The first wedding of the season always sets the bar for me. And this year, that bar is set higher than the sky! Everything about Zack+Betsy’s day was so perfectly meaningful. So wonderful. So them! I’m sure they got asked ‘You’re getting married on a Tuesday?! In a bistro?!’ all the time. But of course they picked Tuesday – it was March 20th… exactly three years after their first date. And now it will be the most memorable Tuesday of their lives. :-)

Even the bistro has a special history – it was where they had one of those ‘really good’ dates. With a great conversation and a decision to stay together forever. Parker’s in Sioux Falls will now be the most memorable bistro of their lives. :-)

Probably two of my favorite images from the day!! Betsy helping her daughter get dressed + Betsy’s mom and daughter helping her get dressed. :-)

You can tell a lot about a couple by the way the groom looks at his bride. These two? They’re TOTALLY in love. :-)

I have SO many favorite parts about their ceremony!!

1. Betsy’s friend became ordained so she could officiate the wedding!

2. The guitarist played Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg.

and….

3. This moment. :-)

Okay, and this moment, too! Love exciting exits!! :-)

ceremony + reception | Parker’s Bistro, Sioux Falls, SD

wedding gown | David’s Bridal

flowers | HyVee

guitarist | Geoff Gunderson

Zack + Betsy – I cannot thank you enough for having me photograph your wedding! I hope you’re having a wonderful time enjoying your marriage! And seriously think about a Black Hills honeymoon!! I know all the great places (and faces) to see! :-)

Nora – You make a wonderful Cinderella! I hope someday you find your Prince Charming, and that he is as perfect for you as Zack is for your mom! :-)

The first thing my clients tell me after they’ve just seen their wedding photos is, “I love them!” – and then immediately after that they say, “How am I ever going to pick my favorites?”

And now I have an idea of how they feel. It took me HOURS to go through all my blogged wedding images to pick my top favorites. Every time I blog, I post my favorite images from the day. So picking favorites out of my favorites? It was like going to Cold Stone – wanting every single flavor and topping that will fit into my cup, but having to decide on the Coffee Lovers Only. There are SO many good flavors… um… images, but these are the ones I kept coming back to.

So here goes… my top 75 (!!!) wedding images from 2011 starting at the beginning of the year…

Dan + Kalina | February 18 | Brookings, South Dakota

Matt + Gladys | March 12 | St. Louis, Missouri

I *love* shy little flower girls! :-)

First looks are the best – even when it’s down the aisle! :-)

John + Rachel | June 12 | Rapid City, South Dakota

Brent + Laura | July 16 | Beresford, South Dakota

Ryan + Sarah | August 19 | Rapid City, South Dakota

Alan + Paige | September 16 | Brookings, South Dakota

I still get butterflies over this image. It was seriously just like a moment out of a movie. :-)

Mitch + Tawni | October 7 | Spearfish, South Dakota

Jerry + Laura | October 14 | Salem, South Dakota

Ryan + Terra | October 21 | Custer, South Dakota

Ken + Brittany | November 12 | Aberdeen, South Dakota

Darin + Michelle | November 19 | Wheaton, Minnesota

Tyler + Lindy | November 26 | Battle Lake, Minnesota

I think this was the largest AND most fun wedding party I have ever photographed. You are all awesome. :-)

Brent + Kelcey | December 30 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota

To all my wonderful couples who got married this year – THANK YOU for sharing your day with me. You guys make my job so great by being so in love! I am super excited to see where life takes you (and who will start the next round of studio lb babies. :-D) Happy 2012 and enjoy your first year as a married couple!! :-)

My oh my. What a WONDERFUL year it has been!! I have had the most amazing journey with Brent + Kelcey this year – from photographing their proposal to their official engagement session and now their wedding!! Despite there being no snow outside, Brent + Kelcey’s wedding was full of  all kinds of wintry details. White roses wrapped in satin. Bows perfect for presents. Centerpieces glowing like mini fireplaces. Even Kelcey’s bright blue eyes sparkled like snowflakes on a crisp, clear day!

I love, love LOVE it when couples do this! So much goes on during the wedding day, most couples don’t even get a chance to fully express how excited they are to be getting married. I think giving each other a hand-written card or note is the absolute perfect way to remind each other how special this day really is. And to be able to re-read that card in the future… *sigh*… I melt!

Kelcey. You.Are.STUNNING!!

Kelcey had her mom and sister help her get ready so that she could do a first look with the rest of her bridesmaids. And their reactions were priceless!!

And of course I love it when couples choose to have a first look!!

Yeah. That’s right. Green grass. On December 30th. In South Dakota!!!!

FAVORITE!!!

p.s. Since their proposal, I have nicknamed this ‘the Brent kiss.’

:-)

Another detail I loved!! Instead of a unity candle or sand ceremony, Brent + Kelcey had their guests pick up a stone on their way in.

“Please pick up the stone as you enter in, we have a special way for you to help our new life begin.

