I love what I do and I hope that is obvious to both my clients and everyone who looks at my photos. I love that every wedding is unique in how each couple interprets how they want to celebrate the joining of their lives. BUT… if someone were to ask me what my ideal wedding would look like… it would be pretty darn close to Jonny and Meilani’s wedding last Summer.
Let’s start from the beginning… I met Jonny in college. He played basketball and was/is quite good at it. Soon after I met is adorable girlfriend, Meilani. They are one of those rare couples that starts dating in high school and actually survives the transition into college, and beyond. Jonny and Meilani are an amazing couple, laid back, fun, happy people who are also very family oriented. Jonny has like 18 siblings, ok… that is an exaggeration, but as you will see from their giant wedding party, which was mostly family, they are family people. They also both talented photographers.
So, let’s recap… a fun, laid back, family oriented couple who is also into photography… this makes for ideal clients. Then let’s add in the location of their wedding. Jonny and Meilani were married at a family friend’s amazing home outside of Vancouver, Washington. The house was at the end of a long driveway lined on one side by a white picket fence and the other side was a big grassy field. I then went around the house and saw where the ceremony was going to be held… a gently sloping grassy hill with GIANT evergreen trees as its back drop, which were also on the west side of the yard creating incredible shade throughout the day (perfect lighting). Then the reception area… it was in another part of the perfectly manicured lawn and had lights strung across, simple tables with perfect floral arrangements for an outdoor summer wedding, and jars full of honey sticks as favors. Perfection. Add in lots of happy family and friends and there you have it, my ideal wedding to photograph. Oh, but it gets better… one of their family friends brought his gorgeous classic car as their getaway car and let us drive it up into the grassy field and take photos with it as the sun was going down. Beyond perfection.
Jonny and Meilani, I want to sincerely thank you for allowing me to capture your wedding day. You two are meant for each other and created the perfect day to celebrate your love.
Josselyn Peterson is a portrait and wedding photographer based in Bend, Oregon.
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