Down the Aisle: Katie + Ty

Today was HOT.  Katie & Ty deserve super extra mega bonus points because they braved the heat all in the name of great photos. :) They did it with their chins up and smiles on their faces to boot! Playing catch up after being gone for a week is taking it's toll.... so time is of the essence! I'm just sharing one quick sneaky-peeky here.... but I LOVE this image! Not only was it HOT, but it was BLUSTERY too... and Katie's veil was all over the place. And she took it all in stride. Here, it whips across her face, held in place by her mega-watt smile. :) Way to rock it sista'!

Down the Aisle: Jeff + Megan {Destination Wedding - Gun Lake, Michigan}

He was a Chicago-land boy. She, a Pennsylvania cutie. They first met in Denver... back in the summer of '97 when fate bought them together as part of Up With People's Cast B.  Since then, their adventurous love story has taken them around the globe and back more than a few times. Jeff is currently stationed in Alaska as a lieutenant with NOAA. Megan is wrapping up loose ends in the D.C. area and the two will start the next chapter of their adventure together in Seattle. Twelve years (and countless jet-setting miles) after Up With People first brought them together, friends and family joined them in celebration as they tied the knot at the Bay Point Inn on Michigan's Gun Lake. Megan was especially excited about her darling blue heels, which made a small dent in the height difference between she and Jeff. (He's a solid 12+ inches taller than Miss Megan, which is just another reason they're so absolutely adorable together!)

Throughout the day you could often hear Megan exclaim with a squeal of excitement and a hint of surprise, "I'm getting married today!"

One of Megan's bestest friends in the whole wide world is Becky.  Also a fellow member of Up With People's Cast B 1997, Becky was there to witness the beginning of what would eventually bring everyone together on this day in Gun Lake. Becky and her husband Tom are just mere days away from the arrival of their new baby and though they couldn't be with Jeff and Megan in person, they were definitely with them spirit. As a special gift, they had this ring made and sent it to Megan. = GORGEOUS!

Just some general gorgeousness....

Megan's dress was as sweet and charming as she is.

These handkerchiefs have been carried by various women in Jeff's family as they walk down the aisle on their wedding day. The tradition is that you write your name and wedding date on a card and put it in the envelope, passing the handkerchief on to the next bride in the family. The original message dates back to 1932. As Megan is now part of the Shoup family, this was her turn. How fun to look back at their names on a card years from now and remember this moment.... too cool.

Sensitive souls as they are.... Megan, her sister and her mom were moved to tears multiple times throughout the day. Here, I caught her mom the moment she saw a special tag and a pair of rings that had been sewn into Megan's dress.

Moments later it was all smiles as Megan slipped it on.....

The wedding was filled with special surprises and unique touches.... including not one, two, or even three flowergirls. But SIX. (There are only five pictured because the littlest one, Ella, was taking full advantage of nap time.)

Down the road at the Wilderness Pines cottages, the boys were getting ready.

Jeff's mom gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to Jeff's unique plan for arriving at the ceremony (keep reading!).

Yes folks. Jeff arrived to the wedding ceremony ON WATER SKIS.

Here, he blazes past me with a camera of his own (complete with under-water housing).  Look at him rock it out on skis with one hand!

He actually pulled a total James Bond move and wore his tuxedo under a 'dry suit.' When he climbed out of the water, he peeled off the suit, adjusted his sleeves and cuff links, tied his shoes and was ready to roll!

So smooth Jeff. Look out James Bond!

The love of Megan & Jeff's life is their dog, Greta. Greta made her grand entrance by boat as well, and with some help from a few of the flower girls, it was a smooth arrival. :)

The invitations said the ceremony would start at "4-ish." And so... it did. :)

A day that started out rainy (good luck!) turned into a glorious sunny afternoon and proved to be picture perfect!

I love that you can *see* Megan's personality in this image. :) She is so happy to be a bride and to be forever joined with her heart, aka: Jeff. Extra awesome bonus? Jeff's sister Heather was the officiant for the ceremony! I'm tellin' ya, these two had it m.a.d.e!

Unarguably, one of the greatest things about Up With People is all the incredible people you meet. In total, there were seven 'Uppies' from our cast at the wedding (including our friend 'Wurts') and I enjoyed watching the ways that everyone contributed to Megan & Jeff's day using their own special talents and gifts. At one point towards the beginning of the ceremony, it became evident that there was a small issue with the microphone cutting in and out. I thought to myself, 'Where's Wurts? He could fix that!' About two seconds later, he was behind the sound mixer working his magic, and that was the end of the sound problem! ('Wurts' works in production in the LA area and has enjoyed a successful career doing all kinds of fun projects, including having been part of the Academy Awards and other such events for the past 7+ years. The guy really knows his stuff and it shows!) Here, after solving the sound board crisis, Wurts seeks refuge from behind a video camera....

What destination wedding blog post would be complete without a photo of my sweet thing? Emir was rockin' the dock during the ceremony....

As part of the wedding reading, Megan's sister Gina read the Hands of the Bride & Groom. Not sure if there was a dry eye in the house!

Yay! The moment that has been 12 years in the making!

After the ceremony it was onto the boat for a quick trip across the lake for some photos at Jeff's family's summer cottage. I love this image of Jeff commanding the boat with such skill and confidence. He's obviously right at home in the water, behind the wheel!

When we got back to shore, Emir was on deck and caught this gem of an image of Jeff's Dad.... you can see where Jeff gets his James Bond-style moves... :)

When we got back from the boating jaunt, we snagged a few more images before heading to the reception. This is another gem from Emir's cam. He was rockin' it big time!  :)

On to the reception! (side note: that cake was the. best. cake. EVER. For. real! Like a chocolate ho-ho!)

Megan's mom was so funny.... she was especially fond of Emir and repeatedly teased me that I had better be careful or she may steal him away! (He's mine! ) But I hope she enjoys this photo..... :)

Megan & Jeff danced to "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and I coulodn't help but think about how perfect that song is for them. The two of them are so incredibly lucky. Lucky to have found each other. Lucky to have such wonderful families and friends who obviously love both of them to itsy, bitsy pieces and lucky to have their whole lives ahead of them.... together. What joy worth celebrating!

I always lose it during the father-daughter dance, and watching Megan with her dad was no exception. Cute. As. Can. Be!

Let's get this party started!

Why don't we see more 'limbos' at weddings? It seems so vintage classic to me! (And it makes for some great photo opps!)

I love shooting stuff like this... (all done in camera.... no photoshop here peeps!)

Congratulations you both of you.... and your wonderful and fantabulous families! I'm honored not only to know you and have shared our UWP experience together, but to have been invited to and trusted with such an important day in your lives. Thank you from the bottomest bottom of my heart! :) Much love to you both!

PS: Comments are always welcomed! Make my day and drop a note! :)

Down the Aisle: Jim + Kylie

Remember these two and their ultra incredible love shoot session? Today was their big day! This is a super sneak peek as I'm packing gear to head up to Michigan for another shoot.... but I won't be able to sleep tonight if I don't get something up for these two love birds.  Enjoy guys!

Down the Aisle: Matt + Jacy

Good ol' Auburn, Nebraska... It was the scene for Matt & Jacy's big day.... and it didn't disappoint! :) Here's a quickie sneak peek!

The limo was late arriving at the church to pick up the wedding party.... but they were such good sports! Here they wait patiently on the curb. :)

Safe travels to St. Lucia! Enjoy the sun and the sand! :)

Down the Aisle: Matthew + Amy

For the mercury to hover around 80 on a day in mid-July, you know something unusual is going on.... something quite special. :) Today was exactly that. Special. Not just because the weather was uh-maaa-zing.... but because these two people (who are clearly meant to be together), made each other a promise that they will spend the rest of their lives making good on. And that, my friends, is certainly something special. As a gift to mark this special and joyous occasion, Amy gave Matt a pocket watch. The coolest!

At the reception, Matt + Amy had their parents' and grandparents' wedding photos on display. I marveled at the refreshing simplicity of those images from an era where photography is barely recognizable compared to what it is today. Sometimes a simple and clean portrait is just what the doctor ordered. Classic. Timeless.  :)

I love the texture of this wooden box on the guest book table....

Interesting view of the ceremony...

Luvin' the short tuxedo outfit!

Onward with the tradition of a quick bar visit....

7-18-09. :) Too bad there's not a '0' ball!

Matt + Amy go together like ketchup and mustard! (with pretzels! Wait... am I alone on this one?)

The wedding party was up to some silliness...

More love bird shots.... :)

Look at all this reception beautification!

First dance at sunset.... how perfect is THAT!? :)

You did it you two! Congratulations and best wishes! :) (PS: Knobbe family.... so fab to see you all again! Big hugs all around!)

Down the Aisle: Tyler + Acacia

West Point look out! I was thrilled to be invited back up to West Point to photograph the beginning of Acacia and Tyler's new adventure. I've shot so many weddings up there, it's beginning to feel like my home-away-from-home! It's always an extra treat because I get to see so many familiar faces every time I'm up.... it's like a reunion! Acacia's girlfriends came in from near and far to be part of the excitement. Here, the team helps her get ready.

How gorgeous is this hair bling?!

A+ for teamwork!

We were invited onto private property for some photo opps. Always a welcomed treat!

This particular piece of private property came with a little orange cat.... who wandered info the frame of one of my shots. :)

I loved Acacia's bracelet!

