Remember Jess and Brad? of COURSE you remember them… You know… the engagement session taken in a strip mall parking lot in pouring rain with tornado sirens going off in the background?! SEEE! Told you you’d remember them!

Amanda, one of Jess’s best friends is an INCREDIBLE makeup artist.

I will not tell a lie… this salon and spa was unlike any other experience ever. Annnnd… by that I don’t mean it was amazing. When I walked in they told me that I was not able to take any photos in the main salon as I would make the other guests uncomfortable.  There was ONE area (about a 20′ x 15′ small room where they applied makeup… in shiz light, mind you) I was allowed to shoot. And after snapping just 2 photos… the makeup artist weirded out and said that I made her nervous and that I couldn’t take photos. So… I had to sit in a tiny room with my camera and two flower girls who were also not allowed out because they were a “disturbance.” They weren’t even allowed to go to the BATHROOM there… they had to go down the elevator to the hotel lobby if they needed to go. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Let me say… these flower girls are like 7 years old and VERY well behaved.  So, Jess, who is THE most laid back bride EVER really didn’t let any of this bother her. Me, I would have been flipping my poopy. She’d say, “I have no control over it… so, it is what it is.” She  kept referring to me as “my photographer… who is in timeout”. HA! I’m telling you… UNLIKE ANY other experience. This salon is not on my referral list K? k. Now that I’ve said my peace…. MOVING ON!

However, when it was time for Jess’ hair… we made it happen. Don’t mess with us!

Meanwhile…

WOW to this adorableness!!!!!

Jess had lost a serious amount of weight between buying the dress and her final fitting… and at that point, the weight was still dropping fast.  They told her that “the dress will NOT fit you if you don’t quit losing weight.” WHEN DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN?! High fives Jess… HIGH FIVES! She said she’d been eating ice cream all week so that her dress would fit!  Yeah, that’s a first! HEALTHY TRAIN CHOOOO CHOOOOOOO!

are you KIDDING me with the amazingness that are these shoes?! Though they’re BEAUTIFUL I guess they weren’t the most comfortable. Jess called them “the Choos that didn’t love me back” I won’t lie…. REALLY proud of these photos

That’s a WHOLELOTTA BLINNNNG!

love this. it’s Mikey’s favorite

PERFECT capture Mike! Such a great story telling image. You win.

Marriage is the coolest.

While I’m on full disclosure mode here… Here’s a little story We were supposed to do the bridesmaids/groomsmen photos ahead of time… but because the florist wouldn’t drop off the flowers until an hour before the ceremony started we were way limited (gotta get the bride inside before the guests arrive… and you KNOW they like to be WAY early!) Well, things ran behind and we had to do all of the photos afterward. No biggie. THEN… the bus driver was supposed to head back to the hotel to shuttle the groom/groomsmen to the church… well, SOMEHOW… he didn’t get the memo and the bus was just SITTING out in front of the church after dropping off the bride/ bridesmaids. When someone noticed that WE WERE MISSING THE GROOM the bus driver got in gear and get in gear QUICKLY! So, the ceremony started/ended laaaaaate.

What does that mean? That means that we were now in HIGH SPEED MODE. As in… I had twenty minutes to get ALLLLL of the photos taken (bridesmaids, groomsmen, full wedding party AND bride & groom). We were originally planning on going to downtown Valparaiso for some fun photos. HOWEVER, given the time line… we were now going to work this shiz out in a parking lot. Now, I happen to know from a past parking lot experience (their aforementioned engagement session) that these two are the DEFINITION of laid back. And again, Jess looked at me and said, “I trust you… let’s do this!”  So, just like last time in the rain… I put on my confidence hat and we MADE MAGIC HAPPEN! (okay, that was a bit dramatic… ignore me…).

My favorite SO much joy…

All of the below photos were taken within an 8 minute span… another reason why an engagement session is SO ridiculously valuable. What IF something does delay your wedding portrait time? It happens… and happens way too often. These two knew how I worked, I knew how they worked and together we WORKED IT OUT!

LOOOK AT THOSE EYES!!!! Jess, you’re seriously stunning!

There were no dresses harmed in the making of this photo.

YESSSSSS!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!!!!

Now… it’s reception time baaaaaabies!!!!!

DON’T STOP BELIEVINNNNNN’….

