Down the Aisle: Ashley + Jason

My role as a wedding photographer is a colorful and varied one to say the least. In addition to my actual photographic duties, I often also play the part of wedding coordinator, mental-health cheerleader, and.... occasionally... custodian. :) I happily roll up my sleeves and push a broom (or, as last night.... a mop) with the best of 'em. :) Often times I tell my clients that I will be like part of the family on wedding day... and I mean it. Pulling off a huge wedding in a small town is very much a family activity... and if that means we need to break down 10 tables (center pieces, table cloths and all) to make room on the dance floor before the bride and groom can have their first dance... well.... I'm not about to just stand there and twiddle my thumbs while the rest of the crew goes to work! (Even when it's 100 degrees out with all the famous humidity Nebraska can muster.) Becoming part of my clients' families for the day is something I very much look forward to... and is how I know I'm truly doing my job (whatever all that happens to involve on any given day). Thanks for letting me join the club guys!

Just in case Jason were to forget... he is indeed... the groom. :)

Ashley's hair was a golden swirl of wedding bliss...

l.o.v.e.

Jason was such a great sport! You can't tell from these photos... but it was literally 100 degrees out... with a humidity level that made me seriously consider jumping in the near by neighborhood pool... camera and all. :) Yet, look at that smile on his face!

Love the pink shoes Ashley!

All together now... "awhhhhh!"

Proof! This is my car's rear-view mirror with built in outside temperature gauge. Yikes!

Happily back inside the air-conditioning at the church... I caught these glimpses of Ashley while she watched the crowd gather from the choir loft. :)

A very ornate church in the middle of a very small town. (population 3,660) Beautiful!

Small town tradition (and early ceremony times) lends itself to the time honored pit-stop at the neighborhood watering hole before heading to the reception.... and if you can squeeze in a game of pool... well.... all the better. :)

Jason was so happy to be in this moment.... the day behind him, the ring on his finger. Ashley is his forever now..... :) Congrats you two!

Down the Aisle: Allison + Trevor

Me to Allison: "How are you feeling? How'd you sleep last night?" Allison: "I felt tachycardic!"

The night before your wedding day is enough to make most anyone's heart race... even a cardiac nurse's. :)

But all was well... and how cute are these???

Allison's signature scent... I'm told all of the bridesmaids were wearing it as well. Poor Trevor! Do you suppose he got confused? :)

Last minute hair touch-ups...

The ladies...

The girls planned ahead for the possibility of rain with these darling umbrellas... I don't think they were too sad that they didn't need to use 'em. :)

When Allison's parents met... there was a song that provided the soundtrack and years ago at their wedding, the DJ didn't have the song available.... so now.... they got a much deserved and long over-due dance. :) I love stuff like this! (It was a surprise from Gary to Tami!) :)

Well done. :) Enjoy your down time before having to put  your feet back on the ground again! :) May your hearts always be together in the clouds!

Down the Aisle: Kaylie + Jeff

Kaylie & Jeff are quite the pair. Together since she was a high school freshman (and he was a junior), their wedding day has been a long time coming! They tied the knot in West Point, Nebraska yesterday, surrounded by what can only be described as an enormous group of family and friends. As Kaylie so eloquently put it last night at the reception, "I'm happy to be a Bracht, but let's party like a Wietfeld!"And party they did! Having become a frequent guest of West Point's incredible hospitality... I'm always excited when I get to make the drive up and photograph the famed Saint Mary's.

Is she a cutie, or what?

There was a lot of laughing and joking going on between them... lots of fun moments like this one.

I love their body language in this shot.... too fun!

Personal touches like this always pull at my heart strings. For some reason, I seem to get very emotionally attached to nostalgic trinkets like this. To imagine that Kaylie has had this 'hanky' since birth... with the intention of one day wearing it down the aisle, brings the whole 'circle of life' concept into focus and hits me like a punch in the gut.

I love the dreamy quality of this image.

I can't wait to hear about Aruba!!! Safe travels guys!

