Tag Archives: weddings

Heidi and Molly: A Colorful Same Sex Wedding on California’s North Coast

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Heidi: We had several mutual friends from LiveJournal and Twitter communities for fans of a few specific bands (Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, etc.), and I kept noticing my friends talking to this smart, interesting person I wanted to know, so I started following them on Twitter. We kept discovering more things we had incommon, having lengthy conversations in private messages, and eventually collaborating on a creative project together that just meant even more talking and discovering. Molly confessed they had feelings for me and I was thrilled! Not long after that I planned a visit (they live in San Francisco and at the time I lived in Vermont), and meeting in person was like meeting someone I’d known my whole life. That visit was in February; in May of the same year I moved across the country to live with them. A wild leap of faith, but I just knew it would work, and I haven’t looked back.

What about the proposal?

Heidi: I knew Molly was planning to propose around Christmas, so I was getting increasingly excited as it got closer. We travel from San Francisco to visit my family in Vermont every year, which involves a full day of travel and usually a lot of sitting around an airport late at night waiting for our last connection. During that wait, Molly confessed they hadn’t actually gotten a ring and I would have to bring them shopping in the few days before Christmas. It worked out really well, because my sister worked at a jewelry counter at the time so I went to her to help me pick something out, we found my dream ring, and then I sat in a cafe while Molly shopped so I didn’t actually know if they went to my sister or picked something outon their own.

On the day of, when we were mostly finished with presents, I unwrapped my gift from Molly to find a cute, more casual ring they had picked out for me, and then they told me that wasn’t the only ring I was getting. My mother gasped so loudly you could probably hear it states away as Molly got down on one knee – and immediatelygot swarmed by my parents’ dog! – to propose. There was my dream ring, and also my dream person, and in my excitement I almost forgot to actually say yes!

When did you know that you were meant to be with each other?

Heidi: I don’t know that there was any one moment! There have been a thousand little things that just reaffirm it, over and over since I moved. Being around Molly makes me feel like a better version of myself, and I knew very early on I wanted to be that version forever.

Going into the wedding planning, what did you definitely know?

Heidi: I knew I wanted to get married in Mendocino County where Molly grew up because both the coast and the inland are gorgeous, and that we wanted to be outdoors. Also a lot of people would be traveling so we wanted our wedding somewhere people could stay, to take some of the planning stress out of it for people who were coming a long way for us!

What surprised you during planning? What was easy, what was difficult?

Heidi: I was surprised by how little I ended up wanting to do myself. I was out of work and planning the wedding was basically my full-time job, but even then I would find myself staring down the barrel of assembling favors or hand-painting place cards or DIY floral arrangements and nearly always make the call to pay someone else to take care of it. I’m a very crafty person but the time investment, the need to have everything Just Right, and the amount of space it would take up to store materials and finished products in our tiny apartment was just a little too much.

Molly: The vendors all know each other. This helped us out in a few ways, most notably when the DJ we initially hired had to cancel a month out and suggested an excellent alternative. But it also made for an awkward 5 minutes between our back-to-back interviews with florists who turned out to be friends.

Is there anything you wish you knew while you were planning your wedding thatyou know now?

Heidi: The fewer things that need to be Perfect, the better. I had two things that I wanted to go Perfectly, and many many things that didn’t need precise timing or people to be in exactly the right places or six different moving pieces to line up, and there were many little hiccups throughout the day but the ones that really devastate me were with the two things that needed to be Perfect. The more you can stick to concepts and not details when you build the image of your perfect day, the more relaxing it will be! Do you need your tables to be named with in-jokes perfectly tailored to the people at each table (entirely thrown off by a minor printing error neither of us caught in the proofs) or just cute things that feel like You? Do you need to enter the reception to a precisely-timed piece of music for maximum dramatic effect, or just pick a song you like?

Any advice for couples planning weddings now? Anything you would have donedifferently or anything you’d like to add?

