I LOVE January and all that it brings. Planning for the next twelve months, setting goals, and making lists to make sure those goals happen. It also means looking back on the past year, seeing what worked best, and reflecting on my weaknesses and strengths.

But my favorite part? Going through all my sessions and picking out my favorite images from the year. I feel like an iPod stuck on replay, but seriously I photographed some truly AMAZING couples this year!!

So here are my top 40 engagement images of 2011!!!

40. John + Rachel

39.

38. Tyler + Lindy

37.

36.

35. Brent + Laura

34.

33.

32. Mitch + Tawni

31.

30. Ken + Brittany

29.

28. Brent + Kelcey

27.

26.

25. Jerry + Laura

24.

23. Darin + Michelle

22.

21. Mike + Emily

20.

19.

18.

17. Ryan + Terra

16.

15.

14.

13. Jeff + Alissa

12.

11.

10. Craig + Rebecca

9.

8.

7.

6. Trevin + Audrey

5.

4.

3. Zack + Betsy

2.

1. Brent + Kelcey – THE PROPOSAL!!!

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all my 2011 couples. Thanks for blessing me with your love stories. Thanks for sitting/laying on the ground in your nice clothes. Thanks for helping me grow as a photographer. I wouldn’t be able to do what I love if it weren’t for you being in love!! So cheers to love!! And a big virtual hug from me to you. :-)

My oh my. What a WONDERFUL year it has been!! I have had the most amazing journey with Brent + Kelcey this year – from photographing their proposal to their official engagement session and now their wedding!! Despite there being no snow outside, Brent + Kelcey’s wedding was full of  all kinds of wintry details. White roses wrapped in satin. Bows perfect for presents. Centerpieces glowing like mini fireplaces. Even Kelcey’s bright blue eyes sparkled like snowflakes on a crisp, clear day!

I love, love LOVE it when couples do this! So much goes on during the wedding day, most couples don’t even get a chance to fully express how excited they are to be getting married. I think giving each other a hand-written card or note is the absolute perfect way to remind each other how special this day really is. And to be able to re-read that card in the future… *sigh*… I melt!

Kelcey. You.Are.STUNNING!!

Kelcey had her mom and sister help her get ready so that she could do a first look with the rest of her bridesmaids. And their reactions were priceless!!

And of course I love it when couples choose to have a first look!!

Yeah. That’s right. Green grass. On December 30th. In South Dakota!!!!

FAVORITE!!!

p.s. Since their proposal, I have nicknamed this ‘the Brent kiss.’

:-)

Another detail I loved!! Instead of a unity candle or sand ceremony, Brent + Kelcey had their guests pick up a stone on their way in.

“Please pick up the stone as you enter in, we have a special way for you to help our new life begin.

Please take a moment to think about what you will say, a blessing upon the stone we want you to pray.

During the ceremony we will be coming down, please place your stone in the bucket when it comes around.

These stones will give our marriage a firm foundation to start, especially knowing that your blessings come from the heart.

We want to say thank you and we are glad you could come, to help make this an extra special ceremony, when two become one.”

The Museum of Visual Materials was the perfect location for Brent + Kelcey’s winter wedding. With the stone walls and hardwood floors, it reminded me of a cabin – but big enough for all of their family and friends to celebrate! :-)

ceremony | Hillcrest Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, SD

reception | Museum of Visual Materials, Sioux Falls, SD

wedding gown + bridesmaid dresses | David’s Bridal

groom + groomsmen tuxes | Men’s Wearhouse

flowers + catering + cake | Hy-Vee

glow vessels | Glow By Design, Omaha, NE

dj | DJ Jer, Matt Gappa

Brent + Kelcey – What an awesome journey it’s been!! I’m sitting here thinking of all the wonderful memories I’ve been a part of! Quickly (and somewhat awkwardly) introducing myself immediately after you got engaged and then giving you a great big ‘congrats’ hug. Then spending time together taking photos on the HOTTEST day of summer (and you still looked amazing). And now, you’re MARRIED!!!! I am beyond excited for the two of you and I feel SO blessed to have been your photographer. I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon in the Bahamas and make sure to give me a call whenever your next big life event happens! ;-)

It happened. I finally started playing the Christmas station on my Pandora radio. It MUST be December!!

