Down the Aisle: Jessica + Brett

"I, Jessica... take you Brett, to be my husband." When that life altering phrase came from Jessica's lips, it hit me hard for three reasons:

1) Those are incredibly powerful words

2) I got lost thinking about how as a young girl, she wondered about the man who would eventually become her husband, and what he might be like.... where he was at that very moment and what he might be doing... and how it would feel to be standing across from him saying that very phrase

3) The way her voice sounded as it came from her mouth and bounced off the cathedral walls at Saint Mary's church... You could hear how heavy the words were with their purpose and meaning

This is their wedding day story, in a pretty little nutshell.

I love the way kids can bond so quickly over something as simple as a matching orange dress. The way these two girls played together, I thought they were cousins who almost certainly lived within blocks of each other. Instead, one was Jessica's cousin, the other Brett's. Too cute!

Brett's mom Sue made the decorate wraps for all the stemware... so darling!

West Point was ready to party on the dance floor! I love the shot of Jessica's parents, Bob & Sherri, cutting loose!

What a beautiful, beautiful day you guys! Thank you for including me... it's always fun to make the trip up to West Point.... I may seriously start showing up at everyone's Christmas parties up there.... you all feel like family! Congrats and safe travels to Jamaica Jess & Brett!

PS: You can see their radtastic video, done by none other than Brian, the fabulous guy behind the magic at The Wedding Storytellers. :) Enjoy!

Down the Aisle: Sara & Alan | Nebraska Wedding Photographer

What a wonderful day for a wedding! Guests continually remarked with happy surprise that the weather for Sara & Alan's big day was so cooperative. But it's not just the weather that was perfect.... their entire day had the same magic touch as they waltzed through the ceremony, the trolley ride, a park and not one, but two bars... and ultimately, into each other's arms for their first dance. :) This is their story... in a few of my quick pick favorite images. :) Church: Saint Joseph's Catholic Church Flowers: Burton Tyrrell's Reception: Lincoln Station Catering: Premiere Catering Transportation: Ollie the Trolley

This little shutter snapper is none other than Al's nephew Louie. I spotted him hunting me with his camera for what seemed like a good 15 minutes during the ceremony. Needless to say, it was quite entertaining... I'm anxious to see what he ended up with!

Afterwards, the cousins couldn't wait to get on the trolley!

I'm luvin' Liam's freckles!

As their wedding photographer, I suppose it's slightly possible that I am biased.... but this is just plain gorgeous!

The girls look so great in their dresses!

Of course, the men made the suits look good too!

Sara surprised me when she added the flower to her hair after the ceremony.... fab!

Before making their grand entrance.... the crew decided to make one more pit stop.... where I happily snagged this gem: = LOVE!

If there's one thing I love almost as much as cool bridal hair pieces/veils.... it's suspenders... ladies, are you with me!?

And this, ladies and gentlemen... was their first dance.... a waltz.

And they lived happily ever after. :) Congrats you two... and safe travels!

Down the Aisle: Pepper + Liz | Lincoln, Nebraska Wedding Photographer

What joy. Pure, happy, light on your feet... joy. Liz & Pepper's wedding was the first on my calendar for 2010.... and it couldn't have been better. Their day was wrapped in an envelope of peaceful calm. Liz, the ever cool & collected bride, appeared to be happily enjoying every minute of her wedding day.

At the end of the night, I gave her dad a hug and told him how happy I was for them... and that I especially loved his toast. He just smiled and said, "It's so easy. When it comes from the heart... it's simple." Word up. :) I think that's why Liz & Pepper's day was such a breeze.... they have been dating for 7-ish years.... and from the looks of it, their hearts were already married. Yesterday's celebration was simply making it official. Everyone knows it's right.... and that confidence inspired the beautiful day that officially began their new wedded adventure.

Church: Eastridge Presbyterian Reception/Catering: Wilderness Ridge Flowers: Stem Gallery Cake: Cakes by Char

Ummmm.... yeah. Gor-geous shoes!

Love this!

With a name like Pepper.... you know this is one cool dude. Pepper and 'the guys' played cards in the church basement before the ceremony.... (and taught me some fancy card-playin' vocabulary. I always just smeared the cards around in a pile b/c I can't shuffle to save my life.... but apparently there's a term for that... it's called 'washing.' I feel so official  now!)

First look....

L.O.V.E!

How fun is this?