Heidi: 1. Pick a point person for your wedding and give them more information than they need, more tasks than you think you should, and lean on them hard. Our point person was wonderful, but I only fully utilized her on the day of the ceremony, so the day before when I had a killer migraine I still had to contend with a full list of tasks to either do or delegate when I could barely remember my name. 2. Don’t be afraid to say no to people. I’m a big people pleaser at the best of times, and I was afraid of being branded a “bridezilla”, so I would try to be accommodating of suggestions, ideas, and offers that didn’t work with what we wanted for our day and then I would be stuck with the labor of making them work for us. If you’re accepting money from people, let them have a say in some things, for sure, but there is nothing wrong with knowing what you want and what you don’t and being gentle but firm about it. 3. Budget more than you think you need for everything. Obviously this isn’t always possible! But however much you can do will help take the pressure off. Most budget advice I saw recommended having a specific cushion of some percentage of your total budget, and we did that, but I also did my best to overestimate how much we would need for things so each category (food, apparel, etc) had its own cushion as well.

Molly: The single best thing we did in our planning was a decision we made early on: that for any given decision, the person who cared most would get their way. In the vast majority of cases, this meant we went with what Heidi wanted, because she is much more opinionated about weddings than I am. But there were a few cases where it turned out I had stronger opinions than I realized, and Heidi was great at drawing me out and making sure we had the wedding I wanted, too.

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

Heidi: Our ceremony overlooked the ocean, and after our recessional, when people were just beginning to get up to head in for the cocktail hour, whales began breaching right behind our wedding arch! We were facing away, heard most of our crowd of loved ones gasp, and turned to watch whales celebrate our wedding with us. It was truly beautiful; I still can’t think about it without crying.

Molly: for me it was getting to the end of the procession and turning around and seeing the crowd—so many people from different parts of our lives, all together in one place because they cared about us and our happiness together. That was an overwhelming feeling.

—–

Photography: Katherine Elyse Photography / @lovekephoto
Venue: Heritage House Resort & Spa / @heritagehouseresort
Catering: Heritage House Resort & Spa / @heritagehouseresort
Dessert Table: A Sweet Affair Patisserie / @asweetaffairpatisserie
Flowers: Mendocino Floral Design / @mendocino_floral_design
Hair & Makeup: M Salon / @marianellabrey
DJ: NorCal Pro Sound, Tony Muzzin / @norcalprosounddjservice
Chair & Tent Rental: Matt Rowland Events / No Instagram
Dress: Wtoo by Watters / @wtoowatters // Purchased from Haute & Co Bridal Salon / @hauteandco
Tailoring: Tailor Maid / @tailormaidsf
Corset: Dark Garden / @darkgardencorsetry
Suit: Kipper Clothiers / @kipperclothiers
Ring: Mendocino Gems / No Instagram

Laurel and Mike’s Zhangjiajie Forest Park Wedding Part 4 – Couple’s Photos

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There are very few words to describe the beauty of Zhangjiajie Mountain Forest Park in China. Being a photographer who loves dark and moody weather, I was overjoyed when I saw the fog settling over the gorgeous floating mountains. If this spot looks familiar to you, it’s because it was featured in the 2009 hit Avatar by James Cameron. Wow that Movie made history with CGI and over the top special effects, there’s really no need to enhance this place with the technology. You can feel how old everything is, how come the air and the forest feels. It’s lush, wild, romantic, and expansive; The perfect place to take couples photos after your wedding.

Laurel was an absolute trooper as well, trucking around in her giant red wedding dress and then eventually changing into a more westernized strapless white gown. I was super lucky to have the help of two of Laurel’s assistants, her hair and make up artist and her wedding coordinator, because posing that dress in the wind and the rain would’ve been just about too much for a little old me!

Every time I look at these pictures I’m reminded how lucky I am to be able to do what I do. This unique experience is one that may never be topped. (But of course, if your’re having a destination wedding, feel free to top this one and invite me to be your photographer!)

Wedding Wednesdays!

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I hop online each week with a tasty brew to chat about an array of topics surrounding your wedding planning and how to make everything as awesome as you ever imagined. We’ll cover everything from picking a venue to posing for your engagement photos to how to ensure your wedding day runs smoothly. I’ve been in the wedding industry for 10 years, I’ll share my wedding tips along with some anecdotes and bad jokes here and there. If you know me at all you know I don’t take myself too seriously, so this series is a fun romp through all the wedding wildness that’s floating around in my brain! 🙂

COMING UP!