Down the Aisle: Stephanie + Lance

I woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of roaring thunder and a downpour that would typically cause panic in the hearts of many brides. I checked the weather report and quickly texted Stephanie to keep her spirits high with the prediction that the clouds and rain would clear by 11am. After falling back into bed, I remembered that Stephanie and Lance are meteorology majors, and certainly didn't need a text from me to let them know the weather predictions... ha! We all had a laugh about it when I arrived and Stephanie confessed that she hadn't checked on the weather yet... I think she just knew in her heart that all would be well... and well it was!

I first met Lance and Stephanie when they came from Salt Lake City for their Nebraska engagement photos. We kept in touch via email, blog comments (she's a blogger too!) and occasional shipments (me sending them their love shoot session album, and her sending the most adorable knitting and delicious muffins!). Their day has been a long time in the making, and I'm so happy it was finally here!

Filled with countless hand-made touches, you can tell how much they enjoyed putting their hearts and souls into the event, and I'm thrilled to have been able to capture it for them in a way that celebrates those things. Enjoy!

How cute are their flowers!? I love the country bumpkin feel to them... perfect for a ceremony at Country Pines!

Their guest book is quite possibly the coolest thing I've seen! Guests were greeted with green ink pads upon their arrival and the little sign instructed them to place their thumbprints on the tree and sign their names. When all is said and done, it's a gorgeous wedding tree with a record of who was there. Love it!

Instead of a unity candle or sand ceremony, Stpehanie & Lance had a 'tree ceremony' where they and their mothers added soil and water to the pot of a young fern tree to travel back to SLC with them and be planted in the yard of their newly purchased home. :)

Boys and their socks always make for good photos... lol!

Is the back of her dress gorgeous, or what!? Absolutely stunning!

Another Emir super shot!

Lance's aunt Linda made this traditional Norwegian wedding known as "kransekake." It's a surprisingly chewy, almond based slice of heaven! I've been trying hard not to indulge in all the sweet yumminess I am tempted with every weekend, but I had to give in & try some of this because it was so unique (and I love Scandanavia and couldn't pass up the chance to experience this tradition!). You can get the hook up with the specially made baking pans and recipe (or this one!) and try some for yourself!

Fun and interesting entertainment options for the guests are usually a solid hit! Stephanie and lance provided several choices including games like a bean tag toss, ladder golf, horse shoes and pick-up football (of course, the Shoot Shack was also on-hand for guests to enjoy!)

Can't get enough of the back of her dress!

Love love love those purple shoes!

For a Nebraska girl who wanted a Nebraska wedding, you hit the nail on the head! :)

You did it! Enjoy your drive back to SLC and best wishes with the move. Jamaica will be waiting for you when you get there! :)

Down the Aisle: Megan + Justin

Before getting into the story of Megan & Justin's day... I have to start with this image of Megan and my uncle Tom heading down the aisle because... well.... look at it! I love you guys. (Thanks to Emir for this shot... it's all his!)

It's not everyday that I get to play the role of cousin of the bride while simultaneously serving as wedding photographer. :) It makes for a very busy, but memorable day... and Megan & Justin's Omaha wedding was no exception. Held at Lauritzen Botanical Gardens, their wedding was... anything but ordinary. I'll give you the play by play as you work your way down the post, but I'm warning you now... it's an insanely large one... despite several repeated edits....  What can I say? :)

Megan's dress was beautiful and fit her like a glove...

I was anxious to see her shoes as I don't know anyone who walks in heels better than she! She wears them all the time and makes them look comfortable!

Megan's mom Patti... are they twins, or what? Patti looked stunning as the mother of the bride... a role she played so well!

The girls. The coordinator at the gardens told me the bridal room was small... and she wasn't kidding!

So... this is my new cousin-in-law, Justin. Many of you may know him as one of the guys behind the famed American Outlaws... I know him as a super fab guy who I'm proud to have as the newest member of our family. Here, he rocks the front of my lens big time!

Meanwhile, the girls took care of important things.... like FOOD! :)

The first look...

Their future kiddos are going to have gorgeous eyes... no doubt.

This is one of Emir's shots... I love it!

Holy cow... this one gives me goosebumps! Breath. Taking.

The location provided tons of gorgeous backdrops for photo yumminess... this Victorian garden reminded me of the Queen's garden from Alice in Wonderland... "Painting the roses red, we're painting the roses red!"

Love the soulful look on Justin's face here...

This one is one of my faves too...

One of the things I was really looking forward to on Megan & Justin's day... was to capture my uncle Tom. I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for Tom... who often serves as a much appreciated mentor and confidant (he's also my accountant, who I'd be lost without!). I've always appreciated his sensitive nature, and knew that Megan's wedding would be a joyous and emotional day for him. This is my gift to them both.

Emir caught this shot of Megan's face during the same moment. ***This*** is why I love to do what I do!

Ceremony time! It was fun to watch the guests roll in. A lot of family and mutual friends were in attendance, some of whom I haven't seen in years!

A string quintet entertained the guests as the seats quickly filled and the start of the ceremony drew closer. This song selection, "The Luckiest" was the perfect choice for a couple who is truly 'lucky.' Not only to have found each other, but to come from two families so loving and supportive... they truly have it all.

My cousin Jeff (Megan's brother) read the classic Shel Silverstein poem, "Sister For Sale!" The two of them have always been very close, it was fun to see their comedic interjection into the ceremony. Justin swooped in to take Megan off Jeff's hands... :)

Justin's brother, Jason, flew in with his daughter Sabrina (the flower girl) all the way from Taiwan. Very cool!

***News Alert***

Ladies and gentlemen, I may be related to the most chill and relaxed bride in all of history! Just as they were about to exchange rings, the sky opened up and a downpour ensued. It seemed as though the next few moments passed in an instant as the guests fled inside and we wrangled up a few umbrellas (thank you to Mrs. Goertzen & everyone who relinquished them to the greater cause!) to snag a few shots before rushing to finish the rest of the ceremony in the shelter of the atrium. Talk about teamwork! (Note the smile on Megan's face... she's amazing!)

Definitely a memorable ceremony!

We regrouped inside, and within minutes, the ceremony was back in session! (Megan smiling through the whole thing!) I was impressed not only with her calm surrender to the rain, but also by everyone's teamwork. Everyone jumped in, moved the tables, set up chairs and literally.... within seconds, it was as if they had planned the ceremony to be inside the whole time. Everyone was feeling a rush of exhilaration and remarked that the rain and location switch was, of all things... fun!

On with the show!

In honor of our German roots (and her extensive German travel/living/education experience), Megan incorporated the German log-sawing tradition known as "baumstamm sägen" into their ceremony. Our uncle Brian constructed the saw-horse and instead of a 'ring bearer,' Megan and Justin had a 'saw bearer.' It was a riot! They sawed back & forth while the crowd cheered "Drücken/Ziehen!" (push/pull) in eager anticipation of their success. (PS: The quilt in the background was made by our Grama, of "Grama's Jellies" fame).

After the ceremony, it was time for some fun with the wedding party!

The reception was simply stunning. Mulhall's provided the floral arrangements, and would you believe my dear old dad welded the candle holders? Amazing. He may have to come out of retirement and start a new business... ha ha!

Another German tradition Megan & Justin included is that of the "brautbecher," or "cup." Wine is poured into both cups, then the bride and groom race to see who can empty their cup first (though the bride's cup is much smaller!). It is said that whoever wins will be the boss of the marriage. Look out Justin!

As they were about to start toasts, it was called to our attention that a full rainbow had appeared just over the patio. Of course, a photo was practically required!

After toasts... it was time to dance!

Emir captured these two cuties...

Then... it was P-A-R-T-Y time! One of the traditions among neighborhood family friends is called the "Alligator." Somewhat like "Simon Says" on the dance floor... it involves crawling around on all fours and occasionally flipping onto your back while flailing your arms and legs around. Always a good photo opp! :)

Thanks to Emir for snapping this shot of Tom and I. :) I'm honored to be entrusted with such important family memories... Much love and hugs to you all!

