Mary Ann and Ron didn’t know where they were going to get married when COVID19 entered the US and affected their wedding plan. With family and sentimental ties to the east coast, midwest, and the west coast, they decided they couldn’t wait another year for safe travel and wanted to get married in Spokane where they’re living for the time being.

When inviting immediate family and local friends to share their sunset wedding ceremony with them, M and R had one simple request—please decorate your car!!! This is one of my favorite things guests can do for COVID eras weddings. Grab a chalk pen, some balloons and ribbons, and decorate the eff out of your cars y’all!! People will honk driving by, it will make the bride and groom smile soooo much, and its an of-the-moment decoration that will remind the couple of historical moment when they look back at their photos in the years to come.

These two chose to do a first look and a private vow reading in a field near their house, sharing some quality time together and getting their wedding jitters out. Even with intimate weddings, I can’t recommend having private time with your spouse-to-be enough. It’s very difficult to focus and be in the moment with friends and festivity around, and sneaking some alone time with your person is grounding, calming, and intimate.

With a sunset ceremony at the Farm House on Green Bluffs, they streamed their ceremony on Facebook and Instagram and recorded it on a go-pro to boot. Their officiant FaceTimed in on an iPad with audio hooked up to a bluetooth speaker, and since I’m ordained (fun fact!) I had the privilege of signing their marriage license and making it official. Technology y’all, it’s rad.

After cutting the cake and sharing a toast, we literally ran off into the sunset together for portraits as husband and wife. After a rainy spring, it was one of the most spectacular sunsets I’ve ever seen.

Mary Ann and Ron’s day was anything but traditional, but it was perfect. Before their wedding, we bonded over our mutual love of Bob Goff, especially his book, Love Does: Discover A Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World. And it’s the best way I can think to sum up their day— love does. Love DOES get married during a global pandemic. Love DOES go with the flow when plans change. Love DOES say yes no matter what’s going on in the world.

I loved being able to document this day for M and R and their families—and it’s a big hope of mine that it inspires other couples who are grappling with tough decisions during this pandemic. Remember that love isn’t stationary. Love is active, and love does.