Derek + Ellen Ayson | Whitney Beth Photography | Utah Family Photographer
 

   Derek and Ellen are my next door neighbors turned family. We're going on five years of knowing them. They are like bonus grandparents to our kids. This last October was an exciting time in their lives. Derek had just passed the year mark for being baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After getting everything all sorted out, Derek and Ellen were to be sealed for time and all eternity in the Draper Temple. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that when you are married outside of the temple and you hear the officiant say, "'Til death do you part," that your marriage ends at death. However, if you chose to be married in the temple, your marriage is eternal and lasts for all time - living and dead. It's a very sacred, special ordinance, which is why if you've ever been to an LDS wedding, you need a temple recommend to see the actual ceremony and pictures are done after the couple come out. That being said, it was an exciting time for the Aysons! October 26th rolled around and Danny and I among other friends and family of the Aysons got to witness the sweetest couple pledge themselves to each other and be sealed. In honor of their special day, I thought it fitting to have a little "formal session" to commemorate the occasion. We decided to take pictures on a different day to better work with our schedules, and since the Aysons had family in town for their special day. A week or so later I picked up a small bouquet for Ellen on the way up to the temple. It had been cold and snowy in the days between the actual sealing date and the date of the photoshoot, but we lucked out and were blessed with golden sunlight that mimicked the 26th. Our session was quick so that we wouldn't tire Ellen out, but it was perfect. The love that radiated off of them was contagious. It made me so thankful that I could be there to document it.