Engagement sessions and wedding day portraits are the perfect time to make some gorgeous photos, but the moments that happen unprompted make those memories that last forever. Those moments bring tears and lots of smiles and laughter.

These moments often don’t make it on the blog because the lighting isn’t perfect, or the background is too distracting, or the moments themselves could be downright embarrassing for some. But here, in this yearly roundup of ‘best of 2017 MOMENTS’ writeup, anything goes!!

From sweet mother-daughter moments like this…

… to this special moment in the groom’s getting ready room…

… to my all-time favorite first look reaction…

… and this moment where we weren’t sure his ring was going to fit…

… and this ‘Lady Marmalade’ dance off…

… to this “Harry, your hands are freezing” moment… Enjoy my favorite moments of 2017!!! :-)

Another sweet mother-daughter moment – after buttoning up the dress, Ashley’s mom brushed her hands over her shoulders to smooth her dress before helping her daughter into her wedding shoes. Imagine all the times she helped her daughter get dressed as a baby and little girl. Now here she is, helping her ‘baby’ get dressed one last time before she marries the man of her dreams! *cue the waterworks!!*

Jake was the joking-est groom I’ve ever met. Seriously, what other Jake would Megan get earrings and a love note from on her wedding day?! Thanks for the clarification after the signature… ;-)

This photo doesn’t look like much, but the groom had secretly borrowed the bride’s shoes the night before and wrote “Ms. Fladeland in the morning” on one shoe and “Mrs. Lucich in the evening” on the other. This was her first time seeing his surprise, and I love that he thought to do this!

Earrings can be tough to get in sometimes. ;-)

This’ first touch’ was a first for me and I loved it! They didn’t want to see each other before the ceremony, but they wanted to have a special moment together before the ceremony. This was so beautiful and perfect and I only cried a tiny* bit behind my camera.

*tiny as in I had to keep shooting even though my vision was blurry – thank goodness for auto focus!! 

This bride wanted to have a first look with her father before going to see her groom.

SPEECHLESS!!! This is actually the moment *after* he first saw her. I suggested he see the back of her dress – the first thing he finally did say was “mmhmm.”

This first look was a bit more humorous – I was a ways away so I can only guess what kind of (maybe inappropriate) commentary was happening over the walkie-talkies. Haha!

I love thoughtful gifts! This bride wanted to somehow incorporate the groom’s brother who had passed away into photos. We bounced some ideas around, and this photo pin that he could wear on his boutonnière over his heart was the perfect way to have his brother there at his wedding!!

Ready for some cute kids? Tickle time!!

Snuggle with mommy time!

Twirling time!

Play in the grass while waiting patiently for photos time!

Make friends with the photographer time!

And a few ‘formal portrait’ outtakes. There’s always that one groomsman, right?

I love a good candid photo of parents – that right there shows me that the groom was raised in a fun, loving home!

Again with that one groomsman… a special Titanic-style moment. :-D

While this may look like a staged Pinterest-style photo (which it is), what you don’t know is that I jokingly told the couple looking away to smile… and they did! Haha!!

Photobombed by a turkey!

And some deer! Which is more of an inside joke because of a sweet thank you card the bride had sent after engagement photos. On the cover was a lovely painted deer wearing a flower crown, and on the inside she had written something about ‘wouldn’t it be neat if there were deer at our wedding?’ AND THEN THERE WERE DEER AT THEIR WEDDING!!

Pre-ceremony prayers.

Pre-ceremony high fives.

Pre-ceremony meltdowns.

I was so focused on the bride and her dad, that I almost missed the groom’s reaction!

Vows are hard to repeat sometimes. Especially long sentences. This one of Jordyn strongly annunciating fragments of her vows still gives me the giggles!

This couple stole a kiss during the sign of peace, before they were officially pronounced husband and wife!

Often times, when a couple walks away from their ceremony, they just keep walking. It’s a beautiful moment. It’s their first walk as husband and wife, and it ALWAYS brings out the most pure body language! Arms intertwined and the biggest hugs you ever did see. :-)

Receiving lines are a great way to say ‘hello’ to everyone who came to the wedding, but my favorite part is when the parents can’t wait to congratulate their sons and daughters on officially becoming Mr. and Mrs.!!

Reception mingling time! My husband’s and my grandparents passed away long before we got married, so I really treasure (and envy) moments like this!

