Down the Aisle: Rebecca + Tom

At a gorgeous Nebraska vineyard, while surrounded by an intimate gathering of family and friends on a surprisingly cool Sunday afternoon, Rebecca and Tom walked down the aisle and into their future together as husband and wife. These are just a *few* favorite photos... :) Ceremony/Reception Venue: Bluestem Tree Farm/Vineyard Catering: Tracy Carlson & Co Cake: Butterfly Bakery Cocktail extraordinaires: the crew at Red 9 Hair: Serenity Salon Wedding coordination/art direction/ and overall awesomeness: Aeloa Delany

Tasha (Serenity Salon) had this incredible technique of threading the hair into an up-do rather than bobby pinning it. Using a tapestry needle and thread, she whipped up some incredible glamor! (She even used a latch hook needle to weave in loose fly-away hairs, avoiding the look of lacquered, untouchable hair. Very cool!)

This is Ameeta over at Bluestem Tree Farm. I just love her. :)

The outdoor ceremony featured lemonade, iced-tea, and cherry daiquiris served by the pros from Red 9.

The string quartet set the mood...

One of my favorite senior portrait clients Alexandra Martin sang during the ceremony. What a voice!

I think this is my favorite shot of all...

Tom reminded me so much of Stellan Skarsgard... don't you think?

Wishing you both a very happy ever after!

Carrie & Mitch: Super Sneak Peek

I'm on my way out the door to another exciting celebration of love today... but couldn't leave without sharing this mini-post from Carrie & Mitch's crazy awesome wedding yesterday! More to come! :)

Down the Aisle: Lindsay + Travis

In a note among the wedding paperwork, Lindsay had written, "No matter what happens, it's all fluff as long as Travis shows up!" What a great attitude! :) As it turns out, Travis did indeed make it to the ceremony, and the two are now a new family. Pure magic.

(These gorgeous programs are from none other than Sweet Zion Paperie!)

Lindsay and Travis have a dog who is very much part of their family.... thus, the dog groom's cake (rice crispy treat inside!)

A Jazzercise instructor, choreographed dance routines are nothing new to Lindsay. But last night, she took things a step further along with Travis and the whole wedding party as they surprised guests with a performance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Congratulations and best wishes for a future filled with love, laughter, health, and happiness! :)

Down the Aisle: Stephanie & Max

Not an eye in the crowd was dry as Max began his vows, "I've loved you since the moment I met you." (They've been together since the early years of high school).  "I used to scribble your name in my notebooks. I wrote songs about you—and now, all these years later, you're still my best friend." (I'm paraphrasing, of course... but you get the idea.) The part about scribbling her name in his notebooks is my favorite. I love to think about how our past connects us to our present, and it's magical to think that now, all these years later, the girl he wrote songs about and whose name he doodled has not only blossomed into a beautiful young woman—but is now his wife.

So cool.

Also cool? Stephanie's incredible eye for decorating! She joked that Max has teased her, hoping to restrict her Etsy access (which might cause quite an uproar!). From their large monogram letters, to the cake signage, the insanely adorable card holder, and the wood-burned guest book—I'd say Etsy has been good to them. :)

Ceremony location: the Wedding Island at Wilderness Ridge Reception venue: Wilderness Ridge Florist: Hy-Vee Floral Cake: Sweet Art Wedding Cakes DJ: Lauren Rock, Complete Music

Quite possibly the cutest wedding cake I've ever seen. (Check out the groom's cake in the collage below... it's "The Giving Tree," reinterpreted. Amazing!)

I love the classic Hollywood glam look of this image...

Instead of a unity candle, Steph & Max combined soil from their childhood homes into the pot of a young oak sapling, and will one day plant it in the yard of their future home. I love this for oh so many reasons!

Lauren got the party started right away and the whole crew was onboard for a hoppin' dance floor!

Much love, health, and happiness for you both! xoxo

Down the Aisle: Hailey + Jon

Jon & Hailey's day was easy going and smooth, smooth, smooth—like butter. Of course, a professional conference planner, I expected nothing less from Hailey. :) She nailed it! Those of you who like color, this post is for you! Green bridesmaid dresses with orange and purple accents  (not to mention hot pink wedding shoes) made for photolicious fun. Enjoy this super megapost! xoxo

Church: Dundee Presbyterian Reception hall: Livestock Exchange Building Florist: Kent's Flowers DJ: "Big Tom" from Complete Music

Birdcage veil!!! (Swoon!)

Hailey's mom Bobbie has been making this pearl necklace in anticipation of this day since Hailey was born. :)

The pink shoe peek!

Are you kidding me?????????? l.o.v.e

lol! I love this rogue shooter, sneaking in a shot from one of the pews... :)

Hailey and Jenna—too fun!

This kiddo was hilarious. When he caught the garter he was shouting, "Married! I'm getting married!"

xoxo to you all!!!!! I hope you enjoy settling in before heading to St. Lucia!

