Brianne and Murat's Wedding in the Florida Keys

Brianne and Murat are delightful and their wedding was too!  The couple met in 7th grade but truly fell in love as adults.  However, their long shared history had connected their families so beautifully and everyone was thrilled to celebrate their union.

They were married at the Coconut Palm Inn in the upper Keys.  It was a fabulous place tucked backed from the road and right on the beach.  The 70 guests were able to have the run of the place and it was wonderfully inviting.  

The ceremony and reception all took place there on the private beach.  The weather was fantastic in the 70s with a light breeze and it got cool enough at night to enjoy the bonfire and the s'mores!

I just loved being a part of this intimate, fun-filled and truly special wedding.  I look forward to making an album for Brianne and Murat because the pictures are just so fun and being back in Montana now, I'm dreaming of palm trees and white sand beaches!

Have a great time on your honeymoon in St. Lucia

Christina and Joe's Wedding in Mexico

Ahhhh.  What a wonderful celebration.  Christina and Joe got married in Sayulita, Mexico on October 28th and I am so glad I was there to capture all the fun.  Christina is one of seven children and her whole family made it down to Mexico for the celebration.  Joe is from Ireland and much of his family also made the trip to enjoy the warm (very warm!) Mexican sun.

The families rented a large complex on the beach with a pool, beach volleyball court and the beautiful Pacific right outside the door.  The had their rehearsal "fiesta" there the night before the wedding.   With a taco stand and margaritas to add to the Mexican flavor of the event.

The wedding day itself was just beautiful.  They were married at La Palapa which overlooks two beaches and miles of blue Pacific behind them.  the ceremony was so personal and touching, with both their parents and all their siblings taking part in the ceremony.   In fact, Christina oldest sister Kathy performed the ceremony.

The reception just continued the fun.  Everyone there (especially Christina!) could DANCE!  The fiesta lasted into the evening and I was sad to say good-bye, they had made us feel so welcome!

Buena suerte Christina and Joe and thanks for having us there to photograph your wedding!  Check out my website for their wedding in the featured wedding section.

Holiday Cards A

Here is Holiday Card A

Text reads:  We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Your name is printed behind the 08 at the top.

Holiday Cards B

Holiday Card B

Message reads: May the joy of the season bring warmth to your heart

You names are written below in script

Holiday Cards C

Here is Holiday Card C

Text: Holiday Wishes from (your family's name)

Holiday Card Ordering Time!!

So when I woke up this morning, it was snowing and I thought. . . It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The holiday season is right around the corner and we are getting ready here with some new products. 

Here is an example of one of the great holiday card templates available to order now.  Check back in the next few days for more examples

Go to the ONLINE ORDERING section of my website.  Chose the picture you would like to use.  Chose a postcard or folded card and I'll customize the templates with your names and messages.

Check it out today!

Katrina and Eric's Wedding

This was the perfect fall wedding. The air was crisp, the leaves were showing their fall colors, the sun was shining and a bag piper filled the air with music. That's right- Katrina and Eric hired a bag piper to lead them in and out of their lovely wedding ceremony. The couple met at McCallister College and apparently they had bag pipers at all the major events. It added a fun and festive air to the wedding.

Katrina was a radiant bride and on her finger she wore the most beautiful wedding ring I have ever seen. The ring was her grandmother's and Katrina's father and his brothers agreed to give it to Katrina the youngest grandchild. They spoke of her grandmother's amazing history in politics and social justice. She sounded like an amazing woman. Katrina was clearly honored to wear her wedding ring.

I loved the laid-back and friendly atmosphere of this wedding. The couple gave activity bags to the little kids that were there and Eric's brothers (one his twin) were hysterical during their toasts. With all the warmth and love present it was clear to me that Katrina and Eric have a fantastic support system as they embark on their lives together.

I'm sure that they will have fun! Best wishes to you both.

Mary Ellen and Ken's Wedding

Oh wow! Mary Ellen's and Ken's wedding on the small island of Poros, Greece was just fabulous. Mary Ellen's grew up in Greece and when she and Ken got engaged she knew she wanted to go back to Greece to get married. It was such a fantstic experience to get to see and experience a real Greek wedding!