We headed outside so we could make good use of Liz's gorgeous coat. She's had it for years, and it just so happened that it was a perfect match for her dress! Gotta love that.... :)

She also had a pair of fancy wintery gloves to go with it. I love the elegance of winter weddings!

Moments before walking down the aisle, I spotted Liz in the back hall way peeking through the door/window. I couldn't tell for sure if she saw me and was looking at the camera (I was trying to be transparent!).... or past me at Pepper at the front of the church.... but I love this image.

I grew up down the street from Eastridge Presbyterian Church, and after 10+ years of shooting weddings, would you believe this was the first wedding I photographed here? C-razy! The church had a lot of great light and interesting architectural lines. I can't wait to go back! Pastor Jim Crelin, as entertaining as he was enlightening, performed the ceremony.

The perfect location for a winter themed wedding reception.... the Lodge at Wilderness Ridge.

Another L.O.V.E!!!

So cute.

The cake was gorgeous! Made by 'Cakes by Char,' Liz said it was inspired by another cake featured on my blog. Yay!

The flowers and centerpieces were all done by Stem Gallery. They always do such an incredible job!

Liz is so darn gorgeous!

Thank you both, so much for entrusting me with the memories of such an important day. I am truly honored! It was delightful to be part of your families for a day..... best wishes for a fun (and safe!) winter escape to the slopes! :)

Down the Aisle: Elinore + Patrick | Houston Wedding Photographer

A blend of cultures and the melding of two hearts with a history 15+ years in the making, Patrick and Elinore's wedding day was rich with tradition, yet full of surprises. When I arrived in Houston for the rehearsal, I was thrilled to find Elinore cheerfully waiting. She jumped up, threw her arms around me and gave me a hug that felt like I've known her for EVER (you know those kinds of hugs). She was every bit as awesome as I had expected and my dear friend Patrick was about to begin a new life with her... How wonderful!

I first met Patrick while on tour with Up With People in 1997.  Since then, we've crafted one of those friendships that isn't subject to things like time or distance. One of the things I've always enjoyed about him is his creative spirit and all the brilliant/fun/silly things that have come from it. Working in cinematography and feature films for several years, we also share a passion for visual arts. He understands imagery and its power to communicate and commemorate, so I was especially honored when he and Elinore chose to hire dear ol' moi for their wedding photography (no pressure, right?).

A couple of days before the wedding, my phone rang and Patrick's voice was on the other end. He had been looking over the schedule of events when it dawned on him that their unique plans didn't include any designated time for the couple's portrait session I always request. (!!!)

As someone who fully understands production and the work that goes into it, he realized that images take time to create and asked if we could shoot them after the reception. I responded with an enthusiastic "YES!" With a ceremony that began at 9:30am and a reception that was set to wrap by 3pm, a post-party shoot would be perfect. These are some of my faves.

The 'behind the scenes' story on this image makes me laugh. I'll spare you the details, but if you know Patrick and Elinore... ask them about it. :)

When I found out this car would be involved in our post-party portrait session, I was psyched!

We made our way to a downtown park where after charming a nearby police officer, we found parking and captured these gems. The image on the left was a test to see if my tilt-shift lens that had just been dropped (ahem! And landed on concrete!) was still in good shape. Thumbs up!

I **love** this. Elinore's blue shoes just barely peek out. So cute!

Classic bridal portrait.

love. this. one.

Ok. So now, back to the a.m. Here, Elinore chuckles when her phone reminds her that she has a wedding scheduled for this morning. :)

Elinore caught a sneak peek of Patrick and guests as they arrived...

It must be said, so I'm just going to say it here and now. Elinore has some amazing calves. Seriously!

Always a character.... Patrick has some fun in front of my lens...

A bonus of being hired to be part of this wedding was that I got to see another dear UWP friend of ours, Lucero. Here, her husband Alaster shuffles their son Alejandro out of the church to help ensure a quiet ceremony. :) I love this moment. They look like two peas in a pod.

I love the look on Patrick's face as Elinore and her father make their way down the aisle...

Filipino wedding ceremonies typically include what is  known as the tradition of the 'veil and cord.' The veil symbolizes the unity of the couple (they are 'clothed as one') while the cord represents the lifelong bond between them.

The reception at the Junior League of Houston, was simply gorgeous.

Upon walking into the room, one couldn't help but notice this incredible life-size dog sculpture at the table with the groom's cake. I wasn't surprised, as Patrick and his family are serious dog lovers. Wondering where they found such a thing, I was surprised (but not really) to find out that Patrick made it. Of course he did. Because he's brilliant like that. (For those who are interested, its construction includes papermache, chicken wire, construction foam, a taxidermist and... a blender.)

