Nicole and Austin's Wedding

Wedding Season has begun again!  

What a great way for me to start off my 2009 season with Nicole and Austin's wedding in historic Butte, Montana this past weekend!  

Their wedding was so fun and easy partly because of their wonderful group of family and friends who came to celebrate with them.  Also, the weather on this mid-April day could not have been more beautiful.  Sunshine and lots of it!

This was my first time going to Front Street Station (their reception venue) and I aboslutely loved it.  This converted train station is incredible how it has managed to keep it's original charm while being an elegant and up to date venue.  I have another wedding reception there in September so I'm looking forward to going back!

Nicole and Austin are off to Mexico for their honeymoon and I'm very jealous!  Have a wonderful time and thank you for having me there on your special day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day- let me introduce the love of my life:

My husband- Justin Hof.

Some of you have had the pleasure of meeting him at your wedding or portrait session because he is also my assistant and business partner.  You'll recognize him by that big smile!

We've been married for 3 years now and it has been so much fun!  I always tell engaged couples that I think it just keeps getting better.  It's easy to get caught up in the wedding planning details but the most important thing to remember about your wedding day is that it is the first day of your marriage.

I couldn't ask for a better person to share my life with and I wish the same happiness and love for all of you on this Valentine's Day.

Colleen and Josh's Wedding

This wedding was just perfect- a wonderful couple, a fantastic venue and a fun party.

Colleen and Josh were married at the Gallatin Gateway Inn.  This hotel is seeped in history and somehow you feel like you are stepping back in time when you enter it.  Colleen walked down the beautiful sweeping staircase to join Josh in the ceremony and he had the sweetest smile on his face!

The reception followed in the same venue with a delicious dinner and dancing.  The dance floor was never empty from the moment the music started.  I think that the best dancing award would have to go to Colleen's grandmother who gathered a crowd around her as she was breaking it down with Josh and Colleen!

Colleen and Josh are headed of to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for their honeymoon. I hope you two have a fantastic time and thank you for having Justin and I there to photograph your special day!

Jeanelle and Nathan's Wedding in Yellowstone

What a romantic winter wedding!  Jeanelle and Nathan were married in Yellowstone National Park the evening of January 3rd.  It was a cold, bright day and a starry night.  They were married in the charming stone chapel at Mammoth.  The candles were all lit inside the chapel, adding a special glow to the ceremony.  The couple did not see each other before the ceremony and their smiles, and tears when they saw each other were touching.

Taking Jeanelle and Nathan's pictures together after the ceremony was a joy.  They were just so happy that they were married to each other, they were absolutely glowing and so relaxed and happy.

The evening ended with a lovely desert and champagne reception at the restaurant in Mammoth.  Again, many smiles and tears came out during the toasts.  The whole wedding was just very personal and lovely and I am so happy that we were there to capture this couple's special day.

Have a fantastic honeymoon in Mexico Jeannelle and Nathan!

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.