Jaren + Marissa
Where do I even begin? I had the huge honor of photographing the most easy going couple on the face of the earth. I don't think I've ever been a part of a wedding that was so laid back, and enjoyable the entire time. Jaren & Marissa tied the knot on a family friends' horse ranch in Pioneertown, California. This made for the perfect setting for a wedding day: simple, romantic, & desert.
We started the day with Marissa in the "Casita" located on the ranch, capturing her getting ready with members of her family. After the bride was completely done with hair and makeup, her mom and sister helped to finalize her wedding day look by putting her dress and jewelry on. That turned into a little more of a task than any of us would have thought, having to figure out the back of her dress and try to re-pierce her closed earring holes, but Marissa took it all in stride without even an ounce of stress or worry. She was a flawless bride! Her dress looked as though it had been made to compliment her. Once Marissa was ready, we began to take family photos of her side of the family, since her and Jaren decided to wait to see each other until she walked down the aisle. When the family photos were over, we couldn't miss a picture with her dog, Lilo.
After I had finished all of Marissa's side of the family's pre-ceremony photos, I went to the barn, located about 100 yards from the casita, to begin capturing Jaren putting on his finishing touches. Let me just say this involved lots of laughter and learning for a young group of guys on how to put suspenders on the right way. But no need to worry- his best man, and brother, Blaine arrived at the perfect time to help his brother perfect his wedding day attire. Jaren was beaming with excitement and a little bit of nerves, but he smiled from ear to ear the entire time.
Following the groom getting dressed and ready, we began to set up what has turned into one of my favorite wedding traditions. The bride and groom praying together, before any of the events of the day take place. This is such a special moment for the couple to pray one last time before becoming husband and wife. They shared a short time together praying, shedding a few tears of happiness, and giving them both a moment to breath and take it all in. It really is such a special moment, and I highly recommend it to all my couples on their wedding day.
After their time of prayer, Jaren returned to the barn and we finished all of the pre-ceremony photos. At this point we had reached the climax of the day, and the ceremony was about to begin. Guests were arriving, with smiles and laughter filling the ceremony area. The setting was set: a spacious horse ranch with a beautiful white arbor with some trees and cactuses behind, and horses roaming beyond the ceremony space. Jaren was at the end of the altar swaying side to side anxiously awaiting the moment he would see his beautiful bride. The bride's brother and sister-in-law began to strum and sing as the processional began to walk down the aisle.
Finally, Jaren had reached the moment when he would see his bride for the first time on the day they would be wed. She arrived in a classic car, her soon to be father-in-law the driver, and dad there to escort her down the aisle to the man of her dreams. Jaren's eyes began to fill with tears as her dad opened the door, and out came the gorgeous bride to be. Her father beamed with pride as he walked his first daughter to the altar where she would momentarily become a wife. The groom's brother began the quaint ceremony and went back and forth performing the ceremony with Pastor BJ. The entire ceremony was centered on the couples' foundation being built on the Lord. The brother of the groom stalled for a moment, then the sentence they had been waiting for arrived, as he gleefully shouted for all to hear, "You may kiss the bride!"
Following the ceremony, the bride and groom took pictures in front of the arbor with family, and shortly after I took them to the rock filled mountains of Pioneertown for their epic wedding portraits. It was such a sweet time for them to get away from the noise of the day, and enjoy some time together in a laughter-filled, romantic sunset setting. They returned to the ceremony for their reception and were introduced for the first time ever as Mr. & Mrs. Pendergrass. Once the reception had concluded, they began their exit through a tunnel of sparklers and back into their classic car- the perfect ending to their wonderful wedding day.