Down the Aisle: Meghan + Brandon

She speaks French. He speaks RPG (a high level computer programming language—er, so I'm told). Together, they make even the rainiest of wedding days look darn good. Seriously. If rain on your wedding day means good luck—Meghan and Brandon are set for life. A few days before when Meghan and I touched base, I told her, "Don't worry about the weather. We'll rock it no matter what!" And rock it she (both of them) did. In fact, I'd say that the rain helped make some of my favorite images from their day possible. Even the most torrential of downpours couldn't put a damper on what turned out to be an utterly flawless flow of events. Way to go team!

What follows is a super-mega-crazy-ginormous post of some of my favorite moments from their day. Don't say I didn't warn you! :)

Ceremony: First Plymouth Reception: The Del Ray Ballroom Florist: Fleur de Lis Cake: Le Quartier Baking Company

Meghan's sister Mindy looks at her with those, "Don't make me cry!" eyes.

Of course, you know what happened next...

Meghan comes downstairs to greet her dad. So sweet!

I always have a sweet spot for grandparents. :)

Gorgeous! When this photo was taken, she hadn't even seen Brandon yet, and look how calm and radiant she was, even while standing in a puddle. Impressive!

Brandon is such a doll. Look at the grin on his face! :) (Those grey suits were seriously stylin'!)

This one is way too cute!

The downpour continued…

Though Meghan originally planned to have the ceremony outside in the courtyard at First Plymouth, mother nature had other plans. Meghan and crew adapted with gusto and pulled off a gorgeous ceremony inside the chapel. (She could write a book on how to stay calm on wedding day!) xoxo!

Thankfully, there was a short respite between downpours and we managed to knock these beauties out. What a day! (Don't you love the yellow bridesmaid dresses!?)

Hilarious! I overheard Vaden directing his subjects where and how to stand. He told one of them, "Go stand over there, next to my girlfriend," referring to Makena, the flower girl.

Merci. x 100 ga billion. :) Working with you all was a royal treat. Much love, health and happiness to all. Enjoy Hawaii!

Down the Aisle: Allison + Matt

A great day for love!

Congratulations to you both on the beginning of your next grand adventure—viva Mexico!

Down the Aisle: Wendi + Jon

I was five years old the first time I realized it was possible to cry with tears of joy. (Apparently, winning a kite flying contest was an overwhelmingly joyous occasion for me at the time—ha!) Years later, it's not uncommon for me to shed tears of joy at the wedding celebrations I'm so honored to be part of. Yesterday, as Wendi and Jon became a new family, I didn't have to cry alone—Wendi was moved to tears throughout the day, as the love in the room was literally palpable.

Both Wendi and Jon come from incredibly loving families. The love and joy they all share was more than enough to move anyone to tears. (Even without a kite.)

Self-portrait

The wedding reception was held at Omaha's Durham Museum. The architecture and details of the building were an art deco dream!

The ladies snuck away to bustle the dress before the dancing started.

xoxoxoxo!

Album Sneaky Peeky

I can't wait for Cassie + Taylor to get back from their honeymoon so they can drool over their gorgeous album design! Here are a few of my fave spreads!

I love using a lot of negative (blank) space whenever possible. This spread makes me swoon!

I love the color and mood of this one. Can't wait to show them the whole thing. :)

How'd I rock their wedding proofs and album design so quickly? I detail my whole process in my wedding workflow guide. Save 10% with the code: CRAZYFAST and rock some albums of your own! :)

Down the Aisle: Cassie + Taylor

Vera Wang dress? Check. Incredible live band? Check.

Man of your dreams? (And a Rolls Royce to drive the two of you off into the future you've always imagined?) Check!

Cassie + Taylor have a lifetime of love, fun, and adventure ahead of them. I'm so honored to have been there to be part of the day it all began. :)

(See the bottom of the post for more info on all the vendors who helped make their day so incredible! But be forewarned, this is a mega-post!)

Here's Cassie's cathedral veil draped across several chairs while she gets her make-up done…

I love this photo of Cassie's dad Tom. :)

Cassie makes Vera Wang shine!

The Doc James Band was KILLING IT. Taylor + Cassie were s-m-o-o-t-h like butter on the dance floor... LOVE IT!

After a second wave of dance incredibleness with Cassie and her dad—I had to ask. Where did they learn to rock the dance floor like that? "Oh, that? We used to dance every night after dinner when I was a kid," Cassie said. How inspiring (and adorable) is that? Check out that Vera Wang dress in action!

Like I said, The Doc James Band was KILLING IT. They brought an incredible light show with them (even a spot light). Made a HUGE difference.

Bo, the ring bearer, was fierce on the dance floor!

Congrats you two! (And special thanks to Julie at The Lincoln Country Club for taking such great care of me last night! She sent me home with cookies & hot cocoa to boot!)

Dress: Vera Wang Rolls Royce: Timeless Transport Church: First Plymouth Cake: Donna, The Lincoln Cake Lady Reception: The Lincoln Country Club Band: The Doc James Band