Typically I tend to keep the focus of the blog on the pretty people in front of my lens. This wedding blog, however, is tremendously personal. This was the second wedding I’ve shot at home (the first was Anthony & Jena’s, dearest of dear friends), the place I grew up under the fresh sunny skies, beneath the towering Sierras, in fields of billowing grass and wild flowers, and amongst cows… cows that don’t smell because they are wandering freely in all that grass…. it’s a thing, I promise. There are weird and difficult things about growing up in a small town, but so much beauty, so much knowledge about the way things really work, (like seasons, how meat gets on your plate, what the stars really look like…).
This place formed me, and there are relationships with people here that have helped make me who I am.On that backdrop, let me paint the story of this wedding.
First, allow me to introduce these two knuckle-heads.
These are my brothers. Ok, so I don’t have any biological siblings. But these two have been my “brothers” for much of my life. They are ridiculous, hard working, mischievous, too smart for their own good, real-live actual mountain men who hunt and fish and know how to survive in the wilderness, brave servants of the land they love through law enforcement, oddly creative, loving toward children because they are big kids at heart, and in general just plain care about people. They are awesome. This is how they got ready for Jason’s wedding.
Their friends were about to complain about the temperature of the water, until they saw I was already wading in, ready to get these shots.
If this is not hilariously funny to you… I’m sorry. It is to me. :-)
Jason, despite all his knuckle-headed mischief, met and fell in love with a beautiful, genuine cowgirl, Liz. She is sweet, sassy and fun and I liked her instantly. If his proposal on top of a mountain that required a back-country helicopter ride wasn’t telling of his “all-in” affection, I don’t know what is! I’ll stop here with the play-by-play and let these pictures tell their story. SO.MUCH.LOVE. They truly are ready to love, honor, and cherish each other forever.
Big brother John picked out this spot for their first sight. :-)
Don’t worry, in my ‘hood, kids start with gun safety classes when they are like 12. These are the only type of people you ever want to have guns – trust me! 
A Yosemite fire sent smoke to cloak our mountains, but it was still beautiful.
That handsome officiant is my Dad. 
These are my “other parents”. 
Where I’m from a pretty cake tastes as good as it looks. And… there are almost always glorious sunsets.
Happy happily ever after Jason & Liz. Do more than be the perfect match, even more than make each other ridiculously happy forever, challenge each other to grow and thrive. Be more together than you ever could be apart. Love you both!
emily rickard PHOTO 
Absolutely amazing job! So happy to be a part of their day and lives!