Carl + Penny have been friends for quite some time. They have celebrated good times together and also helped each other through some not-so-good times. And this weekend was their time to start their happily ever after.

 

I will never get tired of photographing first looks!! The emotions and excitement are pure photography gold!! :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvan Lake Lodge was the perfect setting for their cozy, fall wedding!

 

 

 

Carl + Penny were married just after sunset, which made the hills outside look like a winter wonderland!

 

 

 

Penny – you sure do throw a beautiful party… these decorations were perfection!

 

ceremony + reception + catering | Sylvan Lake Lodge, Custer Stat Park, South Dakota

wedding gown | Audra’s Bridal, Rapid City, SD

groom’s suit | Halberstadt’s, Rapid City, SD

flowers | Decker’s Floral, Newcastle, WY

cake | Peace of Cake, Holly Scott, Newcastle, WY

 

Cooler weather = scarves, changing colors, and all things pumpkin flavored. Here are a few of my favorite things this month!

1. Pumpkin chocolate chip mini loaves – I baked these the other week and they were gone entirely WAY too fast!! I’ve also been addicted to pumpkin spice coffee creamer as well as anything in a mini loaf size. :-)

2. New boots!!! I was actually searching for some black boots… (because I already have brown boots (and I hardly ever wear those))… but THESE boots… These boots I fell in love with. And I promise to wear them every day we have ‘boot weather.’

3. The most common question I was asked during our engagement was “who photographs a photographer’s wedding?” Answer: bobbi+mike. Because they rock. Seeing our wedding photos was definitely one of the highlights for this month!!!!! There have been a couple sneak peeks on Facebook and we were just featured on bobbi+mike’s blog yesterday. Is it silly that one of my favorites is one with one of the photographers peeking over the hill behind us? :-)

4. Fall colors. I am surprised at how long they have lasted this year! This is a photo I took with my phone as I was waiting in my car for the rain to stop before Bailee’s senior session.

Have I ever told you about my senior pictures? I did not have any sense of fashion, my eyebrows were overwhelming to my face, and all but one outfit were photographed inside.

These girls I’m photographing now have the cutest outfits (that I always wish I could borrow without it being creepy…), the best hair, and such fun personalities that tend to shine in an outdoor setting. Like these golden trees and cozy fall sunlight – so beautiful!!

I loved photographing Bailee, her sweet smile, and her fun outfits – I’m so glad we were able to catch some fall colors for her!!

 

 

 

She’s even adorable when she’s serious!! I just looked downright sad in my non-smiling senior pictures!!

 

 

 

 

 

How many times did I tell you September was going to be a great month?? Joe and Becky wrapped up September with a fun, DIY-filled wedding with perfect fall colors and a dance that almost made ME want to party all night! (And that’s saying a lot – when I’m not at weddings, I’m normally in my pajamas by 8pm!)

It takes a lot of time, patience and craftiness to pull off a DIY wedding – and let me tell you, Joe and Becky did it right. From the flowers to the chalkboard signs, to the twine-wrapped mason jar centerpieces and the cupcakes – EVERYTHING was well done. I wish I could photograph their wedding again this weekend, and the weekend after that. Of course, it helps that they are both SO in love with each other that photographing them is not even work – it’s pure delight. :-)

Okay, okay, I’m a big sap, I know. Let’s look at their pretty pictures!!! :-)

 

 

Only teeny tiny women with itty bitty feet will tell you that four-inch sparkly peep-toe heels are ‘comfortable.’ Oh, Becky, I am still so jealous of your wedding shoes!!

 

 

 

 

This was as close to serious as these guys could get – and it only lasted for a split second!!

 

Did I mention the ribbon wands and lace+string balloon backdrop? SO MUCH DIY FUN!!!

 

 

I just LOVE the way you two look at each other!!!

 

I think the key to a perfect DIY wedding is to start with an already beautiful location. Case in point: Hotel Alex Johnson.

 

 

ceremony | Ruby’s Garden, Spearfish, South Dakota

reception | Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City, South Dakota

wedding gown | David’s Bridal

groom’s suit | Halberstadt’s

hair + makeup | SpaMeD

cake | Jerry’s Cakes & Donuts

cake topper | Etsy – sweet reverie

dj | Tiki Man Entertainment – Mike Malone

Joe + Becky – Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me as your wedding photographer!! You guys had SUCH a perfect day and I was so honored to be a part of it!!