Down the Aisle: Jared + Leigh

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Emir and I had the honor of photographing Jared's brother's wedding four years ago in Denver, and we always hoped that when the time was right, we'd be invited back to capture another historic Bakewell celebration. This time, the scene took place in Omaha, but the atmosphere was just as festive. Jared and Leigh and both their families have a special connection that makes it easy to see why they're all so close. We were honored to be part of their magic for another day. :)

This was when Jared saw Leigh for the first time and exclaimed, "A perfect 10!"

Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Scoular Ballroom where this black and white striped runner set the scene.

During cocktail hour we snuck away for a few more couple portraits...

After years as a bartender, Jared knew exactly how to put together the perfect signature cocktail.

Rather than a sit down dinner, guests were treated to a variety of food stations including a couple that were devoted to fries and mac-and-cheese! Needless to say, it was a huge hit!

Congrats to you all! xoxoxo

Down the Aisle: Megan + Joe

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Some couples do a "first look." Megan and Joe did what I'm referring to as a "first tease." They didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, but they did want photos together, just separated somehow so they couldn't see each other while reading the cards they wrote for each other. Positioned on either side of a tree, we pulled it off. How sweet it was! :)

I love the look on Joe's face here—he was all smiles all day long!

After the ceremony, we were able to photograph the two of them together... no tree. :)

Congrats to you all! xoxoxo

Down the Aisle: Stephanie & Bryant

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What a hoot! Emir and I had a ball working with Stephanie, Bryant, and all their family and friends. The newly married couple is off gallivanting the globe on their honey moon, before which they assured me, "We know turning around weddings crazy fast is your thing and all, but seriously, we'll be out of the country, so don't feel like you have to rush." Ummm.... yeah right. :) As if I could resist!

Yep. That's Google Glass. We had a ball checking them out and laughing over Fred Armisen's SNL Google Glass parody on Weekend Update. Obviously, we had to get a photo just for fun...

This is one of my favorite shots from the day simply because this bird flew right into it at the very moment I tripped the shutter. Couldn't have asked for better placement!

Bryant and his crew are the geniuses behind the magic over at Hudl. Apparently, not only are they equally fun, all-around great guys, but they're also equally amazing on the dance floor, where they treated us to their crazy moves...

So excited for you guys as you begin your new adventure together—congrats!

Double Header Wedding Weekend

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As a general rule, I don't usually shoot double header wedding weekends anymore, but a wedding calendar is like love—tough to predict and even more difficult to control. So now and then, surprises come up and exceptions get made. With Emir by my side, we were honored to be there for the beginning of not one, but two new families. What a treat! A huge congrats to Stephanie & Bryant and Meisha & Nate. A more elaborate blog post is in the works!

Note to fellow wedding photographers struggling with wedding season workflow: In true form, both of these weddings and their respective album designs will be finished within the week. Curious how the heck I manage to make that happen without hiring an army of production staff or outsourcing? Read all about it in my Wicked Fast Wedding Workflow Guide.

Double Header Wedding Weekend

Down the Aisle: Jamie & Stephanie

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I enjoyed so many things about Jamie and Stephanie's day... their laid-back attitudes, their sweet families, and their sensational pastor who delivered a heart-felt ceremony that tickled your funny bone as much as it tugged at your heart strings. And the weather! Did I mention the weather? I woke up to a huge rain storm and was worried Stephanie would be in a panic about their outdoor ceremony, but the clouds held up and we were even treated to some sunshine later. What a great day! And when it was all over, these two lovebirds were a new family. I'd say it was a pretty amazing day. Congrats you two!