Having recently decided to make a career switch from the film industry to the medical field, it was quite fitting that the dog is taking a huge bite out of a cake that says 'organic chemistry' on it. Touché. (Look at the eyes... amazing!)

Elinore grabs a quick shot with her sisters. Too cute!

Ummmm.... hello chandeliers!

Back-up patrol. :)

Some more portraits we managed to sneak away to create....

A send-off in style!

CONGRATULATIONS and much love to you both! (Enjoy Hawaii!) (Special thanks to Kelly at EventologyWeddings for coordinating such a unique celebration!)

Down the Aisle: Ted + Stephanie | Wedding Photographer Lincoln Nebraska

I love to hear stories of how couples met. Maybe through a friend of a friend, perhaps someone from high school that was never given a second thought until years later, or.... someone you met at a wedding (of all places!). That's the story of Ted and Stephanie. They met at a friend's wedding in Colorado and though they live in Colorado now, at the time of the wedding that first brought them together, they were each living in different states. They've been dating over the 10 years since that fateful day, and finally tied the knot surrounded by their closest family and friends in dear ol' Lincoln, Nebraska.

With a wedding party of only a maid of honor and a best man, the ceremony was especially intimate. Ever since they were little girls, Stephanie and her cousin Christine swore they'd be each other's maids of honor. Stephanie was there for Christine when she got married, and now it was time for Christine to walk down the aisle in support of Stephanie.

If you follow my blog, you've seen me post shots like this of clocks in the past. I just think they're so cool. Every photo is a small slice of time forever frozen and defined in an instant.... but I especially like to include clocks because they document the passing of such moments in a quantifiable way. With a 6pm wedding, this was where things stood at 5:35pm. :)

A stolen moment with Grandpa...

The church was beautifully festive....

This beautifullness is courtesy of the geniuses at Stem Gallery.

The reception was held at the Lincoln Country Club and seemed to fit Ted and Stephanie just right. A cocktail party followed by dinner, surrounded by sparkling lights, flickering candles and a blanket of snow on the ground. What a winter delight!

Geared up!

I really enjoyed watching this little guy. He stood here in front of the musicians for at least 20 minutes, just completely mesmerized and totally stole my heart!

As the night was winding to a close, guests came to say their goodbyes. Upon hearing "Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Harris!" and the little girl shouted back, "She's Cinderella!"

You were Cinderella last night Stephanie! ;) Enjoy  your prince charming... and safe travels to Bora Bora! :)

Down the Aisle: Abbi + Ben | Columbus, NE Wedding Photographer

You may remember Abbi + Ben from their super adorable love shoot where they first captured my heart. I knew from that moment on, that their wedding day was going to be something special, and I've been looking forward to it ever since. When I first arrived, I saw Abbi dressed to the nines not yet in her wedding gown, but in street clothes, as if she was ready for a day about town. She looked adorable. Stylish skinny jeans, a darling top... and a pair of sassy boots. With so many ladies arriving in carefully planned sweat pants and various forms of pjs, I asked her why she was so dressed up. Her reply? "I wanted to feel good today. I went for a run this morning.... I feel great!" It showed Abbi! You looked great too! But of course, no one is surprised by that....... ;)

Is it just me or are these shoes fabulous? This girl has some serious style.....

From what I was told, Abbi's dad had been emotional all weekend. Having a real soft spot for dads, I was thrilled to be able to capture this moment when he saw Abbi as a bride for the first time...

Meanwhile, Ben gets some finishing touches from his dad who didn't think his tie looked quite right......

I am in **love** with this image from when Ben and Abbi saw each other for the first time....

And this one...

The wedding took place at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, Nebraska. A beautiful place!

Are you seeing a trend? Look at those smiles! They are fun. Plain and simply.... fun. I just adore them. So full of life, love and the best attitudes. This image speaks volumes.

I am drooling over Abbi's hair and bird-cage veil! I think I may have to get all dressed up again and stage a photo shoot with Emir just so I can have a bird-cage veil (quite possibly the greatest thing. ever.)

Time to celebrate!

A seriously attractive wedding party (7 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen strong!)

omg. in love. x infinity.

!!!

Their reception was beautiful. Abbi has quite the eye....

Glam.