……………………………

valparaiso, ind.

makeup | Amanda Batista, Freelance Makeup Artist/Bridesmaid Extraordinaire
florist | The Flower Cart
church | Valparaiso University Chapel of the Resurrection
reception hall/cake | Strongbow Inn
DJ | Catalyst Productions
dress | Custom Augusta Jones gown by Couture Bride
bridesmaid dresses | Watters & Watters
tuxes | Men’s Wearhouse

……………………………

 

their songs:

Introductions:
Parents: “All You Need is Love” – The Beatles
Bridal Party: “Good Life” – Kanye West
Bride&Groom: “Lions” – The Features
Cake cutting: “Eat it” – Weird Al
First dance: “You & I” – Michael Buble
Father/Daughter: “You are so Beautiful” – Joe Cocker
Mother/Son: “You’ve Got a Friend” – James Taylor

 

jess+brad:

What was the most memorable moment of your day?
jess: #1. The entire aisle experience. From those last moments spent with Marissa, my Maid of Honor, to the whispered exchange of words with my father as we walked down the aisle, to the moment I could finally see Brad’s face (it was a really, really long aisle!), to when I finally took Brad’s hand in mine and proceeded up the steps to the altar. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the beauty and emotion felt during every single second of that experience.  #2. When two of out best friends, Amanda and Dave, got engaged at our reception! Made the day just so perfect!
brad: Watching Jess while she was walking down the aisle. When she and her dad finally reached me, her dad kissed her and then he and I were supposed to shake hands, but I was frozen, staring at Jess. Her dad stood there hitting his hand against mine until I finally snapped out of it and shook his hand.

What was your favorite detail?
jess: My something old. It was a handkerchief that belonged to an elderly woman named Neva whom I was very close to when I was young. She passed away many years ago, but Erica, my cousin and Matron of Honor, was able to obtain the handkerchief from Neva’s daughter-in-law right before my bridal shower, and gave it to me as a gift at my shower. Yes, tears were shed. I will treasure it always.
brad: The stained glass windows at the Chapel.

Funniest memory from your wedding day?
jess: I have two. #1. My Ring Bearer, Andrew, got dressed into his little tux, looked into the mirror, and pleased with his appearance, exclaimed, “I look just like Barack Obama!” #2. During our first dance, I asked Brad if he’d like me to sing the song to him. His response: “No, I’d like to enjoy this.” People probably wondered why were were dying laughing during our romantic first dance. Well, that’s why. . .
brad: During my brother’s best man speech, when he, very sincerely, said he was proud of how “sexful” I’d become. He meant to say successful and thought no one noticed his slip of the tongue… but he was wrong.

Any advice for future brides/grooms?
brad: Don’t get stressed, even if a tornado takes out your rehearsal dinner, you’re still going to have a good time. We know this for a fact.
jess: Remember that it’s about the marriage, not about the wedding. Don’t be fussy, enjoy every minute of it with the people you love.

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
jess: More time for photos and a longer reception!
brad: Longer reception, I didn’t get to visit with half of our guests!

What was your favorite wedding purchase?
Other than Bobbi + Mike? Our Bachelor/Bachelorette party in Vegas! About 20 of our best friends & family + 5 days of insanity = a really fun wedding weekend because everyone had already met and were excited to party together again! We’re already planning another wedding party/guest reunion in October!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas

This isn’t an answer to a question, but I just have to say that we had an amazing wedding party. We are so lucky to have such ridiculously great friends. The day would not have been the same without them and we love them all very much!

 

SNUGGGGGLE FAAAAAACE!!!!!!

bobbi+mike

our favorites: 1) the time out chair at the salon. Though it kinda sucked… it was actually quite comical. 2) the wedding party goes in the top 10 of best wedding parties in the history of bobbi+mike. 3) photographing the shoes. AYKM?! 4) the flower girl during the ceremony was HILARIOUS! She was so bored/hot… in the midst of the ceremony she sat down right on a ledge,  rubbed her belly, yawned and laid down. 5) Dave chasing down the bus during photos. 6) Jess and Brad being AWESOME and trusting us entirely during speedy photo time. 7) the families. the speeches… perfect combo of sweet and fun. 9) when Jess announced that Amanda (makeup artist and best friend) and Dave had JUST become engaged! The idea was suggested to Dave by Jess…. and he went with it. Jess announced, “I love that we’ll share this anniversary!” Yeah, Jess REALLY is one in a million!!!! 10) the unboxed booth and all of the hilarity that happened… ESPECIALLY at the end when Jess and her best friend recreated their best poses from childhood… except this time… there was alcohol involved. Maybe you had to be there… it was highly inappropriate and ridiculously funny. (I know I know… I NEEEED to show you some of the newest unboxed stuff. I’ll get on it, I promise!)

MUUUUUUCH love friends… MUCH LOVE!

~bobbi+mike

 

I had to take my shoes off during the ceremony because they were loud…

Mike, you are so damn handsome. Seriously. HOT HOT HOT!

That’s a face only a Mike Belschner could love… WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING?!  I was showing Jess her next pose. Luckily for her, she didn’t make the same face. WOW TO ME!

As previously stated on the last wedding blog entry… I CANNOT resist me some Britney Spears. Don’t judge us.

SOOOO… the WHOLE reason Jess and Brad even knew team bb+mk existed? Because Amanda suggested us. You see, she was in Erin and Lucky’s wedding (and also did the makeup)… and has been following our work since (that was 3 years ago). SOOO… yes yes yes…  as you’ve already read… she got engaged THAT night and couldn’t wait to share. These photos make me so happy Thanks Brad for taking them!  PS. guess who JUST booked us? BOOOOOYAH!!!! MAY 2011 HERE WE COME!!!!!

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