Down the Aisle: Erica + Tyler

It's always an honor to work with out-of-state clients who entrust me with the responsibility of capturing such an important day in their lives. Hiring a professional wedding photographer is a very personal thing... and having only had the chance to meet with Erica & her mom Karen once... well... let's just say I'm especially humbled. :) When I arrived at the hotel suite the door was open but no one was in sight. Erica's dress however, welcomed me with this pretty smile. :)

The girls buzzed around in a frenzy of powder, perfume, lip gloss and giggles.

This ring shot was a total experiment.... but I have to say I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out! :) Thanks for your help on this one Maggie! :)

The peacefulness of this image stopped me in my tracks...

Tyler's eyes are mesmerizing here... wow!

This was when I first met Terry... Erica's dad. He is a riot! Don't those dress blues look sharp!?

***L-O-V-E***

Terry was hilarious... every now and then he'd pop up behind me with a photo request, one of which was this image with a longtime buddy of his. Naturally, I was happy to oblige. Aren't they adorable?

After the ceremony at St. Mary's, the troops were up for more photo fun....

This was where it all started.... at Brother's Bar where Erica & Tyler both worked (only after another friend twisted Erica's arm and convinced her to apply in the first place).

When I arrived at the reception, my jaw hit the floor when I saw the incredible floral artistry of Stacy Combs over at Petal Creations. She truly is a magician with all things floral!

I've seen a lot of neat things at a lot of fantastic weddings... but this touching tribute truly stole my heart. As Erica's dad Terry explained, there is a tradition in the military of honoring those that are no longer with us. In an adaptation, Erica & Tyler honored their departed family members with a single table setting at the reception, and this following reading:

"We call your attention to the small table with occupies a place of honor and dignity. Although it is set for one, it symbolizes the fact that many of our family and friends are not able to be with us.

The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of each life and every family member.

The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of our love for them and theirs for us.

The vase of flowers represent each person we wish to honor tonight...

The slide of lemon reminds of of the bitterness we feel at their absence and our wish that they could have been here with us tonight.

The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the tears we have shed in their memory and what they have come to mean to each of us in our lives.

The glass is inverted, as they cannot be here tonight to toast with us.

The chair will remain empty, for they are not here.

The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope, that one day we will be together again."

I love things like this too... instead of party favors, guests found this message waiting for them at each place setting:

Time to party! Tyler + Erica's first dance was a special performance piece they put together to entertain the crowd.

Tyler and his mom were especially fun to watch throughout the day.... Holly is a woman of strength and grace, and I love the way they came together in this image.

Congrats guys... best wishes to you all! :)

Down the Aisle: Michelle + Adam

Michelle + Adam's wedding was all that... and then some! Held at the historic Magnolia Hotel in downtown Omaha, it was a formal affair with the glamor you'd expect from such a swank locale. :) I've been looking forward to photographing it since they first contacted me and brought Emir along to help capture their story. A quick peek through the haul brought these gems to my attention... enjoy! :) Michelle's mom Jan & the girls enjoyed getting dressed in the 2-story suite... simply gorgeous!

This is Michelle's dad Bill... he was cracking me up with his camera... he was practically on duty! :)

I ***love*** this shot of Bill!

Adam was ***great*** in front of the camera... so fun to work with!

You know it: Red!

The ceremony took place on the opposite site of this courtyard...

Can we say fun-ky!?

I love watching kids at weddings.... they're always entertaining...

Emir snagged this shot of yours truly workin' it! :)

Another behind-the-scenes peek... :)

Time for the main event!

Gorgeous! :)

Immediately following the ceremony, guests walked across the courtyard and into the reception room where this gorgeous eye-candy was waiting for them. :)

So beautiful! Michelle changed her hair-do for the reception and put it into this up-do with a flower.... I'm in love!

You did it! Congratulations to you both... Enjoy your next adventure, and thank you for including me in such an important day in your lives!