I’m super pumped to dive into Wedding Wednesday for week number two where we’ll be talking about where the heck you even BEGIN the wedding planning process! While overflowing pinterest boards and DIY dreams are some of the more fun and stress free parts of the experience, there are a lot of big and serious tasks you’ve got to tackle right out of the gate in order to set yourself up for success! Tune in to my FB and IG live at 5:00pm PST to hear the tip of the iceberg of advice I’ve got for couples who are planning. If you’ve got planning success (or horror!) stories, advice on where to begin, or a specific question regarding planning then let me know at the link below! I’m stoked to connect with you personally and get you all the help you need to make your wedding GRRRRRRRRREAT! 🐯💛

WEDDING WEDNESDAYS QUESTIONS, ADVICE, & STORY SUBMISSIONS

Laurel and Mike’s Zhangjiajie Forest Park Wedding Part 3 – The Ceremony

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FINALLY. The big day. (Holy sh*it, we were excited!)

After the immacualte welcome BBQ, the rowdy door games, and the amazing breakfast, I was STOKED to get to the main event. Mike and his boys were well into their suits by the time we arrived for photos and were already starting in on their second bottle of wedding wine. If ever there was ever an indication of how awesome this day was going to be, that was it. Their get up gave a nod to traditional Chinese styling and fused the past with the present with slim fitting garments and modern dress shoes. The crazy socks were a must, signaling how wild and wonderful they all felt.

Now, I had heard for months about Laurel’s custom made red wedding dress but NOTHING prepared me for the sheer perfection of it. Her gown looked like something off the MET Gala carpet and I was HERE fot it. Not only did Laurel look stunning, but so did all of her bridesmaids. Their dresses all sported a different cut for each but created from the same gorgeous navy bloe floral pattern. I don’t know about you, but I think this is one of the hottest bridal parties ever!

The ceremony was held at the Zhangjiajie National Forest park in the Hunan province of China. If this epic backdrop looks familiar, it’s because this is the same spot James Cameron filmed his 2009 epic Avatar. The floating mountains were absolutly breathtaking, I couldn’t believe this was the backdrop for the wedding! Of course, the decor of the aisle and alter matched the stunning neautrals of the fog filled background with an abundance of white flowers, walkways, teraces, and arangements. Watching Laurel stride down the aisle in her electrifying red dress is a sureal and beautiful moment that I will truly never forget. The ceremony was performed in both English and Chinese to accomdate for all the guests and involved traditional Western vows as well as a tea ceremony with the parents of the couple. It was sealed with a kiss, some dancing, and lots of joy!

Laurel and Mike’s Zhangjiajie Forest Park Wedding Part 2 – Door Games

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After recovering from a rowdy late night Welcome BBQ (see the blog post about that HERE) everyone was up bright and early for the Door Games. I had no idea what to expect from this part of the wedding, but Laurel said it was the part she was most looking forward to, so I was definitely stoked to see it all play out.

Door games are a series of challenges that the bride and her bridesmaids put forth to the groom and groomsmen in order to determine if he is, in fact, worthy of his bride. These can range from physical strength competitions to straight up making him pay cash for his bride, as well as anything in between. With Laurel’s insanely fun friends on the stage, I knew the boys were in for trouble. They did an awesome job completing all the challenges and no one died, so that’s a plus! 😉

THE PRESENTATION OF THE BRIDE (with bridesmaids in matching onesies, no less!)

CHALLENGE #1

There was an attempt at winning the bridesmaids over with cold hard cash but, unfortunately for the boys, they wouldn’t get off that easy.

CHALLENGE #2

The bridesmaids tried to get the groomsmen to quit by making them wear saucy little headbands and Kardashian level fake butts, but these boys were in it to win it. The next part of the challenge was for the men to show Laurel how much they love her by creating the word LOVE out of their bodies! While it seems like an easy feat, one of the members also had to be inverted throughout. These boys busted out all the stops to impress the girls and give everyone a laugh.

GAME #3: BALLOON POP

I’ll go ahead and throw this one in under the category of a humiliation ritual (re: hazing). The groomsmen had to tie balloons around their waist and, without using their hands, pop all of the balloons. Needless to say, there was a lot of hilarious physical contact and attempts at smashing in all the wrong places.