Justin and I were treated like honored guests. And even though this was the first time we had met Mary Ellen and Ken, by the end of the weekend I honestly felt like we had known them and their friends and family for a long time. We sat with Mary Ellen and Ken's best friends during the wonderful meals we had over the course of the two day celebration. And a celebration it was!

The rehearsal dinner was full of Greek dancing with professional greek dancers to teach the non-Greeks how to move and lots of clapping, napkin waving, dancing in circles. It was fantastic to watch and photograph!

We woke up (late) the morning of the wedding to a rainy day. What amazed me though was Mary Ellen's laid back attitude about the whole thing. And although it did rain, everything was just as lovely as you could imagine. And the clouds made the sunset pictures after the ceremony even more stunning.

The reception went late into the night. Ken's parents were still dancing when we turned in at 4 am. I think no one wanted the night to end. It was just so much fun!

I am looking forward to seeing Mary Ellen and Ken again in January when I visit my sister in DC. Thank so for having us there at you beautiful wedding! All the best to you both!!

Jamie and Casey's Wedding

This wedding was a blast! We headed up to the small town of Geraldine, Montana for Jamie and Casey's wedding. The entire county gets invited to weddings in this small town and the church and reception hall were bursting at the seems with good wishes and good cheer for the couple.

We had a lot of fun taking portraits of Jamie and Casey at the old train depot in town. The bright color of the depot against the cloudy sky was stunning. However, my favorite part of the group portrait session was when the whole wedding party headed to the local bar and stood on the bar to toast the bride and groom. So fun!

Justin and I would like to thank you all for your hospitality and wish Jamie and Casey all the happiness in the world!

Rachel and Roger's Wedding

There was the most beautiful light for Rachel and Roger's wedding ceremony at Chico Hot Springs. It had been threatening rain all day but Rachel and Roger kept positive attitudes- they just knew it wouldn't rain on them on their wedding day. They were right! As their guests walked up to the Field of Dreams the sun broke through the clouds and they exchanged their vows in the diffused sparkle of the September sun- absolutely beautiful!

We had so much fun doing the portraits. Roger is a photographer as well and he seemed to not only be enjoying snuggling with his new wife but also just thinking about how great the photos would look in this light.

What I enjoyed the most about this wedding was how laid back and comfortable Rachel and Roger were. This made all their guests just kick back and have fun too- Justin and I included! Since this wedding was the day after our wedding anniversary, Rachel had a seperate table set up for us with candles and flowers. So sweet!

Wishing you all the happiness in the world Roger and Rachel! Thanks for having share in your special celebration.

Ruthi and Soren's Wedding

Ruthi and Soren are just really cool people. Two days before their "official wedding" ceremony, they and 40 of their family and friends climbed Lone Peak and performed a ceremony on top of the peak. Soren's mother sewed a cape for the wedding which they used at both ceremonies. On one side it said "Soulmates" and on the other side it said "Earthmates". Each ceremony represented a different union one here and one in the universe.

The two are passionately committed to each other and to our planet and both were evident at the their wedding at Moonlight Basin Lodge in Big Sky. Something in the way they look at each other just gives you goosebumps. They just fit together so well!

Their reception was wildly fun with everyone dancing up a storm to the music provided by Fresh Tracks, my number one pick for DJs in the area. Ruthi and Soren were incredible dancers and really wowed the crowd with their first dance.

However, the sweetest, most beautiful part of the evening was when Soren picked up his acoustic guitar and sang Ruthi a song which he had written for her specifically for their wedding day. Incredible. I was honored to be a part of this wedding. All the best in the world to you both!

Rose Grabowski 1917-2008

This week we said good-bye the the happiest person I have ever met in my life, Gram Rose. She was Justin's (my husband) grandmother and neither Justin nor his mom can remember her ever being angry. What a beautiful thing to be able to say about someone. She lived her life surrounded by people she loved, like her husband of 69 years, Joe Grabowski, and her love of others and of life was infectious.

I will always remember her sweet voice at our wedding singing the Polish celebratory song "Sto Lat." Justin and I had the opportunity to live in Poland for a year and go to the small farming village where his grandparents came from. When we came back we were able to talk to his grandparents in Polish, which made them proud but made us even prouder of them and all they had accomplished and given up so that Justin's mother and uncle and Justin and his brother could live the life they do now. So to be at our wedding and hear Gram Rose sing to us in Polish is something we will always treasure.

She will be greatly missed but the lessons she taught everyone will last. She will be a constant reminder to me of the power of a smile and a positive outlook on life.

Heather and Jeremy's Wedding

I was happy to finally have the chance to photograph Heather and Jeremy's wedding. We met them while photographing Dena and Jeremy's wedding last fall and it is always a pleasure to see familiar faces. It's like photographing old friends!

The ceremony was performed under beautiful blue skies amid the stunning scenery at Chico Hot Springs. Their guests had travelled from far and wide to celebrate with the couple and the toasts at the reception reflected the love and caring felt for this special couple.

We also got to catch up with Dena and Jeremy and were excited to hear that they are expecting their first baby this fall. I always enjoy watching as a couple move from bride and groom to mom and dad.

I always love weddings at Chico Hot Springs, and this wedding reminded me again of why it is a special place. Wishing you all the best Heather and Jeremy! Thanks for having us there on your wedding day!

Amanda and Ryan's Wedding

When Amanda and Ryan and I met to talk about their wedding details, they told me that they loved the photos I have of the whole wedding party jumping.  They asked me to please get lots of fun, active shots of them and their wedding party.  I promised to do that and knew that the wedding would be fun.  What I didn't realize at the time was just how much fun Amanda and Ryan would be!  

They met as while both working at a camp and still had some of that camp spirit in them.  Amanda had "bridal" Chaco sandals that she had had laced with white netting the match her wedding dress and during their portrait session after the ceremony, the two laid down in the grass for some of the shots.   So, so fun!

Best of luck you two.  I'm sure that your life will be full of laughter.

Emily and Casey's wedding

Emily and Casey's wedding in Big Sky was a beautiful occation. The wedding ceremony was held at Soldiers Chapel which is one of the most amazing locations in all of Montana. Lone Peak is perfectly framed behind this stunning chapel.

I met Emily and Casey last fall when I did their engagement session last fall. I knew they would be easy to work with when it was about 10 degrees outside and they braved the weather with smiles on their faces. I also noticed that their smiles got bigger every time they looked at each other. The same was true on their wedding day-the bride was positively glowing!

Emily planned every detail of the wedding perfectly. One of the best details was the red wedding cake decorated with pine cones and branches. This matched perfectly with the bridesmaid's dress and Emily's adorable red shoes. Guess what Emily's favorite color is!

The reception was held at Buck's T-4 lodge in Big Sky and everyone enjoyed dancing and singing with the happy couple. Even the DJ got into the spirit of the party! Congratulations Emily and Casey, best of luck!

Stacy and Mike's Wedding

Stacy and Mike's wedding was so full of love and fun! Mike is from Australia, where he and Stacy currently live. They area a wonderful couple and you could tell they were loved because about 40 family and friends made the trek from down under to Springhill Pavillion to attend the celebration. Their friends were great and while the Aussies showed the Montanan's how to party the Montana contingent didn't disappoint! A fantastic time was had by all with much laughter, tears and hugs (especially from Stacy)!

This was also a special day for Justin and I. We were married there about 3 years ago and have not had the opportunity to go back together. Being at Springhill brought back a lot of special memories and we both had a great time. I am so glad that it was for this wedding as the bride and groom were obviously very special people and so full of love.

We wish them all the best and wish we were going to Fiji with them! Safe travels Stacy and Mike and hope to see you again.

Tiffany and Steve's Wedding

Steve's mom, the adorable Sodie, got in touch with me this winter and I just feel in love with her.  She was so full of life and so excited about this wedding.  The wedding plans sounded pretty spectacular.  All the groomsmen and the groom were planning to arrive at the wedding (at a private residence in Big Sky) on horseback while the bride and bridesmaids would arrive in a horse-drawn carriage.  It would take two photographers to cover the event and Sodie was delighted to hear that I always work with a second shooter/ assistant.

The wedding was just as awesome as it sounded over the phone, partly because how delightful Tiff and Steve were.  The weather was dicey with thunderstorms coming in and out of the area, but Tiff and Steve were cool and calm.  The weather cooperated well for the lovely outside ceremony were Tiff and Steve read their own personal vows to each other and more than a few tears were shed.

