Ashley and Luke

Ashley and Luke are a FUN couple. I think FUN pretty well sums up their wedding day (June 18). They had a beautiful ceremony in Winthrop that honored two faiths and blended two families. They had an awesome wedding party that took advantage of Ashley's pre-ceremony nervousness, placing bets on how many times she'd cry before reaching the alter - all in jest.

While rainfall at the Schell Brewery cut our outdoor picture taking short, they made the time between the wedding and reception FUN with improvisation, and we headed to a bar.

At the reception, Elisa, the matron of honor, gave one of the best toasts I've ever heard. The entire room erupted in laughter. The New Ulm Country Club is a beautiful setting, the meal was delicious, and service was fantastic.

Thank you, Luke and Ashley, for allowing me to be a part of your day. Congratulations!

HyVee did an awesome job on the flowers.

Ashley had three pairs of shoes for the day.

We literally had minutes to shoot at the Schell Brewery before it began to rain. 

Elisa's toast was one for the record books. Amazing!!

The skies cleared during the reception, and we were able to get a few photos outdoors.

This groomsman is holding the wager sheet for bets placed on pre-ceremony nervousness.

Cheralynn and Troy

I met Cheralynn and Troy over a year ago, and then learned that her dad, Ron, and I were classmates; we even rode the same school bus! We also both work at MSU, Mankato. Small world.  June 4 truly was a perfect day for a wedding - mild temps and sunny skies - and a couple so completely in love with each other, that big smiles and tears of joy ruled the day.

We began pictures at the historic Hubbard House in downtown Mankato. Troy was so eager to see Cheralynn, and even more eager to begin their lives together as husband and wife. Mary's Flowers of St. Peter did an outstanding job on the flowers. The soft pastels perfectly complemented the muted lilac color of the bridesmaids dresses and the light cream color of Cheralynn's dress.

Following the ceremony at Grace Lutheran Church, we headed to the reception at Old Main Village (click on the weddings link in the left menu). I love that venue! It is gorgeous!

I must, once again, thank Diane Schrader of Schrader Art and Photography for her assistance. It is such an honor to work with a gifted artist and mentor!

Troy, you were one eager groom, and so excited for your first glimpse of Cheralynn!

Cheralynn and Troy - you are so sweet! Really! You began to dance to the music coming straight from your hearts. Completely natural - completely unscripted.

I can only imagine how much work went into these handmade labels. Each guest received a little bundles of them.

So very sweet. So very much in love. So happy for the two of you!

Anastasia and Joshua

Anastasia and Josh celebrated their June 3 marriage with a small, intimate ceremony in Mankato at the Verizon Wireless Center, in the First National Bank Building. Simply understated...it's a gorgeous venue. They  married in front of the old bank vaults, lit by the suns rays passing through gold-toned stained glass. Minnesota State University, Mankato, is special to the couple; Anastasia teaches philosophy there. So we went there for pictures following their ceremony. Raindrops sent us running for cover for all of about 30 seconds, and then cloudy skies gave way to sunshine. I must once again thank Diane Schrader of Schrader Art and Photography for her assistance.

The marriage ceremony, held in front of the old bank vault.

A few raindrops, enough to spot the sidewalks, had us briefly scrambling for cover,

Their dog, Piper Jane, was a part of their ceremony, and wore a lei.
One of her flowers fell, and Anastasia asked me to capture a photo.

Amanda and Chad

As mentioned in the last post, I had two engagement sessions last Sunday, and the second of these was with Amanda and Chad. They'll be married in September in the tiny town of Meridan, near Owatonna. They will receive a guest book made from their engagement session images, so we had an extended shoot at Bray Park. These two are so comfortable with each other, it's as if they've known each other forever. I'll just let these pictures do the talking...

Amanda and Chad

It's so soggy here that they're probably standing in water. I know they dodged puddles getting to that spot.

One of the reasons I really like Bray Park is the paved path winding beside a meadow, and through a woods.

Samantha and Adam

Sunday was a busy day with two engagement sessions, and both couples getting a guest/signature book made with images from their session. This is a wonderful option that the majority of couples whose weddings I'm doing are choosing. Samantha and Adam were the first couple of the day.

Samantha attended the Owatonna Wedding Expo last January, and won my door prize drawing of a guest book and engagement session. Although she and her fiance, Adam, have a photographer booked for their August wedding, an engagement session wasn't part of their package, so this turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for them.

We met out at Bray Park, under very cloudy skies and humid conditions. Clouds = good, but humidity...well...just plain yuk! Add to that the fact the ground was literally spongy-wet, so once again, the majority of images were taken with Samantha and Adam standing or walking. We got several nice images - plenty for their guest book, and I grew to understand their respect and appreciation for the outdoors (they picked up litter as we walked around). 

Samantha and Adam

I was telling Samantha and Adam that Madison Lake is known for walleye. They love to fish, and wouldn't you figure...a fish jumped as we took this picture. You can see the ripple in the upper right corner.

Rachael and Josh

Rachael and Josh were married on Saturday. I knew this couple was special from the moment they returned their contract for my services. On it, Rachael put a post-it note with two words, "CAN'T WAIT!"

Meticulous in her organizational skills, the day was carefully planned with precise times for hair, dressing, pictures, the ceremony, the send off from the church, the grand march at the reception, and dinner. Anything that well-planned simply has to have a wrench thrown into the works, and that wrench came from Mother Nature, who decided, twenty minutes prior to the ceremony, that severe storms were called for, so the storm warning sirens blew in LeSueur, and the minister had everyone seek shelter.

And after the ceremony, a wrench was needed for the bus that was supposed to take the wedding party from LeSueur to Mankato. For whatever reason, the only gear that engaged was reverse. But the problem was solved, and, you guessed it; the party bus arrived at the reception site at 6:15, right on schedule!

From a photographic standpoint, the cloud cover and heavy air created a scrumptious, soft light for our outdoor pictures at Sibley Park. Many thanks go out to fellow photographers, my daughter Stephanie Williams (You've Been Framed Photography), and Diane Schrader (Schrader Art and Photography) for their help and skills. I can't wait to see their photos, and know Rachael and Josh will love them!

Carmen from AmeriCinn's Conference Center in Mankato was AWESOME!! She was onsite for most of the evening seeing to everyone's needs, and genuinely concerned when she heard about the bad weather in LeSueur. Weggy's catered a delicious meal of stuffed chicken breast and pork tenderloins. DJ Bob Iddings of Silver Sounds and Lights did a fantastic job engaging the crowd. I left at 11 PM, and the party hadn't begun to wind down.

Rachael and Josh, you're such a sweet couple, and your families are fantastic, too. I so enjoyed working with you, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph your engagement session and wedding. I'll be busy with the blog this week because of the number of sessions I have lined up, but will try to post more photos from your wedding. I'm especially excited to get photos from Stephanie and Diane, and will post some of theirs as well! In the mean time, here are a few images from yesterday.

This photo should be entitled, "Anticipation." Rachael approaches Josh, who is waiting for his first glimpse of his bride.

No direction was needed for these two. They're so natural together.

Sharing a first kiss as husband and wife.

Rachael and Josh's dads filled hundreds of balloons for a post-ceremony send off. Notice how the skies cleared.