Some weddings are so beautiful that it's hard to describe them.

Not that there are few things to say. On the contrary, there are plenty of things you could say about James and Kira's wedding. You could comment on the great locales we had for photos, how easy it was to move around tiny North Bend, or how beautiful the reception at Lake Wilderness Lodge was.

But those aren't the things I want to say. What I really want to talk about are James & Kira's families. Oftentimes at weddings, it's overlooked that a marriage isn't merely a joining of two people, but it's also a joining of families. Even when these traditions are remembered, one doesn't always get the sense that these families are deeply and graciously accepting one another and welcoming each other in as friends and new loved ones.

This wasn't the case with the Nelson and Clark families. I don't think we've ever seen two families so gracious, warm, and inviting to one another. Let me tell you about a few wedding moments, and you'll see what I mean.

• After arriving at Kira's parents' home that morning, we staged their first look in the living room. Kira's dad faced the staircase where his daughter would arrive, and from there prayed a blessing over the new marriage. In a departure from our usual first looks, Kira's dad was then the one to tell James to turn and see his bride.
• We were graciously allowed to shoot bridal photos in the North Bend Library. Although unconventional, it meant a great deal to Kira and her older sister; this library was a wonderful reminder of their childhood, and Kira was thrilled to include it.
• Kira was married on her parents' anniversary. It wasn't an accident, nor did it overshadow the older marriage. Both the young couple and the parents were clearly, genuinely overjoyed to share such a special day.
• On the last note, Kira's father gave a very moving speech at the reception in which he not only blessed his daughter and son-in-law, but also shared that it was his anniversary. He ended it by toasting the most wonderful woman he knows. Turning to his daughter, he said, "I'm sorry, dear, but that's not you. I love you, but I'm talking about your mother." He then raised a glass to his wife and kissed her, to the applause (and tears) of everyone in the room.

Honestly, these are the kind of people I live for as a wedding photographer. We could go on and on about the joy of every guest and family member at the reception, about everyone's incredible dancing ability, or about the couple's patience and excitement throughout the day. But we have to stop eventually, so we'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.

Thank you, James and Kira, for asking us to be a part of your celebration.