CHALLENGE #5

This challenge was the physical representation of all the feelings of married life: spicy, sweet, bitter, and sour. These boys had to slam some red chilli peppers, whole sweet mandarin oranges, some icky bitter melon, and a shot of black vinegar!

CHALLENGE #7

This challenge was sort of a two parter. The bridesmaids asked questions about Laurels life, family, favorite things, etc. and Mike had to answer them. He also had to name 8 countries that Laurel planned to visit in the near future. If he got a question or country wrong, he had to hold a Scorpion inversion yoga pose, meant to open the heart, for 60 seconds. Lucky for him, he was able to also ask a groomsman to step up to the plate. One of them even managed to slam a beer while upside down! (And he’s single, ladies!) 😉

CHALLENGE #8

Where would the fun be if there wasn’t some element that was actually physically painful? The girls wanted to know how tough these boys were, so they busted out the wax strips for a healthy dose of ‘beauty is pain’. Each one left the game with a fresh bald patch on their leg. Secretly though, I was hoping they’re go for the chest or armpit!

CHALLENGE #9

This was one of the most fun challenges, of which the boys had been able to practice ahead of time. They did an amazing dance routine to a 90’s boy band song and got everyone to sing and dance along!

CHALLENGE #10

Last but not least, FEATS OF STRENGTH! The boys were challenged to a pushup contest and a tug’o’war against Laurel’s chosen team of friends. The push up contest consisted of a team of boys doing push ups at the same time with one of Laurel’s friends resting on their back. Laurel’s team kicked butt, groomsmen… not so much. My all time favorite part of this challenge was when, to many people’s surprise, Laurel’s friend Lucia DEMOLISHED Mike’s brother Rich in an arm wrestling contest. I guess all that acro yoga, rock climbing, and aerial silk training pays off!

And of course, even though the boys got their butts handed to them (real butts and fake rubber ones), Laurel and her bridesmaids approved of the effort and it was time to get ready for the wedding!

PART 3 – ZHANGJIAJIE NATIONAL FOREST PARK WEDDING – COMING SOON!

Eryka and Neil’s Chic Loft Wedding in Downtown Los Angeles

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Usually I’m an outdoor wedding kind of gal. I love me some tall grass and golden sunsets. But when Eryka said the words “LA loft wedding” I couldn’t say “I’ll DO IT!” fast enough. Eryka and Neil have been together forever. I remember them being deeply in love all the way back when we knew one another in college at Chico State. They’ve since traveled the world together and lived abroad, raised perfect baby frenchies, and made all of it look effortless and exciting.

I was thrilled when they asked me down to LA to shoot their incredibly sheik loft wedding. The Hotel Indigo was the perfect compliment to their urban loft space, with tall open windows and modern accoutrement throughout. Of course, Eryka couldn’t get ready without her dog of honor. That little one totally stole the show! After a sweet first look in the lobby, it was off the the gorgeous loft for group photos and meeting up with the rest of the bridal party. Their ceremony was filled with gut busting laughter and sentimental tears, making it all the more obvious these two sweethearts are totally meant to be. The night continued in a joyous fashion with hilarious toasts, a romantic first dance, and a truly one-of-a-kind (almost) cake fail. The couple laughed and danced all the way into their happily ever after, which is exactly the way it should be.

I’m super stoked for these two and I wish them all the best in their marriage. May it bring love, laughter, and (hopefully) more furry friends. 🙂

Lauren and Clayton: A Vintage Inspired Wedding at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza

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I met Lauren and Clayton at a bridal fair in 2018. We hit it off after Clayton and I discovered we both had a deep love of true crime. We talked shows, movies, and podcasts before finally moving on to chat about their wedding. Lauren described her style as vintage with a heavy dose of rock and roll and said they were more interested in candid shots of them enjoying their day with their friends and family than formal photos. I felt like we instantly got each other’s vibe and I was thrilled when their wedding day finally came.

