"Surprise!!" Not something you typically hear a lot at weddings. Molly and Sammy however, are not a typical couple. They had a few surprises sprinkled throughout the wedding day to make it just so much fun!! They started off with reading one another's vows. So many giggles and tears! It was precious. The next surprise was epic. Molly dressed her nephews like Transformers to walk down the aisle as ring bearers!! Sammy flipped out, it was hilarious!! They were the toast of the town ;) . The last surprise of the day was a super sweet one. Molly's grandparents have been married for over 50 years, so the anniversary dance ended with them alone on the dance floor dancing to the same song they danced to at their wedding :) Enjoy!! And special thanks to the amazing vendors who came together to make this day possible.
Classic Party Rentals
DJ Chad Bendel
Java Stop Trolley (Coffee Cart)
Waffle Crush
Arizona Uplighting
AZ Flower Market
Sally and Dave
This couple has just the sweetest story ever!! They kind of sort of met in high school. Didn't keep in touch, moved around, had kids, and just lived life. They reconnected via a Facebook group for their old high school friends. They started talking on the phone and low and behold they fell in love!!!! At this time Sally was living in Arizona and Dave was near their home town in Michigan. They quickly decided this wouldn't do. So Sally picked herself up and moved back to Michigan to be with Dave! During their vows they talked about their journey to finding one another. It was so beautiful I teared up!!! Sally and Dave, congratulations and I wish you a LIFETIME of joy and hapiness!!!!
Aaron and Tori
Blushes, and blues, and backyards, oh my!! This wedding was just so well thought out from start to finish. There were so many little details that put it above and beyond your traditional backyard wedding. I think my favorite part was the backdrop they set up in the ceremony space. It was so unique! Listening to the stories, and watching the faces during this wedding was something special. Tori and Aaron couldn't stop looking at one another and smiling all day!! Those looks of love and stolen moments are what I LIVE FOR during weddings. And this wedding had no shortage. Thank you so much to Sara Bishop for having me come alongside you for this wedding. It was an absolute privilege!
Planning and florals by the lovely and talented Skyla Brooke.
Julien and Kristi
First of all I want to say THANK YOU to Alexis with A.M.E. Photography for having me join you in capturing Julien and Kristi's wedding day! Meeting Julien and Kristi (as well as their two adorable children) was just a pleasure from start to finish. There was so much emotion on their wedding day! Joy, love, laughter, tears, it was all there. The ceremony included handing out roses to those people that had poured into their relationship, prayers, a sand ceremony to symbolize the joining of their family of four, and tears during many different parts. The emotion was very present!!!! And it didn't hurt that this couple is GORGEOUS!! Enjoy ;)
Stephen and Aubrey
I was super privileged to assist Lux Wedding Studio and be present for Stephen and Aubrey tying the knot! They were married at the beautiful Whispering Tree Ranch at the base of the Estrella Mountain range in Phoenix Arizona. These two were super fun and outgoing the whole day! It was a non-stop party from start to finish ;) Just wait until you see her dress!! It is so gorgeous! And her bouquet, stunning. Enjoy a look into their fantastic day!
Beautiful wedding hosted and furnished by Whispering Tree Ranch
Leilani+Hilson: Ceremony and Reception
The final installment! These two were all smiles from start to finish :) I'm so excited to finish off this blog series with everyone celebrating with them :) This wedding was one of the happiest weddings I have ever seen! As friends and family started to show up, the smiles and the laughter just got more and more pronounced :) These two got to celebrate their love along with all of their guests, and I think that's just about the best part of any wedding! Enjoy the rest of the photos!!
Selfie before the kiss!
Finally man and wife :)
Wedding Wednesday: What's the backup plan for my wedding day??
One of the most common questions asked of wedding photographers is "What happens if something comes up and you can't photograph my wedding?"
WOW.
Not something that is fun to think about. You never want to hear from your photographer "Hey I'm not going to make it to photograph your wedding...." It's a nightmare situation, and it's something that needs to be addressed LONG before it actually happens.
So the answer to that particular question should never be "uuhhhhhhhmmmm....." Your photographer should have something in place, or at the very least a general idea.
Are you ready for my own personal contingency plan? Good. The very cool part about Old Soul Imagery, is I have a built in associate photographer with my husband! We shoot very similar styles, and once the photos are all edited, even I have a hard time distinguishing who took which photos. If for whatever reason my husband is not available to shoot your wedding, I have an extensive and AMAZING network of local photographers who could step in and take care of you on your MOST important day! Once they are finished with the actual photographing, I would still take on the editing myself.
Now not every photographer will have the same plan in place. The most important thing is just that your photographer has something in place.
Enjoy some of my favorite detail photos below!
Wedding Wednesday: How to save money on your venue
Hello everyone! We are right smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite seasons right now; WEDDING SEASON!!!! I know a lot of couples got engaged over the holidays, which means a lot of you ladies are trying to plan your weddings right now. This can be absolutely overwhelming to do! Especially when trying to stay within a budget. So I've decided to help lighten your load a little! One of the most major expenses involved in wedding planning is the venue. It can also be one of the most overwhelming decisions! There are so many details involved in just finding a venue. Does it include tables for the reception? Does it include table linens? Plates? Chargers? Silverware? Catering? Decorations? DJ? Sound system? Cake? Chairs for the ceremony as well as the reception? Can I have my ceremony and reception in the same venue? Can I bring in outside vendors? Is there a fee for bringing in outside vendors? Is there restrictions on outside vendors?
Wow. Did you know there were so many things involved in just this one aspect of wedding planning? Because until I started photographing weddings, I sure didn't!
So here's my advice to you future bride; pick your battles. Meaning decide what details you want to worry about.
For example, if the thought of finding table cloths and place settings for your bare tables scares the living daylights out of you, find a venue that offers to include them! If you don't want to worry about chair rentals, ask for them to be included! If you want to bring in all of that yourself, then make sure your venue allows outside vendors and doesn't charge a fee for bringing in your own. If you don't think about these hidden costs beforehand, your venue could end up costing you a lot more than you initially planned on.
Now I'm not saying that just because it's included it will be the best deal. I would recommend doing a little bit of research before meeting with your venue to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Ok, so to wrap all that up and simplify: do research on what's included, and ask about any hidden vendor fees. These two little things could save you thousands!
Just in case you are still looking for a venue, here are a few photos from The Elegant Barn in Gilbert!
A Wedding in Durango - Andrew+Ashlynne
Ok, so it has been a LONG time since I've blogged!! This past month has been spent searching for and moving in to our new home. It was a process, let me tell you!! BUT, now we are all moved in, and aside from unpacking and redecorating, things are back to normal. So, that being said, it is time for me to post the photos from Andrew+Ashlynne's wedding at the BEAUTIFUL Leplatt's Pond just outside of Durango Colorado. This wedding was a TON of fun, and the bride and groom were just a joy to work with. These two have been together since high school, and oh wow have they made it through so much! They have already been there "in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer". I cannot wait to watch these two spend the rest of their lives together! And now, without further ado, here is the beginning of one of the most important chapters in their life!