The best part of the evening though was Tiffany and Steve's first dance.  They started out with your traditional slow song, when suddenly the music skipped and they sprung into a choreographed hip-hop routine.  So cool.  Overall, it was a wonderful. wonderful evening and I am so happy I was there to document it!

Ruth and Ted's Wedding

Ahhh.  The coveted 8-8-08 wedding date (yes, I am aware that, that rhymed).  Ruth and Ted were the couple lucky enough to snag this wedding date and I was lucky enough to be invited along for the ride!  I am so happy I was- they are truly wonderful people and I feel honored that I was there to share their special day.

They were married at the lovely First Presbyterian Church in downtown Bozeman, which was beautiful in it's own right,  but the best part was that we were able to do a photo shoot with the bride, groom and wedding party in downtown Bozeman afterwards.  We stopped traffic to take some shots at the mural on the side of Heeb's and headed over to old train depot to get some fun shots there.  Even the bus driver got in the spirit suggesting places for us to stop.

We managed to get to the reception at Bridger Bowl just before a huge rain storm rolled in.  The rain didn't last for long and when it cleared the clouds stayed and hugged the peaks, adding a romantic feeling to the setting.  It was a really magical evening.

Kally and Ken's Wedding

Kally and Ken's wedding in Big Sky was an amazing wedding to photograph. The location was stunning, the light perfect and the couple was so full of love and hapiness that the photos just came naturally. Ken was the perfect groom to shoot since he is a photographer himself. He was really into modeling for me and the pictures came out great as a result.

I knew their wedding would be fun because I met them while photographing Trish and Matt's wedding last summer. They really went out of their way to make my husband Justin and I feel at home during their celebration. It was a truly raucous party and everyone had a great time including my husband Justin and I.

Kally and Ken were both great to work with and their photos are some of my favorite of the season. It helps to have to beautiful Lone Peak as a backdrop and two beautiful people in love!

Maresa and Landon's Wedding

Maresa and Landon's wedding was at Springhill Pavilion on a beautiful, sunny summer afternoon. Weddings at Springhill are always breathtaking, and Maurisa and Landon incorperated their personalities into the ceremony making it an extra special occation. The couple, who met in Missoula during college, had just returned from a yearlong trip through South America. It is truly an inspiring story.

The reception was so much fun and no detail was overlooked. The wine on the tables was made by Maurisa's father and Landon's mother gave a spririted toast that had guests laughing and crying at the same time. Momements like these are why I love photographing weddings. It brings out amazing emotions and the photographs reflect this.

Thanks Maurisa and Landon for having me there and I look forward to seeing you around Bozeman!

Lisa and Zack's Wedding

This was a wonderful wedding. Lisa and Zack were married at the Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon which is always a great spot for weddings but everything was thought of in this wedding and the result was stunning.

Lisa and Zack's ceremony was performed by their good friends from New Mexico. They were able to infuse the ceremony with their personal thoughts on Lisa and Zack as individuals and as a couple and it made it very special.

One of the of the coolest things about this wedding was the s'mores buffet set up at the reception. This was the brainchild of Elsa from the Woodlands who was coordinating the wedding for Lisa and Zack. You can see more pictures of it in the featured weddings section of my website. It was such a fun activity for all guests to to be a part of!

Kami and DJ's Wedding

I really enjoyed meeting Kami and DJ last fall when I did their engagement session so I have been looking forward to their wedding. It was just as nice as I knew it would be. Kami and DJ are just so easy to be around and comfortable with each other and their wedding reflected this.
They were married at the Broken Heart Ranch which is such a fun place. I especially love the room upstairs especially for the bride to get ready in. Every detail is taken into account.
Speaking of details, another special one was right after the ceremony when Kami and DJ rode off in a horse drawn carriage for some quiet time before the reception. Probably the cutest thing was DJ's huge smile as they drove off. He looked so proud of his new wife!
I would like to thank Annie West (Elrod) a bride from last summer for recommending me to Kami's family. And all the best to you Kami and DJ!

Nicole and Chris' Wedding

Weddings at Chico Hot Springs are just incredible. If you are thinking about planning your wedding there- do it! Chris and Nicole's wedding reminded me of this fact. Their wedding was elegant and laid back at the same time. It reflected their love of the outdoors and the mountains of Montana and their love for their friends families and each other.

