To me, the most magical moments of a wedding aren’t the pretty decorations, venue or anything else money can buy. The best weddings are about those little moments of love, the glimpses of pure adoration you see between the couple. Sometimes we’re fortunate to capture them, sometimes not. And I’m OK with that. Those moments wouldn’t be as special without knowing that they were just between those two people.

Last fall I had a similar experience. The venue was beautiful—a hillside overlooking a small lake at the peak of the fall colors—and they had everything decorated nicely. It was beautiful. The couple had everything pretty well planned out, as planned as you can get for a small budget wedding (no wedding planner). Things ran smoothly and it was as close to perfection as I’ve seen. But the couple was constantly divided to talk to all of the well-wishers, so when they had those brief moments together—walking to the car hand-in-hand or waiting for the crowd to get set for the next portion of the wedding plans—they showed their gratitude for one another in the little ways that count, the ones that give you butterflies in your stomach when you’re presented with the same type of love.

It was something as simple as a car ride in a borrowed Corvette around the beautiful lake. It wasn’t just a car ride. It was their first few moments alone together as husband and wife. No parents insisting they move on to the next portion of the wedding celebration; no kids demanding their attention; no guests waiting to share their joy over the nuptial; and no photographer following their every move. They needed that down time. And when they came back a few minutes later, they were ready for the crowds again. We took a second drive around the lake, this time with their photographer, to get a few photos of just the couple, something that takes undivided attention and can’t be accomplished with a crowd watching or things to clean up. Following them in my own vehicle, I could see they were talking and probably holding hands. A few times I even saw the groom lift his new wife’s hand to his lips. Who wouldn’t want that special moment on their wedding day? On any day? That pure adoration, that he wants to show his love with the simplest but sweetest gesture. That is love. That is what weddings are all about!