I am so excited, thrilled, and honored to share this with you!! Trevin + Audrey’s wedding has been featured in the newest issue of Black Hills Bride Magazine!

And Audrey is their new cover girl!!

Trevin + Audrey drove all the way across South Dakota yesterday to be one of the first to see the new 2013 magazine at the launch party last night. It was awesome to see them again!! We only had a little bit of time here and there to catch up as we were mingling with the creators of Black Hills Bride Magazine as well as other wedding vendors. It was a whirlwind of an evening, and it was so wonderful to share it with these two!

Audrey couldn’t help but pinch herself to make sure this wasn’t all a dream, and towards the end of the night, Trevin said, “Walking in here tonight and seeing Audrey’s face on the magazine just brought back all those wonderful, magical feelings from our wedding day.” I promptly turned to Audrey to let her know she married a good one. :-)

Trevin + Audrey – Thanks again for being such a wonderful couple to work with! It was so great to see you again and I can’t wait for our cupcake date in Sioux Falls!! :-)

The weddings I have photographed in 2012 have exceeded all of my expectations – so many couples full of love, hugs, excitement and more! I’m sure you are tired of me saying this, but I LOVE my couples!! I love their love for each other, their love for life, and their love for great photos. :-)

Looking through these, you’ll notice a lot of my favorite images from weddings this year were not just portraits, but moments. Getting ready, first looks, exchanging rings, stealing glances. These moments are so much more beautiful and precious to me (and my couples) than anything – even cute shoes. And you all know how I love cute shoes. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaime’s first look with her dad – I melt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my blog, so I get to make up my own rules, right? These last few images are not technically ‘wedding photos’ but are from the day after. So that’s close enough! Ryan + Jaime’s day after session was, hands down, THE MOST FUN I’ve ever had behind my camera!!!

 

 

To all my couples who were married in 2012 – big hugs. I love what I do because of YOU!!  Thank you so much for including me in your big day and trusting me with your most precious and exciting memories of the ‘beginning of the rest of your lives.’ I know it’s cheesy to say, but I really do appreciate your love and support. :-)

After a week of beautiful Black Hills weather, Jerry + Jenny’s wedding was forecasted to be around 30 degrees. I made the mistake of saying to myself “if it’s going to be cold, it might as well snow so at least it’s pretty when we have to go outside for photos!!” And guess what we all woke up to the morning of their wedding!!!

Inside the Cathedral, guests were shaking snow out of their freshly done-up hair and keeping their coats on until the chill wore off. The girls were giddy with excitement…

… the boys were as calm as could be…

…the musicians filled the church with lovely melodies…

…and the bride and her father talked about snakes all the way up the aisle to keep from crying. :-)

 

These two could not keep their eyes off each other during the ceremony!!

 

 

So maybe wishing for snow and having it come true wasn’t such a terrible thing…

 

 

 

Their cake was SO lovely – pink and cream roses with a love note on the top layer. You guys know how I love love notes!!

 

 

Their sweetheart’s table!!

wedding gown + groom’s suit | Audra’s Bridal, Rapid City

florist | Victoria’s Garden

ceremony | Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

reception + catering | Hotel Alex Johnson

cake | Piece of Cake

Jerry + Jenny – Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for having me at your wedding!! It was such a pleasure getting to know you and being there on your special day!! I wish you both the happiest of ever afters!! :-)

Carl + Penny have been friends for quite some time. They have celebrated good times together and also helped each other through some not-so-good times. And this weekend was their time to start their happily ever after.

 

I will never get tired of photographing first looks!! The emotions and excitement are pure photography gold!! :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvan Lake Lodge was the perfect setting for their cozy, fall wedding!

 

 

 

Carl + Penny were married just after sunset, which made the hills outside look like a winter wonderland!

 

 

 

Penny – you sure do throw a beautiful party… these decorations were perfection!

 

ceremony + reception + catering | Sylvan Lake Lodge, Custer Stat Park, South Dakota

wedding gown | Audra’s Bridal, Rapid City, SD

groom’s suit | Halberstadt’s, Rapid City, SD

flowers | Decker’s Floral, Newcastle, WY

cake | Peace of Cake, Holly Scott, Newcastle, WY

 

How many times did I tell you September was going to be a great month?? Joe and Becky wrapped up September with a fun, DIY-filled wedding with perfect fall colors and a dance that almost made ME want to party all night! (And that’s saying a lot – when I’m not at weddings, I’m normally in my pajamas by 8pm!)

It takes a lot of time, patience and craftiness to pull off a DIY wedding – and let me tell you, Joe and Becky did it right. From the flowers to the chalkboard signs, to the twine-wrapped mason jar centerpieces and the cupcakes – EVERYTHING was well done. I wish I could photograph their wedding again this weekend, and the weekend after that. Of course, it helps that they are both SO in love with each other that photographing them is not even work – it’s pure delight. :-)

Okay, okay, I’m a big sap, I know. Let’s look at their pretty pictures!!! :-)

 

 

Only teeny tiny women with itty bitty feet will tell you that four-inch sparkly peep-toe heels are ‘comfortable.’ Oh, Becky, I am still so jealous of your wedding shoes!!

 

 

 

 

This was as close to serious as these guys could get – and it only lasted for a split second!!

 

Did I mention the ribbon wands and lace+string balloon backdrop? SO MUCH DIY FUN!!!

 

 

I just LOVE the way you two look at each other!!!

 

I think the key to a perfect DIY wedding is to start with an already beautiful location. Case in point: Hotel Alex Johnson.

 

 

ceremony | Ruby’s Garden, Spearfish, South Dakota

reception | Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City, South Dakota

wedding gown | David’s Bridal

groom’s suit | Halberstadt’s

hair + makeup | SpaMeD

cake | Jerry’s Cakes & Donuts

cake topper | Etsy – sweet reverie

dj | Tiki Man Entertainment – Mike Malone

Joe + Becky – Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me as your wedding photographer!! You guys had SUCH a perfect day and I was so honored to be a part of it!!