Most people I know consider the weekend to start Friday evening and last through Sunday night. For me, it’s a little different.

On Sunday, I go to church and back up and convert all my photos from the weekend if I haven’t already done so the night before. Sunday evening I relax. Comparable to your Friday night.

Your Monday is my Saturday. While you are back at work, I am finally getting to take a day off. Thankfully, Lance worked his schedule out perfectly this summer so that we BOTH have Mondays as our weekends.

This ‘weekend’ (your Monday) we took a fun little trip to the badlands. We started our day with a tour of the Minuteman II missile site and launch control center. Pretty cool stuff. I had no idea there were so many missiles stationed here during the Cold War!! But then again, I really don’t know much about history. Of any kind. At all.

After our tour we took the Badlands scenic route just a few miles south of I-90. It was SUPER windy, but that didn’t stop us from going on a few scenic walks and taking a few photos:

Our shadows on the floor of the badlands!!

And our real selves at the top!! Our hair has definitely seen better days…

I wanted to tip-toe to the edge of this landing, but it was soooo windy, I was afraid a gust would come up and knock me over the edge!

And the excitement of our trip…… se it?! I didn’t at first.

A bobcat!!!!! I only brought my super wide-angle lens for this trip, so I couldn’t get a close-up of him. Instead, all I have to show is this super-grainy zoomed-in version. Lance said he was really big. Probably 40 pounds. This means nothing to me. I just smile and nod. :-)

So now, back to my ‘week’ – I’ve got a pile of emails to go through, orders to get printed, weddings to edit, packages to mail…. and no motivation to get it done. Helloooo ‘Monday!’ :-)

So I had my first ever slumber party with a client last night and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I got to Yankton last night and had a great home-made meal followed by a sappy movie (yes, I cried, but so did Kalina, so there!! :-)) and root beer floats! This morning we got up early (but not quite at the break of dawn like Dan suggested) for their engagement photos!!

Kalina was telling her co-workers yesterday that her photographer was coming to stay with her… and she drove all the way from Rapid City!! Her co-workers thought she was pretty special. And she is. We’re pretty much BFF’s now. We met almost a year ago when they came to visit Lance and I out in Rapid City. We went to Deadwood, had supper, and Kalina and I watched Lance and Dan play some slots. A good time was had by all. Fast-forward to May when I photographed Kalina’s sister’s wedding, I got to hang out with Dan and Kalina yet again!! Needless to say, a great time was had by all.

So yeah, we’re pretty tight. ;-)

AND Dan + Kalina have an AWESOME engagement story!! Which makes me love them even more. They’ve been together nearly five years, and they went to look at rings a few months ago and came home overwhelmed and exhausted. Then there was all this wedding planning going on for Erika, so Kalina had pretty much had the idea of engagement rings on the ‘back burner.’ The night of Erika’s wedding, Kalina caught the toss bouquet. Dan was super excited, and Kalina had no idea why.

The next day, they’re getting ready for Richard + Erika’s gift opening and they go out to the garage to set things up. And Dan gets down on his knee!! He wanted her to be able to tell all of her family in person (how great is that!!) and then her DAD drives up to the garage and starts honking!! :-) Meanwhile, Kalina’s mom is inside, totally clueless, and Kalina comes in, crying, and her mom asks “what’s wrong?” and Kalina says “nothing, I’m getting MARRIED!!!!” :-D I’m assuming a lots of hugs and squealing happened, but that’s just my imagination talking.

Okay, enough trying to explain how cool my clients are…. just LOOK at them already!!

If you’re wondering, I pulled out my ‘old school’ action for some of these photos instead of just plain ol’ black and white – they’re planning an antique-y theme for their wedding, so I thought it was only fitting!! :-)

And we drove all over Mt. Marty for this next photo… I think it was worth it! :-)

P.S. Dan, nice work on picking out this ring!!

And I LOVE that they laugh together!!

Dan + Kalina – thanks again for having me over!! And for feeding me! I had such a great time hanging out with you and getting to know you better!! If you’re ever in Rapid again and need a place to stay, you have my number! I can’t wait for your wedding in February!!!

