serra valley farm wedding mt. airy, maryland | jess + jordan.

By the time I show up for a wedding, things are usually a little hectic. Girls are running around with one shoe on, groomsmen wandering aimlessly around the grounds, unsure of where to be, and there's usually someone from the venue trying to explain why there's flooding at the ceremony site. So I try to prepare for the temporary madness with a trip to Starbucks and a deep breath before I get out of my car. But when I arrived at Jess and Jordan's wedding at (gorgeous! rustic!) Serra Valley Farms in Mt. Airy last weekend, I had to take a moment to readjust. There was no madness. It wasn't chaos. There was a certain quietness to everything, above the gravel crunching under my feet, above the hum of humidity and summer bugs jumping between the trees. Above all that?

 JOY.

The resounding vibe over their wedding day was an absolute desire that God be glorified in their marriage - people, I dig it. More important than the might-be-flooded ceremony site, or or the sticky-hot summer heat that arrived shortly after the morning rainstorm, they wanted to make sure everyone knew it was Jesus they loved, it was Him who brought them together, and their intention was to see Him honored not only on their wedding day, but every day thereafter. It was so humbling to be a part of it, to bow my head alongside four dear friends decked out in identical pink dresses, praying over Jess as she becomes a wife. To watch her mother, who I am certain is joy-embodied, love on her daughter with abandon at every opportunity, and when Jess was occupied with something else, you could find her with her husband, who was all smiles, all day.

My favorite part of the wedding day is usually when the bride and groom's portraits are in full swing - we're working well together, get a good rhythm going, I'm shouting stuff like, "You're a tiger!" But on this day, it was the ceremony. The communion. The palpable happiness you could feel lingering in the air. The kiss to end all kisses once and for all. The look on Jordan's face when their pastor, who takes full credit for recommending the church where Jess met Jordan, announced them as husband and wife. These are the good things in life.

Jess and Jordan, I wish you both endless joy and happiness! You're already there!

P.S. Many thanks for Jessica "J-Monet" Klick for second shooting with me. [Fist bump.]