What a wonderful day surrounded by loving friends and family! I am so thrilled for you both and the new family that you've become.... thank you so much for inviting me to be part of something so magical! Hugs to you both! :)

Down the Aisle: Jacob + Lindsey | Wedding Photographer Lincoln

It all started with oatmeal scotchies.  And today, it continued with cupcakes as Jacob and Lindsey tied the knot surrounded by family and friends from across the country (literally, Seattle to the Carolinas!). Honored to be their wedding photographer, I'm happy to share some of what caught my eye when I got home. I am **lovin'** Lindsey's green shoes!

Lindsey's mom Jean made her dress.  Talk about a personal touch! It was gorgeous.... outdone only by Lindsey herself. Incredible job Jean!

A walk on the wild side...

While the girls continued getting ready, Lindsey sent this gift to Jacob via messenger.... :)

Nebraska played KU today (and managed to win 31-17!) while the guys tuned in for an update....

Lindsey's gorgeous bouquet was from PetalCreations.

The reception was held in the Jasmine Room at the Grand Manse in downtown Lincoln. I've photographed weddings at the Grand Manse before, but never in the Jasmine Room... so pretty!

Congrats you two! Thanks so much for including me in your celebration-- I'm honored to have been part of it! Have a wonderful time in Puerto Rico!

Down the Aisle: Eric + Emily | Wedding Photographer Lincoln

As an artist, it's the greatest feeling ever when people hire you for YOU (vs. just anybody with a camera). Knowing my clients are as excited as I am to be involved in their special day is just another reason why I love what I do so so much. :) Eric & Emily are adorable, easy to work with and were up for anything. The honor of being part of their day was sheer delight!

This blog post was a long time in the making as there are just so many images I couldn't help but share.... so enough writing already... Geesch!

I think Eric secretly wished he had his own bouquet..... ;)

LOVE the purple socks!!!!! The ol' Caddy makes a nice accessory too... ;)

I LOVE when one ring fits inside the other like this. So symbolic.

Yep. That's the groomsmen. A real collection of characters, to say the least.  And they were just getting started. :) I love this shot!

The purple looked so darn good!

Eric and the guys had no problem workin' it for the camera.... :)

So happy for you guys.... THANK YOU SO MUCH for entrusting me with such important memories!

Down the Aisle: Chad + Lindsay | Wedding Photographer Lincoln

Truly a gold medal performance! It was 30 degrees out, but from the looks of these two, you'd never know it! When I arrived at the church, I was curious to see what Lindsay's take would be on the whole weather situation. She walked right up to me and insisted, "We're still going outside!" Naturally, I was happy to oblige!

Chad actually carried Lindsay up a hill, over a barbed-wire fence and through a wet, soggy field for this shot. Incredible!

This was the point where fingers and toes were numb and it was time to head back.... :)

Remember Stanley? He made a surprise appearance just for this photo (he also was mentioned in the program. True love I tell ya!)

This book is a family heirloom bible. Too cool!

The reception was held at the Lincoln Country Club and featured cake by none other than the Lincoln Cake Lady, Donna Roehrs. Several different flavors were available, including apple-caramel! Hello!!!!???? Heavenly! (Note the fish vase below.... the groom cake featured a 'gone fishing' theme. Nothing like real live fish to add to the ambience! :)

Can you feel the energy in this photo? Kids are so fun to watch at receptions. I love it!

Score!

Touchdown! Goal! Score. You guys found each other and are now a family. That's the jackpot right there! Congrats to you both!!!

Down the Aisle: Josh + Kelly | Wedding Photographer Lincoln

Oh my goodness! Not only were Josh and Kelly soooooooooo fun and easy to work with...... but Kelly confided in me that it was me (and the cake) she was most excited to have as part of her wedding day (in addition to all the obvious stuff like Josh... and their families, etc..... but.... no pressure, right?).   I love when clients are as excited to have me there as I am to be there! It means that we're all going to have a good time and great images are going to come from it.  Thanks for your smiles, your enthusiasm.... your heart! I'm madly in love with this image! As in, I'd happily marry it! (Ha! Remember when kids used to tease each other with that line!?) Seriously though.... L.O.V.E.

Hollywood called, they want their starlet back! :)

Autumn weddings in Nebraska are oh so yummy!

When I saw Kelly in her dress my jaw hit the floor. Va-va-voom!

Tryin' to bring the sexy back.... made for lots of giggles. :)

Yes please!

My **other** fave...... (all because of her heels lifted just off the ground......)

Oh my gosh! That was so fun you guys! Big hugs to you both!!!!!!!!