Ray and Joy are some of the most meant-to-be couples we’ve gotten to photograph. Their story is full of Charlotte’s Web, classical education, chunky baby nephews, and a kind and gracious God. Officially our first wedding where the groom (and most of the groomsmen) are priests! Ray is an Anglican priest and a teacher, who met and thoroughly wooed our dear Joy.
Our connection with Joy’s family goes way back to the beginning of our our relationship, and Joy’s sister Jenna is the videographer we refer our couples to, even though she lives all the way in Tennessee. Joy lived in Oregon for a couple years while she taught at nearby classical school, and she blessed us enough to spend some of her time with us, and care for our Samson while we shot weddings during the summers. And much later, two years ago, Joy was our on-site helper with tiny baby Almanzo for Andy and Ashley’s wedding in Tennessee. What a beautiful thing to see someone’s story at different points and then to see what God does next.
We were thrilled to get to fly to Pennsylvania together for a quick work getaway. We got to explore a bit of the area (shoutout to Taylor who is an unparalleled city guide, always <3), stay in the gorgeous rural Lancaster area with a wonderfully generous church family who also happened to be making and serving all of the DELICIOUS food for the wedding. Complete goals seeing their family work together as a team to create magic, more delicious, seamless, and well-run than most catering we’ve seen at every other wedding.
A huge part of this day was deeply hard and holy remembering of Joy’s amazing father. The entire wedding held the reality of missing him, while also carrying on his passions, his talent, his kindness, and, importantly, the riotous singing of St. Patrick’s Breastplate. They got married in the church he pastored, surrounded by their and his selfless friends who worked together to create a wonderfully meaningful and amazing wedding day. Every part of the wedding was put together from community, not “professionals”, and it was magic.
