Check these two out- they drove 5 hours just to meet me the one evening I had free while in Sioux Falls! They are so casual, cute, and comfortable in front of my camera, and I cannot wait to photograph them again in November for their wedding! That one on the right? FAVORITE!!!  Well, all of these are my favorites, but this tops the list. :-)

Check these guys out – they’re sweet, in love, and SOOOOO excited to be married!! My favorite combo. ;-)

This next photo is my ‘first favorite’ – the one I loved as soon as I took it, and then posted to Instagram as soon as I had it backed up! :-)

… and then the rain came. So we scrambled over to the Game Lodge to take cover, and get a few photos under said cover. :-)

Thankfully the rain stopped for us to get wedding party photos done, but then it started again until ceremony time – it’s as though someone from up above just knew we had a wedding to do!

LOVE THIS!!!! I’m smiling ear-to-ear all over again just looking at their excitement of being announced MR & MRS!!!

Just before the ceremony, Lindsay’s cousin (I think?) said ‘Grandma’s here for the wedding’ and set this butterfly on her bouquet. And then it stayed there for the WHOLE CEREMONY!! And for the next few photos. How precious is that?!

I loooooove it when couples have a little down time scheduled before heading over to the reception – we had the prettiest light for photos – and the rain stayed away!! :-)

The cupcakes, oh the cupcakes!! I may or may not have been bullied into having more than one. Peer pressure is real, you guys! ;-)

Steve + Lindsey surprised their guests with a choreographed dance – there was a collective ‘awww’ when they started, it was so sweet!! :-)

Lindsay’s parents will be celebrating their 40th anniversary (can that be right?), so they had a song played just for them and I looooooove how in love they still are!!

Steve + Lindsey – Thanks for being so flexible with the change in forecast! Again, I apologize for the humidity and bugs – I guess they just wanted you to feel at home?? ;-) Also, I soooo wanted to post our ‘pouting because of the rain’ selfie, but I just couldn’t end the post with sad faces – I had too much fun with you guys!! I hope married life is treating you well so far, and I hope you take your new boat out as much as you can this summer! Love and hugs, Laura.

Internet, meet James + Caitlin. They are fun, silly, engaged, and super adorable. :-)

This was unintentionally focused on the tall grass instead of James + Caitlin, but I prefer to call it a happy little accident. :-)

I try to ask each of my couples if there are any photos they’d like to do, and this next one was Caitlin’s request – I’m so glad she did, because I think it’s my favorite from the whole session! :-)

Thanks, you two for being so giggly and cuddly – I am very much looking forward to your wedding next year!! :-) Also, thanks for the bug lesson, although I may have already forgot what the ‘gnats’ were called.

Seven years of doing what I love (photographing people in love) and it just keeps getting better!! I’m so happy that Rod + Angie found me and hired me for their intimate Fourth of July wedding in Custer State Park!

We met a few days before the wedding for ice cream and they told me they would be the most laid back, easy-going couple to work with. I thought ‘yeah, sure, okay, we’ll see how the day goes.’ You see, most of my couples are laid back and easy-going couples… and here they are challenging to top that list?! But man, oh man, not only were they super relaxed, they were SO stinkin’ adorable in front of my camera!! :-)

Their first look:

I imagine Rod was whispering sweet nothings into Angie’s ear. *This* is is exactly why I keep my distance during first looks – so couples can feel free to be themselves and tell each other exactly what they’re thinking and feeling. :-)

Rod, I love how you look at Angie. :-)

These two have a lot of fun together. You know how I know? This next photo sums it up perfectly.

This blog post showcases my favorites of the day, but this next photo? My favorite of favorites.

Rod and Angie didn’t have any attendants, so instead of having a big, long, procession, they walked with each other up the aisle – how fun is that?!

A guest came up to me during the reception and asked if I noticed Rod’s secret service posture during the ceremony – I did, but I also caught this little smirk. You’re welcome. :-) Angie, on the other hand – well, I’m pretty sure she smiled through the whole thing!

Gosh, I can’t get over how cute you two are!! Angie, your beaming smile, and Rod – do I see something in your eyes? Don’t worry – you can always blame it on ‘allergies’ if you need to maintain your tough guy persona. ;-)

The beautiful thing about small weddings is that couples get to visit with their guests – just imagine all the wonderful memories Rod + Angie gathered that evening!!

Another fun memory for them? The huge rain shower and pea-sized hail that came down during dinner. Then, the sun pushed the clouds away and I selfishly stole Rod + Angie away from their guests. 

Thanks, again, you guys for having me photograph your wedding! You really did top the list of laid back, easy-going couples I’ve worked with and I will be forever grateful for having met you both!!

You guys, it’s July and I forgot to do my monthly favorites for June!! Is three days past June too late? I sure hope not. :-)

All in all, June was a fairly quiet month. My husband and I tried to get our back yard (aka dirt pile) planted with grass seed, but it has been raining far too much for us to be able to work out there and not get stuck in the mud. So instead, on our days off, we had bagels with friends, played tourist in Custer and Hill City, and took a trip to North Dakota for a family reunion!

Therefore, my favorite things this month (in no particular order) are:

1) Rain – causing my husband and I to postpone yard work and instead spend some quality fun time together!

2) Rain – for making the Black Hills so beautifully GREEN!!! I remember two years ago when we got married, it was so dry and there were so many fires in the area. For our wedding photos, grass everywhere was brown. As ‘Sara’ from Jimmy Fallon would say… “Ew!”

3) Family reunion – I haven’t seen relatives from my mom’s side of the family since our wedding, so getting to catch up with so many aunts, uncles and cousins was such a treat! Also, getting to spend a little extra time with my nephews by staying at their house made the trip extra special. :-)