Jonathan and Annilea
My sister is married, you guys! I don’t even know where to start with this post. It is a cool feeling to be involved in someone’s story for so long. I was there when she talked with him on the phone for the first time. I was there when he proposed to her. I was there to take their engagement pictures. Then I got to be there for the entire wedding weekend, from the nail appointment to the rehearsal to the wedding day itself. I love that my sister is so happy and I am so happy that I have a new brother.
Annie and Jonathan met online exactly one year before their wedding. The attraction was instantaneous and they get along perfectly. They are both big fans of nerd culture, especially Star Wars and reading. Watching Annie come alive this year with her relationship with Jonathan has made my heart happy. When he approached my family about figuring out a proposal plan, I was thrilled! He designed an engagement and wedding rings for the two of them, which are absolutely gorgeous (as you can see below).
The wedding weekend was a whirlwind of activity with friends and family. We had childhood friends come in and visit from out of state, which made for great reunions. The day before the wedding was setup day. Annie and Jonathan had their wedding at the Multnomah Holiness Camp in Portland, OR. It holds a special meaning for our family, as our great grandparents spent many years as the pastors of the church, to the point that they named the main chapel as the Lund Tabernacle after them. There is also a little museum on the grounds that was the house where they lived in while there. It is full of items from their life, including things that my dad and his brothers and sisters remember. We have gone there several times as kids as well, so it means a lot to us.
The morning of the wedding went super smoothly. Annie had everything planned out so well! The camp has cabins available for use for when they have camp meetings and such, so we were able to stay on-site for the night before and full day. They both got ready on site, on separate sides of the camp, then we went over to the Portland Memorial Garden for the first look.
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. It turns out, it is hard to take pictures when your eyes are full of tears! Thank goodness for my second photographer, Ian Codilla! Annie and Jonathan chose to do something a little different during the ceremony. They each had written letters to each other, which they then sealed with wax during the ceremony and locked them in a box for them to open again on their 5th anniversary. They also did hand-tying during the ceremony, symbolizing them coming together forever as one. My favorite part, however, was the end. For the first kiss, they had cooked up a little surprise that had everyone laughing!
I am so happy for the two of them and am so glad I got to be a part of their day this way.
Second Shooter: Ian Codilla
Cake: Simply Sweets
Florist: Petal Passion
Hair & Makeup: Katarina Tiley
Dress: Adorned in Grace, alterations by Custom Fit by Michelle
Suits: Men’s Warehouse
