MARRIED: A Tiny, Loving Ceremony at Historic St. Luke’s Church in Powhatan
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is a small historic church nestled in winding back roads in Powhatan County. It is a little brick building with stained glass windows completely encircled by a cemetery and a low, thick wall. It is the church that we attended when we grew up, and one of the churches Casey continues to work with today.
It is the where our father attended as a child, right down the road from where he grew up in a family of eight. It is a place we’ve seen family members at all stages of their lives. It holds memories of childhood acolyte duties, cemetery Easter egg hunts, and candlelit Christmas Eve hymns.
This meant that the invitation to photograph Angelina and Ben’s teeny tiny nuptials was that much more sentimental for us. Not only were we asked to document, but as there were no guests, we had the honor of serving as witnesses to their marriage.
We stood with them at the altar, photographing Sarah’s† sermon and their exchange of vows, chiming in when asked to speak up as a mini congregation. Ben and Angelina were filled to the brim with love for one another, which was apparent through their abundant smiles and tears.
We all received a very tiny and portable communion and Sarah† wrapped her stole around the joined hands of the two, proclaiming them married. Angelina and Ben stepped out of the church with much tiny fanfare, and took some time to have their portraits taken among the scenery.
Spring flowers bloomed along the grounds and above from trees, leaving dappled light on headstones and bees buzzing around on their seasonal duties. We were surrounded by a full spectrum of joys and sorrows, both preserved and unfolding, within the walls of the churchyard.
Back inside, Ben and Angelina prepared a little party, complete with a lovely white cake, silver utensils, glass plates, and a bottle of champagne with little coupe glasses. We sat and chatted over our slices and sips, enjoying the quiet company of the small celebration.
The newlyweds packed their party back into little bags and coolers and took off into the afternoon, while we packed up several little mismatched cameras and went for a drive to enjoy the weather and reflect on the all the goodness we’d seen. Angelina and Ben’s quiet union had become another testament of love witnessed by this church in its 178 years, and we had the honor of being present.
