bobbi+mike

Bling bling! Can you guess what I took this on???
I ALWAYS try to tell our brides to find a room with a big window to get ready in. Lauren listened! The color is always SO much more beautiful. I’m starting a campaign… “SAY NOLESCENT TO FLUORESCENT!” (I’m a good rhymer…)
LOVE!Meanwhile…Their first sightSo much happening in this image…Right after they kissed, they walked down the aisle directly into that elevator and up they went. I snapped that image RIGHT as the doors were closing.
“…and we just might live the good life yet!” (if you got that, high fives!) Mike’s favoriteI love brides who wear non-white shoes!This was my favorite part of the whole day! Notice Danny’s hands clinched on for dear life? I think he almost fell off of that chair twice! My favoriteLauren and Danny surprised everyone with their first dance. No one, to include their parents, knew that they had been taking dance lessons…

Go go gadget bendy!
Danny picked up our camera and took a photoOne of the very few photos of both of us in action on a wedding day! BTW, for those who it’s not obvious to, we’re bustling her train.

Much love friends!

~bobbi+mike+

Kim is the kind of person you want to be around all of the time. You can’t help but be happy. Know the type? That’s Kim.2011 weddings will officially be remembered as having the most incredible families. Kim and Jonathan’s top the list. I know that’s a pretty big statement but… well… if you met them you’d see.Meet Kim’s mom… confident, fun, charismatic, crazy and full of love.Right as we arrived to the ceremony venue Kim asked her sister Amanda, “Can I spin here?” And then they spun.

Kim then looked at me and said, “…It’s something my dad does…” She asked, “Have you seen LA Story?”

“I don’t think so,” I responded.

(totally paraphrasing her response) “There’s a scene where Sarah Jessica Parker asks Steve Martin, ‘Can I spin here?’ It’s a reference to cheesy movies. When there’s a moment they fully want to embrace and never forget the characters look to the sky, throw their arms out, close their eyes and spin. So anytime there’s a moment we want to make sure we never forget, my dad asks us, ‘Can I spin here?’ And we all start spinning!”

I’m doing this little story zero justice. Just know that my heart melted as I fell even MORE in love with her family…
…meanwhile.

Oh yes… a MARINE who wore his dress blues… and looked ridiculously handsome!This was our first ever military wedding, and it couldn’t have been more awesome. For those who’ve ever been in the military, you know exactly what he’s doing in that image on the right (notice the ruler?).The male Marine’s dress uniform is better than any other branch of the military.Kim, you were a stunning bride…Oh, hello hot tamales!I have a major Dad crush.
One of the best groom reactions we’ve ever seen.
Love.HA!

Oh, and just for the record, this wasn’t my idea.Wacky Best Man strikes again!I adore your smiles.The photo on the left is a bit out of order, but I have good reason.You see, I took that photo of Kim and her Dad in May 2006 at the 4th wedding we’d ever photographed… and now, over five years later it still hangs on the wall of her parents’ home.I couldn’t help but have a little Deja Vu watching them dance.Oh yes, that image in the middle? Yes… that’s one of our light stands doubling as a microphone.

I couldn’t narrow it down to 20 images for a standard blog post. So, I made a slideshow instead.

Their ceremony is something we will never in our lives forget. It was so personal. From reading letters (or trying to) to their parents to passing around their wedding rings while every single guest blessed them…. it was awesome. My favorite part though? Their vows. Such a perfect day.

Hope you enjoy the images from their day as much as we enjoyed witnessing it.

…and for those who don’t have time to watch, here are a few of my favorite portraits/details.

I’m LOVING the blue suit/peach bow tie combination. Oh hello gorgeous bridesmaids!…and hot tamale groomsmen!  (Hey wedding party, let us photograph your weddings, k? k.)I don’t usually blog details but Dawn and Anthony were OUT of control with theirs… and they were beyond perfect. The chairs? Dawn collected those for a year (Craigslist, flea markets, estate sales, etc) and painted them herself. …and the china, same story.

 

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FORT WAYNE, Ind.

wedding coordinator • Sarah, April Foster Events
hair •  Lindsay Goodman, Shalorton Salon
makeup •  Beth Jerrells of Champagne and Lipstick (who did gorgeous work!)
florist •  Lillian Rose Flowers
officiant •  Reverend John DeTaeye
church •  Prairie Grove Chapel
reception venue •  Salomon Farm
dj •  Quattro Systems
cake •  Peggy Roulo, The Cake Lady “These were the most delicious desserts I have ever eaten!” -Dawn
catering •  Catablu
videographer •  Godfather of the bride, Ron Schoenle
dress •  Monique Lhuillier
bridesmaid dresses •  H&M!
tuxedo • Tommy Hilfiger
groomsmen’s bowties •  Etsy, Divine Domestication
bride’s veil •  Etsy, Emily Clark
papergoods •  Jennifer Vaughn, Momento Designs
homemade apple butter favors: Lori Spangle and Peggy Roulo, The Cake Lady
shout out by Dawn •  ”I would love to give a huge shout out to my cousin and groomsman Jeremy Redding for his amazing skills that pulled all the decor and details together when we were days away from the wedding and running behind. If anyone wants a detail-oriented person to make sure all of the boxes are checked and the logistics for a DIY ceremony are in order–he is your man.  It was his organization and help (along with my planner, family and friends) who deserves a round of applause for making sure all of the details were correct.  Not sure if he is for hire—but he has got in going on!” (I will 100% back that up. If he’s for hire… HIRE HIM… RIGHT NOW!!!!! I’ve not seen this kind of attention to detail, EVER!)

