them, creating Amanda's beautiful and symbolic bouquet. 

Image courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

They had written their own sweet and very personal vows to each other. (Don't you love her dress?)

Image Courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

And, we included a handfasting ritual as a physical expression of the bond they will share with the knot representing the strength that will help them through any obstacles or bumps in the road along their journey.  

Image Courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

Our darling flower girl really wanted to be a part of what was going on. 

Image Courtesy of Chuck Travis Photography

I was so delighted to introduce my jubilant newlyweds!   

Amanda and Alex, as I wished for you that day, I wish for you today, and always... Joy, a joy that makes you laugh out loud; a joy that lights your eyes and fills your souls and a joy that shouts to the world of your happiness for one another.  

xo

Two Weddings, Two Happy Couples, One Broken Foot

Over Labor Day weekend last year, I was very excited to be booked for two weddings on Saturday.  There were two different reasons for my excitement.  The first wedding was in Lake Tahoe at a venue new to me that I couldn't wait to see.  The second wedding was to marry two doctors whose wedding had many unique cultural touches and I had married friends of theirs so there was that sweet commonality.

Blue Sky Terrace, Heavenly Lake Tahoe, is beautiful beyond belief and it was a marvelous start to my day to look out at gorgeous Lake Tahoe from such a viewpoint prior to Anthony & Jennifer's wedding.  

 Photo courtesy of Shaunte Dittmar

After taking the gondola ride to the Observation deck, Jennifer & Anthony's guests were also treated to that panoramic view and it was fun to hear their exclamations of joy and wonder as they arrived and took pictures.  Jennifer and Anthony had met back in college and it was after Anthony graduated and moved away, that they knew they were destined to be together.  Once Anthony proposed, they wanted to find a beautiful place that would also be a treat for their families.  So they came all the way from Kentucky, bringing family with them, most of whom had never seen the gorgeousness of the California mountains and Lake Tahoe.  What a wonderful way to create an awesome destination wedding and enjoy something wonderful with family.  

 Photo courtesy of Shaunte Dittmar

 Photo courtesy of Shaunte Dittmar

Both of them teared up and shed a few tissues-worth of tears during their vows which was delightful.  Eight years after their first date, they were both clearly very happy to be marrying, surrounded by close family and friends. 

I bid them all farewell and headed back to the parking garage in order to drive back down the hill to Sacramento for wedding number 2, about a 2 hour drive on a good day, but it was a holiday weekend so I was a little anxious about traffic.  Stepping onto the floor where I left my car, I did not see a small curb and tripped, falling right on the outside of my left foot.  This is where my two wedding day became a real adventure.  I did not want to chance any problems with delay, so even though my foot hurt, I began driving. When I got about half-way I stopped for a bit of a break at a Starbucks.  Getting out of my car, I was pretty distressed to find I could absolutely not step on my foot and it was swollen.  

Luckily, my next stop, was to unite two medical doctors in marriage.  Not wanting to bug him on wedding day, I rather reluctantly called my Groom to give him the heads up that I would need some assistance walking into the backyard where the wedding was taking place and perhaps would he happen to have any crutches laying around?  Call it fate or luck or my leading a charmed life, but indeed when I arrived, not only did they have a spot up front reserved for my car, but my Groom and a friend were there to assist me, crutches waiting for me.  

My most kind couple had the most thoughtful of family and friends who insisted I put my foot up and brought me advil and a bag of ice.  Once we were ready to start the wedding, I was feeling ready and although I couldn't put my shoe on, I was able to perform Amy and Vlad's ceremony without a problem.  (Note my crutches at the ready)

 Photo courtesy of Daniel Negrea of West Coast Picture

I loved the colors and the theme of this wedding, gold and turquoise with an east meets west theme.  Vlad's parents came to America from Russia and the clothing worn by Vlad and his Groomsmen was stunning, very Russian silk road, and I was absolutely charmed by Amy's adorable gold puffy fairytale dress.  

Amy and Vlad had met in medical school.  Once Vlad got to know Amy and she was ready to move on to her residency in Sacramento, Vlad knew there would never be another Amy and that she was the person he had been looking for his entire life.  

