Where to begin with this wedding? We all knew it was likely going to snow on Jennifer and David’s wedding. The day predicted 80-90% chance of snow, 1-3 inches in Sedona. On my drive from Flagstaff to Sedona, it snowed the entire time, but wasn’t accumulating much. I didn’t feel too worried about it because I drive in snow all the time, and 1-3 inches isn’t that much for Flagstaff standards. I wasn’t stressed at all and was sure I’d be home with my family that night. Ha ha.
As soon as I arrived at Sky Ranch Lodge to film Jennifer getting ready, it started snowing a lot harder. Jennifer remained calm and was grateful Stevy Fletcher the photographer, and I were there. I think she kind of worried we wouldn’t show up because of the weather, which never crossed my mind! It snowed while she put on her dress and final details, but then suddenly stopped snowing. Then I saw a warning on my weather app that said “SNOW SQUALL WARNING.” I asked Stevy- what the heck is a snow squall?
As I started setting up my tripods for the ceremony and as the guests sat down, I suddenly understood what it was. We could see a white wall coming towards us from off the Mogollon Rim. The ceremony started with a few flurries but 10 minutes in, it started snowing HARD. They weren’t snow flakes but little hard balls of snow. The visibility went down between my cameras and Jennifer and David, it was snowing so much. The snow accumulated on David’s suit, and on my cameras. However, Jennifer and David smiled through it. The officiant asked if he should cut it short, and they both said, nope! What resulted was an unforgettable ceremony, and I learned that my cameras can take more snow than I thought. Thanks goodness.
There rest of the wedding went on without a hitch- thanks goodness for the large tent at the venue! However it kept snowing. Soon we learned that the 89 and I-17 were shut down, and as vendors, we were stranded in Sedona. Sky Ranch Lodge put Stevy, her second Taylor, and I in a room for free, which was so generous. Stevy even let me borrow a pair of sweats to sleep in, that saint! Huge congratulations to Jennifer and David, and huge props to them for loving their best day ever, come what may.
Full film above, preview below.