The Best...

I obviously go to well... a TON of weddings. I've had theme weddings, color coordination weddings, barefoot, high-heeled, outdoor, indoor, you name it I've done it. Not much really shocks me or takes me by surprise these days no matter how bizarre. However...When I heard how David proposed to Maggie I was taken back.

Maggie was coming home from a trip in Paris and had a lay-over in New York before coming back home to Chicago. Well, little did she know the full-force plan that was stirring to action. David had arranged with the TSA ( I think that's what they're called, the airport security people) to let him through the security process to go meet her next flight. Not only that but he had actually spoken to the pilot of  Maggie's plane to grant him the privilege of doing what I didn't even think could happen outside of a movie. So Maggie is sitting on her flight hearing the flight attendants go through their schpeel when all of a sudden she hears a familiar voice...David had flown from Chicago, got through security, spoke to the pilot, and now was speaking sweet nothings to Maggie over the intercom of the Plane. Like the scene from "The Wedding Singer" he approached maggie...Got on one knee...and proposed.

Okay you can pick up your jaw off the ground now...Pretty crazy right? Although for David & Maggie it's not crazy at all it's well...normal. I thought I've heard and seen it all but there's a God given love these two have that you can't help but take notice.

It was by far the best engagement story I've ever heard....
The best (or I should say my favorite) engagement photo shoot of the year...
The best dancing hands down that I've seen in years at the reception...
And as trivial as it is the best wedding food I've had in ages...

I know this couple would be the first to say it that God totally and completely wants to bless those who follow Him with the best. With those things little or grand that you can't help but look back and say "Wow...God was all over that." So sure...David & Maggie have an over-the-top romance but they love and serve an over the top giving God.

May each blessing you have be a reminder of God's hand on your marriage. Congrats guys!

Moment By Moment...He Leads me

One of the coolest part about pictures is it's kind of a mini time-capsule. Moment by moment, memory by memory passes by and often times it's not until you look back at a singular picture that reminds you of the whole journey.

As I sat down to edit little Lauryn's first baby pictures I saw an image on good ol facebook that was a blast from the past.  It was an old soccer picture where us girls were with our assistant coach Kelvin. It was a really cool irony for me because I was just sitting down to edit his second child's first baby images. Back before Kelvin & Anne were a couple our team prayed for Kelvin & his future family a lot. And now here I am taking pictures of his beautiful wife and kids.

I think it's easy to think that in life we're the one's creating moments but it's not until you find the root of the blessing that you see the journey. Kelvin didn't choose Anne, the Lord did. Anne didn't choose her kids, the Lord blessed her with them. Whether you're in the moment or looking back on times past remember whose leading your journey. I'm just grateful that once in awhile my camera gets to capture that.

You've heard it on the Men's Wear House commercials, the movie "27 Dresses", and probably around any dinner table you've sat at for a wedding. "When the music starts and everyone turns to look at the bride, I turn to look at the groom"

There was never a better time to do that than at this wedding. I haven't seen a groom's eye's filled with with so much anticipation, tears, and love in well...I don't even know how long. It's more often pegged to be the bride's day but what could a girl want more than her groom to look at her like that? It was a beautiful moment. I hope you guys remember it as you grow deeper in your love for one another each day. 

Congrats!

First Snow...

Like a kid waiting for Christmas morning, I often times don't sleep well the night before a wedding. With all the anticipation & ideas I find myself counting away the hours. Somewhere around 4AM I'm laying in bed in and out of sleep when I hear a noise. My ears perk up...I lean over and pull on my blinds to find one dedicated shoveler (Seriously? 4AM? You're hard core) and more importantly snow!! The very first snow! I seriously, laid back in bed with a huge grin. My bride Amy got her ultimate wish, the first-snow being on her wedding day. For one I was excited for her because I knew that was something she really was hoping for but also I knew she, more than any other bride I've had was ready to battle the elements & off-road it dress and all in full-fledge winter boots.  And that she did. With her cute little red pea coat and hidden boots we walked, slid and skidded our way through the winter-wonderland and had a ball taking some pretty amazing wedding pics. (:

Old World Charm...

Stone archways, lead-glass windows, old chapel doors, breweries from the 1800's, the oldest hotel in Milwaukee and a bride & groom that could care less that it's like five degrees out, I love everything about this wedding! For real...Not every couple is up for the cold and potentially more than any other shoot if I were to walk past these locations and not have been able to stop and just immerse ourselves in it's ridiculous gorgeousness I could have cried. Okay, maybe that's a bit too far but the disappointment would have been just too much! All that to say, I am SO glad that we got to linger from location to location and  get swept up in the beauty of our location and the magnitude of the moment. 

Matt...This one of yours is head-over heels for you! And she is an absolute gem! (Which you already know that.) ( :

And Laura...I think this man would walk from coast to coast if he knew it'd make you happy. 

I couldn't be happier for you both. Thanks for having me on this special day!

Funny Fam

I'll start off by saying I love this family! Seriously....They're top notch all around. After shooting their daughter's wedding and capturing their hilarious dance moves at several since I've just fallen for them. I think in part because they remind me of my family in some ways. A bit more adventurous, goofy, and most of all they like to laugh. A lot. You just want to be around them. Plus, they have a streak of sarcasm in 'em so we always bypass the awkward hello's and pick up where we left off last as friends. 

You guys should probably become wedding crashers because I and my camera need to see you more often. (: 

Got A Spare?

A couple posts back I mentioned "the last of the season" meaning this photo season was wrapping up. Well, that was a month ago and this may have been one of the busiest months of the year. So on this particular weekend I had shoots back, to back, to back and needless to say timing wise the following event couldn't have happened at a more worst-best time. Yep, that's right I made up that word. (:
But here I am at shoot number two pulling out of the drive-way when I realize I have a flat. Are you kidding me!? I'm all about not panicking or stressing out over something as it won't get done, fixed, or accomplished any sooner so I sat in the drivers seat pondering my next move. Funny enough, my husband was out of town, and any guys that I know that would help are well over an hour away. It just wasn't good timing. But in a way, it was perfect timing. I got out of the car and went back up and knocked on the door of Steve & Amy's house. In no time steve is sitting on the pavement and not only putting on my spare but explaining to me step by step how to change a tire. It's been explained to me before but I was a little bit more willing to learn now that I had to fend for myself. (: In no time, I was back on the road. I can only imagine that I'd still be on the side of 355 if I had made it to the high-way. And that just shows what type of kind-hearted generous, self-less people I work with. I'm so grateful for you guys!