I had to smile when I saw all the groomsmen in their spiffy suits and. .. flip flops. So fun and just right for this beautiful summer day.

Nicole and Chris are just such lovely people they seem to make everyone around them feel welcomed and loved. I felt immediately part of the family!

The reception was a blast too. Everyone was on the dance floor dancing to the fun loving band.

Best of luck to you both Nicole and Chris. I have no doubt that you have many happy days before you!

Larissa and Brodie's Wedding

I know this is going to sound cheesy, but I am an admitted cheese ball so. . .
I don't know what was more beautiful at this wedding the bride (adorable Larissa) or the setting.
Larissa and Brodie were married in Big Sky, where Larissa's family had been coming for years. Their families were wonderful and their friends are so fun that I really hope I see them all again soon!

One of the neatest things about their wedding, besides the fact that everyone danced and were having a blast, was this amazing cake shaped like a fishing tackle box. Unbelievable. See the featured weddings section of my website to see more.
Thank so much Larissa and Brodie for having me there to document your special day. I hope to see you both soon!

Jeff and Shannon's Wedding

This wedding was perfect- truly wonderful and I am SO glad I was there to capture it all. Jeff and Shannon had planned everything so well and they truly showed their out of town guests just how fantastic this area is.

This was my first wedding at Roy's Barn here in Bozeman and I highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for a unique place for their wedding.

A few of my favorite things about this wedding were Jeff and Shannon's wedding vows which included the poem which Jeff used when he proposed to Shannon. Wow, the tears were flowing then! I also loved that dinner was served outside in the open air and since everyone was already outside and the weather was so perfect the dancing took place outside on the lawn too.

It all just fit perfectly with these two and their love of mountains, wide open spaces and each other.

Leann and Aaron's Wedding

I absolutely fell in love with the location of Lu and Aaron's wedding.  It was at a friend's ranch right below Ross Peak in the Bridger Range.  Every detail was beautiful from the food to the flowers, to the games to entertain the guests during the reception.

Then I fell in love with their friends and family as I listened to the funny and touching toasts they gave to this happy and much loved couple.  I was laughing so hard a few times I had to put down the camera for a second!

I am so grateful to Mandy and Jason, whose wedding I did last summer, for recommending us to Lu and Aaron.  It was a wonderful wedding!

Aimee and Scot's Wedding in Yellowstone

It's not often that you get to take someone's wedding pictures while Old Faithful erupts in the background.  I got to do that this past weekend at Aimee and Scot's wedding at the Old Faithful Inn- so cool!!

Aimee and Scot met while working in Old Faithful and came back to get married there.  Their connections with the managers at the inn allowed us to do some cool things.  We were able to climb up the hundreds of wooden stairs to the roof overlooking Old Faithful and the rest of Yellowstone Park.  It was an amazing view and even more incredible to think of the history of this inn, which was built over 100 years ago.

Aimee and Scot's friends and family were just great too- and we really enjoyed celebrating with this fun group!

Best of luck!

Abby and Matt's Wedding

Yay!  Summer is finally here and it arrive just in time for Matt and Abby's wonderful wedding at the Rocking TJ Ranch.  

It was so beautifully green and the Bridger Mountains in the distance were still covered with snow.

Matt and Abby exchanged their vows under a beautiful wood arch with Abby's father performing the marriage ceremony.  

Everything about the event was so beautifully planned that the wedding went so smoothly and everyone enjoyed the scenery, music, food and drinks.  Matt and Abby didn't stop smiling the whole time and their happiness seemed to spill over to all the guests. . . and the photographer!

Thanks so much for having me there and I hope you two have a fantastic honeymoon!!

Brittany and Brian's Wedding

I have always loved the stone chapel at Mamouth Hot Springs in Yellowstone so I was so excited to shoot Brittany and Brian's wedding there.  It was just as charming as I had always imagined- both the setting and the bride and groom.  Brittany and Brian are such down to earth, friendly people and I enjoyed every minute of their wedding.

