Kate & Claudia // Malibou Lake Lodge Wedding
Last September, under sheets of unforecasted rain, Kate & Claudia got married & got drenched along with their incredible friends & family who fully leaned in to the surprise storm. Ms. Monsoon was a once-in-a-lifetime wedding crasher; she decided to shake things up by arriving unannounced in the middle of a heatwave. And honestly, it made this couple's day all the more epic.
Around 2pm, I drove the brides from their hotel to their wedding venue, and we were chatting about our expectations for the rest of the day. I once heard Glennon Doyle describe her wedding this way: It wasn't "everything is going to be perfect so we will be happy," it's "we will be happy so everything will be perfect." After sensing a bit of anxiety the brides had about the HEAT (hilarious, in retrospect), I shared this quote with them in the car as we drove over to The Lodge at Malibou Lake for their wedding.
No one in my Kia could've guessed that 3 hours later, the brides would be saying their vows as their people-of-honor shielded them with umbrellas, and guests would hold fans (meant to quell the heat) and suit jackets over their heads in a futile attempt to block the downpour. I could’ve never predicted that I'd be walking in shoes that felt like over-soaked sponges, hiding my cameras under my shirt when I wasn't actively taking photos to make sure they didn't explode. We couldn't have guessed that everyone would totally let go of any vanity and stroll out into the storm to celebrate the brides, and that every guest would laugh & clap with joy each time the rain began to fall harder & louder. This day was once-in-a-lifetime.
I couldn’t believe how simultaneously chaotic and wonderful it all was, and was so impressed & in awe as I watched person after person shrug, walk across the lawn under a falling sky, and let hours of hair-doing and makeup-perfecting wash away. Ultimately, the rain created an other-worldly atmosphere—one where everyone was 100% present, and any trace of ego disappeared once we all looked like we tripped and fell straight into a lake. Between all of the vendors, we gathered 4-5 emergency umbrellas, but no one brings raincoats when there's no rain in the forecast; only guests who lived very close by were properly equipped! Even drenched-to-the-bone, every dang face on that lawn was painted with the biggest smile.
Through the entire day, the brides exhibited incredible adaptability & trust in one another. Although Kate wasn't INITIALLY stoked when the rain began to fall, she eventually accepted the absurd turn of events and ultimately realized she wouldn't have changed a thing. We laughed while recapping that her biggest concern about the day was the HEAT, and that she somehow she ended up marrying her true love under thundering clouds and golf-ball sized raindrops. Because opposites always attract, Claudia was STOKED when it began to rain. From the jump, she thought it was "so exciting" and never wavered in her confidence that they should 100% move forward and get married outside no matter what. She MAY have even hit her father with a bouquet when he suggested they were "making a huge mistake" getting married out in the storm. MAY HAVE—it's all, for legal reasons, hearsay.
In retrospect, they knew they made the right choice and had an absolutely magical experience.
After their ceremony, we all dried off and headed joyfully to the (indoor, thank goodness) reception. Guests threw their hair in ponytails as the rest of the night unfolded juuuust as planned. The brides laughed so hard they cried during toasts from their loved ones, then threw donut holes into each other's mouths (let the scorecard show that Claudia didn't catch it, but Kate did), and then promptly got on the dance floor & never left (except when Kate's strap flew off her dress and we had to take 5 while I sewed it back on).
While sitting in one of the bridal suites and sewing Kate’s dress back together, we got a few minutes of downtime to recap the day and chat. We laughed impossibly hard, unable to fully grasp how on earth a 100º forecast turned into a Noah’s Ark apocalyptic storm. Kate shared some behind the scenes moments with me that I wasn’t present for (like Claudia insisting to her dad via bouquet assault that they WOULD get married outside). She also confessed that she was so glad she didn’t see rain in the forecast leading up to the wedding, because she would have probably gone crazy. It was so special just plopping on the couch for her dress repair and hanging out away from the commotion for a few minutes. That time with Kate was a part of the day I look back on so fondly. Shout-out to my sewing kit for helping me get her back on the dance floor without any wardrobe malfunctions!
Rain aside, spending the day with Kate & Claudia was a complete blast. I won the freakin’ jackpot getting to capture their engagement & wedding photos because they’ve got a love SO VIVID, laughter SO FREQUENT, and hearts SO BIG. And their dog is so damn cute, too. Love you, Remy. Their energy and radiance together and individually is undeniably contagious, and they make each other and everyone around them better, lighter, and definitely gigglier. I could go on forever about these two, but will end here:
They were happy, so it was perfect.
Congratulations, Kevorkens. You've got a love so powerful it caused a monsoon in a heatwave. What a day.
