ava & kenji’s wedding // lummi island, wa

“…once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side-by-side can grow up for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as whole and before an immense sky.”  -rainer maria rilke, “letters to a young poet”

Last winter I ventured alone out to the almost remote Lummi Island, for a day of celebrating the marriage of Ava & Kenji with their families. It wasn’t necessarily a wedding—and it wasn’t necessarily an elopement—but it was perfect, whatever it was. It was a freezing day, if you can tell, and so there was a lot of snuggling & cozying up & running out to the beach for photos & then running back to the house for warmth. It was blustery & wonderful.

We had dinner at Willows Inn, and they were married at the dinner table by a dear family friend, by the words of Rilke & the poetic musings of Bly. The only people who were at this ceremony were family (given & chosen); it was their many moms, along with a dozen or so pairs of hands that raised them up to be the people they are today. Two people, together, in love. In love, in a giant & warm embrace, on an island in the sea, on a cold & perfect day.

And if you visit my next post, you’ll see where this led to… love, love & more love.

{originally posted at CALIMA Portraits}