There is a special place in my heart for brides with style like Jen’s. The soft ruffles at the bottom of her dress plus her GORGEOUS flowers… I was in love! And so is Wade – just wait until you see their first look!!

They had planned to wait until the ceremony to see each other, but then decided walk up the aisle together, so we did a very quick first look right before they walked outside to get married, and I LOVE that I could capture that excitement for both of them in one photo! :-)

Jen couldn’t stop smiling – and neither could I!!

Shawn + Christie’s river-side wedding was beautiful and casual at the same time. The River Rock Lodge has the most scenic overlook to the Missouri River, and the set-up made the day feel more like a family reunion where guests could mingle, eat, wander, and enjoy the breeze on the patio.

Another example: Christie’s TOMS wedges = comfy… Christie’s wedding gown = GORGEOUS

How often do you see a bride get down on the floor to put her own shoes on? LOVE!!

A sweet first look and a big gust of wind. :-)

I do love the Black Hills, but East river isn’t so bad…

Christie and her dad were the most smiliest father-daughter duo I’ve ever seen walk down the aisle!

I LOVE that when I told Shawn + Christie to ‘do a little dance’ on the dock, they did THIS!!

When we got back to the lodge after doing photos down by the river, the lighting was so beautiful and the sky was like cotton candy, so we just *had* to take a couple more photos. (All of my couples know that I’m never done with portraits until I say “just one more” once or twice.) :-)

A final example of how this wedding was both beautiful and casual… belting out their first dance song under cafe lights and a twilight sky.

Shawn + Christie – Thanks so much for bringing me out to Pierre for your wedding! I may have cried big tears over leaving my baby girl for a couple nights, but you and your love + excitement on your wedding day made being away the best it could have been! Thanks for being so wonderful!! :-)

Happy half birthday to Elodie!

She did so well playing her favorite game with daddy – ‘hide the block.’ He set it in the grass, asked her where it was, she raised her hands like she didn’t know, but then went over and happily picked it back up.

Her other favorite things this month are crawling *down* stairs, helping daddy water the lawn, and dipping her fruit in Cool Whip. Also: pointing at birds (and dogs and airplanes and anything that moves).

At the end of the session, I asked Lance to take a few of me with Elodie because…

We’re expecting another baby in November!! :-)

David and Sarah’s vintage-inspired backyard picnic wedding was the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, and Copper Canyon Lodge was the perfect setting for it!

These two walked so fast they were almost running to the ceremony – they just couldn’t wait to get married!!

Sarah’s dress was her grandmother’s from when she got married – she just made a few modifications, but don’t you love all the details?! And that it’s pink!!!

Their one request was to have a photo like her grandparents – I would love to see the ‘original’ and how the dress changed!

The picnic theme was brought to life by all the bunting that Sarah made, the salads, burgers and kabobs, and the variety of desserts made by David’s mom!

David + Sarah – Thanks for inviting me out for your special day! It was definitely worth waiting ten years for – it was perfect!! (I’m still so giddy about that cloud!!) I hope you enjoyed every moment of your wedding, as well as every day you’ve been married so far. :-)

It’s so hard to get work done when this little girl is looking at me with those eyes, begging me to read stories. Thank goodness she still takes long naps. :-)This month we tried pigtails for the first time. And the last time. Those teeny tiny plastic elastics are tough! So we will continue to use a bow to keep the hair out of her eyes.

Elodie favorite thing is being outside – playing with sand and rocks, splashing in a tub of water, and watching birds, puppies and bunnies.