Their wedding day had finally arrived!  After such a fun and colorful early fall engagement session with Karen and Shawn, I knew this day would be so amazing…and it was!  In fact, it was a magical day.  One that started with rain drops, so many rain drops.  One that was filled with lovely Tiffany details – jewelry, decor, and matching pedicure for the bride!  A stunning wedding gown.  Sparkly shoes.  Luscious florals.  An antique car.  Family, friends, and love.  Lots of love!  Karen and Shawn both made the best of the rainy weather.  And as luck would have it, we were able to do all of our portraits outdoors!  The bride and groom, and their wonderfully sweet and fun bridal party, were up for anything, and I couldn’t be more thankful to them for that!  While the rain varied from mist to downpour status at times, the weather broke just in time for their beautiful outdoor ceremony!  And we had the most amazingly perfect golden light at sunset, just in time for more portraits before the reception began!  I was giddy with excitement at how the day had gone – we were even ahead of schedule, despite potential rain delays!  Karen and Shawn know how to throw a lovely party and no detail was overlooked!  Friends and family danced the night away under the warm glow of the tent, surrounded by romantic Tiffany blue, peach and chocolate details.  What an honor it was to capture the happy couple’s first day as husband and wife!  Karen and Shawn, I hope you enjoyed every second of your honeymoon in Turks and Caicos!  I cannot wait to hear about it!  I had the honor of working alongside Sarah with Cooper Events.  Sarah and her amazing team made the day flow so incredibly smoothly and made it oh so fun!  And now for some favorites from their lovely wedding day!

Happy Veterans Day!  A heartfelt thank you to all those who have served this great country of ours.  I’m beyond excited to share this next project with you, especially because we had a Marine as part of our dream team!  Speaking of a dream team… the time, talent, and creativity that went into making this styled shoot happen was so much more than I could have asked for!  From the insanely gorgeous florals to the delicate bridal details to the exquisite bride and handsome groom, to the absolute synergy of everyone involved, it was one of those days that everything seemed to just fall into place, making the experience fun-filled and invigorating!  Please be sure to see the incredible list of everyone who took part in this collaborative effort at the end of this post. And now for a little back story… 

She was studying abroad in France, focusing on her love of architecture, art history, and communications.  She loved reading and taking in the views from her favorite Parisian spot, Cafe de Flore.  

Jose, who was visiting some friends in Paris while studying law in England, loved getting up early each morning for a good run to start his day.  And this day started out just like any other.  Thunder rumbled softly in the distance, but it didn’t deter him from lacing up his running shoes.

This one particular Tuesday morning, a sudden downpour sent Jose into the nearest cafe for shelter.  It was the very same cafe where she sat, on her phone, scribbling notes, and working away on her tablet.  She was beautiful.  And he found himself stopped in his tracks.  Something about her captivated him.  She noticed him staring her way, and she flashed a friendly smile.  Usually quite shy, Jose made his way to her table and asked if he could perhaps buy her a cup of coffee.  She said yes.  He asked her name.  “I’m Christina,” she answered.  They sat in that cafe for hours, watching the rain fall, watching passersby, and discovering that they shared quite a bit in common, including their hometown.  When the rain had let up, Jose asked if he could take her to some of his favorite places just down the avenue.  Again, she said yes. After that day, Jose had to return to England to his studies.  He visited Christina every other weekend, and together they explored all of the sights and sounds the City of Lights had to offer.  They love exploring new places together.  Jose takes delight in doing his research before traveling so that he can be Christina’s own personal tour guide, finding sweet, romantic spots to take in delicious new foods, as well as those must-see tourist spots where they take obligatory “selfies” to share with friends and family back home.  They both agree that laughter is the best medicine.  And dancing!  They both love to dance, anything from salsa to The Robot! 

When their summer studies had ended, they both knew they were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.  On Jose’s last trip to Paris, he proposed to Christina, with La Tour Eiffel in the distance.  Once again, she said “Yes!”

Upon returning home from Europe, the pair planned their wedding day and knew that it must include elements from their time spent together in Paris.  Decor and styling details were chosen based on favorite places they visited together, such as cafes where they shared dessert and streets where they strolled hand in hand.  Even their beloved pup joined them after the ceremony for photos!  And the palette was chosen to remind them of the vivid and sweet orchid hues of the trees and flowers in bloom all around the city where their love story unfolded.  

It was such a delight to work with the following wedding professionals!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this inspirational shoot so amazing!  And thank you so much for your incredible patience in waiting several months for these images to be shared!

Throughout their engagement session, I just kept feeling more and more excited for their wedding! Kelly and Scott were married at the lovely Mansion at Oak Hill on a typical Midwestern summer day.  One of those days where a mix of clouds and sun and humidity can make for some serious rain storms. However, Kelly and Scott had luck on their side!  A few rain drops fell as the groom and his groomsmen made their way to the front of the ceremony.  As soon as the bride’s proud father walked her down the steps to make her way to her soon-to-be husband, we were left with soft and sweet light that danced through the tall trees.  And they had a beautifully perfect ceremony, officiated by a close family friend, witnessed by the ones they loved most in this world, and looked down upon with great favor by those who have passed on.  Kelly and Scott, thank you so much for choosing me to photograph such a special time in your lives!  You are truly blessed with sweet and witty friends and warm and welcoming family members.  I hope that you had an amazing time in the Dominican Republic for your honeymoon!  And now for some favorites from your wonderful wedding day!  Friends and family can view the entire online gallery here.