Here are the things I’ve been enjoying this month so far!

1. Christmas lights!! We spent Saturday night driving around looking at decorations, picking favorites and least favorites, and sipping hot cocoa in the comfort of our warm car. This was my favorite house!

2. We were photographed!!! Our friend and photographer Jessica took our engagement photos as soon as I was back from weddings in eastern South Dakota and Minnesota last month. We had SO much fun and I am glad to now be able to share this experience with my couples. It is so different being on the other side of the camera!!

3. The ring. I still.can’t.stop LOOKING at it!!!

4. Lance and I have three Christmases. One with my family, one with just us, and one with his family. The one with just us is the one we decided to exchange gifts at this year and I got a Magic Bullet Blender! I’ve already made a homemade caramel frappucino, a frozen peach bellini, and a triple berry smoothie. Next: chocolate mousse.

5. Updated 8×10 prints on my desk. I just love every photo of my nephews, it’s hard to cover up old cute pictures with new cute pictures. PLUS switching out their photos means they’re growing up. Which they are SO not allowed to do.

Hello everybody!

It has been such a wonderful/crazy/amazing past couple of months and I am excited for the last couple weeks of 2011! Remember when I photographed a proposal at Sylvan Lake? And later their engagement session? Brent + Kelcey are having an almost-new-years-eve wedding and I am SO excited to finish 2011 with such a fun and photogenic couple!

In between photographing beautiful people, editing, and running to the post office, I’ve been having so much fun wedding planning!!! No one told me how much fun this was going to be! But then again, I really enjoy keeping things organized, paying attention to detail and being in love, so how could I NOT be enjoying this?? :-)

I know I’m a little behind the ‘being thankful’ train, but seriously, I feel SO BLESSED for so many things that have happened this year. Being asked to spend the rest of my life with Lance. Spending lots of time with friends and photographer friends over coffee. Meeting and photographing such awesome couples. And watching my nephews continue to grow into such smart, handsome boys!

I have been SO blessed this year with such wonderful, sweet, loving couples!! Ever since Tyler + Lindy’s engagement session this spring, I have been counting down the days to their wedding!! I couldn’t wait to see all the beautiful details they had planned. I couldn’t wait to meet their wedding party (all 14 of them!). I couldn’t wait for their first look, first kiss, and first dance. And everything exceeded my expectations.

There were so many fun moments throughout the day – starting with Lindy showing up in kids’ size jeggings saying her 4″ platform pumps “are actually really comfortable.”

I always tear up a little when moms help their daughters get ready. :-)

And this one is just for giggles. :-) Lindy, you are cute no matter what you’re doing – including having a veil shoved into your hair!

The first look!!!!

Lindy was SO ready for some outdoor photos – I loved her wrap she found online!!

DANCE PARTY!!

I love being able to capture moments between the parents right before the ceremony – so much excitement!!

In case you’re wondering what true love looks like, check out these next two images. :-)

And you gotta love a fun father-daughter dance! :-)

ceremony | First Lutheran Church, Battle Lake, MN

reception + catering | Thumper Pond, Ottertail, MN

wedding gown + bridesmaid dresses | Alan Evans Bridal, Moorhead, MN

groom + groomsmen tuxes | Tip Top Tux, Elegance by LinDee, Perham, MN

flowers | Designs by Tes, New York Mills, MN

cake | Mrs. J’s Sweet Treats, Wahpeton, ND

dj | Party 2 Go DJ Service, Kelly Reller, Detroit Lakes, MN

Tyler + Lindy – Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me at your wedding!!!! I can’t express how much I enjoyed photographing you on the biggest day of your lives together (so far)!!

And Tiffany was at the wedding!! I love my studio lb brides!! :-) Special thanks to John for taking the photo! Apparently grooms would rather be behind the camera… ;-)