Jonathan and Charissa's wedding was simple, yet beautiful. We started a Titlow Beach for the reveal. Jonathan was really hoping to have photos with the Narrows Bridge in the background, but, as it was September in Washington, it was quite foggy and hard to see the bridge. Still, we were able to bring out the bridge in some of the photos. See if you can spot it! What was better than the bridge, however, was the pure joy in Charissa and Jonathan. Their laughter and smiles were only interrupted by the silly faces they made at each other throughout the day. Fog or no fog, this day was clearly one of the best days of their lives.

Before every ceremony, I ask the minister about house rules and his or her preferences on photography. Some churches don't allow flash, some ministers ask us not to pass the first pew. Jonathan and Charissa's minister had a different request. When I explained that the couple wanted their first kiss shot taken from behind them, with the audience in the background, he enthusiastically agreed. He told me to go wherever I wanted during the ceremony, to do whatever it took to get the best shots possible. He said he wanted them to look back on their wedding day and remember their vows in vivid detail. They'd remember every moment of their wedding when they didn't feel the joy of newlywed life anymore. The minister also loved the idea that in the photos of their kiss they'd see all the witnesses of their wedding day.

And that's why we do this. Yes, we love giving clients beautiful photos, bringing professionalism and peace to a busy day, and capturing love stories on "film." Yet probably the biggest reason why we do wedding photography is what Jonathan and Charissa's minister described: we want to help couples remember their vows. Not all married days are going to look or feel like that first day of wedded bliss. Every couple will go through difficult times. Our hope is that, during those trials, our clients will be able to look back on their wedding day and see the joy and love they felt, and, more importantly, remember their promises to each other. This is the reason for our wedding photography.

Now, without further ado, here is a sample of the day Jonathan and Charissa vowed to spend their lives together.