Kent + Leah picked the perfect day to have their wedding at the Tretheway Pavilion in Spearfish. The park was full of kids playing, families biking, and even another wedding party taking photos! :-)

Their families traveled near and far to be there for the wedding, and coming from a large family myself, I know how awesome and special that is that so many people came!!

I don’t know where the ushers were hiding during group photos, but they sure were excited to get their picture taken before the ceremony!!

Yes, they kissed more than once when they were first introduced as husband and wife. :-)

Me with my lovely assistant, Hannah:

And me with the happy couple!!

Kent + Leah: hope you’re having a fabulous time in VEGAS!!!!!

I’m off again for a little while! I’m on my way to my hometown to do some senior photos (so excited!!) an engagement session (finally get to meet Ryan + Krystal!!) and a wedding (congrats to my cousin Jill and her soon-to-be-husband Aaron!!) but I wanted to share with you a sneak peek from Kent + Leah’s Spearfish wedding yesterday before I take off!!!

You might remember from Brian + Barb’s engagement session post that Brian and Lance grew up together. I have known Brian ever since Lance and I started dating a few years ago. I loved hearing stories of how excited Brian was dating Barb. Lucky me, not only was I their wedding photographer but I also got to meet all their family and half the town of Emery, dance the night away and go home with one of the groomsmen! ;-)

Barb’s mom is such a talented woman!! She made all the girls’ necklaces and purses and also helped get Barb ready for the day:

Everything about Barb was simply gorgeous:

Flowers courtesy of Gustaf’s Greenery in Sioux Falls:

First look!! I just love how Barb is glowing!!

And Barb said there was ‘absolutely nothing’ by the church for photos. :-)

Brian + Barb had an awesome and unique unity candle ceremony – their godparents lit candles from the Easter candle, then they lit the matron of honor and the best man’s candles and everyone else’s candle was lit throughout the church to the back where their mothers were waiting. Their mothers then brought their candles up, lit Brian + Barb’s candles and in turn they lit their unity candle – with all of their guests having a special part of it! :-)

Mr. and Mrs. Olinger!!!

Their wedding reception was at the Museum of Visual Materials in Downtown, Sioux Falls:

Brian + Barb – Thanks so much for inviting Lance and I to be such special parts of your wedding day!! Safe travels to your honeymoon tomorrow!! I promise the rest of your images will be ready by the time you get back! :-)

I know I’ve said this before, but I am downright spoiled as a wedding photographer!! My couples are the most in-love, romantic, easy-to-photograph people I know! Dave + Kendra’s wedding was beautiful – so simple, so romantic, so fun, so them!

My favorite part of their wedding day was when they saw each other before the ceremony. I have never seen hugs and kisses and smiles so big! After their first look, they exchanged letters that they had hand-written for each other. I cried. I couldn’t help it! Their body language and the looks on their faces was SO romantic – like straight out of a sappy movie romantic! I just wanted to sit down next to them and give them the biggest hug ever!

My other favorite part about Dave + Kendra’s wedding was their sense of humor. Not only were they comfortable in front of the camera, they were comfortable goofing off in front of the camera!! You know it’s going to be a good wedding for me when the bride wakes up early, can’t fall back asleep and watches The Office to kill time. And in case you’re wondering… yes, there were plenty of ‘that’s what she said’ moments throughout the day. :-)

Congrats to Dave + Kendra – may your love continue to grow stronger every day, and you live happily ever after!

Did I mention that Dave also gave Kendra a necklace? Bonus points for Dave!!

Remember how Dave + Kendra met through music and the church??

Thumbs up for being married!! :-)

Sorry, guys. I couldn’t help myself. You make such a great goofy-looking bunch! :-)

And right back to romantic – I love these next few!!

I have been looking forward to this day all winter long – the day wedding season starts!! Also known as my summer weight-lifting program (camera bags are heavy)! :-) Richard + Erika set the bar high for this season and I am SO excited to share their beautiful Brookings wedding with you!! They got married at St. Thomas More and their reception was at the Old Sanctuary and everything was decorated soooo well!! The weather was perfect, the ceremony was a tear-jerker, and now Richard and Erika are finally MARRIED!!

I showed up and all the girls were with Erika helping her get ready and oohing and ahhing over her hair, her makeup, her dress, her glow, the sparkle in her eyes!!

Erika with her sister and mom – aren’t their smiles just so contagious?! :-)

One last look in the mirror before seeing Richard for their first look!!

Richard’s dad helping straighten his tie… “Drawdy men always look good.”

And this is why I LOVE first looks!!!!!!!! Could Richard be any more excited?!!

And then there’s the uncontrollable hugging….

… and kissing …

… and more hugging …

… and I simply adore how Richard can’t keep his eyes off Erika!!

By choosing to see each other before the ceremony, we got lots of time for photos of just the two of them!!

If you’re a fan of studio lb on facebook, you’ve seen this one:

Not a dry eye in the church…

Final blessing:

mr. + mrs. drawdy!!

What did I tell you? AMAZING details!!

the end. :-)

Richard + Erika, I hope you’re having an awesome time at the Twins game and enjoy the rest of your honeymoon!! It is so rewarding for me to photograph couples who are so in love, and you two are what every couple should aspire to be. I know these next tidbits are borrowed from Kalina and Becka, but keep doing all you do together, and keep loving each other more and more each day! You guys are so amazing and I feel so blessed to have been a part of your wedding!! Just the way you two look at each other makes my heart melt!