Natasha and Aaron {Wedded Bliss, Cinnamon Rolls and Cookies the Size of Your Head}

Come, let's be a comfortable couple and take care of each other!  How glad we shall be, that we have somebody we are fond of always, to talk to and sit with.  ~Charles Dickens

I’m not quite sure how to start off this blog post. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of an event full of such deep emotion.

I’ve known Natasha for several years. She’s an intelligent and capable woman, a good listener and a caring friend. I haven’t known Aaron as long, but I can tell that he is a considerate and genuine man that deeply loves her.

If you don’t know them personally, I will share this: Their courtship has not been easy. Life has not been easy. They have faced difficult situations, illness and heartbreak. But, they have relied on each other. And I am confident that they will continue to do so.

                     

Above, right: This was the expression on Natasha’s face the moment they announced the ceremony would be starting soon. Adorable.

Above: Aaron, upon seeing Natasha in her wedding dress for the first time.

              

Above: Natasha’s dad sang several songs. It was rather touching to watch them dance as he sang.

      

I’ll long remember something that Aaron said when I was visiting for the weekend to take their engagement pictures. He said, “You can still come and visit us after we are married.” It was a simple statement, but it touched me. What soon-to-be-married man would say that to his fiancé's friend? I was, and am still, impressed.

Congratulations Natasha and Aaron. I’m so happy for both of you, and delighted that I was able to document your special day.

Awkward Moments

• I discovered that RAW files take up quite a bit more space than JPEG (yeah, duh). I had to hurry to resolve the issue and was crouched over my camera in a corner for a little while.
• While taking formal family portraits, I learned that it is not wise to stand on a fabric-covered folding chair.
• This was the first wedding in recent history that I worked without a second shooter. I had to hustle!
• I rushed to get into a closed-off balcony for Natasha and Aaron’s first dance (which required stepping through a curtained doorway into a completely dark stairwell). When I reached the top, I discovered that the door was locked… which meant that I couldn’t get *the shot*. Argh. I raced back down to keep shooting ground-level pictures.
• I saw a few cute kids dancing and asked if I could take their picture. They looked at me nervously and said “Umm… we’re actually leaving.” Then, they kept dancing. I got the hint.
• One of my favorite moments was when “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars started playing. Everyone on the dance floor sang along!
• When the Cupid Shuffle came on, I was so tempted to dance, but I couldn’t remember the steps.
• The reception was in a rather rural location, and I didn’t have any signal to use my GPS, so I had to ask the groom’s father how to get home. (Fortunately he gave me good directions!)