Nate and Darci

Darci and Nate’s Wedding Day—A true love story

Written by Mary Ann

When I posted a sneak peak of Nate and Darci’s special day on our Facebook page I said, “Their story has all the makings of a Nicholas Sparks’ novel.”  But thanks to Rich I take back that comment.  Rich says Nicholas Sparks always has a death or some sad event in his novels and for the record Nate and Darci don’t need any of that in their lives!  So I have changed my mind, my all-time favorite romance writer is Jane Austin, so I have decided that their story has all the makings for a modern times Jane Austin novel.

Here is their story, in a very quick overview.  Nate and Darci dated their senior year in high school and their romance included a ring with dreams for a future together clear back then, but young love has a way of growing up and sometimes that includes growing apart.  The two graduated in 1993 and went their own ways including college and careers.  Then one day 18 years after graduation Nate is riding his motorcycle down the street and who does he see?  Yes you guessed it!

So finally on September 20, 2013, Darci walked down the aisle and Nate is waiting for her.  They both looked at each other with the love that Jane Austin would have written about with beautiful worded illustrations.  

Darci was so incredibly beautiful in her gorgeous wedding gown and Nate was so handsome in his tuxedo.

As we gathered in the late afternoon, the weather was perfect and the décor was simply charming.  Darci’s grandfather’s antique car added to the charm and was a wonderful prop for couple portraits.  

As the afternoon gave away to the evening the sunset was breath taking and the candles surrounding the ceremony took over the task of illuminating our bridal couple adding romantic lighting to the “I do’s”.

Immediately following the ceremony the celebration began!  There was a true tangible joy in the air.  It was fun hearing conversations about how exciting it was to see Nate and Darci together and the toasts echoed everything that was being said by the attendees. 

As the evening gave away to the night, Nate and Darci jumped into her grandfather’s car and drove away with the smiles

still radiating from the wedding couple and all of the guests.  It was an honor to witness and photograph their special day and for the record we were smiling all evening as well.  Why even Jane Austin would have been smiling knowing that their love story was a novel in the makings!

Congratulations!

Perfect Weather for a Perfect Couple

     

As the weekend drew closer, the weather was working hard to cause stress in our beautiful bride’s life.  Thursday night’s storm front with tornado warnings were enough to make anyone a little uneasy, but if your wedding was just 2 days away, well you would be anxious, but come Saturday morning all uneasiness and anxiousness passed with the sunshine.  It was a gorgeous day and by mid afternoon it was a perfect day of weather which mirrored our wedding couple.

 Josh and Candace were what every photographer hopes to work with, perfect.  We seem to luck out and get lots of couples like this!  Candace was so relaxed about how the day would unfold, she only had one moment of needing to take deep breaths, but that was to keep the tears from staining her checks!  She was a picture of beauty in her free wedding gown, yes—FREE.  A coworker gave it to her 6 years ago saying it had never been worn and she wanted it out of her closet, so Candace has a gown before a groom!  But you would have never in a million years guessed it was a gifted gown, it looked like it had been made for her.

The groom was the pillar of strength and collectiveness as well.  He was so handsome in his tuxedo and he too, only had to breath deep once.  That of course was when he eye-catching bride was coming down the aisle to him.

After a lovely ceremony at Sacred Heart Church, we travel but a mile down the road to the picturesque Walter Clore Event Center, overlooking the lower valley and Yakima River. 

 It was the first time we have had the opportunity to photograph there and it is a gem of a venue. 

As the evening fell upon us, we enjoyed photographing them, their family and all of the large and small details of their reception including homemade wine glasses for the wedding party.  

Josh and Candace also personalized their day with their own homemade wine, that received several good reviews from the guests and each guest was given a corkscrew as a take away. 

As the sun set everyone was smiling, including us.  What a joy to be a part of a wedding day for a wonderful couple.  Congratulations Josh and Candace and thank you for allowing us to capture your special day.

Zachary and Ashley's Wedding Day

August 10, will forever be a special day for Zachary and Ashley.  As this day comes around each year they will look back with a smile, look forward with hope and love will hold all the other days together.

As the wedding hour approached Ashley had the best attitude, especially after the storm the night before her wedding day.  All she kept saying was “it’s a beautiful day, and we will accept the wind, because it is not raining.”  Her words and attitude reflected the beauty their relationship as well.

During the best man’s toast, the definition of love by the groom was shared.  Love is defined as a “choice” and you have to make that choice.  That is Zachary and Ashley—they make incredible choices: first, they choose to love God and that showed in their ceremony, second they choose to love each other and that showed in their vows and thirdly they choose to love the life they have and that showed in their attitude about the day. Wow-what a gift to witness love as a choice in action.

