Conversations with the groom #6,234: (I actually have no idea how many conversations with brides and grooms I’ve had over the last 35 years but that seems like a good number to pick out of thin air).

This one takes place at the wedding site, on a trail that leads to points overlooking Lake Tahoe. I see this guy as soon as I pull up in the parking lot. He’s wearing jeans, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and he’s carry a huge bouquet of silk flowers and glancing at his cell phone every few seconds. A dead giveaway for a groom.

Me: are you Joey?

Groom: yes ma’am

Me: nice to meet you!

Groom: yes ma’am

Me: is your bride here?

Groom: no ma’am. She will be here in 12 minutes. I’m not supposed to see her. We are going to do something before the ceremony with the photographer, I’m not sure what.

Me: oh, most likely a first look. That’s where the photographer will get photos of you the first time you see one another in your wedding finery.

Groom: yes ma’am

Me: You must be either military or from the south.

Groom: I’m from the south ma’am.

Me: oh? Where from?

Groom: Mississippi ma’am (yes, I had to spell out the esses and the pees to type that)

Me: and you came all the way out here to get married?

Groom: yes ma’am

Me: how long have you been in town?

Groom: since Thursday, ma’am. (It’s Saturday)

Me: did you have a chance to do some sightseeing?

Groom: yes ma’am. And we went to the Sage Room (yummy!) for dinner last night. I had the Cajun blackened steak.

Me: was it authentic?

Groom: yes ma’am. It was very good. (And I’m thinking, yeah, the Sage Room has always known what it was doing.)

By now I’m also thinking this poor guy better get married soon because he’s most likely just about out of “yes ma’ams.”

Me: when your photographer gets here I will have him get you set up where he wants you to do those first look photos.

Groom: yes ma’am.

Me: in the meantime we can just wait right here.

Groom: yes ma’am.

Gotta love those southern boys.

So the photographer shows up and takes its groom down the path.

I went to meet the bride. Who was gorgeous.

Peaches and cream skin, curls in her hair, pretty wedding gown. With a southern accent.

Me: hi! You must be Annie!

Bride: yes ma’am.

And right there I knew this was a match made in heaven.

So we things all set up where the photographer wants them, and I do the ceremony. A religious ceremony of course. Because I have yet to have a nice young southern couple who would have it any other way.

Got them all married up!

Yes ma’ams and all.

The photo is from a different wedding, taken by our very own Pete Rezac, with the totally awesome lighting that is just part of the service here at Chapel of the Pines.