There’s always something wonderful about seeing someone you’ve known for a long time find their perfect match.

Toby and I have known Austin for over 10 years. We all went to high school together and Toby and Austin were pretty good friends throughout. Austin was even a groomsman in our wedding. So when Austin asked us about possibly photographing his wedding, we were excited – not just about photographing Austin’s wedding, but about meeting the girl he’d fallen in love with. We sat down to dinner at our house (to catch up and to meet Meggin) and I have to tell you – I liked Meggin immediately. She was so down to earth. So personable. So in love with Austin. By the time we were having dessert, I felt like I’d known Meggin for years. It was abundantly clear that Austin had found the perfect girl for him.

Meggin and Austin’s wedding day wasn’t much different from the night that we met Meggin. The whole day was so personal – so “them”. Austin, Meggin, and their entire wedding party were so much fun to be around. And the outdoor, laid-back wedding suited them perfectly! But what stood out to me the most on their wedding day was how real their love is. Of course the wedding was nice (very, very nice), but I have a feeling that the two of them would have been happy with anything as long as they spent the day hand in hand. And that’s the kind of love that will get them through anything.

That’s the kind of love that people dream about finding.

Meggin and Austin :: I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed photographing your wedding. I’m so excited to see where your lives take you over the next several years – I just know you guys are going to do great things!

- Annie

While Meggin was getting her hair done, I got some detail shots!

Comfy shoes + a beautiful quilt = perfection.

Homemade jam for every guest! Yum!!!

Centerpieces!

Last, but not least – the dress… Beautiful.

I am head over heels for this shot. Meggin, you’re gorgeous – even when you’re not even trying!

Meggin’s “scrunchy face”!

The guys:

The girls:

Prepare yourself for lots of bridals! I just couldn’t help it!

I had to include this outtake!!!

Some of my favorite bridals ever!

Lovely flowers!!!

Ready to walk down the aisle…

We rocked these portraits out in about 5 minutes! Luckily, these guys are super photogenic!

One of my favorites from the whole day.

Love this one!

Hilarious!!!

Love the backlighting in these first dance shots – to me it makes the sky look like it’s filled with stars.

I can almost smell the cinnamon stick when I look at this picture – hello Fall!!!

Favorite ring shot of the night!

Cake – BonBonnerie
Catering – Jeff Thomas Catering
Dress – Watters (through Bridal and Formal)
Flowers – Oberer’s Flowers
Makeup – Brideface (Kat)
Rings – Jared Galleria of Jewelry
Shoes – Nine West, customized by Maria Neuhaus (a family friend)
Venue – Alms Park

I’d say that on their wedding day, most brides concentrate on having things run smoothly. Are people where they need to be? Are we on schedule? Did everyone get something to eat? How does my dress look? Can you believe today is finally here? And rightly so. It is their day after all!

For Lacy, though, it was all about Nick. As she had her hair done, makeup done, put her dress on, and got Nick’s wedding day gift ready, all of her thoughts were about her future husband. And being the best bride possible for him. Her questions were more along the lines of: Do you think Nick is nervous? Will he like my makeup like this? What will he think of my dress? Of course there are many brides that ask these questions, too! But something about the way Lacy said them made me see just how deeply she and Nick love each other. Here it was – her wedding day – and she wasn’t thinking about herself at all. She was so totally devoted to her future husband already that her #1 priority was to make sure their day was everything he hoped for.

And I’m sure Nick is the same way. The care that he put into designing her engagement ring alone is serious proof!

As I watched Lacy and Nick together later on, it was so amazingly evident that their love is something truly special. There is such a pure and beautiful joy that radiates from them when they’re together. I just know that the people around them will see them as an example of how to put others first and show love every day.

Lacy and Nick :: Yours was one of those weddings where I felt like a member of the family. Lacy, you are blessed to have some wonderful women as friends and sisters. It was so enjoyable for me to just carry on conversations with them all day like I’d known them for years! I know Toby felt just as comfortable as I did with the guys, Nick! Congratulations to you both! I just know you’ll have an amazing life together.

- Annie

Lacy’s dress was gorgeous!!!!

Love.

Lacy’s sister helped with the back of her dress. I hope I get to do that for my younger sisters someday!

It was clear that Lacy and her dad have a super special relationship…

Lacy’s dad surprised her with a pink limo!

Lacy and her siblings!

This balcony is connected to Lacy’s childhood room – how cool is that?!

Gorgeous.

Nick’s pretty handsome, too!

Opening his gift from Lacy…

Love this detail!

This moment made me tear up… So beautiful.

Love it!

Lacy and Nick had a mini hot air balloon to remember people who couldn’t be there.

They had a little trouble getting it going because of the wind, but it worked out fine!

These two were so great to photograph – which was nice because we had to rock out their portraits pretty quickly! Luckily, the grounds of Lake Lyndsay are beautiful!

Stunning.

One of my favorites.

Nick’s socks were a wedding day gift from Lacy. Love them!

The light in this picture just takes my breath away… Can every wedding day look like this, please?

The flowers looked fantastic!

Such a unique (and cool) cake!

Aren’t the lanterns a great idea?!

Toby’s view:

My view:

I caught this in the little bit of down time before dinner… So sweet!

Lacy and Nick did the same German tradition as another couple we had this year. I think it’s so great when couples incorporate things like that!

This reminds me of a movie still.

A little karaoke!

Some of my favorite ring shots EVER! According to her dad, Lacy likes sprinkles. I just had to take advantage of their ice cream bar!

Catering – Lother’s Catering
Dress – Ruth’s Bridal (Lexington, KY)
Hair – Hair Connection
Rings – Stafford Jewelers
Shoes – Shoe Carnival
Venue – Lake Lyndsay Lodge

This past week, Toby and I went to the WPPI Road Trip in Chicago. (For those of you who don’t know, WPPI stands for Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.) It was our first photography conference and we were both so excited!!! We were privileged to hear and meet so many fantastic photographers – Sal Cincotta, Bob & Dawn Davis, Mike Fulton and Cody Clinton from TriCoast Photography, and Jasmine Star.

So many ideas… So many approaches to what we do. And so much genuine care for helping other photographers.

It was refreshing. And inspiring. And exciting. And inspiring a couple more times.

I’ll be blogging more about my experience there a little more on my personal blog either today or tomorrow, but the short version is this:

I left feeling like a bit of myself had gotten lost between the cancer, our quickly expanding business, and our busy life at home. One of the things I’ve always loved about our business is the blogging. I love being able to tell people’s stories – in images and in words. Somewhere along the line, the to-do list overwhelmed me and I stopped doing it.

Well, I have news for you, to-do list. You’re just going to have to wait another 15 minutes. Because I’ve got too many fantastic love stories to share.

So to all you blog readers, clients and friends alike, get ready for some changes on the blog. I’ll be getting back to basics – one post for every event (still with lots of pictures, of course) – because that’s the best way to be a storyteller. Which is what we are when we get right down to it. In fact, that’s the whole reason Toby and I got into photography to begin with. To be storytellers.

Lots of love to all of our wonderful clients who give us the opportunity to tell their amazing stories. Thanks, guys.
- Annie

While I was taking notes like the bookworm I am, Toby got up and snapped a few shots of the speakers!

Sal:

Bob & Dawn:

Cody:

Mike:

Jasmine (who needed more than one picture because her expressions as she speaks are so fabulous!):

My favorite!

And JD: