I photograph tons of weddings, but Kelsey + Blake’s wedding will always hold a special place in my heart.

We started the day by hanging out in the bridal suite with Kelsey’s bridesmaids, and I’ve never met such a fun group of women. Between the mimosas, jokes, and off-key singing, I knew that Kelsey made great choices for the bridal party she had with her.

Before Kelsey got into her dress, she asked her mother-in-law, Denee, to help her because Kelsey’s mother passed a while back. After Kelsey was dressed, Denee gifted her the most beautiful necklace that came with a heartfelt card inside. This necklace matched Kelsey’s earrings perfectly, so she walked down the aisle with it on (oh man, here come the water works, AGAIN). The amount of tears I shed on this day is unreal. Not only did Denee give Kelsey this special necklace, but she gave Blake an engraved watch, to which we also cried becuase how sweet is this?! Denee is the mother-in-law we all need on our wedding day.

I knew that I would cry during the ceremony because I always do. There’s something about two people declaring their love that just really hits me in the gut, no matter how many weddings I capture. But Kelsey & Blake’s vows were heart-wrenching and beautiful. You could FEEL the love radiating from these two and it’s just so incredible to see so much love all in one place. Absolutely amazing, and the sole reason why I love what I do.

The best part about being a wedding photographer is that I get to see things that nobody else gets to see. Kelsey had a moment where she was overwhelmed (as most brides are on their wedding day) and needed a shoulder. I noticed and gave her & Blake much needed time away from the party so they could just revel in their wedding day. Everything happens so quickly that you’re almost shocked that it’s over. Kelsey is the sweetest person I’ve ever met and Blake does a great job at getting her to laugh when she’s feeling overwhelmed or stressed. They couldn’t be more of a perfect pair. Their reception was full of dancing, laughter, and memories galore, thanks to Colton’s ability to read the crowd and play the next best hit.

There was an overwhelming amount of joy and laughter and Colton & I are just feeling so lucky that we got to be a part of their day in such a major way. We know Kelsey & Blake are going to have a lifetime of love and happiness and we cannot wait to see where their marriage takes them! Congrats you two!