Doug and Heather had a mid-week destination wedding at Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills and it was SUCH a beautiful day to get married! Something you really can’t plan when you schedule an outdoor wedding over a year in advance! While I love early morning and late evening light the best, Sylvan Lake really does shine under a bright blue sky!!

My good friend Mary from Your Joyful Wedding performed the ceremony, adding an extra level of special. The way she tailors a wedding ceremony to each and every couple she works with is so beautiful – it’s as though she’s known the couple for years! 

I usually save these kinds of photos for the annual ‘best of MOMENTS’ roundup at the beginning of each year, but this little guy wanting snuggles from his daddy is just too cute not to share twice! :-)

Can I just say how much I LOVED Heather’s two-piece wedding gown? The beaded bodice was gorgeous, but that flowing skirt had me oohing and aahing all afternoon!!

#modelstatus

Doug + Heather, thank you so so much for having me photograph your wedding! Doug, I hope your hunting trip went well, and Heather, I hope you had a nice relaxing time to yourself! ;-)

John and Natalie were visiting their ceremony site and decided it would be a perfect occasion to take engagement photos – I couldn’t have agreed more!! It was a beautiful evening, and hanging out with John and Natalie and their mega-watt smiles was absolute perfection. :-)

Every time I say “this wedding was so much fun” I feel like you probably don’t believe me because I say it so often (what can I say, I work with the best couples!!). But guys, this wedding was seriously SO MUCH FUN!! Walkie-talkie code names, matching custom Converse, and FUNNEL CAKES!!! This was one day that I didn’t want to end, but thank goodness for photos to take us back in time, amiright?! :-)

This next one is my FAVORITE!!!! Excuse me while I take my family here to re-create this photo so I can hang it on my wall at home!!!

Post-ceremony portraits are some of my favorites! While these two are naturally smiley, there’s something about that ‘just married’ feeling that seems to radiate excitement from a newly minted husband and wife. Plus, any concerns about climbing/sitting on boulders in the middle of a lake seem to disappear. ;-)

I feel like this is a good representation of Niel + Kayla’s relationship… Niel being silly yet strong, sweeping Kayla off her feet and laughing all the way. :-) And yes, that is a game cam strapped to the corner, which I’m sure contains a plethora of shenanigans from the dance floor!

FUNNEL CAKES!!!!!

Niel + Kayla – Thanks for being so fun and goofy and chill and gorgeous. Thanks for scrambling up that giant rock after your ceremony!!! Thanks for having awesome style and amazing friends. Thanks for loving funnel cakes enough to have them at your wedding. Thanks for trusting me to be your photographer – I hope you enjoy looking at these photos for a long, long time, and please let me know when you’re ready for another session (anniversary/vow renewal/anytime you’re in the hills) because I would love an excuse to hang out with you again! :-)

It’s official – both spring and wedding season are *finally* here!! Travis + Cherie had an unbelievably beautiful day for their Sylvan Lake wedding, but it would have been amazing even without the gorgeous weather. Probably because Cherie is super organized and Travis is super creative and their friends and family are super fun and sweet. :-)

Above: Cherie’s father + sister watching her get ready. Below: Cherie’s mother making sure the earrings she wore on her wedding day are looking just right on her daughter. *excuse me while I get all emotional behind my camera*

This ring pillow was also used at her parents wedding, and it worked perfectly with all the floral details!

Guess who snuck out for sunset photos!? WE DID!!! :-D

Travis + Cherie – I still can’t believe how lucky we got with the weather!!! And the photo-bombing deer!! :-D Your wedding was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Thank you so much for getting married here in the Black Hills and also for having me there. Biggest of hugs to you both!!

Is it just me, or has 2016 been one of the best years yet? And do I really say that every year around this time? I just can’t help it!! Weddings like Kyle + Katie’s are good for my photographer soul – big hugs, beautiful light, and sweeeeeeet emoooooooootions. ;-)

Let’s talk about Katie’s wedding gown for a moment, shall we? HER MOM MADE IT!!!! If it was socially acceptable to wear a dress like this every single day, I would be one happy girl. The lace overlay, the low back, the silk bow, the flowy skirt – all of it was SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

And clearly so are Kyle + Katie who fit so perfectly in each others arms. They’re like puzzle pieces!!

Kyle + Katie – thank you, thank you, thank you for having me photograph your wedding day!! It really couldn’t have gone better. And thanks for putting up with my grunts/groans as I tried to pretend I wasn’t nearly 8 months pregnant, still attempting to maneuver like a ninja to get those perfect images for you. :-) I hope you enjoy this sneak peek – I can’t wait to show you the rest!!