Forget Me Not Nursery Wedding: Michelle and Nolan
While it’s true that Alanis Morissette might not want rain on her wedding day, it’s actually considered a good luck symbol in many cultures. (I love that in the Hindu tradition rain signifies a strong marriage because a wet knot is harder to untie.) So, imagine how lucky Nolan and Michelle are since the moment they began walking down the aisle after being pronounced husband and wife the skies let loose and there was an insane torrential downpour! The thing that made it feel really symbolic though—and the perfect blessing— was the fact that it really only lasted as long as it took the wedding party to make it back down the aisle.
Nolan and Michelle’s day was absolutely the kind of wedding I love photographing. We started the day at Michelle’s childhood home, which was the perfect setting for a wedding with so many special touches. Michelle made her hairpiece and her bridesmaids’ bracelets, her mom made the veil, and all the rooms in the house were bustling with family members helping steam clothes, prepare lunch, and keeping the groom from peeking before the first-look.
Michelle and Nolan exchanged letters back-to-back before turning around and seeing each other for the first time, which adds such emotion to that moment. We then battled dipnetting traffic and wild wind to get photos at McHugh Creek before heading to Forget Me Not Nursery in Indian, Alaska (which is definitely one of my top three venues).
Their wedding was a wrap to my summer 2018 wedding season, and it was the best possible way to end it. (Don’t believe me? Just check out how wild this crew gets on the dance floor!)
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: Justin Alexander from Anderson’s Bridal
Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic
Accessories: Handmade by Bride and Mother-of-the-Bride
Flowers: Paper Peony
Catering: Froth and Forage
Desserts: Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop
Music: Boogie Shoes
Venue: Forget Me Not Nursery
Tables, Chairs, Dancefloor: Over the Top Tents
Alaska Peony Farm Wedding: Chelsey and Jake
There are few words I love to hear more from prospective clients than "intimate wedding on our peony farm", and then when those clients turn out to be the absolutely amazing, sweet, and gorgeous duo that is Chelsey and Jake-- you know your photography dreams have come true! I never saw them stress about a single thing, and can I just tell you-- I love me a bride who is willing to eat pizza in her dress and wear Smartwool socks. You also gotta love a groom willing to rake up the grass clippings right before the first-look! (Have I mentioned I love working with Alaskan couples!?)
There are so many great moments that stand out for me from their day, but my favorite came right before they cut the cake. To honor Jake's Norwegian heritage, his incredibly talented sister whipped up three different cakes, one of them being a traditional Kransekake. The almond rings of the cake are stuck together with icing, and it is a tradition for the couple to pull on the top ring together, and however many rings come away with it represents the number of children they will have. I love the photo of this all happening-- including the moment when Chelsey was not happy with their solo ring, and stacked two more on. All I can say is, when all of these future children are born, I just hope I get to keep taking photos for them!
Congratulations Chelsey and Jake! I'm so incredibly happy for you and have loved every minute of working with you two!
O'Malley on the Green Summer Wedding
As I drove to O’Malley on the Green for Molly and Alex’s wedding, I started tallying up all of the weddings I’d shot in my head. I realized that they were about to be number 25, which seemed really significant to me. How amazing to have worked with 25 couples over the last 3 years, each of them so different, unique, and lovely.
It had seemed like such a long time ago that we’d all met in a cafe in the early days of wedding planning and talked about their wedding vision. I immediately loved them as a couple and how funny they were. Alex has that kind of sense of humor that sneaks up on you because it is so smart, and Molly makes the sweetest faces when he makes her laugh. They were so relaxed—both in that cafe and on their wedding day— and I loved that their only stipulation for their photography was “no jumping photos and try not to lose the images”, which had happened at another family wedding.
On their wedding day, the sun was bright and hot in an unreal way for Alaska, and the golf course was packed with people taking advantage of the day. The craziest moment from their day (and probably ever in all of those 25 weddings!) was when—about 30 seconds before the wedding party started walking down the aisle— a golf ball comes flying out of nowhere and hits the stairs with a huge “Kathunk!” I was so thankful we were running a little bit behind, because the bride could have so easily been taken down by an errant golf ball! I spent the rest of the ceremony and all of the outside shots totally on edge and worried that I was going to get a golf ball to the camera! Luckily, we all escaped unscathed, and as the venue wedding coordinator told me, he “hasn’t lost a bride yet.”
Their day was filled with perfect little details and moments that made their day completely Molly and Alex-esque. Gorgeous (and delicious!) Macaron towers from Sweet Caribou and a “Parks and Rec” reference with a sign saying “Treat Yo’self” replaced wedding cake. A family friend made the gorgeous all-peony bouquets, cousins took turns rocking the playlist, and the kids took over the dance floor early on. One of my favorite moments though was when all of the guests were given a glass of Serbian liquor in a nod to the Groom’s late-father and his Serbian heritage instead of champagne for toasts. I just love how something so simple can do so much to tell your story— and all of the reactions to the potent booze were pretty fun too.
Vendors:
Venue: O'Malley on the Green
Desserts: Sweet Caribou
Alaska Barn Wedding: Nina + Derek
I love a good love story, and it is one of my favorite things about getting to know my clients. Nina and Derek met when they were trick-or-treating back in Elementary School. These were the days of shared landlines with your parents, so their love affair didn't last long thanks to Nina's Dad--which he made sure to mention in his toast! (Ha!) Fast-forward to the college days, and who does Derek meet at college and befriend? Nina's older brother, Jake, who then brings Derek home for a weekend. I just love thinking about the moment when he walked into the house and saw Nina. I mean, that's just like something out of a movie!
It was an honor to capture the sweet moments between these two and their families. There were so many laughs, some nerves, and even tears. Congratulations you two!
Vendors:
Venue: Gloryview Farm
Flowers: Bloomsbury Blooms
Cake & Cupcakes: Midnight Sun Cakery
Dress: Bateau Bridal Boutique
Hair: Hair By Christina
Makeup: Chance Droege
Music: Five Star Entertainment
Alterations: Celestial Designs
Sullivan + Cavan: Eklutna Elopement
When I arrived at Eklutna Lake, Sulley was standing next to his car arranging a stunning bouquet. He lined the stems with hand warmers in case Cavan got cold, and masterfully wrapped it all up with two rounds of ribbon. (Or like his friend Zak said, "Wrap it like a hockey stick." Have I mentioned I love Alaskans?)
While we were waiting for Cavan to arrive, I asked about Sulley's nerves. He wasn't nervous at all. How could you be when you are finally marrying the woman you've been in love with since you were thirteen?! Yeah, that's right-- these two have loved each other since they were teenagers. And there is something about seeing them together that makes you realize you are witnessing two people who have FOUND their person. It sounds cheesy, but they really do come alive when they are together.
Their small ceremony was absolutely perfect: a stunning location (that was covered in snow just days before!), a hyper and adorable ring-bearing dog, and so many adorable moments of Cavan and Sulley wiping lipstick off of each other. My favorite moment though was watching them "tie the knot" during their ceremony. It turned into a quick came of tug-of-war, and it was clear that these two will be able to face whatever comes their way with a great sense of humor and a fierce love for the other. Sullivan and Cavan-- I wish you only the best!
Lorraine & Henri's Wedding
Most married people have planned a wedding, and many of those people will probably remember it can be a tad stressful. Maybe your cake wasn't ready on time, you couldn't figure out who should get a plus-one, or your seating chart just wasn't coming together. But most of us never had to go to bed one night planning their dream wedding and wake up the next morning worried it might not be legal. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to many LGBT couples in America on November 8th.
Originally I met with Lorraine and Henri to plan their September 2017 wedding, but after this year's election outcome, they contacted to say they weren't taking any chances. They would move the timeline up and have a small ceremony to make it legal... but love trumps hate, so they'll still be having their epic party in September!
I love this photo because the woman on the left was getting her hair done and overheard it was Lorraine's wedding day. She came over to check out the "inspiration" picture and offer her congratulations. I love that weddings bring out such joy-- and not just from those involved!
Henri and his best friend had their own little ceremony before the wedding. They've been friends for ages, and gave each other special Pokemon tie-tacks.
Their "First Look" was a special one. We were losing daylight fast (that'll happen during Alaska winter weddings!) and Lorraine mentioned she wanted to make Henri cry. First Looks are always a favorite part of the day because it often means getting your support system back on a hectic day. The looks are so genuine and full of emotion.
Vendors:
Venue:: Bride's Parents' Home
Caterer:: Dinner at Club Paris in Anchorage.
Florist:: Carrs
Cake:: Carrs
Makeup/Hair:: Hair: VIBE Salon in Eagle River. Makeup: Bride's friend, Denali
Bride's Dress Designer:: David's Bridal
Accessories:: David's Bridal
Groom's Attire:: J.C. Penny
Lindsey & Nick's Crow Creek Wedding
Lindsey and Nick’s wedding was such a wonderful way to end my summer wedding season. Even though it was raining, the mountain fog made for beautiful photos and this couple wasn’t going to let anything ruin their party! I have to say, there were so many things I loved about this wedding. Besides the fact that Lindsey and Nick are an amazing couple, they also had the most gorgeous display of cupcakes, an adorable gaggle of flower girls who stole the show, and a stunning Bollywood dance performed by the bride’s cousin. It’s little touches like this— and a couple who knows how to throw a good party—that make weddings like this my favorite.
The bride's sister made all of these little clay pots for the wedding favors, and they were filled with Lindsey's all-time favorite candy: jelly beans.
I was told this was a tradition for the Middendorf family, adorably called a "Totem-dorf."
All of the photos from the day of Nick with his nephew and nieces are enough to make your heart melt!
The cutest group of Flower Girls I've ever seen!
I love capturing toasts, as well as the reactions to them.
Can we agree that every wedding should have a Bollywood dance performance?
Venue: Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood, AK
Bride’s Dress: WToo from Fabulous Frocks Anchorage
Groom’s Suit: Indochino
Cupcakes: Betty Dye, family friend
Caterer: Master’s Catering
Florist: Debbie Jaso, family friend
Makeup/Hair: Amber Molen