This past Saturday, I trekked my way up to New Jersey for the wedding of a college friend of mine.

Melody and Christopher had their legal marriage on the Wednesday before their wedding date, so that their Saturday ceremony was a casual gathering of friends and family for a handfasting.

Most everyone brought various kinds of ribbon with which to tie the couples' hands together. Each person had something different to say; some sang a song, some wrote or recited poems, others had well wishes, verses from the Bible, or some other blessing to bestow on the happy two.

Afterwards, Melody and Christopher and I escaped out behind the church hall to take photographs in the woodsy area nearby. Melody specially requested that I incorporate the fallen birch tree somehow; "I love birch," she said, "The bark is just so lovely."

It's plain to see that she and Christopher will be happy for a long, long time. They are so at ease with each other, and made conversation with grace and comfort while I photographed.

The two of them are returning to Ireland (Christopher's native land), where a small house with a bright red door awaits them. I wish them the best.