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.

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!

Haha, bet you can guess whose idea this one was. He looks thrilled!

His face as sweet and priceless!

Here are the quick hit details on Bliss:

Date// Sat. Feb. 26           Time// 11 am – 4pm     Location// Riverviews Artspace

What to expect// An intimate, upscale and affordable event where brides have the opportunity to personally interact with vendors, collect practical ideas and techniques and enjoy free coffee in the morning, a catered lunch and a dessert reception!  Cost//$15

So, because I’m sick, on the couch, again, I thought it would be fun to come up with the top 5 reasons you should attend Bliss!

#5 – Personal interaction – As a bride, I avoided large wedding shows because I felt they were overwhelming. As a vendor, I don’t sign up for large wedding shows because I feel like I’m at a meat market. I don’t want someone to feel obligated to say hello when they are really tired and just want door prizes. I want to meet brides and hear about their plans and encourage them by helping provide info on my services and the services of other vendors! Bliss is going to provide a chance to see each Vendors space and then to hear from them in sessions, eat lunch with them and really get to hear who they are, not just what they do.

#4 – Dessert Reception – The ladies of Love Is In The Air know their way around the kitchen and they’ve yet to let me down with their treats! I know this is going to be a fun time for brides to continue to mingle with vendors and even friends they’ve made during the day!

#3- Practical Advice – Brides will have the opportunity to hear great advice from people who literally know this industry like it’s their job! I love being able to share ideas from the weddings I’ve been to. Typically, brides are planning their first major event and don’t know where to start! The HCB vendors are going to give great, practical information on how to organize, throw and preserve the event of a life time!

#2 – Freebies. Jennifer, the lovely lady behind Hill City Bride, has lined up a fantastic group of door prizes for the attendees including a free 5 night Arube honeymoon! I mean, really? That’s a no brainer.

#1 – I’ll be there! I am teaching a breakout session with Liz Cook about how to create a guest friendly event! I’ll have vendor space where you may  have the opportunity to win a half priced photo booth for your wedding! Please, come visit me, introduce yourself and share your story!

Click here to see even more details about Bliss and to register!

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!

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.

These belated posts will have a different ring to them, instead of a play by play I’d just like to share a few of the memories that have stuck with me since then!

Kent & Alisha’s engagement photos were memorable because we double teamed them, not letting mother nature best us in the quest to celebrate their upcoming wedding! Their Fall and Spring sessions had us chatting like old friends on their wedding date. Oh, and one thing I surely remember about their wedding date is that it was, hands down, the hottest day of the year!

This next photo was taken by my then intern Julie! She did a great job with the guys photos! The 2nd shot is one I caught of her in action while I peaked out the window of the bridal room.

The flower girl studied every little part of Alisha that day, as if she was royalty.

Their wedding was truly a worship service. Alisha’s father served them communion and I think that almost everyone was crying by the end.

Another of Julie’s shots as these girls wanted a better view.

Her mom surprised the newlyweds and their bridal party by renting a party bus to take them from the ceremony to the reception. The reception venue was unique and awesome. The rooftop of a parking deck. I know what you’re thinking, but just keep skimming this post, it was absolutely classy, fun, original, and filled with details!

We snuck away from some alone photos and neither of them was at all concerned with the crazy temperatures!

They had incredible centerpieces!

The best possible view of the sunset over the blue ridge mountains.

One of my favorite touches were these street signs that marked some of the tables letting guests know where to sit but also serving as reminders of places that had been special during Kent and Alisha’s relationship.

This is probably my very favorite moment. During one of their engagement sessions Alisha gave me a heads up that her dad always did something crazy at each wedding (she was the last of his three daughters to get married) and that I could look forward to seeing what he’d have in store at hers. And it was a duet with her husband. And tears and laughter.

my favorite garter shot yet!

Oh man, for our last shot, there was some awesome dancing going on. What an incredible event! I hope this super late post just serves as a great reminder of the wonderful party you two planned for your family and friends!