I spotted this moment happening while I was in position towards the front of the church. It was a lesson in patience as I tried to telepathically communicate that I needed Acacia to take one more step down the stairs for the shot to work... (earlier, the ceiling above had cut her off right at the neck... not quite the image I was going for! Ha ha!) Eventually she did, and I managed to score this gem. :)

Blaine was less than enthusiastic about the ceremony once his duties as ring bearer were finished. Ha ha!

Small towns often have surprisingly lavish cathedrals. St. Mary's is no exception! (Here's something interesting from St. Mary's for all you collectors out there!)

Instead of bubbles or rose petals, Acacia and Tyler opted for sparklers! Logistically, that presents a huge challenge, as lighting them each takes time. The solution? A blow torch! :)

The brides maid dresses were gorgeous. They were apparently originally designated as 'Mother of...' dresses, and aren't from the 'brides maid' category. Maybe that's why I like 'em so much?! Either way.... simply fabulous!

You can see the characters I got to work with..... ;)

Let the good times roll!

I thought this couple was especially darling... isn't his smile fantastic!? They were obviously having a great time!

The kids enjoyed a full stock of glow-in-the-dark goodies.... great idea Acacia!

I hope you're all basking in the after glow of a wonderful day! Thank you so much for inviting me to be part of it!

The Day After {Destination Wedding - Grenada}

The day after Annette + Brandon's wedding happened to be her dad's birthday. What better way to celebrate than with a 'day after' photo shoot followed by a BBQ on the beach? My sentiments exactly. :) Bring it! Annette's sister Karen was kind enough to drive us as we left on the winding road journey towards the opposite side of the island. We stopped along the way for photos while keeping pace to make it to the BBQ in a reasonable time. Everything worked out like a dream! The following are a *few* faves. :)

Heading over for this shot was when the rain started pouring down on us.... I grabbed a cover for my camera and we were right back at it!

This is La Carrinage area near the port in St. George... Hello!? Did somebody say British *red* phone booth!? Yes please! (I like to think that I didn't choose to attend the U of Wisconsin-Stevens Point based solely on the existence of the red British phone booth they had on their local 'Main Street,' but it did tilt the scales in their favor..... ;)

I spotted this from around the bend coming out of a hill and couldn't wait to capture the drama of such a scene!

Would you believe we arrived at the beach with time to spare!? We headed for the shore for some more photo fun....

Annette's family insisted that I put away the camera and join them for lunch.... but the scene was just too fun.... I couldn't resist a few more shots. I actually put away the camera and then went back to dig it out again several times because I just couldn't help it. I packed it up, but then I saw that Emir had buddied up with Reese to play in the sand. Then someone else would bust out laughing, so I'd reach for it again. :)

The best moment of them all was when I looked over and saw Len sitting so perfectly on the side of the boat....  I begged him not to move while I ran to the car to grab the camera yet again. Thanks for playing along Len! :)

Maybe we should start a new tradition where everyone has beach-side BBQ's the day after the wedding!? Anyone game!? :)

Down the Aisle: Annette + Brandon {Destination Wedding - Grenada}

Oh my goodness! Where do I even begin? Emir and I were invited to spend an entire week in Grenada with Annette, Brandon and both of their families. The whole thing started when Annette saw one of my photos on her co-worker's desk. After a ping-pong match of emails and a couple of meetings, plans were hatched and tickets were booked! I knew this would be no ordinary wedding right from the start. Annette grew up in Canada, but has strong family ties in Grenada and visited often through the years. The island is the connection between a very widespread &  international family tree, so naturally, it was the perfect location for such a special event! Grenada is a magical place where time and space seem to exist in an entirely different dimension. Even coming from Nebraska where I'm often told by visitors that we're all overwhelmingly friendly.... I was still touched by the open hearts and constant smiles to be found in Grenada. At one point during Emir and I's wild ride through the city, we were hopelessly lost. When we stopped to ask for directions, rather than just pointing us in the general direction and sending us off, the gentleman kindly opened the door to our car, jumped in and gave us turn-by-turn advice from the backseat before jumping out as we passed his destination. Incredible!  I could go on for hours about the fascinating experiences we had and the amazing people we met while in the West Indies.... so if you ever really want the details, let me know. For now, suffice it to say that we had an incredible time, made loads of new friends, and hopefully created some images for Annette and Brandon to cherish for a lifetime. Here's a quick peek!

This is Reese. One heck of a great kid! He was all smiles the whole week. Here, he lets out some energy before getting dressed for the ceremony.

The ceremony was held on the beach on the southwest side of the island, right near Annette's dad's hotel. July is apparently rainy season in Grenada (and rain it did!). Despite a torrential downpour in the morning and early afternoon on their wedding day, the crew still managed to get everything ready in time for a sun-set ceremony. Amazing!

