Danielle & Ed | Metropolitan at the 9 Wedding

I'll never forget meeting Danielle and Ed and thinking, "OK, I want to work with this couple." Besides being fun and funny and personable and kind, they are just good people and you understand that the minute you meet them.

Danielle and Ed's wedding was such an awesome reflection of them. It was full of all these great moments. Simple, touching, hilarious. The entire day was such a great tribute to them and the people they love. Some of the most notable moments of their fall wedding day include:

  • Danielle's parents opening their gifts from their daughter. Danielle and her sister and parents are so close and have such a beautiful relationship. It was so fun to watch them all support each other and laugh and cry together all day.
  • All the thoughtful ways Danielle included her grandparents in her day, including wearing her late grandma's bracelet and doing a special dance with her grandpa at her reception.
  • Watching how much respect Ed's family and friends have for him. Not surprising because that guy is pretty cool. ;)
  • Ed's varied emotions as Danielle walked down the aisle. Their's was the sweetest "first look" I've ever photographed.
  • The wedding party being champs about taking photos in a wind storm! We actually lucked out with the weather as it called for rain all afternoon, so I'll take that wind thankyouverymuch.
  • Danielle's dad's touching toast to his little girl. I'm telling you. This family.
  • Ed's brother gifting the newlyweds with a pumpkin during his toast. Hilarious.
  • Ed serenading his new wife with Home. :)
  • And … drumroll, please … Ed and his dad serenading the entire crowd with their harmonica skills. That family is talented!

Danielle and Ed, I can't thank you enough for all your kindness and generosity over the last year-and-a-half. It was SO FUN to photograph your wedding day, and it just made me adore you two even more. Hugs!

Ceremony: St. Dominic
Reception: The Metropolitan at the 9
Videographer: Infocus Studios
Florist: Life in Bloom
Cake: Michael Angelo's
Band: The Avenue
Makeup Artist: Lisa Adams
Hair Stylist: Monica Colagiovanni
Bride's Dress: Allure
Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff
Honeymoon: Maui!

March Goals

The girl in that picture up there? It's not me. I snapped this photo while we were in Sleeping Bear Dunes last year, and I just love the mysteriousness of it all. It reminds me of a new month or a new day or a new year because this girl, whoever she is, looks ready to conquer something big. (Actually, she was probably about to attempt to conquer the giant sand dune in front of her. If you've never been to Sleeping Bear Dunes, just trust me when I say that thing is steep. I'm not afraid of heights, but it even freaked me out.)

And I'm ready to conquer March! I have faith that this month will be the start of buds on the trees and productivity in my office. My biggest business goal is to get ahead on stuff that generally holds me back during busy season. I've had quite a bit of free time this winter, and I want to use it to my advantage so I'm not running around like a crazy person come June.

In case you need a kick start this month, check out this Jess Lively podcast with Alex Ikkon on productivity that I found super helpful and inspiring.

March Goals

  • Read four books (finish The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George and start and finish Woman Code by Alissa Vitti and 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam)
  • Finish my new website + brand refresh
  • De-clutter our bathroom (SO many little bottles … ahhhh!)
  • Sell my Mamiya 645 AFD
  • Get ahead on business stuff (gather packaging, update forms, etc.)
  • Update my client guides with brand refresh
  • Start a new client guide (this has been on my list FOREVER. Just gotta get started!)
  • Do lesson plans for my gymnastics girls

Chrissy & Justin | Amasa Stone Chapel Wedding

We must have checked the forecast at least 20 times in the week leading up to Chrissy and Justin's wedding. It did not look good. Buckets of rain were expected for early October, and mostly because Hurricane Joaquin was mixing with another storm system that was unrelenting.

Friends, I'm going to confess something to you: I get nervous before every single wedding I shoot. It's just how I'm made; I get nervous a lot! Plus, weddings are a big deal and I want to do a stellar job. But when the weather forecast looks less than ideal? Cue the maximum amount of nerves. Because I shoot film, I'm always looking for good natural light and rain kind of puts a damper on that. Needless to say, I was mulling over our indoor options nonstop leading up to Chrissy and Justin's big day.

My fantastic second shooter, Lisa, and I arrived at Chrissy's parent's house. It rained.

Chrissy got dressed and cuddled her dogs. It rained.

We arrived at Amasa Stone Chapel for the ceremony. It rained.

Chrissy and Justin were married and it was time for family and wedding portraits. It rained.

You see the theme, right? The rain didn't let up. But you know what was awesome and a really good lesson for my control-obsessed self? Chrissy and Justin agreed (with a smile on their faces!) to do some rainy photos. With these clear, bubble umbrellas I'd been saving for a day like their's … that I never thought would actually come. So we embraced what we couldn't control and got some really beautiful photos in front of the chapel and at the art museum across the street. Some of my favorites ever, actually.

I can't begin to thank Chrissy and Justin enough for going with the flow and being their sweet selves. I don't know how I get these amazing clients, but man am I ever grateful for them. Chrissy and Justin, you are the best!

Ceremony: Amasa Stone Chapel Reception: St. Paul Hellenic Center Florist: Al Wilhelmy Flowers Cake: Michael Angelo's DJ: Something New Entertainment Hair and Makeup: Dino Palmieri (North Olmsted) Bride's Dress: Allure Cake Topper: BetterOffWed (Etsy)