This bride and groom walked hand in hand, table to table, greeting their guests.

The mother and sister of the groom having a moment. I love looking around at a reception and seeing what is going on between the guests. This moment was sweeter than I could have expected!!

FUNNEL CAKES!!! I’m sure the logistics of purchasing and operating a funnel cake machine at their wedding was more work than most would ever choose to endure, but this was really the coolest thing to happen at a wedding. By far.

This moment when the bride was surrounded by her mom and sister during their slideshow just makes me melt!!

How many grooms take the time during their reception to go over and give their mama some love? (Answer: grooms that also know that funnel cakes are worth having at their wedding. These are good people, I tell ya!!) ;-)

Doin’ what her papa taught her. ;-)

This next one is from a morning wedding – all the kids (and there were a lot) at this wedding were suddenly ready for naps at the same time. This sweetie and her mama made me want to go home and snuggle my own babies – which I did, as soon as I got home that day. :-)

You’ve all seen the reception game where a couple from the crowd has to show the bride and groom how to kiss, and then the b + g have to replicate it, right? Well this couple added a twist. Before showing the bride and groom how to kiss, they first gave a bit of marriage wisdom. Some were sweet, some were funny, and all were straight from the heart!

The bride’s life story sung to the tune of “Goodbye Earl” (their favorite song from when they were younger) was a highlight for the year. Something about moving to Florida and getting a cat? Not all of it worked perfectly, but that’s exactly what made it a perfect memory.

This reaction to the bride’s dad’s speech – so good. Jokes about their age difference (they started dating when he was a senior and she was a freshman in high school) a plenty! We all knew it was coming, but his delivery was just that good!

Huge props to a maid of honor who can embarrass a bride, then make her cry in the same speech. 

This is the same joking groom who clarified he was the soon-to-be-husband in the love note earlier. After thanking all the guests for coming, he said something like “We’re really surprised anybody showed up. We picked a holiday weekend a long ways away from our friends, thinking everyone would want to be anywhere but at our wedding. So, thanks, I guess?”

Mid-dinner massage time!

Who needs to stretch before their first dance as husband and wife? This guy.

Okay, so maybe it was good that he stretched for this. Haha!!

Loosen up those joints!

Make room for Jesus!

Switching back to some super sweet moments… the photo on the left I love because both the bride’s and groom’s dads are in the background watching them dance. The photo on the right, the groom is watching his bride dance with his father. Love love love!!!

This bride’s father introduced this song as one that he used to either sing to her or play for her when she was a baby. Can you imagine all those memories swirling around in the heads of these two during this dance? This moment is what waterproof mascara is made for!!

After the bride danced with her new husband, she danced with her father. After she danced with her father, she walked over and hugged her mother…

… and all there of them watched her husband dance with his mother. #familygoals

Now lets get this party started! Before the bride was done dancing with her father, this kid was ready to jam out!

Pop that hip!

Another sweet grandma moment! :-)

Parent of the bride cutting a rug! And someone taking a photo of a moment I missed. I love seeing people take pictures at weddings! I can’t capture every single moment. I try, but I just can’t. So thanks to all who love to take pictures at weddings alongside the hired photographer!! #captureallthemoments

The flower girl that didn’t need to duck to get ‘a little bit softer now’ and also the guy who is almost completely parallel to the floor without actually laying down. 

Oh, did you think that weddings are the only time that moments happen? Think again. ;-) Mike shows his true feelings towards snuggles…

Whisper something dirty into her ear… “mud.”

Walking is hard sometimes…

When you go in for a cute piggy back ride and end up choking your fiancee… so romantic. ;-)

Tell me how you really feel about being up at sunrise to take pictures…

Puttin’ the moves on her man!

More whispers – I love prompts that create all kinds of different reactions unique to each couple. Giggles are by far my favorite. :-)

Thanks so much for following along! 2017 was such a fun year. I hope you enjoyed my favorite candids/outtakes/moments/memories! :-)

Bride + Groom portraits are my favorite time to be around a couple on their wedding day. It’s just the two of them walking, hugging, swaying and soaking in every single emotion that the day brings!

Before the ceremony, it’s a lot of nerves about the ceremony combined with a relief of seeing each other finally, plus a huge dollop of excitement to get married and spend the rest of their lives together.