This sweet little dog belongs to one of the hotel staff members who lives nearby on the beach. She enthusiastically joined us all for the ceremony and reception. :)

This is Ann, the one-woman coordinator behind much of the planning and execution of the week's events. There's something very soulful about her. I love the way this image captures her spirit and mannerisms. Now, if only I could've recorded her melodic caribbean accent! :) She embodies my idea of the epitome of a Caribbean woman.... strong, vibrant, loving and always with a smile and kind word for everyone. We just adored her!

The island is one of the world's largest exporters of things like nutmeg and rum. It's actually known as 'Spice Island.' So what kind of Grenadian party would be complete without some of the good stuff? :)

There were so many beautiful people there! Guests came from Canada (Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal), the US (Seattle, Florida, Kansas), the UK (London), and of course, some locals who live on the island.  It was a celebration rich with culture, color and spirit.

Shortly after our arrival early in the week, we came to understand the notion of 'island time.' I was somewhat familiar with this already with my mother being from Cuba, we often tease her side of the family about running on 'Cuban Standard Time.' Grenadian time is pretty similar.... The ceremony was originally supposed to start at 5:30pm. It got pushed back to about 6:30... and I think we were off and running by about 6:45. My only fear was the sun that continually crept towards the horizon... but everything came together to make it happen just in time for a glorious sunset.

As Annette was getting ready to walk down the aisle, this boat of on-lookers floated in the bay hoping to catch a glimpse....

My favorite thing about this shot is the dog in the corner. She had the best seat in the house! :)

The ceremony began with an ocean breeze in the background, carried by the notes from the steel drum... peppered with tears and laughter as Brandon + Annette made their way through their vows.

Little Reese was very involved too. Here he reads a poem written with Annette for Brandon.

Brandon, Annette and Reese gave each other necklaces to symbolize the creation of their new family of three. I love this symbolism!

(lovin' all the active white space here!)

After the ceremony and some quick family formals... the sun all but disappeared into the bay....

Party time!

Annette's dad Len makes a toast to the newly married couple.

The wedding was held on the 4th of July, which falls shortly after Canada Day (where much of her family is from). So we celebrated the wedding and two national holidays with one heck of a great party!

I almost forgot! Annette asked me for a photo of the moon because when she was a kid, she and her uncle spent hours looking at and talking about it. He even gave her the nickname 'moon' at one point. I had actually never tried to photograph the moon before... so this was a first attempt! Not too shabby! ;)

My goodness that was great! I hope with all my heart that you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed creating them. Thank you for inviting us to be part of the family for a week.... you will never be forgotten. Our new extended Grenadian family.....  :)

Down the Aisle: Adam + Jill

These two re-define the phrase "happy in love." Watching them interact all day was a sweet delight! Thank you for inviting me to be part of your day guys.... and if I don't see you at the airport tomorrow (in the very, very a.m.), know that I am wishing you all the best for a safe and wonderful honeymoon!

Adam and Jill's wedding was held at Southwood Lutheran Church. It's a relatively new building with tons of great windows and natural light!

The DelRay Ballroom is a swanky spot for a reception. Always beautiful!

Down the Aisle: Zack + Alicia

Zack + Alicia were married in the darling south/eastern Nebraska town of Johnson. The only thing more beautiful than the peaceful countryside itself, was of course..... the bride. :) I never had the privilege of meeting Alicia or Zack before yesterday. Zack plays football for the Chicago Bears and with a crazy training schedule, they had to do most of their wedding planning (including working with me) from Illinois. What fun to finally get to meet them! The ladies got ready in the house next door to the church. What a cozy place!

Emir hung out with the guys as they got ready in the church basement....

How could I resist a hay bale?

Zack is quite the character. He has mastered the tough-guy look of the NFL, but, I love this photo next to Alicia on the porch swing where he was all smiles. (And what a gorgeous smile it is!)

Word up. This is true friendship: Girlfriends all the way.

Alicia loves her bling (you did see her necklace above, right?). Her ring is nothing short of breath taking!

The reception was held at her parents house in Elk Creek, NE. They even managed to make the port-a-potty look beautiful!

These young ladies were bustin' out some serious moves on the dance floor....

The Shoot Shack was also in full effect! The wind inspired us to improvise a bit from our usual set-up. Way too many good things to post to this already massively huge sneak-peek. But here is perhaps my fave of faves....

Alicia's dad Mark is an electrician and along with her mom, Lois they set up the reception site, tree lights and all! Incredible job!

Congratulations and best wishes to you both! Your wedding was fabulous and I hope you're basking in a happy post-celebration after glow! PS: Special shout out to Heidi the professional harpist Alicia + Zack hired for their ceremony: It was fabulous to see you again! Have a great summer!