Kent + Leah picked the perfect day to have their wedding at the Tretheway Pavilion in Spearfish. The park was full of kids playing, families biking, and even another wedding party taking photos! :-)

Their families traveled near and far to be there for the wedding, and coming from a large family myself, I know how awesome and special that is that so many people came!!

I don’t know where the ushers were hiding during group photos, but they sure were excited to get their picture taken before the ceremony!!

Yes, they kissed more than once when they were first introduced as husband and wife. :-)

Me with my lovely assistant, Hannah:

And me with the happy couple!!

Kent + Leah: hope you’re having a fabulous time in VEGAS!!!!!

I’m off again for a little while! I’m on my way to my hometown to do some senior photos (so excited!!) an engagement session (finally get to meet Ryan + Krystal!!) and a wedding (congrats to my cousin Jill and her soon-to-be-husband Aaron!!) but I wanted to share with you a sneak peek from Kent + Leah’s Spearfish wedding yesterday before I take off!!!

Hi there! It’s been pretty quiet around here without having any sessions – my next wedding isn’t until the 19th!!! I thought I’d break the silence that is my blog and show you a photo I took few weeks ago at Mount Rushmore!! Lance took me there for breakfast the Sunday before I left for those two weeks doing weddings and engagement sessions east river. What fun is living in the Black Hills if you can’t be a tourist every once in a while?! :-)

You might remember from Brian + Barb’s engagement session post that Brian and Lance grew up together. I have known Brian ever since Lance and I started dating a few years ago. I loved hearing stories of how excited Brian was dating Barb. Lucky me, not only was I their wedding photographer but I also got to meet all their family and half the town of Emery, dance the night away and go home with one of the groomsmen! ;-)

Barb’s mom is such a talented woman!! She made all the girls’ necklaces and purses and also helped get Barb ready for the day:

Everything about Barb was simply gorgeous:

Flowers courtesy of Gustaf’s Greenery in Sioux Falls:

First look!! I just love how Barb is glowing!!

And Barb said there was ‘absolutely nothing’ by the church for photos. :-)

Brian + Barb had an awesome and unique unity candle ceremony – their godparents lit candles from the Easter candle, then they lit the matron of honor and the best man’s candles and everyone else’s candle was lit throughout the church to the back where their mothers were waiting. Their mothers then brought their candles up, lit Brian + Barb’s candles and in turn they lit their unity candle – with all of their guests having a special part of it! :-)

Mr. and Mrs. Olinger!!!

Their wedding reception was at the Museum of Visual Materials in Downtown, Sioux Falls:

Brian + Barb – Thanks so much for inviting Lance and I to be such special parts of your wedding day!! Safe travels to your honeymoon tomorrow!! I promise the rest of your images will be ready by the time you get back! :-)

I know I’ve said this before, but I am downright spoiled as a wedding photographer!! My couples are the most in-love, romantic, easy-to-photograph people I know! Dave + Kendra’s wedding was beautiful – so simple, so romantic, so fun, so them!

My favorite part of their wedding day was when they saw each other before the ceremony. I have never seen hugs and kisses and smiles so big! After their first look, they exchanged letters that they had hand-written for each other. I cried. I couldn’t help it! Their body language and the looks on their faces was SO romantic – like straight out of a sappy movie romantic! I just wanted to sit down next to them and give them the biggest hug ever!

My other favorite part about Dave + Kendra’s wedding was their sense of humor. Not only were they comfortable in front of the camera, they were comfortable goofing off in front of the camera!! You know it’s going to be a good wedding for me when the bride wakes up early, can’t fall back asleep and watches The Office to kill time. And in case you’re wondering… yes, there were plenty of ‘that’s what she said’ moments throughout the day. :-)

Congrats to Dave + Kendra – may your love continue to grow stronger every day, and you live happily ever after!

Did I mention that Dave also gave Kendra a necklace? Bonus points for Dave!!

Remember how Dave + Kendra met through music and the church??

Thumbs up for being married!! :-)

Sorry, guys. I couldn’t help myself. You make such a great goofy-looking bunch! :-)

And right back to romantic – I love these next few!!