If I could choose the most ideal weather for a wedding day, it would undoubtedly be exactly what we lucked out with for Alexa & Michael’s wedding. After several weeks of intense heat, it was such a welcome relief to have mid-70s with a slight little breeze, not enough to mess up hair, but just enough to ruffle the chiffon on the ladies’ dresses.
The most important photos to Alexa were the photos of her and Mike. And while every bride says that, it doesn’t always work out that she can act on it. But Alexa and I did some timeline shuffling and cuts to other parts of the day and made it work out that there was a lot of time allocated to their portraits together. It made for the most relaxing photos I’ve ever been able to do and it shows in every single one. It was a dream and I told my husband when we got in the car to go do bridal party photos that I’ve never had that much time before on a wedding day and it may have spoiled me for every other wedding to come.
We started the day with Alexa getting ready at her parent’s home. She was the most relaxed bride ever and it made the start of the day a breeze (and the rest too, but it’s always great to start off on a relaxed foot!). After she was ready, we drove a few blocks to the same trail that we photographed her & Mike’s engagement session on for their first look and portraits. After their portraits, we met the bridal party and family at a nearby park and then it was time to head to the church for the wedding!
One of the most elaborate transformations that deserves every photo I took of it was their reception space. Her parents built a beautiful shop just a few blocks from their home in town and her mom (with help from many friends and family) transformed what was a shop, albeit not your typical shop, into a gorgeous wedding space for Alexa and Mike. In his toast later that night, Alexa’s dad joked that, “Men, if you ever build a man cave, don’t tell your wives or else it will turn into this.”
Before we left the house, Frankie was determined to be part of some of the celebrations. 🙂
Their first time seeing each other on their wedding day!
This trail is what dreams are made of.
I adore smaller bridal parties! They are so much fun to photograph because there are fewer people to maneuver which means more time photographing and laughing and less time bossing. 😉 Their bridal party was 4 parts family and 2 parts close friends, which was the sweetest balance.
I love when churches are shaped so that I can discreetly get amazing angles like this! In this case, there are two wings on each side of the front so that if you look from above, the sanctuary is shaped similarly to T.
This is the shop where their reception was held. There are two huge garage doors behind that tent that were opened up to combine the indoor seating with the tented seating, so everyone felt like they were in one big space.
On two dress forms were their mothers’ wedding gowns. It was such a unique touch to add to the decor while also giving nod to their own roots.
Their cake topper was Alexa’s grandparent’s cake topper, another nod to generations past.
We stepped outside for a few more photos to end the night. It’s always my favorite part of the day because it gives the bride & groom and chance to soak it all in and gives me a chance to shoot in the most ideal and beautiful light!
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Photography: Emily Crall Photography
Florals: Tammy Vittetoe
Catering: Janet Stutzman, Flamin’ Flips BBQ Pit
Makeup: Ciara Osweiler, Twin Image Salon & Spa
Hair: Kelsey Anding
Bridal Gown: Pronovias from Maiden Voyage Bridal
Maids’ Gowns: David’s Bridal
Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Ceremony: St. James Catholic Church
Musicians: Susan See, Rachel See
Reception Venue: Private residence
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