Pat + Mackenzie are truly the sweetest people EVER!! They are both so calm and quiet and they are always holding hands and stealing glances at each other. :-) Their wedding was so perfectly them – the sun shining brightly and lots of family and friends to celebrate with them.

The wedding was held at the Ellsworth Air Force Base, which I found pretty easily. It was the chapel within the base that I had a hard time finding. Thankfully I had been in contact with Mackenzie’s mom ahead of time and she told me to call her if I had any troubles. So here I am. Driving around the base with a huge “VISITOR” sign screaming from my dash looking totally clueless. I try not to make eye contact with anyone else at the base as I drive around in circles. So I call Mackenzie’s mom. “Hi Natalie. It’s Laura. I’m lost.” Turns out it is pretty much right next to the entrance gate. Right under the HUGE water tower. Don’t ask me how I drove right past it.

I found the girls getting ready – let me rephrase – I found Mackenzie helping the girls get ready!! She is seriously the most helpful, selfless girl I’ve ever met.

And then her mom comes in to help Mackenzie get ready “Oh, good! Laura made it!!” :-)

I love watching brides get ready.

I love watching bridesmaids interact with the bride as she’s getting ready.

It’s the moment where a girl really turns into a bride and all the bridesmaids realize “ohmygooodness you’re getting MARRIED today!!!!!!!”

And these girls ROCKED their serious/sassy look! Except for Kyli. She’s just too sweet to be fierce. ;-)

Story time!!!!

So when Pat proposed to Mackenzie, they were taking a walk behind her parents’ house. And snacking on Peachie O’s. Mackenzie’s favorite. (and mine, too) So Pat hands her a Peachie O, but not just any Peachie O, a Peachie O with a RING IN IT!!!! :-) So on Saturday, before I leave town for the wedding, I swing by a gas station to pick up some Peachie O’s. For pictures. And for me to snack on. :-)

LOVE this photo of the Our Father – with Fr. Paul’s hands around Pat + Mackenzie, plus each of the fathers’ hands reaching towards their children. :-)

First kiss as Mr. and Mrs.!!!!!!

Their reception was held at the beautiful Black Hills Receptions.

While I stole the bride and groom for photos, all the guests enjoyed a nice cocktail hour – a note to anyone choosing to do your photos after the ceremony, make sure your guests have something to do while you’re taking photos! This makes the time go by much faster, and (hopefully) people aren’t just waiting around for food! :-)

Pat + Mackenzie had this crazy awesome dance to start the evening off right. Everyone at the wedding lined up and danced around the whole tent, weaving around tables and each other and finally circling Pat + Mackenzie, where everyone then watched them dance their first romantic dance as a couple:

Pat + Mackenzie, thanks for being so adorably SWEET!!!! :-) Your wedding was truly beautiful and I hope you two live happily ever after, just like in the fairy tales! :-) Also, have fun at LEGOLand. And the San Diego Zoo. :-)

I don’t even know where to begin describing how much fun I had at Bryce + Brittany’s wedding…. Everything was so great!! We didn’t have to battle the wind like we did for their engagement session, they didn’t stop smiling once all day long, their first look was ADORABLE, and so was Bryce’s surprise wedding gift to Brittany, their ring bearers were the cutest boys EVER (right after my nephew), a few tears were shed by all (including me), their reception was a blast, their first dance was super sweet, their families are awesome, their flowers were incredible, seriously, EVERYTHING was so great!!!

Bryce + Brittany were married at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Sabin, MN. Brittany and her bridesmaids got ready in a room with lots of books and windows on two sides of the room – Brittany, I don’t think I properly thanked you for picking the room with the most light to get ready. You’re a doll. :-)

She was even helping her bridesmaids get ready – gotta love a calm, selfless bride!!!

Seriously, so calm!!! And beautiful!!!!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE first looks?! Look how excited they are to see each other!!!!

These next photos make my heart skip a beat every time. Before Brittany came in for their first look, Bryce said “I had an extra band soldered on her ring for her wedding present. She doesn’t know about it. She’s gonna FLIP and I wanna make sure we get photos of that.” FLIP she did and photos I got!!! Nice work, Bryce!!!

