I forget how big Rapid City is and how many schools there are. It is hard for me to wrap my head around people not knowing all of their classmates, because I grew up in a town of 400, and I knew everyone’s names (and their families) at least five grades ahead of and behind me.

Andrew + Meghan are both from Rapid City and they went to different schools, so they didn’t actually meet until they started working together. They got to know each other and become friends before they started dating. Which, I think, is a pretty awesome start to a life-long relationship. :-)

I just wanna say, thanks so much for choosing to frolic in the forest with me! ;-)

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love a good South Dakota sunset!!

Andrew + Meghan – It was such a pleasure spending time with you the other evening and I am SO looking forward to your wedding *next* month!! :-D

Joshua and Whitney had me falling in love with my job all over again this past weekend. The constant look of love on their faces, the timeline that stayed on time, the pure joy of these two starting their marriage, and the overflowing love and support of SO many friends and family members. It is SUCH a great feeling to love what I do, and to be able to share that wedding day excitement with my couples. :-) I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite images from this beautiful wedding!

Before Whitney had her first look with Joshua, she had a first look with her bridesmaids – and it was *so* sweet

Still, nothing beats seeing your groom for the first time on your wedding day. :-)

I LOVE this next photo of Whit admiring Josh’s ring – simply adorable.

Sometimes couples have a difficult time deciding whether or not to do a first look, because walking up the aisle is such a special moment. But look at Joshua’s face. I think that even after having a first look and doing all their portraits before the ceremony, there’s still a whole lot of magic in that moment… don’t you?

High fives to being married!!! :-)

A pretty fine lookin’ wedding party, wouldn’t you say?

Josh + Whitney – Oh man, my heart is overflowing as I am going through your images, thinking back on your wedding day. You two are so much fun to be around – I had such a great time photographing you and watching your day unfold. I hope you have the happiest of ever afters and enjoy your upcoming honeymoon to the fullest!!

Matt + Kate have such a great sense of humor (a.k.a. we get most of each others Michael Scott quotes) – it was so much fun to walk and talk with them during their engagement session.  I didn’t want them to go back home to Omaha!! Soon enough, their wedding day will be here and I’ll get to hang out with them and their closest friends + family and I absolutely can not wait! :-)

Okay, so this is the real reason I didn’t want Matt + Kate to go back home. I could have listened to them make up songs for hours!! Which, I’ll have you know, were equally romantic and hilarious.

Matt + Kate – I hope you had a wonderful time out in the hills and that engagement photos were right up there with cake tasting. :-) It was so good to see you again and I am SO looking forward to October!!

Since the moment I received Andrew + Tremaine’s hand-drawn save-the-date card in the mail, I was giddy to photograph all the lovely details they had planned for their wedding.

When I learned about their long-distance relationship and their affection towards car games, I couldn’t wait to get them out of the car and into Custer State Park to photograph the beginning of their marriage.

As soon as the forecast full of rain showers came out for their wedding weekend, we all said a little prayer for good weather and I was so excited to have nothing but sunshine for their big day!

Tremaine’s veil is the one her mother wore on her wedding day – how lovely is that!!

Here’s an example of the lovely details that Tremaine’s sister drew – in their wedding program! Sidenote.. if you’re looking for someone to do something like this for your wedding… I know a girl. ;-)

The newly-constructed Lover’s Leap Deck is my new favorite ceremony location in Custer State Park. Sweet sunlight filtering through leafy green trees? Works for me!!

The reception at the Game Lodge Pavilion was full of lovely details, but my favorite was the ‘head table’ – set up in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by their loved ones.

Even their cakes had the sweetest toppers!

Andrew + Tremaine – Thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding! I am so happy the weather cooperated for us, and I hope you had a great mini-honeymoon road trip. Who am I kidding, I’m sure you had a blast, knowing how well you enjoy spending time together in the car!!

Here it is, the moment you’ve been waiting all winter for… the beginning of wedding season! This season started off better than ever – with a vow renewal!! Aaron + Beth will have been married for ten years next month, but they decided to celebrate early with their friends + family at the cozy Reunion Cabin in Custer State Park.

It’s no secret that I love being such an exciting part of a wedding, but being part of Aaron + Beth’s vow renewal had my heart overflowing. This is exactly what I hope and pray all of my couples get to experience. Ten years of love for each other. Ten years of hard work. Ten years of growing a family. Plus many more years and many more shared life experiences. :-)

Beth’s father led the ceremony as he did ten years ago. I enjoyed watching the interactions between Beth, her husband, and her father – SO much love!!

Aaron + Beth snuggling during one of the songs – with four of their five kiddos in the background. :-) Heart. MELTING.

Baby #5 joined the ceremony for the final blessing, while two little ones took advantage of the warmth of this loving huddle. (seriously – I couldn’t find an angle where I could see the whole family!!)

Naturally, I was so excited to start wedding season that I forgot to take my favorite photo – me with the couple!! Good thing it isn’t one of those photos that my couples *need* to have. :-) Just know that I hold Aaron + Beth and their family close to my heart, along with all my other couples. Hugs to you all and I hope you enjoyed my favorites!!