Noelle + Chris = Married

Noelle and Chris had such a fantastic wedding day. It's always such a treat for me to photograph a wedding in my hometown of Yankton, South Dakota - and their wedding was no exception. The day started at the Historic Cramer Kenyon house where the ladies all got ready together. The house was buzzing with excitement when I arrived and Noelle was cool as a cucumber, handling any day-of nerves like a pro. She opened gifts from Chris which included a stunning necklace and tickets to see Beyoncé live (nice work, Chris) as laughter echoed through the hallways. Having your wedding party get ready at a home or historic place like this makes for such a great mood as the final preparations occur. Chris and his guys made their way to the Cramer Kenyon house in time for the bride and groom to share a private first look. Noelle beams when she's around Chris, and Chris is pretty much always smiling when Noelle is around. The rest of the day went off without a hitch: we went to the Lewis and Clark Lake for some fun bridal party photos, asked Noelle and Chris to trust us as we dragged them to the most random field off the side of the road for couple portraits, their ceremony by the Missouri River was beautiful and heartfelt, and the party was filled with laughter and fun down the road at the historically renovated Old Mill wedding reception space downtown...it was a good day. The party wouldn't have been complete without the outpouring of love from their family and friends who showed so much support for the newlyweds (the pizza fest for dinner also didn't hurt anything!) Noelle and Chris, we are so happy for you two. Congratulations on such an exciting time in your lives!

Cheryl + Alex = Married

When we started this business we had no idea what would happen. We didn't think we'd eventually be shooting in over a dozen states each year - and we definitely didn't think we'd get to work with other talented photographers and showcase their lovely work for our clients. When Cheryl and Alex (who live in Missouri) contacted us about working with Summer Street for their Wedding in Cheryl's hometown in South Dakota, the stars aligned and our Midwest Associate Abby was able to shoot their wedding. Our new friends from Sioux Falls, Jenny, joined Abby for the day and the results are wonderful. This is not surprising, given Cheryl + Alex's kind hearted demeanors and unique love for one another. Once they added in some beautiful elements to celebrate their day in style, we had ourselves a pretty fantastic day. Cheryl and Alex, we've had such a great time working with you both and we are over the moon for you. You truly deserve one another. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and Cheers to Abby and Jenny for a beautiful set of images!

Brooke + Eric = Married

This wedding is special to me for a few reasons. First off, it's the first wedding I've photographed in my hometown of Yankton, South Dakota. When the beautiful bride, Brooke, asked me on her wedding day if I'd ever photographed a wedding in Yankton, I had to think for a moment but realized that no, I hadn't ever shot there before. After five years of doing this full time it was definitely time to break that ice - and Brooke, Eric and their crew certainly did! These two wanted a love filled celebration that allowed their nearest and dearest 400 guests to kick off their marriage with a HECK of a party. One that spanned two states, in fact. You see, Brooke grew up in Yankton and Eric grew up right across the river in Crofton, Nebraska. They got ready in one of the oldest buildings in town - the Dakota Territorial Capital building (once upon a time Yankton was the capital of SD) which sits right on the river and has a beautiful park as its yard which made for some lovely photos before the ceremony. They said 'I do' at Brooke's childhood church and after the ceremony the entire wedding party took a booze cruise around Yankton which was buzzing with energy and music. It was literally a party on wheels. Of course I had to drag them into a corn field for a big wedding party photo after which the celebration continued into Nebraska where they joined their guests at the Crofton Auditorium for the reception. It was a fun-filled day that we were happy to get to share in! Congratulations Brooke and Eric! Thanks for having us!