The Hotel Shattuck Plaza was the perfect venue for this quirky couple. The decor screams unique vintage, with colorful wall paper and monochrome tiles throughout. Lauren fit right in with her fit and flare wedding dress and Marilyn red lips. Clayton was channeling some serious Mad Men vibes as he sipped whiskey and got into his dapper 3-piece suit. These two are a match made in old school heaven!

Everything from their ceremony to their wild reception went off without a hitch. Some favorite moments of my time with them include: a massive bridal party photo straight off the pages of Vogue magazine, their grand entrance to “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins (drum solo acted out perfectly), a hysterical reading of Clayton’s old OK Cupid dating profile by Lauren during toasts, a serious mosh pit in the middle of the reception, the most ridiculous rendition of the shoe game I’ve ever witnessed, and everyone dancing to “The Time Warp”. I am so stoked I was able to be a part of their day and I’m happy to say that I’ve made yet another set of lifelong friends in this couple.

CHEERS TO THE TRAYLOR’S!

Lauren sprinkled bits of tiki vibes throughout her day, bringing a pop of rich jungle colors to each event.

No one was more excited for Lauren than her gaggle of gorgeous bridesmaids. She looked like an absolute vintage vision!

Clayton was throwing off some serious Don Draper vibes while getting ready. Of course, not every moment can be a serious one when you’re surrounded by 8 of your best friends drinking whiskey.

The ceremony took place inside Hotel Shattuck’s newly updated bar/ceremony space. The full white draping gave it a dreamy and intimate feel.

Everyone deserves a high five when “I give you this wing… RING” is uttered by BOTH the bride and groom during their vows!

What do you do when you have a bridal party of 16 plus the bride and groom? You out on your best impression of a Vogue cover shoot and hope for the best!

These two were just so in love… wandering around the hotel for couples photos was an absolute delight.

Lauren loves everything rose gold and shiny, so their reception decor was tricked out in pink sequins. Their bar was tiki inspired, with signature cocktails to match the theme. Their dessert table was something out of every sweet lover’s dream and their awesome guestbook was a mish-mosh of polaroids and signed records.

If you’re not acting out a drum solo during your grand entrance, you’re doing it wrong!

The toasts were hilarious through and through. We found ourselves laughing along with them throughout!

There’s nothing like first dances. Lauren mixed things up by dancing with her mom as well as her dad. These two ladies really turned on the waterworks.

The shoe game is a fun was to interact with your guests and friends during the reception. Both a bride and groom hold one of each persons shoe. Questions are asked about their relationship (i.e. – who is the better cook or who talks more?) and the couple raises the shoe of the person they think fits the questions best. Sometimes they’re in agreement, but sometimes they hilariously disagree and everyone involved has a good laugh. Lucky for these two love birds, there was very little disagreement.

There’s nothing like cake in your face to get the party started!

Rowdy doesn’t even begin to describe this incredible dance party!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Traylor! ❤

Lisa and Sean: Swedenborgian Church Wedding + Hotel Kabuki Reception

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Lisa and Sean are a quirky and fun couple who put on all the stops for their amazing San Francisco wedding in September. Lovers of both culture and architecture, their ceremony was held at the stunning Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco and their reception was held at Japan Town in SF at The Hotel Kabuki. The church is over 120 years old and provides a rustic and enchanting backdrop for weddings of around 80 people. The Hotel Kabuki is in juxtaposition to the old world church, with plenty of modern pop art and colorful decor. The combination provided the best of both worlds and made for a stunning day from beginning to end.

Some of my favorite moments of Lisa and Sean’s day include her adoring aunt doing a live stream on behalf of her family who couldn’t attend for nearly the entire day, their adorable dog sprinting down the aisle in the church, a rad wall of records at the entrance of the hotel reception where they popped a bottle of champagne, and all the swaggy ridiculous dance moves them and their guests busted out all evening long. Their day was full of goofiness, laughter, joy, and LOTS of dancing; I feel so incredibly lucky to have been a part of it! For your convenience, a vendor list can be found at the end of this blog post.

CONGRATULATIONS LISA AND SEAN!

