I've been anticipating this wedding for a long time! Crystal is one of my friends and a fabulous Cleveland blogger. (If you want to keep up with all the goings on in Cleveland, especially in the food scene, you should check out her blog!) She put her heart and soul into planning this wedding with her fantastic now-hubby Mark, and I was excited to see it come to life. There will be so much more next week, but here are a couple of my favorites from our trek around the city (these two are Clevelanders through and through!) ...
Alexis & Brandon | Quail Hollow Wedding
9.14.13 was a good day. Alexis wins the prize for the most expressive bride I've ever photographed, and this wedding day is in the running for having the most beautiful weather at a wedding this year (that's a stacked category though). Oh, and Alexis and Brandon are some of the sweetest people I've ever worked with! Seriously, how do I get so lucky??
I knew I would like these two the minute Brandon told me he was a Phi Tau. Remember that fraternity I've mentioned working for in the past? Well, that would be Phi Tau. Those guys are a good bunch and Brandon is no exception.
Alexis and Brandon are incredibly hard working (Can you believe Alexis is currently in med school? Like, WHILE planning her wedding!), kind and passionate people, and I know they have an incredible journey ahead. I say this all the time, but what a blessing it is to meet people like these two on a regular basis.
Alexis and Brandon, thank you for being awesome. Period. :)
See? Expressive!
Look at that perfect blue sky!
And this is why it's awesome to have a second photographer. While I was getting the front view of that top right photo, my assistant Markie was capturing this more candid photo of the bridesmaids. Thanks, Markie! :)
How gorgeous is Alexis? She's equally as sweet!
Favorite!
GQ. ;)
Ceremony/Reception: Quail Hollow Resort DJ: A Bride's DJ Bride's Shoes: Benjamin Adams
To see more from Alexis and Brandon's black-and-white wedding, click here to view a SLIDESHOW or watch it here:
Goodreads | 7
So I know I just did a Goodreads post, but I tore through a couple books on vacation and had to share my beach edition with you all ... complete with sand. :) Really, is there anything better than soaking up the sun with a good book in your lap? We relaxed hard in St. Lucia and that means reading an entire book in one day. Enjoy!
7 by Jen Hatmaker. I needed this book. Badly. Nathan and I found it really ironic that I was reading it while vacationing on a tropical island because the premise of the book is how to live a simpler life. Everyone can use some simplifying, yes? I know I do, and Jen's (yes, we're on a first-name basis) seven areas in which she simplified were really perfect: clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media and stress. Every month, she (and sometimes her family) would work on cutting back in one of these areas (read: only eating seven different foods for an entire month) to learn what it feels like to NOT have everything you want right at your fingertips. Did I mention that Jen is hil-AR-ious? For proof, check out her blog.
Every chapter spoke to me, but media, possessions and stress hit me the hardest. I realized how much time I waste by giving in to stress. It's MY choice to be stressed and I'm embarrassed to admit how much I let it take me over. This is an amazing, eye-opening read. I especially admire Jen's faith and her dedication to social justice issues, which are both the inspiration for the book. Read. Now! (*****)
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. This was the book that I read in one day on the beach. It was a super easy read (if you couldn't tell!) and a mindless mystery about a fictitious Southern town. The main character and a new/old friend stumble across a disturbing scene at an old mansion that's being restored. This leads them to uncover secrets that may or may not have to do with their own relatives. Kinda predictable. Kinda cheesy. But definitely entertaining. (***)
The D Family
This session with the D family makes me dream of summer (yeah, yeah, I know it's fall now, but I love summer). It was SO warm when we trekked to Headlands Beach for some family photos. This clan just welcomed little Rima into the world a few months ago, and I was so honored to take some photos of the new foursome. Isn't the D family sweet? :)
Grandma was visiting all the way from Lithuania! The grandkids adore her. :)
Little Lukas is such a gentleman.
To see more from the D family's session, click here to view a SLIDESHOW or watch it here: