In addition to offering a candy bar to their guests DJ and Danielle made donations in their guests’ honor to the Freedom 4/24 organization. If you haven’t heard of it, please check it out! 

You can view the entire gallery of their images here!

It’s funny how traveling for a wedding can bring together people that live in the same city and never get to hang out! This was the case with many guests as well as that good looking married couple in the back Kyle and Kristin of the red suitcase engagement session!

Random fun fact: Aaron and my husband Josh have the same awesome wedding band.

She has been tying his bow ties for years so it was only fitting that after much double checking of the blindfold, she tie bow tie his for their wedding day!

She spoiled her groom with some sweet Ray Ban sunglasses. Suffice to say, he liked them.

One of my very favorite bridesmaid photos I’ve ever taken.

The reception was sweet and intimate, with one of the best seating arrangements I’ve ever seen (head table nestled between table rounds in the center of the seating rather than awkwardly placed at the front) but it had it’s hilarious and entertaining moments as well. Enjoy this snip it of their wedding or click here to see the full gallery!

As soon as Sarah and Peter were engaged, I was hoping I could some how be a part of the celebration. As I got to know Sarah and hear about her relationship with Peter I knew their wedding was going to be a full on party celebrating God’s work in their lives and a break of a crazy time for them academically and career wise. I don’t know that I’ve ever been happier to know that a couple was escaping to their honeymoon than I was for these two!

Sarah’s family worked together to craft many of the details you’ll see below! Hand painted signs and personally crafted wreaths are just the tip of the iceberg. We’re talking an awesome guestbook, incredible dessert table and live Karaoke to end it all. It was a crazy, hot day and night but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world! You can view the full gallery of their images here.

Each of the women who walked down the aisle before Sarah carried blooms that created this gorgeous arrangement that was placed in front of the alter.

There are over 300 years of lasting marriage on both sides of their families. This is my favorite “husbands kiss your wives on the cheek” picture that I’ve ever  taken. So many generations, promises and role models!

I’ve been writing and rewriting the beginning of this post for several days. How do you really delve into that many lessons learned, precious moments experienced, wedding cake eaten, internships given, rental cars driven, images taken and friendships made? Well, I’m going to attempt it. Before I get into any of it I have to primarily point you upward to the provider of every opportunity I’ve ever had in this business, the Lord. I’ve maintained from the beginning that this is His business and I’m just the caretaker of it. I’d then have to point you towards my amazing husband who has encouraged, challenged and motivated me to be that caretaker in a balanced and always improving way.

With my yearbook heart and brain I felt it only fitting to dive into the archives and share some of our very favorite sessions from over the past five years so in between my musings you’ll find some favorite images. It’s worth it to read all the way through so you learn about the amazing giveaway we’re having to celebrate! (or, if you’re short on time, just scroll down to the bottom)

A few highlights: watching little ones grow from family session to family session, celebrating with couples as they go from engagement, to marriage and then building their families, being a part of surprises & gifts, traveling to amazing places, meeting a wonderful community of vendors, and becoming a part of so many families.

Lessons learned: not to go down a 1 way street the wrong way, that sometimes you’ll forget to take the lens cap off even if you’re a professional, the value of shooting in manual, that your equipment can only carry you as far as your creativity, it’s okay to get messy for a good shot, be sure not to march young children past playgrounds if you plan to take their portraits before letting them play.

Favorite clients: those who trust me completely, who invest themselves in the sessions as much as I do, who love to share their images, who invest in me as a friend and an artist, who take the time to put into words how they feel about their images, who frame their images and proudly display them.

Surprises along the way: the impact that sharing lessons learned has on the community of photographers, how God has blessed me, that I get paid to celebrate love, the power and influence of Facebook, how easy to get wrapped up in the glitz and glamor of the business and lose focus, the sheer volume of people it takes to pull off a wedding!

Hardest lesson learned: life must be lived in balance. I’m sure many business owners can share that a small business will take everything you give it and still leave you feeling that you need to give more. Last year I was sick for three weeks and I couldn’t figure out why I was sick and why I couldn’t get better. Then Josh and I looked at the calendar and realized that 37 days had gone by and I hadn’t taken a full day off of any of my jobs. I learned that I can best serve my family and my clients by having boundaries in my life. And to my great surprise clients didn’t leave in crowds when they had to wait an extra week or two to schedule their sessions!

Biggest perks:great food on a regular basis, being pushed to use my creativity, getting to travel, getting to work alongside my husband, watching God working in the lives of his people, sharing contagious joy with children on a regular basis, being able to work from home, having a photo booth available to me whenever the desire strikes!

Advice to aspiring photographers: serve your clients diligently, live a balanced life, respect yourself as an artist, value your work at market price, operate your business according to legal & financial legislation and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

 Thanks for bearing with me, I think it’s valuable to take a look back on where you’ve come from and celebrate where you are headed!

