Ryan’s goal with his 8am ceremony on Lake McDonald was to get the best possible light for photography, which is a goal I can get behind. After his wedding to Rebecca there was a brief celebration then a champagne toast. Yes, at 8:30am. I thought this might be the moment I was looking for to encompass the mountain view with a balanced shot of all the guests. I got lucky with Rebecca standing in just the right place to not be blocked by anyone, and her cape let the light through just perfectly.
This photo won a gold medallion award from the Wedding Photojournalist Association, which is their highest honor. Gold means that all four judges voted for the photo.
Location: Lake View Dr, West Glacier, MT 59936.