Karen and Raye | Skagit County Wedding Photographer

I  have known Karen for several years, since we attend the same church together. She is an incredible woman, the mother of nine (and caretaker of more), an artist and craftsperson, a lover of beauty (and of God)–there are so many things I could say about her, but the thing that stands out the most to me is Karen’s heart. She has a huge heart that she so willingly shares with others (which is probably why she had all those kids!).

When Karen asked me to photograph her wedding to Raye, I was deeply honored. The two have been dating for quite some time and their marriage promised to be a wonderful  melding of not only the two of them, but two gigantic families. As you’ll see by the group photos, it was indeed a family affair!

Karen’s love of beauty carries over to everything that surrounds her. To walk into her home is a feast for the eyes and spirit. Naturally, her wedding reflected the same attention to gorgeous details. Her dress, the flowers, even the time spent on making sure that the wedding program communicated exactly what she wanted to say to the guests . . . everything was a reflection of the love that Karen and Raye share.

The Orthodox wedding ceremony was packed with guests of every age. I hate to be redundant, but it was . . . well, beautiful. I hope the photos convey in some small way how lovely (and fun!) the entire evening was.

And the reception? Well, let’s just say that having your guests participate in a Beatles sing-off is the best idea ever for a wedding reception! (I still can’t get “I Will” out of my head.) Thank you, Karen and Raye, for allowing me the privilege of preserving these memories for you.

Congratulations, Karen and Raye!