Down the Aisle: Karla + Mike

Recently, Karla posted an update on FaceBook that said something along the lines of, "This was my last day as 'Ms. Engh!" A third grade teacher, her kids are still wrapping their minds around the exciting life-changing event of this weekend. On top of getting a new name and beginning a new marriage, Karla & Mike also recently bought their first home! Lots of excitement going on in their lives... and I got to be there to catch part of it. Thanks for making me part of your day guys.... Here's a quick peek at some quick faves! Ceremony: Southwood Church Reception: Wick Alumni Center Flowers: ABloom

Apparently, I was on a black & white kick for these first few... but can you blame me? Gorgeous!

At one point, Karla's Grandpa asked me, "Do you have a photo of the outside of the church?" I'm happy to say... "Yes!"

Two cheers for the sand ceremony!

You cannot *believe* how windy it was.... I mean, it was howling. Made for some great veil shots though!

How cute! I love Mike's smile in these... :)

Karla was workin' it in a major way!

The reception was gorgeous and flowed with perfection. Nice work guys!

Here's to happily ever after!

Down the Aisle: Stacie + Matt

If you were to ask me, "Khara.... what's the best way to have a truly fantastic wedding?" I'd have a few answers for you. Among my many recommendations would be the following: 1) Find the right person to marry (duh!)

2) Invite your loved ones and a great group of friends

3) And if you really like to party..... Book a killer live band and bring along some Bathtub Dogs (read more for info!)

One of the groomsmen at Matt & Stacie's wedding asked me what word I would use to describe them and the wedding as a whole. My answer? "Fantastic." And I meant it. It's inspiring to see the results that come from a lifetime spent cultivating meaningful relationships with great people and then bringing them all together to celebrate something as special as the beginning of a new family... a wedding. This is Matt & Stacie's story. :)

Wedding location: Saint Joseph's Church Flowers: Hy-Vee Floral Reception: Embassy Suites Band: D*Funk

I gasped when I saw Stacie's dress..... classic. Beautiful. Perfect!

Part of the fun of getting ready with the girls is all the commotion that goes along with it... I love to see curling irons strewn about, piles and piles of eye-shadow, bobby-pins and lip gloss. Of course, nothing beats the chorus of gasped breath when the bride slips into her dress and everyone see's her for the first time.

An artist with needle and thread, Matt's aunt Jane made this hand-stitched card for them and I happened to spot it before she sealed it in an envelope. :)

When you first walk in the door at St. Joe's, you can't help but notice the colorful collection of adorable sun-dresses hanging on the wall. They were made by parishioners for the young girls in their sister city in Haiti. Over the years, they have built a very extensive relationship with a church there... and in addition to the sundresses, the parish raised an impressive $98,000 to help the community deal with the aftermath of the recent earthquake. I like to think about the smiles these dresses will inspire when they arrive someday soon!

Here's the darling couple! You may remember their winter-wonder-land loveshoot session... hard to believe their wedding day was already here!

The boys kept themselves entertained before the ceremony with some paper football.

Love this shot from the ceremony...

Matt's dad and the cutie-pa-tootie flower girl, Ellie (a.k.a: Matt's niece).

Stacie rejoicing in the fact that it wasn't raining... She had been feverishly checking the weather reports... every. single. hour. for weeks. :)

Ok. So... the boys. What a great group of good natured fun, funny and downright entertaining guys! They kept me laughing all day long and had no trouble working it for the camera. Thanks for all the fun guys! (Wait 'til you see their dance moves!)

The girls were truly gorgeous! I was in awe of their incredible up-do's courtesy of Sweet Jane Salon.

What can I say? The camera loved these guys...

The Embassy looked fabulous... (your centerpiece shots are in the can Stacie... Good stuff!)

Matt hooked the guys up with white Keds for the reception. They totally owned the look....

While the girls took five in the ladies room...

Matt's toast was followed by a slide show, where at the end, he surprised everyone with a video where he introduced Stacie to.... THEIR NEW PUPPY! The crowd went wild as Stacie burst into tears of joy. Touché Matt!