Leah + Erik = Married

Leah and Erik are a dream team. Compassionate, thoughtful, talented and dare I say jolly (those of you who know Erik understand), we are smitten with this pair. We had the privilege of capturing their Sioux Falls, South Dakota wedding earlier in August and had a fantastic day. You really know that it's been a great wedding when you leave work grinning ear to ear. They got ready at Erik's family home surrounded by their friends and family. They had their first look and a few portraits together at the beautiful Terrace Park (where we could shoot all day long under the willow trees). After some additional portraits with their family and wedding party we headed downtown for their heartfelt ceremony that was filled with happy tears. The celebration continued with the sweetest bubble exit and ride on a horse drawn carriage (midwest style) and a great party at the new Hilton Garden Inn downtown. Leah and Erik, we wish you both years of happiness together! It's been a pleasure. Congratulations!

Hannah + Hunter = Married

Hannah and Hunter are so good together. Creative, genuine and hearts of gold - these two just work. We were honored to be a part of their lovely lovely wedding day in Sioux Falls, SD. After getting ready at home, they snuck away for a first look at Terrace Park downtown Sioux Falls. On the way there, Hannah was telling her personal attendant and me about how she was pretty sure Hunter was going to cry when he saw her because "he's so good like that." Sure enough, Hunter shed a few happy tears when he saw his radiant bride who was just bubbling with excitement that their wedding day had finally come. It was very sweet. They held their ceremony in South Dakota's largest cathedral, Saint Joeseph's where their nearest and dearest came out to witness their vows and first kiss as husband and wife. Afterward the celebration continued downtown Sioux Falls at the Museum of Visual Materials where their parents and friends toasted to their eternal happiness over some tasty BBQ. It was such a good day. Congrats you two!

Megan + Jeff = Married

Megan and Jeff tied the knot a few weeks back in Megan's hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Their wedding was a perfect example of a traditional Wedding done oh so right. From the textually diverse venue, Icon, downtown Sioux Falls to the perfectly pink florals and classic navy bridesmaid dresses, there was so much goodness to capture. The cherry on the top of the sundae, however, was capturing the love Megan and Jeff have for one another. Their presence together feels like they belong to one another. Comfortable, relaxed and safe, they are not only good together but are also lovely individuals in their own right. We had fun visiting Kendra's homeland of South Dakota and brought along some local talent to help second shoot on their day (thanks, Dan!). Megan and Jeff, we are honored to have had the privilege of capturing your Wedding. Congratulations!

Rachel + Andrew = Married

We always love having the opportunity to photograph someplace new. A new surrounding and local culture inspires us to see things a little differently than our daily life and forces us to slow down while shooting to attempt to capture the landscape. In Rachel and Andrew's case, their wedding was in Kendra's home state of South Dakota, which always provides a sense of comfort and familiarity on the great plains. If you've ever gotten the opportunity to visit the great state of South Dakota,  you'll know that it's a large, mostly flat terrain filled with gently sloping fields of grain, corn, soybeans and eventually a beautiful mountain range. Winds can whip across the mostly tree-less acres with great gusto causing intense blizzards in the winter and intense hot wind (and tumbleweeds!) in the summer. Fortunately these two chose a summer month and not a blizzard month to be married in, and despite the 115 degree heat indexes on their wedding day, they kept their cool amongst the raging temps and high winds (have you ever seen someone's hair look so good in 50mph winds?). Rachel and Andrew are currently living on the East Coast but wanted to celebrate their union in Rachel's hometown of Chamberlain, South Dakota. Oh what a perfect decision that was for them, too. Never have we seen such a warm and loving group of people come together to celebrate these two special people. The kind of compassion and camaraderie their guests poured out on Rachel and Andrew was genuine and heartfelt. It's not difficult, however, to adore these two. Rachel is a modern-day Jacqueline Kennedy or Audrey Hepburn; sparkling, sensitive full of class and wit. She's almost always laughing and if not, she's got a glowing smile on her face. Andrew is loyal, well-spoken and has a heart of gold. They really are something together and their entire wedding day was a reflection of their special bond. We were so happy to have the opportunity to work with you, Rachel and Andrew, and we wish you many years of joy together. Congratulations!

