Bride + Groom portraits are my favorite time to be around a couple on their wedding day. It’s just the two of them walking, hugging, swaying and soaking in every single emotion that the day brings!

Before the ceremony, it’s a lot of nerves about the ceremony combined with a relief of seeing each other finally, plus a huge dollop of excitement to get married and spend the rest of their lives together.

After the ceremony, the emotions are a bit more relaxed and carefree, with a huge wave of WE’RE MARRIED!! Finally!!!

This year, I photographed a few more elopements than I have previously, and I loved how there was so little stress and so much time to wander and soak in those ‘wedding day feels!’

Side note: this years brides + grooms all wore something that made them feel comfortable and confident and it TOTALLY showed in the way they carried themselves all day. Shoes are probably the biggest factor in killing your comfort level on a wedding day, and I was thrilled to see so many grooms wearing their own shoes instead of rentals, and lots of brides opting for a comfy pair to slip into for walking around for photos and dancing. 

Evan + Megan’s fall wedding day was overcast and cold and drizzly all morning and afternoon. When we walked out of the church after their ceremony, the SUN WAS SHINING and I couldn’t help but put a bit of sun flare in most of their post-ceremony photos because look how warm and cozy they look! They literally have that ‘just married glow.’ :-D

When I ask couples to ‘do a little dance’ during portraits, it rarely turns out like this – but this is totally Jayson + Jordyn’s personalities! I love how simple directions can yield such different results from each and every couple!

Still awe-struck over the spontaneous snowfall on Matt + Ashley’s wedding day. And his grandpa’s car. Coolest, chic-est wedding of 2017 right there!

I’d like to interrupt these sweet, fun-loving couples to introduce you to a few wedding parties – the people that surround the bride and groom with support and big laughs. As much as I love elopements, I also love seeing couples’ personalities mirrored and multiplied in their closest friends.

Okay, back to the snuggles for a bit! ;-) I still can’t get over the view from Evan’s parents’ back yard! Their ceremony was one in a million.

Alright, alright, Chris + Kelsey’s view was pretty spectacular, too! I love that you can see the ‘aisle’ she walked up, and their family and friends were scattered along the rocks on either side for the ceremony. The most natural outdoor spot to get married!

Silhouettes are always a fun image to grab, but the birds flying past in this one make it a favorite!!

Does it get any better than being carried off into the sunset on your wedding day?!

And now for a little preview of the next ‘best of 2017’ post – MOMENTS!! The candid, unscripted events as well as outtakes are the heart of every wedding. Sure, portraits are lovely, but these photos are what bring all those great memories come flooding back year after year!!

First look feels:

Ceremony love:

Reception magic:

Ashley’s dad shaking her newly-minted-husband’s hand as they switch from ‘first dance’ to ‘father-daughter dance’ – I can’t believe I wasn’t crying throughout this whole wedding dance (probably because all the tears dried up half-way through the first dance). ;-)

Ok, never mind, crying again now. Love this family SO MUCH!!!

If you enjoyed my favorite portraits from this year, plus the sneak peek of candids, be sure to check back next week for the full ‘best of 2017 MOMENTS’ recap! :-)

To everyone out there reading this who is engaged to be married – CONGRATS!!! This is such an exciting time in your life as a couple. You’re head-over-heels in love, you’re dating but now have the exact same ‘goal’ in mind – marriage! To each other! For the rest of your lives! :-D

For me as a wedding photographer, engagements are such a fun way for us to get to know each other before the wedding, and creating some lovely photos is a bonus!

With living in Custer State Park for the past year, I have found some new favorite locations and I’m so thankful for all the couples who were willing to drive a little bit further for some different scenery. Some couples this year also chose to do their photos at sunrise, which then gave a whole new perspective to these beautiful Black Hills!

To all my couples who invited me to document this exciting, yet typically short-lived, period of their relationship, THANK YOU!! Thank you for sharing your story with me and for walking alongside me to create some lovely photos.

To all those planning your wedding now, please please remember to soak in your feelings for each other at this very moment! Journal it, photograph it, enjoy it! :-)

December was sure eventful! Milo turned one, we were evacuated from our home for two nights due to the Legion Lake fire, and Christmas!

Milo did great for his first out-of-the-house photo shoot with mama. He loves to point/show he’s one, he got his eight tooth just after his first birthday and is already working on his molars. It feels like he is never not teething. He has started to crawl on his hands and knees and *loves* to pull himself up to stand. The pasta/canned goods cupboard is his favorite to raid. Anytime music is playing, he will dance and wiggle and point and wave and clap.

Elodie is talking constantly. The only time it’s quiet around here is when she’s in her room for nap/quiet time. Her new obsession with Doc McStuffins has us all getting checkups every day and writing down her “dinosis (diagnosis)” in her “big book of moo moos (boo boos)” and then we “feel so much better now.” Whenever she watches an episode, she says “tuggle me peas (snuggle me please)” and I can’t resist. She can say the names of all her grandparents, but my favorite Elodie-ism is when she wants to do “sup more else (something else).”

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and have a great last weekend of 2017! :-)

More and more of my couples are opting for sunrise engagement sessions and I am LOVING IT! Especially since sunrise this time of year isn’t until after 7am. But then again, during this time of year, none of us can feel our fingers at sunrise, which made this first photo even colder than it looks. Poor Becca had Mike’s ice-cold fingers on her neck, and there were some really hilarious outtakes that I can’t wait to share in my annual ‘best of’ blog post coming soon! ;-) But look how romantic they look despite freezing their fingers off!! #engagementsessiongoals

These two were so giggly during their session, that I hardly had to say anything to get them to get genuine smiles. Such naturals!

Plus, since it was so cold out, they automatically snuggled up as close as possible. *bonus points!!*

Mike + Becca – I can hardly wait for your morning wedding this coming summer!! I fully expect you to have some PB Bumpers to share with your guests. :-)

It’s not very often that I even try to take a photo of Elodie and Milo together. This is why:

Allowing them to play with a stuffed animal was the only way they could stay focused long enough to get a half-decent photo. But then again I kinda love how excited Elodie is to balance the kitty on Milo’s head, and Milo is being so tolerant of her shenanigans. #siblinglove

This month, Elodie is saying sentences with up to 4-6 words! My favorite phrases are:

“GUYS” when Lance and I are having a conversation that doesn’t include her.

“Ahh, so nice.” when I wiped the snot off her nose.

“Thank you, ma” whenever I ask her to please do something. “Elodie, can you please put your plate in the dishwasher?” “Thank you, ma!”

“Too hot? Juss white (just right)?” asking about the food on her plate.

She loves to play puzzle and watch ‘Doc show’ (Doc Mcstuffins) when Milo is sleeping. She also really enjoys window clings and painting and Play Doh.

Milo is turning into a little love bug. If I am laying on the floor, he will crawl over to give me a snuggle – resting his head on my chest or leg. When strangers (anyone he hasn’t seen in over a week) approach, he’ll wrap his arms around us and snuggle in real close.  He can bark like a dog (high pitched squeak with a whole body twitch), and snort like a pig. When I’m putting his socks on, he will lift his foot up in the air for me. He loves to hand over his toys and then hold his hand out to ask for them back.

We are enjoying a nice, mild fall! It’s so nice to be able to take the kids out to enjoy some fresh air!