After the ceremony, the emotions are a bit more relaxed and carefree, with a huge wave of WE’RE MARRIED!! Finally!!!

This year, I photographed a few more elopements than I have previously, and I loved how there was so little stress and so much time to wander and soak in those ‘wedding day feels!’

Side note: this years brides + grooms all wore something that made them feel comfortable and confident and it TOTALLY showed in the way they carried themselves all day. Shoes are probably the biggest factor in killing your comfort level on a wedding day, and I was thrilled to see so many grooms wearing their own shoes instead of rentals, and lots of brides opting for a comfy pair to slip into for walking around for photos and dancing. 

Evan + Megan’s fall wedding day was overcast and cold and drizzly all morning and afternoon. When we walked out of the church after their ceremony, the SUN WAS SHINING and I couldn’t help but put a bit of sun flare in most of their post-ceremony photos because look how warm and cozy they look! They literally have that ‘just married glow.’ :-D

When I ask couples to ‘do a little dance’ during portraits, it rarely turns out like this – but this is totally Jayson + Jordyn’s personalities! I love how simple directions can yield such different results from each and every couple!

Still awe-struck over the spontaneous snowfall on Matt + Ashley’s wedding day. And his grandpa’s car. Coolest, chic-est wedding of 2017 right there!

I’d like to interrupt these sweet, fun-loving couples to introduce you to a few wedding parties – the people that surround the bride and groom with support and big laughs. As much as I love elopements, I also love seeing couples’ personalities mirrored and multiplied in their closest friends.

Okay, back to the snuggles for a bit! ;-) I still can’t get over the view from Evan’s parents’ back yard! Their ceremony was one in a million.

Alright, alright, Chris + Kelsey’s view was pretty spectacular, too! I love that you can see the ‘aisle’ she walked up, and their family and friends were scattered along the rocks on either side for the ceremony. The most natural outdoor spot to get married!

Silhouettes are always a fun image to grab, but the birds flying past in this one make it a favorite!!

Does it get any better than being carried off into the sunset on your wedding day?!

And now for a little preview of the next ‘best of 2017’ post – MOMENTS!! The candid, unscripted events as well as outtakes are the heart of every wedding. Sure, portraits are lovely, but these photos are what bring all those great memories come flooding back year after year!!

First look feels:

Ceremony love:

Reception magic:

Ashley’s dad shaking her newly-minted-husband’s hand as they switch from ‘first dance’ to ‘father-daughter dance’ – I can’t believe I wasn’t crying throughout this whole wedding dance (probably because all the tears dried up half-way through the first dance). ;-)

Ok, never mind, crying again now. Love this family SO MUCH!!!

If you enjoyed my favorite portraits from this year, plus the sneak peek of candids, be sure to check back next week for the full ‘best of 2017 MOMENTS’ recap! :-)

After almost seven years of being together, Matt + Ashley are now officially husband and wife! I first met Ashley at her best friend Meghan’s wedding four years ago – she was her bridesmaid and roommate and I immediately got the feeling that these are some pretty great girls to know.

Fast-forward to nearly two years ago, Matt proposed on New Years Eve, and he and Ashley met with me in February to talk wedding details. Sitting across the table from these two, talking about their life and their love, I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. The conversation came so easily (I’m not sure how much we even talked about their wedding), and the way they looked at each other had me wishing their wedding was in two months, not two years! I couldn’t wait to photograph this lovely couple!

Their engagement session last fall was a blast, and their wedding is now (finally) at the top of my ‘favorites’ list (as I knew it would be).

The day started out foggy, and a crisp winter-like breeze whisked everyone inside the church for their short, sweet, and super-personal ceremony. Matt’s grandfather let them drive his classic Plymouth from the ceremony to their reception at Prairie Berry. As we got out of town and into the hills, the biggest snowflakes fell almost in slow-motion – it was like living inside of a snow globe!

Ashley’s gown was STUNNING (wait until you see Matt’s reaction!) and his ring was made with meteorite – how cool is that?!

I love love LOVE brides putting on their earrings, but a new favorite ‘getting ready photo’ of mine is the bride’s mom helping with her shoes. Probably because as a mom, I know these days of helping my kids put on their shoes will be over before I know it, and soon they’ll be all grown up and getting married. Seeing moms help their daughters into their shoes one last time really pulls at my heartstrings!!