It was really neat because if you get married in Mamouth that is Wyoming so if you have a Montana marriage license you have to go to the state line and get married again.  So Brittany and Brian got married in the chapel and then went with their wedding party to the 45th parallel, just inside the park and said their vows again.  Their wedding party was there for this second ceremony.  The pictures along the raging river are beautiful!

Oh, and Brian made me cry with the SWEETEST toast I've ever heard.  He talked about his love for Brittany in such simple but heartfelt terms and it was touching!

Best of luck to the newlyweds!

Connie and Bret's Wedding

A wedding on 6-7-08- guaranteed to be easy to remember!  Because of the ease of the date, I had many requests to do weddings this day but I am so glad that Connie and Bret's wedding was the one I was able to do!

The setting was so amazing!  The wedding and reception took place at Bret's family's house tucked in the hills behind the Ruby Reservoir in Alder, Montana.  The hills were so green and the river that ran through the property was raging.  

They were married on a wooden bridge over this river.  Connie's sister sang at the ceremony and Bret's grandparents performed the ceremony.  Their families added to the special feeling of this wedding.

I loved Connie and Bret's laid back attitude that created a fun atmosphere for all the guests at the wedding.  I'm so glad that we were there to capture the fun.  Thanks!

Vanessa and Dan's Wedding

What a fantastic wedding! May has been a rainy/snowy month so I was thrilled that the sun was shining and the weather was warm.  Vanessa's mother told me that she had been praying for this weather and was pretty happy that her prayers had been answered!

The wedding was the perfect combination of a beautiful venue (Springhill Pavilion- where Justin and I were married too!), fantastic families and friends, and lots of love.

Vanessa's father passed away a couple years ago and he was well remembered on this day.  His spirit seemed to be with this lovely couple as they exchanged their vows and celebrated the beginning of married life.

I am notorious for crying at weddings, but this one really got to me.  I was so choked up when talking to Vanessa's mother that she ended up hugging me!

There was no shortage of laughter and fun at this wedding too.  Vanessa and Dan's fun-loving personalities came through in the dancing, toasts and their smiles.

I wish you both all the best!

Audrey and Zack's Wedding

Audrey and Zack's wedding was at the Deep Creek Grange which I had never been to before but I fell in love with it!!  The venue is tucked into the mountains in the Paradise Valley and because of the wet spring we've been having everything was so green.  With the green and the thick clouds hugging the peaks, I felt like we were at a wedding in Scotland!

Although Audrey and Zack had planned the wedding ceremony outdoors and the rain kept us in, I really believe it made the ceremony even more intimate and personal.  The rain felt lightly outside and they exchanged their vows in front of family and friends who had come in from all over the country.  Really beautiful and special.

It was fun to use these big striped umbrellas for the portraits.  I was having such a great time!

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to be at this special wedding.  Thanks for having me there to capture your wedding memories Audrey and Zack and have a great time on your honeymoon in Florida.  

LOVE stories (Part Two)

Ahh. . .  there are so many good stories to share.  I feel so honored that these couples gave me a little window into their lives and I think these stories can be an inspiration to us all.

This story came from a couple who will get married next April in England (and I'll be there to document that one too!).  The bride to be told it so well that I'm going to quote from her entry to the Fresh Wedding Contest.  Get the Kleenex ready!: 

"The night we met I asked Jonathan to marry me.  i was an American in love with Europe, he an englishman in love with America, both of us living in Belgium.  A friend in common invited us both to dinner and new acquaintances remarked upon our mutually convenient interests.  With a wink we raised out glasses to toast and I made my proposal.  Jonathan answered with, "Hey! I was going to ask first!" in that beautiful accent of his.

Three months later I introduced my new boyfriend (Jonathan) to my friends, at my 30th birthday party.  In spite of the fact he's super conservative and I'm a quirky liberal, it was all going so smoothly. . .when I received some stunning news.  I had breast cancer and would require at least a year of treatment.  I had a good feeling about Jonathan, but I knew all too well what caring for a sick partner looks like.  A few months was not enough time to ask that kind of sacrifice from anyone.  I didn't even know what country I would take treatment in!  So I went to his pace and suggested that we "talk when this is all over."  He answered my news by blurting out, "You're not going to break up with me, are you?!. . . I want you to move in.  Do your treatment here."

