I had been looking forward to this wedding day for months, because as I have become closer with Justin and Cassy, my son has also become closer with their daughter Raegan. They are in love. In the four and five year old sense of the word. When Jaxon ran into the reception and Raegan finally took notice, she marched right over to him and wrapped him in the most suffocating of all bear hugs. Then she held him there for a few minutes and he began to try to squirm away. Then the spent the rest of the reception dancing and spinning around together. My crazy mama heart can just picture their wedding 20 years from now!

In addition to our children being such good friends, Jason and I are connected to Justin and Cassy through our inexplicable love for dirt track racing. We all love to spend a Friday night, covered in dirt, cheering the cars on under the track lights. Most people don’t understand the appeal, but I guess it’s that way with a lot of hobbies. It’s in our blood and there’s no going back now. So, when you find racing friends, you hold on to them a little tighter! Cassy even told me that her favorite details of the wedding day were all of the subtle hints of racing throughout – from the groom’s cufflinks to the checkered flags on the cupcakes. They were able to pull off a racing theme without being too “redneck,” if you know what I mean!

But enough about our adorable children and insane racing addiction, let’s focus on the bride and groom, because Justin and Cassy battled through more than their fair share of challenges on their wedding day. Namely – heat and bugs. When I shot Nate + Jackie’s wedding in the exact same location two weeks before, it was so rainy and cold that I wore my winter coat. This Saturday, however, it reached record temperatures over one hundred degrees. Talk about a spring mood swing! We worked inside and in shade as much as possible, because just a few minutes in the sun meant the bride’s makeup was rolling off in beads of sweat! The bugs may have been even worse than the heat, as they came at you in full curtains! I don’t even know what bugs they were, but poor Cassy and I both got random bites that had our lips and eyes swelling! I am sure that made for the most flattering wedding day look!

I won’t continue to complain about the heat and insects, because years from now that’s not even what anyone will look back and remember (especially since I removed so many bug spots from the photos in photoshop!). What they will remember are the tiny moments: the look on Justin’s face when he first saw Cassy in her gown and couldn’t hold the emotion in, the way Raegan ran to her Mom and Dad every time she saw them and how she loved twirling in her dress, how incredibly delicious those cupcakes were, the laughter shared between loved family and friends, the care that went into every moment of the day. What I tell every bride is to forget about the things you can’t control. Those won’t matter one day soon. What will always be important is the love and promise at the core of the day.

I mostly say this as a reminder, because I’m convinced that if it’s this hot already in May we are in for a sweltering summer and all of us need to be prepared! Ha! Thank you midwest humidity for one more challenge in the wedding process! Don’t forget to check out the vendors at the bottom – because I am not joking about those yummy cupcakes!

Congratulations, Justin + Cassy! Thank you so much for trusting me with documenting the memories from one of the biggest days of your life! I hope you love your images as much as I do!

I want to pause quickly to shoutout my son, Jaxon, who shot that party photo on the bottom right! EEK mom-tographer pride!

And then the world stopped and we found this tree!!!!!! 

VENDOR INFORMATION 

SECOND SHOOTER // Kelsey Ann Photography

WEDDING COORDINATOR // Karla Prunty

FLORIST // Hy-Vee Floral

CAKE ARTIST // Jackie Meyer

DJ // Jammin’ Entertainment

BRIDAL GOWN // David’s Bridal

TUXES // Darren’s Clothing

PARTY BUS // Good Time Transportation

If you’re a 2019 Bride, I still have spots left for ten brides and would love to chat! Check out my portfolio here and send me a message here! I can’t wait to hear from you!

 

 

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