Letter-writing feels like such a thing of the past. Physically sitting down and pouring out your heart and thoughts to your soon-to-be spouse is such a beautiful act of love. I think we should all write love notes more often!

Check out that reaction!!! This very moment was worth all those years waiting for this day to come! :-)

Could these two BE any more stunning?!

Yes, yes they could. And here they are proving it. (And yes, I did do a happy dance after taking this photo – I couldn’t contain my excitement!!)

Insert Matt + Ashley’s wedding party, and these guys are half the reason this day was so amazing and fun. I love seeing how bridesmaids and groomsmen act towards the bride + groom + each other on a wedding day, because they really set the tone for how the day will go. Judging by this photo (and many more that will be in their personal gallery), there were many laughs and shenanigans. :-)

Girrrrls, you look goooood keeping each other warm!!!

…and the guys were so excited to pose for their photos, I just *had* to share their ‘boy band’ look. Let me know when your first single comes out, would you? :-)

Doesn’t this car just scream ‘classic cool?!’ As Matt + Ashley drove off, I couldn’t help but think of how romantic it was that they were spending this time together. Alone, minutes after saying their vows, taking their first drive of many, letting the reality of what just happened wash over them.

And then THE SNOWFLAKES started!! We had already planned to stop for some ‘just married’ photos, but what we hadn’t planned on was this snow-globe effect!

Their reception was a perfect fall-meets-winter feel, with plated meals and a hot cocoa station. 

Matt + Ashley’s first dance was to ‘The Luckiest’ and I felt like not only were Matt + Ashley the luckiest to be married, but all of us watching were the luckiest to be able to witness the beginning of their happily ever after!!

And then Ashley danced with her father and we were all the luckiest all over again, seeing how Ashley has two wonderful men who love her with all their hearts… I’m not crying, you’re crying!

Whew! Matt + Ashley, your day was beyond perfect and I’m so thankful to have you in my life – both as clients and as friends. I loved every moment and every detail of your day, and I can’t wait to share all the rest of your pictures with you! Thanks for allowing so much time for photos – we created some great images, and I hope you enjoyed all the time to yourselves (with me there telling you where to walk and stand). ;-)

Meghan + Ashley – You girls are the absolute sweetest!! Thanks for being my ideal brides – fun, relaxed, beautiful inside and out, and level-headed. At both of your weddings I felt so comfortable and creatively energized. Maybe it’s your nurse vibes (you handle stressful situations really well, while making others feel at ease) or maybe it’s just how you were raised (your parents are all role models), but you were both destined to have great husbands and great marriages and I’m so so lucky to have been invited to share in this part of each of your stories!

Austin and Jill planned a brunch wedding and I couldn’t have been more excited for it! Breakfast food is my jam. ;-) Also, after the wedding is done, there is still so much of the day left for activities – like naps!!

Excited to start photographing the morning, I went to find Jill getting ready at the Homestead at Prairie Berry and THIS DRESS with LACE SLEEVES was hanging next to her!! And then someone handed me her shoes. PINK CONVERSE!!! I knew Jill had great taste planning a morning wedding, but her wardrobe was icing on the cake!

Also, morning weddings (or any kind of photo opportunity in general) give new life to the scenery around Prairie Berry. I’ve never been able to get a photo like this with afternoon/evening weddings here. I’m a big fan. :-)

Austin + Jill – thanks for having a fantastic brunch wedding (I’m still dreaming about that quiche), and for inviting me along to photograph the first day of your marriage! Big hugs and best wishes to you both. :-)

 

A South Dakota winery wedding with classic white, gray and navy details? Brace yourselves for a whole lotta beautifulness!! :-)

Jessica and her twin sister were so calm and collected while getting ready…

…and then I hopped over to Tyler’s room where his mom was helping everyone get dressed and his dad was entertaining. :-) 

First look excitement!!!

I *love* how excited couples get when they are pronounced husband and wife!!

Tyler + Jessica braved the chilly weather for some just-married photos immediately after the ceremony – I love this because couples get a little extra ‘alone time’ on their wedding day *and* we typically get better lighting for portraits later in the afternoon. Win-win!!

Tyler + Jessica – I love how you are the perfect combination of serious and sweet! Your day was so beautiful and I feel so honored to have been a small part of it. :-)