I had Courtney on the porch of her Mom and Dad’s gorgeous country home. I was shooting her while she finished getting ready, putting on her Grandma’s string of pearls and her mother’s hoop skirt, slipping into a favorite pair of Converse shoes. Everything was coming together and looking so perfect for Courtney, and then out of the corner of my eye I realize that Dan is walking out from behind the garage. My heart started pounding and I jumped in front of the bride, shielding her from the eyes of her unsuspecting groom. This sounds dramatic, but I will do everything in my power to guard the cherished moment of the first look and that time of the day was NOT the first look!

The first look came later, as Courtney walked down the porch stairs, arm linked with her fathers’, carrying a wildflower bouquet that her Mom put together using wild roses grown from a plant that her brother had planted. I remember telling her before the walk down the aisle, “girl, just remember low and slow.” And Courtney did just that! She held her bouquet low so everyone could see the beautiful detail work on her gown! It was incredible beading laid over tulle and the lightest shade of pink satin. She looked flawless walking towards the pergola (even though I am sure she was covered in beads of sweat with 100% humidity that day)! I am sure that this pergola in the middle of the acreage was built by her dad, and it was surrounded by their closest friends and family. I don’t often cry as the bride walks down the aisle anymore, but on that wedding day, I was wiping tears off of my LCD screen as I sobbed my way through the ceremony!

I am so incredibly glad that I shielded Courtney from Dan earlier on the porch, because no one in their right mind would want to miss the smile that covered his face when he saw her walking towards him in her wedding gown. If there was ever a moment in life where teeth had that little cartoon glisten to them, this was it, because Dan was literally beaming. I am not quite sure if I caught a tear rolling down, or if again it was just a bit of sweat, but my hopeless romantic side chooses to believe it was tears of pure joy. Everyone talks about a giddy bride, but this was a giddy couple! They both laughed and stared adoringly at each other throughout the ceremony. I kept way too many ceremony photos in their gallery, because I am a sucker for all of the sweet ways Dan was looking at his bride throughout.

Nothing in their wedding day would top seeing Courtney walk into the ceremony to see Dan for the first time, but their entire reception was a close second! They hand made every yard game imaginable for their guests to lounge and enjoy. We are talking: yard dominoes, huge Jenga, Kerplunk (hands up if you remember that game as a kid), bowling, badminton, and of course several boards setup for bags. It was incredible the amount of thought that they put into hosting a party for their loved ones! I’ve never seen so many coolers of drinks, and so many treats at the end of a reception! I may, or may not, have snuck a couple of bags of popcorn and a snickerdoodle cookie into my backpack to take home with me. Alright, fine, 100% I did that!

I always say that I am honored to be chosen to serve a couple of one of the most important days of their lives together, and it still holds true even in the busiest of wedding seasons. I cherish what I get to do, and thank you Dan and Courtney for allowing me to be part of your day.

THE ENTIRE CREATIVE TEAM

PHOTOGRAPHY // Jessica Brees Photography

MAKEUP // Degree of Style

HAIR // Star Hair Design

GOWN // Bridal Elegance

BRIDESMAID DRESS // David’s Bridal

SUITS // Halberstadt’s West Des Moines

KETUBAH // KetubahLA

I have limited availability for 2019 weddings, but would love to meet a few more “breezy brides.” If you’re planning a 2019 wedding, I would love to chat with you and you can reach me here.