I have known Jacob’s mom for a few years now, and when she found out that I did photography AND would be around to do his senior photos, it was decided right then and there that I would take them. Jake and his parents came over Monday after school and we did a quick session (because guys always take pictures faster than girls, it’s a scientific fact).

I love, love LOVE September weddings – the weather has cooled down a bit (meaning the guys don’t mind doing photos outside in their tuxes) and the trees and grass are still plenty green (meaning lots of color for said outdoor photos)!

Brandon + Laurie’s wedding was so much fun – I love photographing couples who are so in love that it shows in just how they look at each other! AND they wanted all their wedding party and family photos taken outside, so I was one lucky duck!!

Brandon + Laurie got ready at the Buffalo Ridge Resort in Gary, SD which is where we also took ALL of the portraits, and had their reception!

The bride wore boots. :-)

As Laurie was wiggling her way into her dress, the flower girl was watching, waiting for her nails to dry:

Have I mentioned that I LOVE first looks? I think I have. But in case you’ve never heard me mention this, having a ‘first look’ gives you plenty of time to get all your photos done before the ceremony, giving you all the time in the world to socialize with your guests after the ceremony! Plus, you get images like this of you and your hunny:

So… either my jokes were SUPER funny on Saturday, or Brandon + Laurie are just two genuinely happy, in-love people!! Or maybe a little of both. :-)

There is a barn at the resort. And Brandon + Laurie rocked it. :-)

I first met Laurie back in high school when we were Council/Ambassadors for 4-H together. It’s so much fun to see old friends all prettied up and getting married!!

I do believe this is my favorite from the day:

You wouldn’t believe how hard they had to focus to put on a serious face, but I am so excited with how this one turned out! Nice work, guys!

Yay for snuggles!! :-)

I love the flowers that Laurie picked out – so fresh! Like a cool drink of cucumber water!

Excited to get married!!!

This is becoming one of my new favorite moments… dad giving away his daughter:

LOVE how Brandon’s looking at Laurie while father reads a poem from their engaged encounter…

There is SO much love in this family!! Brandon and his mom:

Laurie and her dad:

Brandon + Laurie, I hope the rest of your evening was wonderful!! It’s such a joy for me to watch such a happy couple like yourselves tie the knot!!

Remember back in the day when I used to second shoot weddings all the time? I just went along for the ride, took pictures of all things details, and taught myself all about different camera settings. It was so relaxing to not have to tell people where to stand or keep a timeline for the day. I just followed along.

I recently had the opportunity to do this again. I can’t check “second shoot for a Rapid City photographer” off my goal list because I shot with Rachel Marthaler. And she’s from Hastings, Minnesota. *sidenote… Why must I be so specific with my lists?! This would have been such a fun way to cross off a goal!!

I first met Rachel at SDSU through a basic photography class. After graduation I found out that we had some mutual friends and interests (such as running a photography business). So we sent emails back and forth “What are your favorite lenses to use?” “Loved your latest wedding you posted!” “We should second shoot for each other sometime, what’s your schedule like?”

We finally found a weekend where we both had a wedding in Sioux Falls – mine on Friday, hers on Saturday. So we both extended our weekends and helped each other out! It was great to have a second point of view at my wedding, but it was SO much fun to kick back, relax and shoot nothing but details the next day!

So here are my favorite detail and candid shots from Rachel’s wedding.

The lovely Rachel, doin’ what she does!! :-)

Grandparents make my heart melt! :-)

And I’m a huge fan of wide-angle ceremony shots!!

And what wedding post would be complete without a self-portrait!?

Rachel is SO much fun to photograph – I had a blast taking her official senior photos today (as opposed to the unofficial ones we took back in May). She’s hilarious, beautiful, super-talented, and she has a great ‘just out of the shower’ hairstyle which makes me super jealous. My hair needs some serious lessons from this girl.

I could have sat and listened to her play harp all day long. Which is why I told her not to play, because I knew I would be there all. day. long.

Rachel- I’m so proud of you that you did this serious look all on your own!!! :-)

Did I mention this girl is gorgeous?! One moment she reminds me of Cindy Crawford, the next it’s Taylor Swift.

Apparently Rachel goes through pointe shoes like nobody’s business. These aren’t even all of them!! Just seeing that many pairs of old shoes makes my toes ache!! And I love shoes!!

Rachel- Thanks so much for having me take your senior photos! And thank your parents for having a great yard to take pictures at! And thank your mom for the brownies!!

I am SOOOO excited to share Beau + Lisa’s wedding with you!! (And Lisa, I know you’re SOOOO excited for me to share them!! :-)) Lisa has been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. I know weddings are a HUGE deal for brides, but oh-my-gosh Lisa, is so adorable!! A few months ago, Lisa and I were planning out the timeline for the day and every other message between us was “I’M SO EXCITED!!!!”  I was then talking to Lisa just the day before the wedding and everything was coming together so well! She was telling me about how the reception hall was all set up, and how she kept sneaking away at her house to look at the dress hanging up in the bedroom and how she wasn’t allowed to put the dress on until the wedding! :-)

This wedding was truly a dream come true!! The ceremony was held at St. Michael’s in Sioux Falls, flowers by Gustaf’s Greenery, and reception at the Washington Pavilion‘s Great Hall Stage and everything was flawless.

Gustaf’s, you’ve done it again!! LOVE the flowers from the wedding!!! :-)

Do I not have the best brides ever?! Seriously, Lisa, this is YOUR day and you’re helping your MOH get ready?! ;-)

I believe this was the point where Lisa said “I actually get to wear my dress!! All day long!! And Beau finally gets to see it!!!”

Sooo many smiles and giggles!!! I love a bride who’s having fun getting ready! :-)

And the tears were flowin’!!

Their first look was so cute! Lisa RAN to Beau. And thankfully I had Rachel with me to get this angle:

A sidenote for future brides – ask if your makeup girl can stay through portraits! Throughout our outdoor photo session, Lisa was getting touched up to prevent any shininess and re-applying lipgloss in between smooches! :-)

Hellooooo wedding party!!

This is Beau. He can’t hold a serious face. :-)

This is Lisa. She and her girls can pull of the sassy cute REALLY well. :-)

This is Beau + Lisa. They like to kiss. :-)

Again, thanks to Rachel for this shot:

Lisa has four brothers, and I just LOVE how her dad adores his little girl!!

Their reception was at the Washington Pavilion on the Great Hall Stage…. GORGEOUS

My lovely assistant for the day, Rachel of Rachel Marthaler Photography!

And of course, me with my even lovelier couple!!

Beau + Lisa, I hope you had a fabulous mini honeymoon!! Rachel and I had SUCH a great time at your wedding and I am SO excited for you two to be married!!