Patrick Schindele can see into the future.

He doesn't claim to be a prophet or to have the systematic precision of the I Ching, but he does tend to have a sixth sense for recognizing important shifts in life before others. One need to look no further than his 2005 chance introduction with Christine Bastian as evidence.

Jason and Lisa find bliss

By Dan Iverson

We encounter new people every day. Some slip by like a fleeting breeze while others we latch on to and clutch close for years.  We never know what quality or seemingly trivial feature will harness our attention and turn perfect strangers into lifelong companions.

For Minnesota natives turned Angelenos Lisa and Jason Johnson, there was an immediate connection when the couple was brought together by a mutual friend and Lisa's cousin in November 2005. Jason's smile and warm personality drew Lisa in, while it was simply Lisa's "pretty eyes" that Jason said attracted him the most.

The Courtship

Favorite activities or memories?
Going rollerblading, seeing friends, trying new restaurants and cooking meals together

Best date?
Sipping martinis at Waters (a local martini bar) and getting to know each other

When did you know this was something more than any other previous relationship?
Jason: When we took a week long summer trip in June of 2006 to the North shore of Minnesota.
Lisa: I knew Jason was a keeper when he made me "chix" (fake chicken) noodle soup when I was sick.


The proposal

Date:
Dec. 27, 2007

Where it happened:
Under the lift bridge at Canal Park in Duluth, Minn.

What made you take the leap?
It just hit me that Lisa was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

He said:
After a stressful week and finally getting to their hotel, Lisa said: "Is there anything I can do to make you  less stressed?" Jason said: "Yes, you can put this ring on your left hand."

She said:
Through her tears of excitement and joy, Lisa said: "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

What did you do?
Lisa called Jason's mom as we walked to Grandma's restaurant in Duluth.

How did you feel?
Relieved since the ring had been in my pocket for a few days and looking forward to our weekend together.


The wedding day

What time did you wake up?
Jason: 8 a.m. Lisa: 6 a.m.

How did you keep sane from the anticipation?
We had a small ceremony so the wedding day was not too stressful. Our ceremony was at noon so we didn't have too much time to stress that day.

What did you eat before the wedding?
Lisa: a granola bar. Jason: breakfast

What memory will you cherish most?
Seeing each other in our wedding attire for the first time when Lisa walked down the isle and saying our vows to each other.

What do you wish you could repeat over and over?
The time immediately following our vows when we were just holding hands and smiling at each other.

Sum up the day in one word:
Bliss


Reflection

What was it like to work with John and Dan?
We were very comfortable working with Dan and John. We definitely felt like we could be ourselves and just be wrapped up in the moment.

What do you think of your photos?
We LOVE our photos! Dan and John's creativity and artistic talents shine through in our photos. When we look back at our wedding photos, we are transported back to our wedding day and the wonderful feelings we experienced.

Would you recommend their services to others?
Yes, John and Dan were very organized and professional, yet at the same time they were laid back enough for us to feel comfortable and stress-free. We love our many candid photos as these show our feelings for each other on our wedding day. Dan and John also did a great job of getting the family/group photos we requested. They also had great suggestions for locations and poses.