Unconditional love is a phrase often tossed around without the true depth of the power being placed in the words. To love unconditionally is to love someone without restraint, to hold nothing back. To know to the depths of your being that no matter what occurs in your life the person you are with will remain unwavering by your side. To be loved unconditionally is to be seen.
As a photographer I had the bliss of witnessing this rare depth of love be solidified in a ceremony, up a steep and sun-soaked mountain, overlooking the stunning beauty of Lake George, New York.
In the weeks leading up to the elopement, I watched the leaves shiver and fall from all of the foliage-changing trees in Wyoming. Winter had claimed my state but when I stepped off of the plane in New York, I realized to my delight that it was still in full swing on the East Coast.
Winnie and Jax have a love story that should be written in the stars, a profound tale of unconditional love. Their wedding day was a testament to that. The pair had moved from Colorado to Vermont earlier that year on the hunt for a new adventure. Outdoorsy to their core, Winnie and Jax quickly fell in love with the dense forest and the picturesque Adirondack Mountains. Hoping for an intimate day that allowed the two to express the depth of emotions they felt for one another privately, they decided to combine their love of the outdoors with their love for each other and elope on the top of a mountain overlooking Lake George.
On the day of their wedding, I arrived late in the morning hours bringing coffee and my hiking boots. The energy and emotion within the house were serene, joyful, and exquisitely soft. Winnie and Jax thanked me for the coffee and then moved to the back deck of their rented cabin with their dog Tiki where the little family sat soaking in the cool mountain air. They wrote their vows sitting together on the deck, smiling softly at each other while they reflected on their love. Winnie got ready in the natural light pouring into the bedroom and cut her flowers for her bouquet in the quaint kitchen. Together we gathered all of their wedding garments, marriage license, and a bottle of champagne, pilled into the car, and began the twenty-minute drive to the trailhead.
Winnie had selected a high-impact high-reward hike. A three-ish mile steep hike that ended in a dramatic overlook. Jax strapped all of the attire to his back. Winnie leashed Tiki. I slung my camera backpack on and off we went. The trail was shaded by trees adorned in fiery yellows and oranges, the hike was breathtaking. Yet, in all of its raging splendor, the hike up paled in comparison to the overlook. Winnie and Jax had selected a cliff that dropped steeply, welcoming an expansive view of the sprawling lake and richly colored fall foliage as the venue for their wedding. Both the bride and groom ducked into the cover of thick trees to change into their wedding attire. I helped Winnie place her vail and instructed Jax to turn around as she emerged, glowing in the afternoon sun, her love for Jax lighting her from within. As she touched Jax on the shoulder, his signal to turn, the sun burst through the clouds, anointing their nuptials in its glow.
Tears shed freely and shamelessly as the two exchanged their vows. They laughed with each other, made promises and declarations, and kissed passionately while their pup, Tiki sat quietly as if even she knew the impact of the moment. My favorite moment of the entire day happened just after their ceremony, I asked Winnie to pause so I could take a few photos of the way she stood captured in the light around her. While she stood getting her photo taken, Jax stood watching her. Their eyes poured into each other and they simply cried. The impact of their love for each other, is shared in a lingering look. It was one of the purest moments of true love I have ever witnessed. Two miscellaneous hikers signed as witnesses to their love. We lingered on the mountain top, soaking in the day, their marriage, and drinking champagne. As the sun set we wandered back down the mountain to share and cut a cake in the Air B&B.
To witness and capture the depth of a love like theirs is the kind of creating that sets my soul aflame. Their joy intertwined with my own and I left the Lake George with a cup overflowing with gratitude. Working with people like Winnie and Jax is a gift in itself, but having the honor of becoming their friend is priceless.
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