Wainwright, Alaska: wedding of Jason and Iqaluk - honeymoon on ice

I begin with the usual disclaimer - the one I make whenever I post a wedding on this blog: I AM NOT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER! But here's the thing - in 1995, I spent the spring bowhead whaling season with Wainwright's Iceberg 14 crew, captained by Benjamin Sr. and Florence Ahmaogak. When we were on the ice, I lived with them in their tent. When wind and ice conditions drove us to shore, I lived with them in their house.

At some point, Florence, better known around here by her Iñupiaq name of Kaanaq, told me to call her "Mom." I had been adopted not only into Iceberg 14, but into the Ahmaogak family and after that they always treated me as such. Ben and Florence are gone now and Iceberg 14 is co-captained by their daughter, Mary Ellen and their grandson, Jason.

So of course when I learned Jason was about to marry his longtime partner and mother of his three children, Iqaluk Nayakik, I knew that, for one day I would be a wedding photographer - but not for hire. For family. I do not shoot weddings for hire, but only for love

Now, on with the wedding, which happened yesterday, March 27, here in Wainwright, Alaska:

This is Jason, looking at his daughter Anavak as she tests out the white dress modeled on one she and her mother found on a trip to Anchorage. They decided it would be perfect for her to wear as she walked down the aisle sprinkling flower petals, so they ordered this one. Trouble was, the maker did not realize the extra time it takes to get a dress to Wainwright by the usual means and so, come wedding day, it had not arrived. So her Aunt Tommilynn sat down to sew her a new atikluk.

And then, about two hours before the wedding was to begin, her white dress came in on the afternoon plane. Anavak tried it on. She liked it. She looked very pretty in it.

Soon, Jason put on the tux Iqaluk had rented for him. "After I take this off, I'm never going to put on a suit again," he said, "except maybe when my time living on this earth is done." His nepew, Jalen, also donned a tux. Anavak had momentarily replaced her white dress with some casual clothing.

Pretty soon, Jason shed the suit jacket and replaced it with a pretty sharp looking atikluk. In a great compromise with formal American society, he kept the white shirt, bow tie, black pants and shoes. The silhouette portrait on the wall is Jason at the age of 7, 1989. The baby portrait is his sister, Larae.

And then... it was time... and look! Like father like daughter! Anavak had set the white dress aside for some future party and had donned the atikluk and a fine pair of mukluks. As Anavak spinkles flower petals along the isle her older sister Raquel carries the rings.

Iqaluk's dad, Yaaki Nayakik, escorts her down the aisle.

They stand in front of the congregation.

In formal fashion, Yaaki places the hand of his daughter in the hands of her groom.

Bride and groom smile happily.

Maxine Nayakik, a lay preacher, conducts the wedding. Originally, lay preacher George Agnasagga was going to do the service but had to make an emergency medical trip to Anchorage. Word is, his surgery went well and he is going to be fine.

Bride and groom bow as Reverend Nayakik prays.

Both would say, "I do."

After receiving the rings from Raquel, Reverend Nayakik holds them in her palm as she speaks of their symbolism in binding a husband and wife together.

Jason places his ring upon her finger and then she hers on his. They exchange vows.

The big moment...

Husband and wife.

The wedding party gathers at the back of the chapel to accept congratulations. The little fellow on the floor is Jason and Iaqluk's youngest, Larry, named for Jason's late father, Larry Bodfish.

They gather in the community center and exchange pieces of cake.

In addition to wedding cake, there was pineapple upside down cake and plenty of people to eat both. The punch was berry and sherbert - all so good!

Best man Benjamin Ahmaogak, Jr. signs his name to the witness papers.

When it came time to toss the bouquet, only one daring young woman stepped forward to try and catch it - Stephanie Aguvluk, Iqaluk's sister. They improvised. Stephanie formed a basket and Iqaluk took a free throw shot. She missed.

The first gift the couple opened proved to be a harpoon, given by Alice Drake who had driven a snowmachine on an eight-hour ride from Barrow to attend the wedding, much of the trip in white-out conditions. "Rookies," Jason joked. "It only takes four hours." I am pretty sure that when Jason lands a bowhead with this harpoon, Alice will get a generous share.

Bridge, groom and children with Iqaluk's birth mother Mary Jane Attungana of Point Hope and Maak Ahmaogak, Jason's mom. Please note: Jason's shiny black shoes have been replaced by boots.

"Are you going to go honey-mooning?" I asked Jason.

"No," he said. "I'm going whaling."

After the feast, the main course of which was a deliciously juicy caribou roast, shot and roasted by the groom, Jason and crew spent a couple of hours finishing up a new sled to custum fit it to the refurbished Iceberg 14 whaling boat. Then, shortly before 9:00 PM, crew member Jerry Ahmaogak towed the boat to the home of Jason's mother, Maak Ahmaogak.

Comments

[Muriel Claire]

Oh Glory

[twain12]

all the best to the Couple

[debby]

For a guy who is not a wedding photographer, you do alright Bill.