You’ve been very patient! So, what’s our big plan to celebrate five years? The big juicy details will be coming Monday (because Josh and I are out of town) BUT…

We are hosting a contest and the winners will receive: FREE Wedding and Platinum Photo Booth coverage! 

His face as sweet and priceless!

This picture was taken out of the window in the girls’ room. It looked like a spot out of a fairy tale.

I’m pretty biased but I think she had an amazing crew of ladies around her. Jenna, Leslie and Angi were in my wedding & Jessica, Jenna’s amazing sister and mom to Caleb, was our guest!

It must be said that our fun-ness was equally matched in Lane’s crew.

Lane and Jenna opted for a first look allowing Josh to take care of all the pictures before the ceremony. This was extremely handy because the rain, or Alaskan liquid sunshine as they call it, came in buckets and buckets, after the ceremony we were all a soggy, happy mess.

As bummed as we all were about the rain, it made for some striking moments like the ones below.

My personal favorite!

The rowdy rest of us popped out for a few together.

But really these two made for better photos.

So very beautiful, inside & out.

Well, it rained and rained (after the most beautiful morning we’d seen in our 8 days) and it came time to make a choice. Like I mentioned in the post about their engagement session, free spirited Jenna had always dreamed of getting married outside. And so, despite the rain and chilly temperatures, she and Lane said their vows and it was one of the most intimate and wonderful ceremonies I’ve ever been to.

Bridesmaid note: the groomsmen hauled the perfect river rocks up to make the aisle.

They poured sand from their native states: Oregon (Lane) and North Carolina (Jenna)

Oh, you know, just rock paper scissors to see who says their vows first. The rain really started to come down stronger at this point, you can see it flowing freely in these next two photos.

and then there was this moment. Lane lost rock paper scissors so he went first and he said some truly beautiful things and then Jenna went and she got down on her hands and knees in the soggy grass and washed his feet. I think EVERYONE was crying. Other favorite picture.

Eventually we all got ourselves together enough to make it back inside. Josh took a few fun detail photos.

Perfect cake toppers!

Some dancing with the parents.

and some funny toasts.

and quick as a wink, amidst the flurry of beautiful fall foliage they made their grand exit. I think it stopped raining right around then!

Our Alaskan adventure was so special, about once a week we talk about wanting to go back. Hopefully while Lane and Jenna are stationed there we’ll get a chance to visit again!

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I know, jumping photos of groomsmen are a little cliche, but these guys were really fun with this part.

Now on to the big show. Emily and her bridesmaids were all delivered to the ceremony site via classic cars. Yes, you can imagine how fun this was!

The beautiful home in the background belongs to Emily’s parents. It was perfect for the ceremony.

The heavy threat of rain loomed over the ceremony & all through the wedding party and family photos. It began to sprinkle at the very beginning of the reception but was generous enough to give time for the guests to enjoy the amazing landscaping that had been done for the wedding.

I loved Emily’s Tiffany blue accents!

Golf carts were used to bring the guests from the parking to the reception, and just because it was fun, for us to drive around in to take pictures!

Oh, the rain I mentioned, it held out for a while and then came and came and came. Emily didn’t let it bother her, her guests stayed and enjoyed themselves, not bothered by the driving rain.

And in the end, the reception turned into a giant dance party in the rain. I mean, does it get better than seeing all your favorite people sloshing around and dancing despite the crazy weather? I think Emily and Daniel would submit that it does not.

It wasn’t too hot that day and the sun poured its light just right over the intimate ceremony.

Solmon said his vows to Angi in English and she said her vows to him in Thai.

There may have been some tears shed by me (center) and several other bridesmaids.

Certainly one of the most memorable moments from the entire day was the post ceremony soccer match. Now, that might seem strange if you don’t know this pair personally but they met playing soccer, fell in love on a sports ministry trip and the wedding was planned with the end of the world cup in mind, lest there be any conflict of interest on the honeymoon. The reception also featured a FIFA station and the guestbook was a soccer jersey. During the post nuptial match, the bride and her ladies took on the groom and his men. We even had an official complete with red and yellow cards to make sure everything was above board.

were were all announced and took the field with great excitement. To be honest, no one was sure how this would go over, but it ended up being awesome.

The girls won fair and square off a pivotal penalty kick by the new Mrs.

Angi’s goal from the beginning was to create an event that her guests of all ages would enjoy and remember. She was spot on with her planning from Bocci, chalk art, bubbles and a photo booth. Not to mention amazing American and Thai food combinations, Jimmy Cakes cupcakes and lots of watermelon. She LOVES watermelon.

There was even a little bit of happy dancing.

I love a wedding with a good cake smash and this one was certainly good.

and just like that all our striving and planning was over! It was one wonderful day.