HUGE THANKS TO

Photography: Katherine Elyse Photography // @LoveKEphoto

Coordination: Avida Bridal // @AvidaBridal

Ceremony: Swedenborgian Church // @SfSwedenborgianEvents

Reception: Hotel Kabuki // @HotelKabuki

Florist: Natalini Flowers // @natalini.flowers

Cake: The Cake Maker

Band: The Lucky Devils // @LuckyDevilsBand

Transportation: SF Limo Express

Grace and Chad: Plymouth Ranch Wedding at Rancho Victoria Vineyards

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Grace and Chad’s wedding day was an absolute dream. From the bridal party, to the emotional moments, to the gorgeous location, especially the joy that was felt by all, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Grace and Chad, THANK YOU for allowing me to be a part of your big day! What a joy you are to each other’s families! Chad: you’re sweet, intelligent, committed, faithful, and you care for other people oh-so well. Now you’re married to the sweetest, funkiest, most amazing girl ever and I know you’re going to love her in the most special way. You’re both so lucky!!

The day started with some seriously awesome bridesmaids on bridal beauty duty. They were rocking their blue converse and making sure Grace stayed smiling and looked PERFECT from every angle!

Even the tiniest member of the bridal party couldn’t stay away.

After getting the girls secured in their hiding spot, it was time for this gaggle of awesome dudes to strut their stuff!

And of course, some tender moment were due for the groom as well.

After that we shooed everyone away for a sweet moment of love and prayer (and no peeking) between the couple. It brought tears to my eyes too Chad, and I’m so glad I got to witness this amazing moment.

I couldn’t wait to see Chads face when Grace walked down the aisle and boy, I was not disappointed. Not a dry eye in the house!

Their ceremony was gorgeous, held under a massive blooming Oak. Their commitment to one another was felt by all who witnessed their vows to God and each other.

After a romantic and deeply moving ceremony, the knot was tied and they were happy to galavant back down the aisle (with a few surprise kisses) as a married couple!

Getting the whole family and bridal party together was a delight and you could tell everyone was so happy to be a part of the celebrations!

Then it was onto couples photos and, let me tell you, these two ROCKED their portrait session. (I don’t have to tell you though, see for yourself!)

The reception was nothing but pure joy and insanity. Everyone boogied their way in, laughed their way through dinner (so much so I was able to sneak the couple away for sunset photos!), and smiled and cried along with the couple during their wedding speeches and dances.

After the main events it was time to party down and dance the night away! Glow sticks and crazy guests added so much texture and energy to the night!

Beyond being an awesome couple to photograph, these two pushed me outside of my comfort zone with their requests for some super fun off camera flash and sparkler photography!

Their night came to a close with another ride in the incredible vintage wonder car as they waved good-bye to all their guests!

I am so thankful Grace and Chad chose me for their wedding. I don’t know if I’ve ever shot a couple with more style, flare, and all around good vibes! I wish them all the best in their life together, even though I know they don’t need it. ❤

(HUGE thanks to Rebecca Skidgel from Rebecca Skidgel Photography for second shooting for me on this fine day!)

Molly and Matt {2016}

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It’s a tale as old as time… boy meets girl, girl captures boy in a web of Disney infused romance, boy realizes he’s the prince to her princess, proposal, party, Party, PARTY!

Molly and Matt are some of the sweetest and most genuine people I’ve ever met. I don’t think I ever saw Molly without a smile on her face, and it wasn’t just for photos. Obviously their day was filled with a LOT of laughter and joy!

The Croatian American Cultural Center made a perfect back drop for their colorful Fall wedding. Pops of yellow and purple accented Molly’s fiery red hair and elegant stark white gown. Matt and his crew rocked some awesome checkered Vans to match, tying everything together in a cohesive and relaxed bow. Cute chalkboard signs and an INCREDIBLE do-it-yourself ribbon backdrop showed them down the aisle (led by her amazing FLOWER-GRANDMA!) where they tied the knot in front of rows full of friends and family. A kiss, a first dance, and a cake cutting later and it was onto a rockin’ party with TONS of dancing and of course, (not just a few) shots. I’m so lucky these two goobers chose me to be their photographer and I’m happy to say that they aren’t just clients anymore, but wonderful friends. 🙂

CHEERS FOR A HAPPY AND LOVING FUTURE TOGETHER, MATT AND MOLLY!