When your cousin asks you to photograph her wedding, it’s super exciting (duh!)!  But when she’s also a photographer – and she photographed your wedding day! – it’s a tremendous honor.  I photographed Shana and Jason’s wedding alongside two of Shana’s close friends, and it was such a sweet experience!  Their beautiful woodland wedding was so unique, and I loved every bit of it!  It took place at Eagle Point Resort in Beaver, Utah – a ski resort with enough lodging for guests to stay on the property the whole weekend, and there were plenty of games and activities to keep everyone entertained from Friday night through Sunday morning!  With a Sunday morning ceremony and brunch reception, Saturday night was the perfect time for dinner & dancing!  Shana and her aunts transformed the rustic ballroom into a woodland hideaway for Saturday night and again for Sunday morning, and it was gorgeous and fit so perfectly with their rustic, woodland ceremony!

But beyond all of the fun and the pretty details, the very best part of this weekend was being able to appreciate just how well Shana and Jason fit together!  It’s so easy to see that they compliment each other in the very best of ways, that they truly are better together.  He grounds her, and she brings a gentle smile to his face just by walking into the room.  There’s an ease about them that only comes when you’ve found the person you’re made to share life with, and I just love that my dear cousin has found that person!

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this beautiful, meaningful wedding celebration! 🙂

Isn’t Shana’s ring STUNNING?!

They chose wooden bands, which I have never seen before but absolutely loved!  How awesome are these?!

I loved Shana’s gorgeous tulip-hem dress!  The perfect way to show off her super cute boots!

Every guest’s wedding program was folded up into a cute little envelope with the guest’s name on it – so thoughtful!

Before we knew it, it was time to get dressed!!

I love this next shot of Shana and her bestie, Sara.  🙂  And those floral crowns!  So perfect!!

Love, love, love this shot of Naomi, Jason’s daughter and the flower girl during the ceremony, showing me her locket with a photo of her and her daddy.  🙂

Aaaaaaand FAVE shot of the gorgeous bride!  Shana, you are stunning.

Ceremony tiiiiime!  And just wait until you see this amazing ceremony location!  Shana and Jason happened to stumble on this little clearing when they were at Eagle Point during a wedding planning visit, and it. was. PERFECT!

Naomi was the flower girl, and Linus (Shana’s furry companion) traveled with Shana all the way from San Diego to be the ring bearer!

Gah, this ceremony location!  It’s absolutely breathtaking, isn’t it?

Shana’s mom and Jason’s mom each prayed over this new marriage – and I was over here just trying to keep happy tears under control!  Haha!

As part of their ceremony, they placed sealed letters and a photograph into a box as a time capsule – to be opened and read on their first anniversary!  And then to be filled again with letters that they will open on their 5th anniversary, and so on.  I loved this idea!

HUSBAND & WIFE!

 

And I couldn’t resist another shot of this beautiful bride. 🙂

In full disclosure, I’m now going to do something very confusing and include some shots from both Saturday night and Sunday morning – but Shana and her aunts did such an amazing job decorating both events in such a cohesive way, they both fit perfectly into the whole story of this wedding!  Doesn’t this space look gorgeous??

These lovely ladies were responsible for all of the prettiness!  They did a fabulous job both Saturday and Sunday!

More of their handiwork!  Rustic woodland perfection!!!

LOVED these place cards!  Guests were asked to use wood-burning pens to inscribe a phrase or scripture reference into their jenga block, and return them before the weekend was over so that Shana and Jason will be reminded of them every time they play jenga!

Meet the Patriarch of my mom’s side of the family – Papa LeDoux!

So many people toasted the new Mr & Mrs on Sunday – what a testament to how loved these two are!

Dances before their bubble exit!  Love this shot of Jason and his mom!

And just like that, they are husband and wife and it’s time to see them off!

I love a good kiss during the exit. 😉

This next one is one of my favorites … love the excitement on Shana’s face!

And then it was time to sneak away for their first portraits as husband and wife!  Shana had found this huge meadow with the wooded mountains behind it!  Yes, please!

Shana, Jason, thank you so much for trusting me with the honor of photographing your wedding day!  I’m so excited and happy for you two!  I love you bunches!!