It was a pleasure to work with Zachary and Ashley and we know that they will have many special August 10ths in their lives.  Thank you for including us in the 2013 August 10^th!

Alex and Heather Job

July 27, 2013 -- What a peacock perfect day for a wedding!  Especially for Alex and Heather, who lined up all of the best for their day! 

Their story is an adorable one, as all are, but it’s cute twist was that Heather joined Alex one day at the family owned Nursery and that is the when the family knew she was the one for him.  Or at least that is the story that the best man, Arthur Job, gave in his toast.  

And the nursery is where the peacock theme came from.  As Heather said, it started as an idea that took on a life of its own.  But the colors where so much fun to work with, so alive and vibrant and the peacock feathers were so abundant in the decorations!

Each of them brought something special to the wedding that was a part of who they are.  Alex brought the plants, trees, and flowers to the wedding and Heather brought the corvette and chemistry beakers! 

Fr. Richard, of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, did a great job of explaining what men want in a wife and what women want in a husband, using humor.  Most of the attendees where laughing, but in so how knew what he was saying was truth.  He encouraged Alex and Heather to grow in faith and love, and they seem to truly appreciate his words to them.

As stated before there was an amazing line up for the day, starting with a beautiful gown from Amy’s Bridal, then the bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres and church décor where from Twigs and Petals and they were amazing!  Once the reception started Country Gentleman’s team stepped and took over.  All of the needs of the reception were taken care of by their staff!  Love working with all of them!

Alex and Heather had an amazing wedding and we wish them the very best!  We know they will have a wonderful life!!!

Chris and Julie's Day

Chris and Julie’s Day……….Finally

After dating for 10 years, Saturday July 20, 2013, Julie and Chris were married!  As the maid of honor said in her toast, everyone had been wondering when.  Then when they became engaged everyone said “it’s about time!” 

As with all our couples we love hearing their stories, Chris and Julie’s started with Hanford High’s Cross Country Team and an ice cream fight.  They noticed each other and have not taken their eyes off of the other since.  As we photographed their engagement session we talked about their love for sports, all sports! 

They love basketball and football and are diehard Patriots fans, which Julie incorporated into her something blue! The fun and competitive spirit they have is contagious and a joy to be around.  That may explain why friends and family travel from all over to witness this special day!

We could not help but smile all evening as we photographed them, because today, their wedding day had finally come! 

Chris and Julie will have many adventures together, starting with their honeymoon to New Zealand—hope you have the time of your life!

Valentine's Day

Our First Valentine’s Day together

By Mary Ann Breshears

Rich and I were sophomores in college at the University of Idaho and very typical college students, meaning we had no money, but we were in love.  We had been dating for almost a year and were certain we were going to get married as there was talk of it but no official date on the calendar.

When the day arrived I personally was so excited that I had the most incredible Valentine in the world and he was all mine!  We made plans to meet at 5 so we could exchange Valentines, go to dinner and then spend the evening talking about how wonderful our life together was going to be!  Rich arrived at my dorm room promptly at 5 with gifts in hand.  He brought me a bottle of inexpensive Champaign and a box of equally inexpensive chocolates, plus a card.  I had gotten him a very small box of not quite as inexpensive chocolates, a heart shaped balloon and a large sappy card.  We exchanged our gifts, thinking we had almost outdone ourselves given we were living on a student’s budget of $0 for gifts.  Then the highlight of the evening arrived, dinner, we walked to Skippers and had all you can eat Fish and Chips.  (It was Friday in the Lenten season) 

We sat in a booth in the back of the restaurant with the lots of other college students around us, but we didn’t care.  We talked and talked about our future.  How someday, we would be married living out the perfect married life: house, children, pets and jobs.  Together we were ready to take the world on!  After our long fluorescent light dinner, we decided to walk the long way home, circling around the campus when we realized it was getting late, about 8 pm.  But Rich needed to be up and at work by 2 AM so our first Valentine ended with a kiss at my dorm room door.  All I thought was ---Wow what a wonderful evening with my incredible Valentine.

Twenty-seven years later I spend almost every moment with my Valentine and in my opinion he is still incredible.  This year we don’t have all of the things we talked about at that amazing first Valentine’s day dinner but we do have so much more and I would not change a moment of the journey to get to today’s dinner.  I don’t know what we will have to eat tonight for dinner, probably not fish and chips, but what we will have is still a lively conversation about our family, maybe our pets, what needs repaired in the house and of course our day of photography studio work.  We love what we do because we do what we love!  How many can say that, I ask you?  What a wonderful day to stop and reflect.

Thank you Rich Breshears for being the best Valentine a girl could have 27 years in a row!!!