Rusty & Marian: In Love

I can't recount the number of times I told Rusty & Marian how cute they were on their wedding day. Seriously, they are so cute. Gushy, and wonderfully in love. Just look at how they look into each other's eyes with such joy and sincerity!

A few favorites from their wedding day...

Music and theater are a huge part of their lives, so it was only fitting that they had a variety of friends participate in their ceremony with music.

Just look at how he adores his bride...

Marian & Rusty's wedding party was so lively that it was a blast photographing their laughter and joy.

 
 
 
Marian, without hestiation shouted, "Yes!" when I asked if they wanted to play a game (in the fairly soggy meadow with heels, nonetheless).  I made it up on the way there in the car, and called it "Freeze Photo"- it seemed to be a hit! I will probably have folks play it again- they laughed so hard. Here is one of several hilarious outcomes.
The location for the photographs was at Castlewood State Park- where Rusty proposed. I love this serene photograph (by Chase) of Marian following Rusty to the spot where he professed his intent for marriage.

And here they are at the exact spot.  Marian was such a trooper, heading down in a creek bed in her dress. True love is sacrificial.

Not only did they have cake, but they had s'mores! (which ended up all over my face and hands, very professional me, don't you think?)

 

once again, very professional of us, right?

Melissa & Zach

I met Melissa & Zach the night of their wedding rehearsal, but I felt like I should have known them for ages. It is an unprecedented event for me, as I normally meet my clients many times before the big day. Check out these crazy connections... The wedding was in Kansas City. They live in Dallas. I live in St. Louis. I grew up in Kansas City. They went to college in Columbia, MO, where they became friends with some of mine from church. But we didn't realize that until much after I'd been booked.  A friend of mine from college lived with Melissa when she was in China, and later Dallas (she's the main connection here).  A girl who came to the wedding met Melissa in China lived with another friend of mine sometime last year, and was actually my neighbor, but I didn't meet her until the night before the wedding. Crazy stuff. Felt like relatives so distant that we hadn't met yet.

Being a fan of all things local, add to the mix that my second shooter for the day was a friend of mine from middle school and high school who I had not seen in at least nine years.  She's from Kansas City. We had a lot of catching up to do.

Anyhow... this couple had a wonderful wedding day, full of meaningful and beautiful details and meaningful and beautiful people.  I was so blessed to see the way they honored God on their wedding day, and kind of wish I had the wedding sermon recorded so I could listen to it again. It was that good.
Here are a few of my favorites from throughout the day.

 Such a lovely, but authentic expression- just after the final touches of getting ready.

 Sweet moment of big sister looking at little sister.

 I just love grandma moments!

 I love how his mom is watching them dance!

 Notice how she is OFF the floor during their kiss...

 Two awesome shots by Amy Marcus:

Anna & Ross

Anna & Ross came to me through Anna's sister, whose wedding I photographed last fall.  I was glad to have such a lively family to work with again! As is fitting for a wedding in March, they had an energetic theme of shamrocks and basketballs, which was a fun combination to work with.   I could have tons more, but here are a few favorites from the day.

This wedding party braced themselves against the wind for perhaps one of the chilliest (and therefore fastest) wedding party sessions I've ever done.  They were all good sports! We took about 8 stops, but in record time! :) I think it goes well with their love for competition as they are big sports fans.

Love this detail from Chase- with Anna being reflected in the glass.

Everybody's gotta head up to Ferguson to check out The Whistle Stop (above).  One of Anna's other sister's fiance owns this cute train station-turned-ice cream parlor.

Leah & Glenn, Let the Season Begin!

It's shooting season, y'all- and I don't mean ducks. Or any other kind of animal. Just humans. But not with a gun. Or squirt gun. Or a crossbow. Just my camera. :)

I hopped back into the swing of things with Leah and Glenn.  I love getting to know people and their stories and finding ways to visually represent them.  They have a great story. Though it hasn't always been this way, they are enduring the distance during their engagement, while living states apart, and preparing to move to Tennessee this year. They also love old things. So for our first stop, we headed out for some dramatic, romantic, traveling photographs with old trains. I can't get enough of this location! And Leah will just gaze at you with those eyes all day long and scoop you up!

These two have spent a lot of time hanging out in coffee shops, at cook outs, and spending time outdoors- and that move to Tennessee is so that they can be a part of a new church there.  Mix it all up- and voila- we livened things up with a stop at church-turned-coffee shop that reflected their love of color!