Sarah Marie

Sep 22, 20204 min read

Elegant Corbett Wedding Over the Gorge

Updated: Oct 23, 2021

Noah and Juliana Sanders

September 5, 2020

When Juliana told me she was expecting a ring I picked up the nearest thing and threw it at her. I think it was a towel . “What the heck are you SERIOUS?!” Was the most intelligent thing to come out of my mouth. She laughed - you know that sweet, musical sound I’m talking about. If you asked Noah when he first fell in love with her, what do you want to bet it was when he heard her laugh?

I had only met Noah once before that day last November, but I watched him when he picked her up from our ballerina photoshoot: patient, supportive, getting the car door, eager to help and thinking ahead. I watched as he put her first. And smiled the whole way.

Juliana is so sweet. I say this because I know it takes discipline and love for Jesus to be as gentle as she is. And I honestly didn’t think a guy would ever be good enough for her.

But God brought her a man. A true man, through and through. And to listen to her talk about him, even the deepest cynic would believe in faith and love.

So there we were, our breath catching as - for the briefest moment - time froze. Her mom’s hands rested at her lower back as she did up the wedding gown, and Juliana turned to face us. The most beautiful bride you ever did see. My eyes misted up and I bit my lip.

You see, she is my very oldest friend.

Friends since we were three years old, I never would have imagined how things would come full circle. Life happened and our paths led apart, but we reconnected several years ago. After spending time with her I felt light and airy as if Heaven itself had touched me. Those are the kind of people you want to be with and aspire towards. Her love for Jesus and her love for others... and now her love for Noah.

And to see your childhood friend dressed in white, love written all over her face and so beautifully happy... I can't give adequate words to the feeling.

Although they were married already (Covid hit and they continued with a small backyard wedding in June) today was their celebration. And Noah has yet to see her in her dress.

I stood with him and laughed. His face was so eager and excited. “I’ll stand here,” I explained as we waited for the bride. “She’ll come up behind you and I’ll take some pictures, but you can’t move, okay? Then I’ll move towards her and you can turn around.”

“There’s a mirror.”

...

I looked up at the massive frame on the wall behind me. “Yeeesss there is. Just don’t look.”

“I can try,” he grinned, “but I make no promises.”

“Fair enough,” I laugh and move him, then paused. “...Are you ready to see your bride?”

The smile was all I needed.

The moments to follow are too perfect for words. The anticipation on their faces melted my heart completely. That’s the deepest privilege of photographing weddings: I was the only one who saw their faces in that precious sliver of time. And they were so overwhelmingly beautiful. When he turned and saw her...

Wow.

His smile.

He gently wiped the tears off her cheeks and tenderly kissed her forehead as they interlocked hands.

Even if I wanted to tell you what was said I couldn’t. I felt like I was spinning around in perfect circles to capture the moment. And then I suddenly left. So they could savor their moment.

The day only got sappier for me. When the father of the bride was not only giving her away but speaking blessing over them and leading the ceremony - I lost it. When they prayed together and took communion, “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe overwhelming our senses in the background - oh my. I lost it. My spirit was filled, as I’m sure the entire room was moved, and I gazed in wonder as their world, their people, their friends prayed.

So when it was said “you may kiss the bride,” (again), that was the merging of two lives that linked hands and now run together towards God. Love is sacrifice. It is laying down one’s self so the one you love may be better for it. Love is also the greatest joy, gift and treasure of this life. And I, along with all those in the room (and those who could not be), am so privileged and excited to stand along side them in their marriage.

So Noah and Juliana, may the Lord bless you and keep you. As you seek His face together may He give you clear paths to follow into this love relationship with Him. Because of your love for each other, may you feel more deeply the love of the Father. May you be blessed with every joy and happiness, may your home be filled with song, dance, laughter and delight. May you grow together through the tough times and be of support and comfort to each other. May your family be blessed and healthy. May Jesus’ love shine upon you and your children and may they know Him well. May the Author of light and life weave together a beautiful story for you, more beautiful than any book ever written. May He go before you and guard you. In all of your ways, look to Him. Hold each other, have grace for each other, serve each other and live life to the fullest... together.

You are both so loved.

And the dancing and sparklers and celebration that followed lead them into the beginning of happily ever after.