The poet Rumi wrote “Love is the dancing cry of the soul, calling the body to worship like a shining whirlpool or a spinning mayfly so is love among the skies.  I leap across the mountaintops, madly singing the song of all songs.  I float through the ether, intoxicated, thrilled.  I think only of your love, your calling to me and I dance the thousand dances of love, all returning to you”.

 Photo Courtesy of Daniel Negrea of West Coast Picture

These two had a very clever way of incorporating Amy's beloved pet cat into the ceremony; she was the ring bearer, patiently holding the rings on her collar until the appropriate moment. 

 Photo courtesy of Daniel Negrea of West Coast Picture

Photo courtesy of Daniel Negrea of West Coast Picture

Their wedding ceremony was full of tenderness, whimsy and tears, especially as Vlad stated his vows to Amy in Russian and I watched his mother in the front row.  

Two wonderfully special couples, two very different weddings and as soon as I arrived at the Emergency Room, I discovered I had one very broken foot.  I'm so grateful my second wedding included many caring doctors in the house who encouraged me to go get ex-rays.  But the show went on and there were many kisses and hugs.  Amy, Vlad, Jennifer and Anthony, I wish for you the courage to keep your loving hearts open to each other for the rest of your lives and to always cherish the precious love you share.  I know I cherish my connection with you.  

"Cindie was always professional and we felt she wanted to get to know us and tell our story with authenticity.  She was open to any suggestion or minor change that we wanted to make and the story she wrote for us was truly special and unique.  It not only illustrated the texture of our relationship but she understood the tone of our ceremony perfectly.  She didn't even let a broken foot stop her from being there for us!" ~ Amy & Vlad 
 

Megan & John

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch

Megan and John live on the east coast, work stressful and busy jobs and travel a great deal for their careers.  When they need to connect, to take time off, and be with each other, they head to nature, along with their doggies, Scout and Stella.  During their courting days they loved spending time in the mountains, hiking, fly-fishing, and enjoying each other's company.  

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch Photography (taken at Tunnel View, Yosemite)

When John proposed to Megan, it was while they were having some away time at a B&B in the Shenandoah Valley, which of course, included the dogs.  John surprised Megan as they were about to head to dinner, as he called her to come outside where he had adorned each of the dogs with an appropriate chalkboard sign, Scout's reading "say yes" and Stella's "Please".  Knowing how much her dogs mean to her, John had to include them in the 'popping of the question'.  Their doggies are an important part of their lives and their family, right up there with the importance of getaways in nature.  So when they were deciding where to marry, it was pretty clear they wanted a beautiful and memorable location.  They had not yet been to Yosemite, but knew they would love it, and that it would be the perfect spot for their intimate elopement...with just the two of them, their awesome Photographer and me.  

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch Photography

It was obvious to me, once I had gotten to know them, that Stella and Scout would be included in the ceremony I would write for them.  After all, something I loved about John was how he had created an entire story life starring bad dog Scout and the valley girl Stella.  During the ceremony I talked about the dogs, and read a poem entitled "How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog".  After the ceremony, Megan laughed and asked me if I had many other clients who included their dogs in the ceremony as much as them.  I said it didn't matter.  It was their ceremony, written for them, and while Stella and Scout could not be there physically, their presence was felt by Megan and John in spirit and that was what mattered. 

Image courtesy of Carl Zoch Photography

Images courtesy of Carl Zoch Photography

The two of them like to look at their life as an adventure and going forward they hope to fulfill all their personal goals for themselves, and their marriage, continuing to bond over shared experiences, whether it's going out for a run or a paddle, or having a quiet dinner out.  Because after all, love, is like owning a dog, and love "needs love, lots of it.  And in return love loves you and never stops."

Megan and John may you continue to experience many adventures together throughout your marriage.  Billy Graham said "The word 'romance', according to the dictionary, means excitement, adventure, and something extremely real.  Romance should last a lifetime."  I have no doubt that for you, it will.  Hugs and best wishes to you, as well as to Stella and Scout. 

Image Courtesy of Carl Zoch Photography

"We want to thank you so much for making our wedding ceremony everything we wanted it to be!  Honestly, it was picture perfect!  We are so lucky with how everything turned out for our special day, and you were such a big part of that!  We can't thank you enough for giving us the perfect ceremony - I feel like we are still riding cloud 9 from our wedding day." ~ Megan & John