Jolie and Bill wanted a simple wedding to celebrate their love for each other. Just nine days before the wedding she phoned me and said ‘we are eloping in Winthrop and can you take the photos?’ I admit, it was something new for me and it sounded like lots of fun and she was delightful and what fun it was! After doing a little google browsing, I noticed that elopements are becoming more common for a variety of reasons. Here is an article from the New York Times and one from the Huffington Post and there are lots more out there.

For this occasion, Jolie found a simple cotton lace dress and matched it with her mother’s belt, and turquoise jewelry and new boots that matched her beautiful blue eyes. Bill was handsome with the paisley tie she found for him and new blue jeans. They stayed at the Methow River Cabins, next to the Spring Creek Bridge on the Methow River. Even though they were together all morning, Bill managed to not see Jolie til after I arrived so I got to photograph that wonderful moment when the groom first sees his lovely bride! From that moment, I don’t think they left each other’s side for the rest of the day.

When Jolie said it was just going to be the two of them I asked about witnesses and in the end I was one of them and Jill from the Methow River Cabins was the other! Several white-tailed deer may have also witnessed the event. Retired Judge Mary Ann Ottinger was the officiant. She is the same person who married Ken and me and hearing her words always takes me back to our big day! The day was cold for a sleeveless dress – about freezing I think but the skies were as blue as a bluebird and Mount Gardner glistened in all of its dramatic glory in the background of the ceremony.

The Spring Creek Bridge serves walkers, bike riders, skiers, ice skaters and anyone else that wants to get from one part of town to the other using their own energy. It is less than two years old and a huge asset to people who live in Winthrop and visitors from near and far. A bridge seems like a fitting setting for a wedding as it brings two sides of the river together much as a marriage brings two people together.

What a fun day! Many thanks to Jolie and Bill for including me!