Justin's Jewish Wedding

Mike and I were invited to Mike's fresh-faced coworker, Justin's wedding last Saturday.  I've met his bride-to-be Kaitlyn two summers ago when we went to see Mariner's game together.  They looked adorable together back then and they were glowing together in their wedding day, the sunniest Seattle had seen this year.  We had Bob, Marsha and grandma Marie over that weekend, they'd arrived on Friday evening.  They were brave enough to offer babysitting the three children while we attended the ceremony and reception, so we prepared their dinner and drove off to the sunny hill side golf course where they had the wedding.

The venue was just breathtakingly beautiful.  The golf course is situated on the hill over looking Mercer Island and the Olympic mountains.  The bright greens of the golf course were followed by deep green of Bellevue's forest then to the hazy green of Mercer Island.  The color palette changed to blue as the distance grew and the faint contour of the Olympics against the wide cloudless sky was the sight worthy of forever burning in my memory.  I felt like I took a mini vacation and came back just by looking at the scenery.

Mike and I have never been to a Jewish wedding before.  They left a box full of small black scalp covers by the entrance and suggested Mike to wear it to respect their religion.  He quickly corrected me and said "you have to be Jewish to wear it, Kimi!"  Ok, never knew.  After admiring the scenery, we sat in the gazebo where they were to hold the ceremony.  When I saw Justin walked in with his Mom, the memories from our wedding twelve years ago vividly came back.  This day means so much for these young couple, I thought.  Looking at his nervous yet excited face made me smile and cry and I truly felt happy for Justin, Kaitlyn and their family.   It as a very special day for them.  

Kaitlyn was beautiful in her modern wedding dress.  She wore her hair down and it must be the current trend.  She didn't look too made up, natural and effortless.  Her natural beauty shined through and it fit her style.  We sat with Kaitlyn's friends at the reception and I understood that she is smart and down to earth.  I took about 250 pictures at the wedding and it was easy to do.  I enjoyed capturing happiness and it was easy to snap away.  My best photos were the pictures of their family watching them do their first dance together.  Their teary happy smiles were priceless.  Their wedding reminded me how much a marriage means not just to the couple but to the entire family.  It was a very special wedding and we left happy and renewed.  We wish Justin and Kaitlyn all the happiness and good health!  Congratulations!