The surprises continued as after the first dances, Matt and the groomsmen invited Stacie's mom onto the dance floor where they rocked out to "Stacy's Mom." You go Sue!

I love this shot of Andy owning the dance floor!

Here comes the par-ty! D Funk took the stage and erupted with a funk dance party explosion of epic proportions. If you've never seen them live... you are in for a treat! You can check their schedule and catch them at an upcoming gig. Lead singers Eddie Brown and Maria Lozoya are truly gifted entertainers. I can't wait to take Emir to a future show!

Of course, the night would not be complete without a performance by Matt and the crew from UNL's Bathtub Dogs. They took the stage and serenaded Stacie with not one, but two songs. Gold!

It's always interesting when I'm invited to get in front of the lens.... :) Thanks for the good times crew!

Matt & Stacie... what an epic time! Thank you for inviting me to be part of it... enjoy your trip to Mexico!!!!!

Down the Aisle: Micaela + Chris

It happens now and again... I'm honored to work with so many wonderful families... and occasionally.... they make me cry (in the best of ways). When I see a family so full of life and love, it carries me through the day, into the reception... and sends me home with a warm-fuzzy feeling that reminds me how important it all really is. To know what it means to share a father's hug, a laugh with mom, a sisterly glance or a brotherly joke... is to understand what love is all about. The more I learned about what wonderful people Chris and Micaela have in their lives.... the more inspired I was by them. How fortunate they all are..... they have between them, a gift. One that only grew larger and more precious yesterday with the official expansion of the family, to include the newlyweds.

I am honored to have shared in this momentous occasion... and sleep well at night knowing there are so many fabulous people in the world. Thank you!

These are Micaela's shoes that were as daring as they were darling... what you can't tell in this photo is that they easily added 4+ inches to her height on wedding day... brave girl! :) She pulled it off flawlessly.

Micaela had the incredible fortune of having much of her family present at the wedding, including grandparents and great grandparents! This photo captures four generations of women.

So... the purple 4+inch heels were just the beginning.... Micaela had lots of fun details that made for a photolicious good time. Here, we catch a glimpse of her pink hair as she and Chris have their wedding day 'first look.' :)

The wind was blustering at a speed that can easily be described as 'uncomfortable,' but we managed to get this shot.... Chris and Micaela are so cute!

OK wait...we need to talk about her dress! It was knee-length and hand-made from an artist she found on etsy. Why did I not think of this for my own wedding? Genius! Nothing for people to step on and it shows off her cute shoes (the heels and the sandals)! The dress is actually two separate pieces (three if you count the belt). Let those wheels of inspiration turn ladies! (Great choice Micaela.... you were simply gorgeous!)

I snuck into the back room before the ceremony and caught this moment of Micaela with her dad, Mario. Not only are they both adorable, but they also happen to both be runners. Micaela ran Lincoln's Half-Marathon last weekend too... and completely kicked my butt! Again.... very inspirational...

Their wedding took place at St. Michael's Parish in what used to be the town of Cheney, Nebraska. It's now part of Lincoln, but is still charmingly somehow different.... just darling!

I l-o-v-e this...

These two have been together for several years... often mentioning throughout the day and into the evening that they 'grew up' together. I love thinking about them continuing on their life journey together... and one day growing old together. :) I picture them huddled around their wedding album looking at these photos and thinking about how beautiful they were, all the love they have in their lives, and what a great day their wedding day was...

Such a handsome groom! Love that soft smile...

Chris had great spiky/curly hair.... love how it looks in this shot...

The vintage lace on Micaela's wedding veil was a worthy photo subject all its own!

I l-ooooooo-vvvv-eee this too... I think it's the look on both their faces.....

The reception was full of great surprises like video tributes from Chris and Micaela throughout the evening and Mario's 'father-of-the-bride' toast delivered as a video montage with a speech that left me in tears..... (So glad Emir was shooting with me.... speeches like that make me miss him so much!)

Simply fantastic. Huge big strong hugs to all of you!