It was a leap of faith, but almost two years later he got his chance to propose "first."  One month after my major reconstruction surgery, I raced him to the center of a hedge maze on the grounds of a stately home.  He won the race, but I still won my prize, a glittery one presented on one knee in the mud."

LOVE Stories

I have been meaning to share some of the incredible stories from the Fresh Wedding Contest since the contest closed last month.  I had dozens of entries from across the country and around the world- it was truly incredible!

It was really hard to chose but the grand prize winner Brianne's story  just really struck as one of those "meant-to-be" type romances.  She and her finance Murat met in the 7th grade when he had just arrived in the U.S. from Turkey.  She says that even then they knew their was something special between them.  They had a middle school romance but he and his family moved away in later years.  They both went to separate colleges and Brianne traveled and worked in London.  And they ran into each other again as adults and knew that the something they felt 15 years before was true love and that they were meant to be together.

They are planning to get married this November in the Florida Keys and I am thrilled that I will be there to capture their wedding celebration that has been a long time in coming!

Michelle and Bry's Wedding

Lots of kisses and laughter, that's how I'll remember Michelle and Bry's wedding.  These two are so in love with each other- it's adorable!!  

When I took their engagement pictures last fall, I knew their wedding would be fun because THEY are so much fun but I didn't know their friends and family would be so great as well.  What a fun group!  They even switched Michelle and Bry's wedding rings with plastic compass rings during the ceremony (even getting the pastor in on the practical jokes!).  

The weather was beautiful too.  After a wet and snowy spring, it was nice to feel the sun shining as we took pictures.  And Michelle and Bry seemed to enjoy the time with just the two of them gazing into each other eyes and walking through the meadows hand in hand.  I even had to ask them to look at me sometimes (it was hard to get their attention!).

Lots of fun dancing at the reception too.  They have some wild and crazy friends!  It was a truly wonderful, fun-filled wedding and Justin and I had a fantastic time.

Thanks Michelle and Bry and have a great honeymoon in Maine (I'm jealous!!).

Azusa and Shuichi's Wedding

What a joy it was to be at Azusa and Shuichi's wedding last Sunday.  Bozeman is so lucky to have these two as part of our community.  Shuichi is the director of the MSU orchestra and his work is praised by many.  Azusa is an incredible pianist who began giving concerts at the age of three!  They met while on the music faculty at a university in Thailand and now have come to settle in Bozeman.

These two talented musicians were married under sunny skies then treated all their guests to a classical music concert during the reception.  Heavenly!!                                                                                                                          They are not only talented musicians they are both truly wonderful people who I am happy to know.  They were surrounded by friends and family including Azusa'a mother who came all the way from Japan with her traditional kimono.  I was somehow recruited to help her tie the obi around the kimono, but it was soon obvious that I wasn't much help and should stick with taking pictures!

These two individuals are set for a long and happy life together (filled with music every step of the way!).

Thank you Azusa san and Shuichi san for giving me the opportunity to capture you love and joy on your wedding day.  I'm looking forward to getting together soon!

Sara and Tim's Wedding

I feel like I just got back from hanging out with two new friends!  Sara and Tim are AWESOME and their small wedding was too.                                                                                                                    Sara called me a couple months back and told me about her and Tim's plans to have a secret wedding in Montana on the banks of the the Gallatin River where they come to fly fish every year.  They have been together for nine years and just wanted a wedding in a beautiful spot that focused on their love for each other without all the traditional wedding trappings.  But they did want great pictures =) .                                                                                                                                      So they were married by Tim's brother and the wedding was witness by their parents.  This group was up for anything as far as the portraits went, I had them all running and jumping in the sunshine of this beautiful May day.  Then we went back to the cabin they had rented in Big Sky to continue the celebration.  Justin and I felt so welcomed by this crew, and we already have plans to get together with Sara and Tim when they come back to Montana in July!

Thanks for letting us share your special day.

Katie and Brian's Wedding

What a wonderful day! Katie and Brian's wedding this past weekend was absolutely beautiful and after a long, cold, SNOWY winter they had a breathtaking blue-sky and warm temperatures for their wedding day. Katie and Brian were high school sweethearts who have stayed in love all these years and there were more than a few tears when they exchanged vows. Katie's father gave such a touching toast at the reception that there was not a dry eye in the room!

