The first time I met Nicole, I knew she was going to be a great client. It wasn’t until I saw her + Brad together at their engagement session though, that I knew they were going to become our friends and some of our faves. These two are hilarious together, a little bit sassy (okay, maybe that’s just Nicole), but totally down to earth and up for anything. It’s obvious that they were made for one another. We had such an amazing time at their engagement session that I knew their wedding was going to be off the charts fun. And goodness, I wasn’t wrong!

From the minute we arrived at the Sheldon Concert Hall & Galleries, we knew we were in for a good day. There was a sweet, excited energy that filled the day from Brad + Nicole all the way through their bridal party and family. No nerves, no stress, just an eagerness to start day one of their marriage together. They had a sweet first look on the steps of the Sheldon, before hopping on the bus for bridal party photos! It was rainy all day, but we were still able to find a window of time to snag some outdoor photos nearby. The photos at the small mural wall were so much fun and turned into some of my favorites from the day!

 

Brad + Nicole had a fabulous bridal party and the most darling flower girl + ring bearer ever! These two were total hams for the camera! We love it when everyone is on board and simply there to support the bride + groom. They knew photos were really important to Brad + Nicole, and they were totally on board with everything we wanted to do, even in less than ideal weather. Although, you can’t really tell it was gray and gross outside, can you? Pretty sure it’s because this crew lights up the room, wherever they go!

 

About 6 months before their wedding, Brad reached out to tell me that his dad had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. They toyed with changing their wedding date to ensure that he could be there, but his dad, Russ, told them that he would make it to their wedding day! And so, May 27th came and there was Russ, gleaming with pride and ready to spend the day celebrating! He may have been in the fight of his life, but that didn’t stop him from keeping his sense of humor and having a great time! I mean, look at those garter toss photos! 😉 Two days after the wedding, Russ sadly passed away, making these photos all the more bittersweet. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to meet and photograph the man that we’d heard so much about and who we’d been praying for for months.

This is why we do what we do. When Smitty’s mom passed away unexpectedly shortly after our wedding, we realized that our wedding photos were the only images we have all together with her. Those images are priceless to us now. We pray that Brad, Nicole, and their entire family will cherish these images for years to come and that they might serve as a reminder to the incredible + joy-filled day they all shared together!

 

After a super fun dance party, we ended the night with some gorgeous night photos. Goodness, these two. Perfect in every way, am I right?

Brad + Nicole, thank you so much for inviting us into your day. It was beautiful and joy-filled and such a testament to who you both are and the foundation you’re building your life upon. It was an honor to be able to document it for you. We can’t wait to get the rest of your images and your highlight reel finished!