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their songs

processional • “Here Comes The Sun” –The Beatles / “Wedding March” –Mendelssohn
recessional • “Stand by Me” –Ben E. King
introductions  • “Eye of the Tiger” –Survivor
first dance  • “The Way You Look Tonight” –Frank Sinatra / “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” –Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel
father/daughter  • “My Girl” –The Temptations
mother/son  • “My Wish” –Rascal Flatts
cake cutting  • “White Wedding” –Billy Idol

dawn+anthony

What was the most memorable moment of your day?
dawn: When I began to walk down and I saw Anthony for the first time surrounded by all the details we had been planning for months–it was so overwhelming emotionally.  I’m not much for fairy tales, but I literally felt like I was in one.  To have an amazing man waiting for me with loving friends and family around us was a dream come true.  I am so lucky.

What was your favorite detail?
dawn: I have to pick just one?!  Well, of course I loved the vintage chairs and china.  I felt like I really made the reception come alive.  The months and months of collecting them definitely paid off and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got a chance to sneak a peak at the barn before the guests had entered.  It was beyond my wildest imagination! > My favorite detail of the ceremony was the ring warming ceremony. Anthony and I passed our rings around the congregation in an antique tea cup for each person to say a silent prayer over the rings before we put them on.  You could just feel the love in the room and we are so glad that we incorporated it into the ceremony, despite making the ceremony run a bit longer.
anthony: Dawn. She was my favorite detail. The way she looked, the way she danced, the way she smiled and kissed. And the way she said “yes.” Everything about her.  And did you see that backless dress? (best response, EVER!)

Any advice for future bride/grooms?
anthony: Everyone has a different vision.  Pursue yours, even if it means bringing your own chairs.

Funniest memory from your wedding day?
dawn: It wasn’t exactly the wedding day, but week before we left to travel to Indiana from DC, we had a 5.8 earthquake and Hurricane Irene.  Managing to keep our china in one piece and travel with everything in spite of the adverse weather conditions is a story we’ll be telling to our grandkids.
anthony: Raising Dawn up on a chair.  Seeing her up there, admittedly clutching the chair to hold on, but with a smile on her face will always stick with me.

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
anthony: Not a moment or detail.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Italy

 

mike+bobbi+anthony+dawn

We loved your wedding.

Much love friends…

~bobbi+mike+

 

A photo from the trolley… of Mike. THUMBS UP!Photo by groomsman Jeremy Redding.…at first I assumed that my masculine name caused a bit of confusion. However, I later found out that there was also one for a “Mrs. Bobbi + Mike” too.WHOOOPS!

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Side note to photographers: many of you ask how much Photoshopping I do to our images. That slideshow… 100% Lightroom edits. So to answer your question, it’s mostly a little dodging and burning and a slight bump to the curves.

Bree was in the corner, backed up against the mirror. Keeping myself out of the photo was impossible. Bree, I told you that I’d try my best to keep myself out of the photo…. this was the best I could do.OHHH window light how I love thee!!!! HOLY SHITAKE MUSHROOMS TO THIS GORGEOUSNESS!!!!!! Bree, sorry that I wasn’t able to capture the red monster truck behind youFavorite #1BOOOOOM! Love this.
Gray is the new black. If all of our grooms wore gray tuxes, oh what a groom that would beeee (props if you know that tune)! It photographs and processes BEAUTIFULLY!  Future bobbi+mike grooms… take note!My view.
Mike’s view…Who said bridesmaids have to wear officially categoried “bridesmaid dresses” These? Banana Republic. Love!Kevin, watching you try not to cry through the whole ceremony was one of many highlight of my dayYou’re cute. Bree, you look like your dad.LOVE!Favorite #2!!!+I love how much you love each other.
See, told you that she looked like her dad! …who also happened to be the best dancing dad we’ve EVER seen. EVER!Bree & Kevin, you win for most packed dance floor of 2011.

mike+bobbi+bree+kevin

Much love friends!

~bobbi+mike+

 

 

Because I LOVE the thumbs up! That’s some INTENSE cake shootin’!

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