This day represents why I do what I do. This celebration, rich with purpose, emotion, beauty and life, lights a fire in my creative heart and brought a soul-weighty responsibility to every frame I worked over. This day was about reconciliation. About redemption. About life-altering, all-encompassing LOVE. I wish there was a better word for the commitment expressed here... perhaps you can figure out what that word should be when scrolling through these pictures.

Kristina and Ricky are beloved friends of mine, and I bore witness to the deep valleys that brought them to this day. The sheer fact that they chose to soldier through the pain, instead of run away from it, is awe-inspiring. But the fact that they emerged from the other side with an even deeper sense of trust, care and tenderness for one another?! There is no human expression to accurately describe that, but GRACE. The pure, unmerited favor of God is clearly entangled in this love story, and it was nothing short of miraculous to watch it all unfold.

So, this day. Kristina and I spent hours planning every last detail, and of course it all came out beautifully. But what shone through, past the romantic florals and soft pastel tones, past the moody candlelight and wispy fabrics, was the incredible display of God's goodness and fierce love for this marriage. Kristina and Ricky - surrounded by their family and friends, who loved them through the mess, and stood up for their marriage in seasons of despair - were able to proclaim Holy Victory over a covenant that was so very close to destruction.

What absolute beauty. A picture of heaven on earth. A physical representation of us being reunited to God, despite our earthly sin and rebellion. He desires us and wants us, even though we wound him deeply. Christ covers all.

And on this day, Christ truly covered all.