Please take a moment to think about what you will say, a blessing upon the stone we want you to pray.

During the ceremony we will be coming down, please place your stone in the bucket when it comes around.

These stones will give our marriage a firm foundation to start, especially knowing that your blessings come from the heart.

We want to say thank you and we are glad you could come, to help make this an extra special ceremony, when two become one.”

The Museum of Visual Materials was the perfect location for Brent + Kelcey’s winter wedding. With the stone walls and hardwood floors, it reminded me of a cabin – but big enough for all of their family and friends to celebrate! :-)

ceremony | Hillcrest Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, SD

reception | Museum of Visual Materials, Sioux Falls, SD

wedding gown + bridesmaid dresses | David’s Bridal

groom + groomsmen tuxes | Men’s Wearhouse

flowers + catering + cake | Hy-Vee

glow vessels | Glow By Design, Omaha, NE

dj | DJ Jer, Matt Gappa

Brent + Kelcey – What an awesome journey it’s been!! I’m sitting here thinking of all the wonderful memories I’ve been a part of! Quickly (and somewhat awkwardly) introducing myself immediately after you got engaged and then giving you a great big ‘congrats’ hug. Then spending time together taking photos on the HOTTEST day of summer (and you still looked amazing). And now, you’re MARRIED!!!! I am beyond excited for the two of you and I feel SO blessed to have been your photographer. I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon in the Bahamas and make sure to give me a call whenever your next big life event happens! ;-)

I have been SO blessed this year with such wonderful, sweet, loving couples!! Ever since Tyler + Lindy’s engagement session this spring, I have been counting down the days to their wedding!! I couldn’t wait to see all the beautiful details they had planned. I couldn’t wait to meet their wedding party (all 14 of them!). I couldn’t wait for their first look, first kiss, and first dance. And everything exceeded my expectations.

There were so many fun moments throughout the day – starting with Lindy showing up in kids’ size jeggings saying her 4″ platform pumps “are actually really comfortable.”

I always tear up a little when moms help their daughters get ready. :-)

And this one is just for giggles. :-) Lindy, you are cute no matter what you’re doing – including having a veil shoved into your hair!

The first look!!!!

Lindy was SO ready for some outdoor photos – I loved her wrap she found online!!

DANCE PARTY!!

I love being able to capture moments between the parents right before the ceremony – so much excitement!!

In case you’re wondering what true love looks like, check out these next two images. :-)

And you gotta love a fun father-daughter dance! :-)

ceremony | First Lutheran Church, Battle Lake, MN

reception + catering | Thumper Pond, Ottertail, MN

wedding gown + bridesmaid dresses | Alan Evans Bridal, Moorhead, MN

groom + groomsmen tuxes | Tip Top Tux, Elegance by LinDee, Perham, MN

flowers | Designs by Tes, New York Mills, MN

cake | Mrs. J’s Sweet Treats, Wahpeton, ND

dj | Party 2 Go DJ Service, Kelly Reller, Detroit Lakes, MN

Tyler + Lindy – Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me at your wedding!!!! I can’t express how much I enjoyed photographing you on the biggest day of your lives together (so far)!!

And Tiffany was at the wedding!! I love my studio lb brides!! :-) Special thanks to John for taking the photo! Apparently grooms would rather be behind the camera… ;-)

I was absolutely terrified of the weather forecast for Saturday. One hundred percent chance of snow and LOTS of wind. Thankfully when it did snow, it wasn’t much. And the wind nearly blew it all off the road. So driving was fine, but outdoor pictures were absolutely out of the question. Or so I thought. :-)

I suppose when you plan a wedding for mid-November, you expect there to be some kind of bad weather. So when I casually mentioned that we maybe could do a couple photos outside, if we found a less windy spot, if she’d like…. she immediately responded OKAY! Let’s do it!! And I was SO glad she wanted to. I think Darin was a bit more apprehensive to go, but I also think the photos are a great reminder of the weather that day. Who cares if their hair was a little windblown?

And the details. Oh, the details. The lace overlay on her dress. Her blue suede shoes. The flowers they arranged. The candle-lit walkway at the ceremony. The sparkling reception decorations. So so so lovely! I was in detail heaven! :-)

Okay, enough gushing. Look how GOOD these two look!!! Darin + Michelle, I am SO excited to have been your wedding photographer! You are a perfect match for each other and it was such a treat for me to document that! :-)

Yeah, just a little windy… :-) And you can see their getaway truck in the reflection!!

Hugs from dad! I love moments like these. :-)

ceremony | Bethlehem Covenant Church, Wheaton, MN

reception + catering | American Legion, Wheaton, MN

wedding gown| Jean’s Bridal, Wilmot, SD

groom + groomsmen tuxes | The Affair, Wheaton, MN

hair | Jody Nelson, mother of the groom

flowers | online

cake | Malane Brandenburger (best cake I’ve EVER had at a wedding!!)