It was a couple of days before the wedding.

I called Karen, just to check in and make sure she was doing okay.  She had a brightness in her voice that I had never heard before. We chatted about flowers and centerpieces — the usual last minute tasks.  She was cheery and you just knew she was grinning from ear to ear on the other end of the phone line.  Casually, I asked her if she had any special photo requests. I could hear her shrugging as she expressed her trust towards me.  “Just do your thing,” she chimed.

A few seconds of silence passed.

“Wait, I thought of one more thing,” she said.  I could hear the brightness in her voice dim as she turned serious.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this.  For him.”  She started to choke up.  “This day just means so much to me.  I keep envisioning Steve and I, right after we’re announced man and wife, and we’re just looking at one another and smiling.  I’ve waited so long for that moment.”  

Tears started rolling on both ends of the line.

“That’s the only photo I want.” 

They say good things come to those who wait.

Steve and Karen’s wedding was kind of like that.  These two were married on a gorgeous, gorgeous day in July.  One of those typical, Colorado days when the afternoon showers are a sure bet.  With guests in their seats, officiant in place, the rain drops started to come down one by one, until it was obvious this wedding wasn’t happening outside.  Women retreated under their shawls and made a dash inside, careful not to slip in their heels.

The rain fell from the sky.  Hard.  The kind of rain that overflows from the gutters.

Lucky for us, one of the groomsmen was a professional weather man.

Between is assurance and Karen’s patience, we waited out the storm.  All sixty minutes of it.  And Karen got her moment…

———-

The connection between these three generations is so beautiful!

Love these shots Jesie grabbed of Steve.

While the men were drying things off,

the officiant was rehearsing.

Finally it was go time.

Karen’s mom greeted her and her dad in the aisle.

 Part II coming very soon!