Favorite Photos from 2012 - Wedding

What an amazing year it's been. Whenever we stop to count our blessings (which we try to make a daily habit of) we are floored by the opportunities we have to work in a medium we love for really good people. Yes, we take thousands of photos at every wedding and spend countless hours ensuring each image is taken care of and presented with the same joy we captured it with - but without you - our clients and supporters - our work is nothing. We'd have no beautiful flower arrangements to ooh and ah at, we'd have no sweet glances to capture when a couple sees one another for the first time on their wedding day, we'd never hear your loved ones toasting to eternal happiness and we'd certainly have a lot fewer friends. The truth is, weddings are filled with emotions and it's a complete honor to be able to bottle those up and give them back to you each and every wedding. After a wedding is over, when we're home and editing photos on a tuesday morning, we're still laughing about the way your Uncle Randy took center stage during 'Gangnam Style', we're still inspired by the hard work you've put into your wedding details and with each and every couple portrait that we edit and refine, our observations of your love reinforces why marriage is such a beautiful thing. We love capturing these moments and giving them back to you as a visual journal of one of the happiest days of your lives. We can't help but feel as though the joy and love of these special days rubs off on us too. It's contagious, and we can only hope 2013 will bring as much hard work, excitement and happiness as 2012. Happy New Year, Friends!

Nicole + Jeff = Married

Tears welled from her eyes as she grasped her father's arm. She took a big breath and started walking. Jeff stood, solid and present at the end of the aisle with his eyes locked on her. Nicole glanced at the family and friends who were there lifting her up. There was so much fullness, but also a very obvious missing presence. Nicole's mother, and Jeff's father had both unexpectedly passed away when Nicole and Jeff were teenagers, and their presence was missing like a roaring lull. The day was clearly incomplete without them, and yet, as her eyes met his, and the warmth of their communities poured out in support, their ceremony started with joy and sent the best kind of shivers down my spine. Joy. Fullness. Love. Sunshine. Everything was there. It had been a long time in the making with lots of ups and downs, but there they were - presenting themselves as the imperfect beings we are - ready to become husband and wife. The entire day was filled with moments like those, and after an extremely hot summer in South Dakota, it was as if Nicole's mom and Jeff's dad were anointing their wedding day with the most *perfect* 75 degree wedding day weather anyone could ask for. The entire day went flawlessly, and we were honored to share in Nicole and Jeff's wedding glow. Nicole and Jeff: you have both been through so much. We adore you and love the way you light up when you are together. We wish you nothing but the best in your new life together and know that together; you can face any storm that may come your way. We love you!

Ellie + Mike = Married

You guys. THIS wedding. Let's start at the beginning. Ellie is the big sister I never had. Her younger sister and I have been best of friends since high school, hence much of our high school years were advised and entertained by Ellie. She is an extremely talented actress, singer and dancer (a triple threat, if you will) with an exuberant personality that draws people in. Anyone who knows her would say that she is joyously infectious. Having known Ellie all my life (my older step-brothers were even next door neighbors with her and her family) it was with a big bear hug that I greeted her boyfriend Mike when meeting him for the first time. If he was good enough for Ellie - well then, he was going to be a part of the family whether he liked it or not. Mike is everything I would have hoped for Ellie and more. As their relationship grew and they decided to get married, we were able to spend more time with Mike to get to know him. They are like yin and yang - so different but they balance each other out so perfectly. He is a super smart food scientist with a laid back personality and a permanent smile mounted on his face. We just love him. As their wedding day approached and we made our way across the country to shoot their wedding in the Black Hills of South Dakota - we were bursting with anticipation knowing what a labor of love their wedding was. They say that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and let me tell you, the set up involved with their entirely DIY wedding decor and the talent that was involved in the actual day itself blew us out of the water. The entire day was OOZING with talent and love. One of our favorite moments was when Ellie and Mike surprised their guests by singing Ingrid Michaelson's 'You and I" during their ceremony complete with a ukelele and a wedding party chorus. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about how happy it was. Ellie and Mike: we are so so happy for you and we couldn't have been more honored to be your wedding photographers. Thank you for trusting your photo vision to us, much love and Congratulations!