Justin and I had a fantastic time getting to know these families and the members of the wedding party and I wish Katie and Brian all the best in the many happy years to come.

Acceptance to Wedding Photojournalist Association!!

I just learned that I have been accepted into the Wedding Photojourmalist Association (WPJA). According to their website,
"The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) is a professional organization composed of photojournalists and wedding photographers from around the world. What sets our members apart in the industry is their candid, documentary approach – a distinctly artistic vision toward wedding photography."

Their mission statment is as follows: " The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), an International, membership-based organization, represents professional photographers skilled in the documentation of weddings and events in a candid, unobtrusive style. The WPJA was founded to uphold excellence in the area of wedding photojournalism."

The organization accepts only a small number (approximately 10%) of photographers who apply and meet their strict standards of artistic ability and documentary style.

I am thrilled that they accepted my application and I look forward to working with them and the other members.
Check out their website at: http://www.wpja.com (my listing should be up in a few days).

Lindsey and Mike's Wedding at Chico

Lindsey and Mike had the most beautiful March day for their wedding. The sun was shining and it was about 50 degrees, which is nearly tropical for early March in Montana! They had a small, intimate family wedding at Chico Hot Springs in the Paradise Valley that I am so glad I was able to document! The ceremony was held before the fireplace and then after dancing and cocktails they moved to the beautiful wine cellar for toasting and a wedding day feast. It was a wonderful family affair, with even the little kids chiming in with their toasts of good wished for Lindsey and Mike. We felt like part of the family when we left! I wish you both the best of luck and thank you for having me there on your special day!

Fresh Wedding Contest- Enter Today

Planning to get married while riding camels across the Sahara or in a 1,000 year old church in Tuscany? Exchanging vows on a tropical beach barefoot?Did you meet at summer camp and fall in love while making s'mores? Did your proposal involve international travel or a barbershop quartet?
If you have a great story, a fresh and unique wedding plan or a wild wedding location. We want to hear your story!

The freshest, most unique wedding plans or wedding couple will win a complete wedding photography package. This includes everything from engagement photos to the day after wedding photos all presented in a artistically designed album and publication of your wedding in a national magazine.

How to enter: Send your story in an email to meghan@gatheringlightphoto.com. In 500 words or less tell us your wedding plans (Date, Location, Number of Guests) and what about your plans or you as a couple makes you unique and fresh. You may also send up to three attached pictures of yourselves and/ or the wedding location.

Deadline: All entries must be received by April 15, 2008. Winners and runners-up will be announced by April 20, 2008.

Prizes: One GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a complete wedding photography package including an engagement session, full wedding coverage (up to three days for destination weddings), all digital proofs of the wedding photos, DVD slideshow of wedding photos set to music, and an artistically designed album containing approximately 40 pages of wedding pictures. Your wedding will be published in a national magazine.

One RUNNER-UP will receive a complimentary engagement session and day after "Trash the Dress" photo session and two complimentary parent albums with purchase of wedding album

Contest Rules: To be eligible for the contest your wedding your wedding must take place between May 1, 2008- August 15, 2009 and will be subject to photographer availability. Entries must be received by April 15, 2008 by 11:00 pm MST. By entering the contest participants agree to having their images and wedding stories published on Gathering Light Photography's website and in a national wedding magazine, if they are the selected winner.

Wedding in Marin County, California

I was thrilled when Megan contacted me about doing her wedding in Marin County, California. This is because, as I told her, that part of California is one of my favorite places in the world. Therefore, what could be better than shooting a wedding there? I was even happier to hear that Megan had decided to contact me because she loved the work I had done on her friend Annie's wedding in May. I love referrals! So much love- this wedding was sure to be one of my favorites!

Well, Megan and Philip's wedding met all my expectations. They themselves were beautiful and their friends and family were wonderful to meet and photograph. The ceremony reflected this couple's deep faith and the reception highlighted their fun loving spirit. And the setting- just as beautiful as I remember. Can you say palm trees and sun shine in January? (Oh and it was -30 in Bozeman while it was 65 degrees in Marin!).

I was having so much fun with Megan and Philip that I even tried to get an invite along to the honeymoon in Hawaii, but, alas, that did not happen!

Hope you two had a great time and thank you for having me capture your special day.