Ceremony & Reception – Oakwood Country Club

Florist – Craig Sole Designs

Videographer – Brian Holscher

Reception Band -The Atlantic Express

Harpist – Michael Oshiver

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” E.E. Cummings

Jenny & I are firm believers in the power of laughter.  The second we see each other even remotely down, we’re instantly tickling, joking, jumping on each other’s backs, anything to make the other one laugh.  But this post isn’t about Jenny & I.  It’s about Laura & Josh. Laura & Josh laugh a lot.  Especially with each other.  In fact, we had about 15 minutes for bride and groom portraits, and Laura stops me to say, “Can we do some silly ones?” Further proof that the two of them just LOVE to laugh, play, and get the most out of life.  And anyone who laughs THAT much is a friend in my book.  We’re so happy we got to witness your laughter (and your marriage, of course).  May you share many happy years of joy and laughter!

Now back to the pictures.  Sessions like this are so much fun for Jenny and I.  It’s just pictures of a family being a real family and doing the things they love to do together.  The little things that you WISH you had a photographer around to capture, not just those “let’s all sit close and smile pictures,” those have their place, but pictures that are FUN, REAL, and GENUINE.  Pictures that this family will look back on 15-20 years down the road and remember all the wonderful things they did with their boys.  Pictures that MATTER.

Note: I can’t lie, there is a little direction from us during the session, but we get the ball rolling and document all the wonderful moments that ensue.

Reception: The Sawyer Room

Flowers: Bella Design Studio (gorgeous, bright, vibrant & fun decor)

Cake: Iced Art

You’ve seen their fun photobooth shots.  Here’s the rest of their day, and it was just as fun.  Filled with laughter, joking, super loud music, a fun party.  Vows were shared, more laughter ensued.  All in all it was a great day.  Michelle & Darnell, thanks for having Jenny & I along to hang out with you and capture the start of your new life together.

We rarely post detail shots.  Jenny & I choose to focus on the real moments that make each and every wedding unique, but going forward, we’re going to be posting a few details that catch our eye from our weddings.  Below are a few images of some of the beautiful details Michelle from Bella Design Studio made for Michelle & Darnell.  I just love all that color!

This is Chrissy’s first horse. She’s 29 years old.

Note: Jenny & I do not supply any props. We collect items throughout the day as well as encourage our clients to bring their own stuff.  This ensures every photobooth is a unique and fun experience for all.

One more thing, before I get to the images.  Jenny & I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to shoot sessions for couples who’ve been married for a while.  Marriage is hard.  Marriage is TOUGH.  It requires a lot of give and take, patience, compromise, we all know this.  But, when you have pictures to look at, pictures that show how much you truly love and care for each other, captured moments, glances, shared laughs, that are daily reminders of that LOVE, you know that your marriage is worth it.  You know that the woman you wake up to every single day will do anything she possibly can to make YOU happy, and vice-versa.  That’s a beautiful thing, right there.  LOVE is a beautiful thing, and sometimes, after you’ve been with the same person for a long time, you start to take that LOVE for granted.  And LOVE should never be taken for granted.  Julie & Josh will always have these images of them, at this point in their life together, to always remember how much fun they have being goofy with each other, to remember dancing together in a Kansas City field, to remember, most importantly, that they have each other to lean on.  Who doesn’t want that?

Hair & Makeup: Katie from Mink Artistry

Cake: Cakes by Combs

One of the many perks of being wedding photographers is that no wedding is ever the same.  Every couple speaks their own love language, and we get to witness it on an almost weekly basis.  The way that a couple looks at each other, their soft touches, all the laughter we get to hear, it’s a pretty amazing deal really.  And, what makes me most happy, is that the wedding is just the start of an amazing life journey that two people choose to take with each other.  Think about it, two people choosing to spend the rest of their lives together, creating their own story, where before, it was just two individuals learning about life on their own, now they get to have a life partner.  One who will push them, support them, and be there through thick and thin.  Amazing.

This leads me to Doug & Alyssa.  Anything that I could possibly write will never live up to the song Doug sang to Alyssa at their wedding reception.  So, a big thanks goes out to Doug for sharing the lyrics with all of us.  I hope we all have a love in our life that makes us feel the way Doug & Alyssa do about each other (I know I do).

Beauty to Rescue

She’s a girl who makes a rose blush in shame
and makes the sun seem so pale
through the glowing of her face
She sings so soft and so sweet
she’s gentle to the touch
and there has never been a girl that I have ever loved so much.

Her energy comes through her lips
and flows down through her fingertips
Her sculpted figure makes me shiver head to feet
and I don’t know what she does
but it brings me to my knees
Oh could she be…

My damsel in distress that I’ve been searching for forever
to take her away from all her feelings of captivity
Or was it me who was blind to all the bars surrounding me,
so my beauty could rescue me
I needed my beauty to rescue me.

So exquisite, so perfect like no one has ever known
and only the truest and most noble
can pull her heart out from the stone
It’s so surprising her eyes bring a light that’s never shown
She’s redefining my whole world for me
and nothing is left unknown

Her energy comes through her lips
and flows down through her fingertips
Her sculpted figure makes me shiver head to feet
and I don’t know what she does
but it brings me to my knees
Oh could she be…

My damsel in distress that I’ve been searching for forever
to take her away from all her feelings of captivity
Or was it me who was blind to all the bars surrounding me,
so my beauty could rescue me
I needed my beauty to rescue me.

I’ve searched so long to find her
Her smile blurs life around her
The wind breathes a sigh when our lips meet
She moves so mesmerizing
One look can hypnotize me
And I won’t ever be the same
No, I won’t ever be the same

Reception: Terrace on the Green

Amy & Andrew told us that they knew we were their wedding photographers before they were even engaged. How awesome is that!  In fact, Andrew’s mom told me she knew they were going to get married because of a picture Jenny took of them dancing at a wedding last year and they just had “the look”.  Sure enough, Andrew proposed, and we got to spend some wonderful time with them on their wedding day.  And who could forget their awesome engagement session with their dog, Kona.

I remember a lot of little details from the day, but the ones that stick out the most to me are how much laughter they shared.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many laughs during a wedding ceremony, and I know that Amy’s fist pump in the middle of the ceremony was a first.  Jenny & I are so glad that we continue to work with couples who enjoy life so much.  Isn’t that what life is all about?

Note: This is Andrew’s Hannibal Lecter impersonation