Talk about a glowing bride!! Brittany, you’re gorgeous!!

I absolutely fell in love with everyone’s flowers – Sherri, you are AMAZING!! Sherri was in the kitchen whipping up bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres like nobody’s business while everyone else was getting dressed and ready for the day.

Dear Bryce, this is the closest to John Deere green I could find for you. :-)

See? Sooo adorable!!! Briley and Cooper, you are the cutest twin boys I have ever met! Bryce, you are such a lucky uncle!!

Guess who’s excited to get MARRIED?! :-)

Sometimes I wish I could hear what they’re saying to each other…

Ridin’ the ‘cool bus’ over to the reception!!

Their gorgeous reception was held out at The Seasons at Rose Creek in Fargo, ND.

Bryce + Brittany played this great kissing/trivia game at their reception – when people clinked their glasses, the dj (Dude Walker’s Music on Wheels) picked someone out in the crowd to answer a trivia question about the couple. If they got it right, they had to show Bryce + Brittany how to kiss. If they got it wrong, Bryce + Brittany had to show them how to kiss. Pretty entertaining if I might say so, myself! :-)

Showing how their parents are supposed to kiss:

Brittany and her dad:

Bryce and his mom:

Penny – you’re amazing. Not just because you wore these shoes all day long… but it does give you tons of bonus points from me! :-)

Sorry, Bryce. I had to. You’re just so good at singing Taylor Swift. :-)

Note to self: spend some more time out on the boat. I look like a ghost next to all my brides!!

Bryce + Brittany – thanks so much for having me as your wedding photographer. I seriously had SO MUCH FUN at your wedding!! I loved capturing every moment of your wonderful day! I’m actually kinda bummed that I don’t have any more excuses to take photos of you two!!

I hope you’re having a great time on your honeymoon!! Bryce, enjoy your new mountain bike. Brittany, take some time every day to look at your extra bling. And like your grandmother said, look at the ‘kissing book’ if you ever need to remind yourselves how much you love each other. :-)

AND funny story… as I was saying goodbye to Bryce + Brittany at the end of the night, Bryce invited himself to my wedding. “You’re so great and your wedding is going to be so much fun and I want to be there!!” Okay, Bryce. You win. You and Brittany are officially invited to my *someday* wedding. :-D

Note to self: pant-suits are RIDICULOUSLY warm for July weddings in South Dakota. I’m on the search for new, non-bridesmaid-looking dresses to wear for weddings. If you have any suggestions other than Target’s clearance rack, let me know! :-)

Other than the heat, Dave + Melissa’s wedding day was wonderful!! And I got a little carried away with their ring shots…

Hello, gorgeous!!

I am in LOVE with the front of this church:

Their. Flowers. Were. HUGE!!

The bouquet was bigger than Melissa and the guys bouts were tipping over! Nothing screams summer like giant yellow roses!! :-)

And check out these ups!!! I am SO impressed with Dave’s brother, the best man, directly to Dave’s left. And the last ‘big girl’ bridesmaid on the right. Nice work, team! This one wasn’t even Photoshopped together!!

Gotta love super-shy flower girls and ring bearers! :-)

Bubbles!!

They were pretty excited about kissing. They snuck in a couple during the ceremony AND didn’t hesitate a second when everyone started clinking their glasses the moment they got to the head table. Guess who’s excited to be married?! :-)

If I had not needed to sleep that night in preparation for my next wedding, I would have been ALL OVER this coffee bar!! Four different flavors of syrup, cream and sugar galore! Heaven! :-)

And, my portrait with the happy couple:

Congrats, Dave + Melissa!! I hope you had a great night dancing and eating the first piece of your cake!! (Dave tried to convince me to take a bite of cake before I took off, as long as I cut it out of the back side so no one would see. Right, Dave. Like I’m going to cut the first piece of YOUR wedding cake. Don’t get me wrong, I love cake, but I promise to never go so far as to dive into the wedding cake before the couple does. Never ever. :-))