We just got back from our week-long honeymoon in Hawaii, and while looking back through my camera roll for this month’s edition of ‘laura loves’ I kept thinking to myself “that seems like it happened SO long ago!!” Christmas was not even a month ago? It seems like last year! Ha. Ha. :-)

1. My 31 Bits bracelet – I have been admiring this company for some time now, and I just purchased my first piece from them this month! And my favorite thing about them? They now started a wedding shop!! Makes me want to get all new jewelry and dress up in my wedding gown again!! :-)

2. Homemade Christmas cookies from my mom – she and her friends get together and have a ‘baking day’ before Christmas every year. They make all different kinds of cookies and candies, and then take home a little of everything. Lance’s favorite: peanut butter balls. My favorite: Grandma Braun’s date pinwheel cookies. And spritz cookies. And peanut butter balls. I like Christmas treats, so what?

3. Camera gloves!!! One of my wonderful 2012 couples sent me these gloves – perfect for taking photos out in the cold!!

4. Fixing puzzle – This is only the second puzzle I’ve ever fixed *mostly* by myself. Lance will walk by and pop a few pieces in place once in a while, but this one was tough! It was a painted scene from ‘Gone With the Wind’ and there was no ‘full view’ of the image on the box. Edges were cropped off, and there was a ‘Gone With the Wind’ logo covering the top left. Since I couldn’t figure out that final corner by color, I had to organize all the pieces by shape and go down the rows until each piece fit. We finished the puzzle just in time to leave for…

5. Our honeymoon!!! One week in Kauai, Hawaii, 70-80 degree weather every day, beautiful drives, awesome hikes, great food, breathtaking views. This is the last photo I took before I wiped the sand from my toes and put on my cold weather clothes for our flights back to South Dakota and below freezing temperatures.

I am so excited, thrilled, and honored to share this with you!! Trevin + Audrey’s wedding has been featured in the newest issue of Black Hills Bride Magazine!

And Audrey is their new cover girl!!

Trevin + Audrey drove all the way across South Dakota yesterday to be one of the first to see the new 2013 magazine at the launch party last night. It was awesome to see them again!! We only had a little bit of time here and there to catch up as we were mingling with the creators of Black Hills Bride Magazine as well as other wedding vendors. It was a whirlwind of an evening, and it was so wonderful to share it with these two!

Audrey couldn’t help but pinch herself to make sure this wasn’t all a dream, and towards the end of the night, Trevin said, “Walking in here tonight and seeing Audrey’s face on the magazine just brought back all those wonderful, magical feelings from our wedding day.” I promptly turned to Audrey to let her know she married a good one. :-)

Trevin + Audrey – Thanks again for being such a wonderful couple to work with! It was so great to see you again and I can’t wait for our cupcake date in Sioux Falls!! :-)

The weddings I have photographed in 2012 have exceeded all of my expectations – so many couples full of love, hugs, excitement and more! I’m sure you are tired of me saying this, but I LOVE my couples!! I love their love for each other, their love for life, and their love for great photos. :-)

Looking through these, you’ll notice a lot of my favorite images from weddings this year were not just portraits, but moments. Getting ready, first looks, exchanging rings, stealing glances. These moments are so much more beautiful and precious to me (and my couples) than anything – even cute shoes. And you all know how I love cute shoes. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaime’s first look with her dad – I melt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my blog, so I get to make up my own rules, right? These last few images are not technically ‘wedding photos’ but are from the day after. So that’s close enough! Ryan + Jaime’s day after session was, hands down, THE MOST FUN I’ve ever had behind my camera!!!

 

 

To all my couples who were married in 2012 – big hugs. I love what I do because of YOU!!  Thank you so much for including me in your big day and trusting me with your most precious and exciting memories of the ‘beginning of the rest of your lives.’ I know it’s cheesy to say, but I really do appreciate your love and support. :-)

Christmas came early, flowers were delivered and seasonal coffee creamer is in the house!!! Here are a few of my favorite things this month.

1. New custom flash drives!!! Thanks so much to Kristen at Flashbay for helping with my order. I can’t wait to start handing over wedding images to my 2013 couples with these!!!

2. Animal print flats – Up until a week or so ago, I’ve lived my life as a Plain Jane, wearing only solid colors. Mainly in the blacks/browns/teals/purples categories. My husband thinks my sudden intrest in ‘wild prints’ is because, now that we’re married, he is wearing off on me. To this I just smile and nod, because oftentimes he wears plaid shirts and camo print pants. Together. In public.

3. My new Canon G12 – I used to take my ‘big camera’ around with me everywhere. I never could decide which lens to bring, so I brought multiple. It was getting to be that whenever I would go see my nephews, I had enough gear packed to photograph a wedding. I opted for this camera because I can use manual camera settings and it works with the flashes for my ‘big camera.’ And yes, using it makes me feel twice as fly as a G6. :-)

4. Married life is a ‘blast.’ And sometimes a little unfair. Like when I’m stuck with the smaller foam dart gun.

5. Birthday flowers from Jolly Lane!!! My mister brought these home for me on my birthday and they lasted a very long time, so naturally they were one of my most favorite things this month.

6. My morning cup of coffee – and Peppermint Mocha creamer. Some people like a little cream with their coffee. I like a little coffee with my flavored creamer.

2012 has been such a fun and beautiful year!!! I have had the pleasure of meeting and photographing the most wonderful, in-love couples during one of the most exciting times of their lives together – their engagement!!

The love that oozes out of these images almost makes me want to go back in time three months and soak up all that pre-wedding excitement. But, then again, married life rocks. And half of these couples can now tell you the same thing!! The other half? Well, they get to keep on celebrating their engagement until their weddings in 2013!!

Enjoy my top favorite engagement images of 2012 – and feel the warm fuzzies for yourself!! :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all my couples – thank you. SO so much. For inviting me into your lives. For showing me your love for each other. YOU are the reason I absolutely LOVE my job. :-) Hugs to you all!!