St. Louis Destination Wedding Photographer - Amarillo Texas

On a hot August day in Amarillo Texas, Erin and Aaron gathered with friends and family and became husband and wife.  Who knew that two strangers who met on a somewhat blind date (I explain here) would fall in love and get married?  I did.  The first time I met them, was the first time they met each other face to face.  During dinner you could tell that they had a real connection.  At the end of dinner we all hugged and said our goodbyes and walked to our cars.  As we walked away I looked back and saw them reach for each others hand.  I knew they were going to get married, because I'm just good like that. ;)  Over the last year or so I have become really good friends with Erin and Aaron.  They have the have the biggest hearts, and will forever hold a special place in mine.

Back in November, I started my photography business and in order to build my portfolio, I messaged a few friends on Facebook asking if I could do a few photo sessions to get the ball rolling.  Erin and Aaron were the first ones to say yes, and the first engagement session I ever shot.  I guess they saw something in me because a few months later they asked me to shoot their wedding.  Excited and terrified, I said yes.  That was HUGE for me.  The fact that they believed in me and trusted me to capture their special day meant the world to me.  Thank you SO much Erin and Aaron for letting me capture your special day.  You both crack me up and just being in you presence makes me smile.  You two have a very special connection and I couldn't be happier for the both of you!  Congratulations! :)

Erin started off her day at MAC.  I love MAC....

Huge shout ot to MAC make up artist Anne Evans who did an amazing job!  Isn't she gorgeous??? 

I want her red hair!

Erin's GORGEOUS wedding dress!

The shoes!  And I adored Erin's Bridal Suite.  Very vintage....love it....

The pearl necklace belonged to her grandmother.  Love that...

Erin...you are stunning my dear....

Classic...

So classic.... :)

The handsome Aaron....

They decided to have a First Look.  Yes I know, seeing each other before the ceremony is a non-traditional thing, but I know for a fact how special it is.  My husband and I had a First Look when we got married.  It's a special moment just between just the two of you.  And if you're a big bubbly sap like me and cry your butt off, it gives you that extra time to calm your emotions and take in the moment. 

Hehe...have you ever seen a more excited groom??? :)

They blocked off a good hour and a half to take photos before their ceremony.  So we drove around downtown Amarillo for a bit.  :)

JUMP! JUMP!

Back to the church to get hitched!

While we were out and about, Erin got a mosquito bite...hehe...just put some windex on it.... :)

Her facial expression is priceless!

The Bling Bling!

BLING!

So the church where the ceremony was held had VERY strict rules when it came to wedding photography.  I could only take a picture of the bride walking in while remaining in the 6th row...(I like a good challenge)...

And then to remian in the CENTER balcony for the ceremony...."so I can't go in the left or right balcony???"  NO.....only the center balcony....  I just thought I would ask just to make sure.... ;)

Aaron smiled like that the entore day....love it.....

Great shot huh?  I had to remain in the center balcony until they were announced husband and wife.  THEN I strapped on my PF Flyers (because they make you run faster) and ran to the opposite side of the center balcony, super hero speed down 2 flights of stairs, then jetted across to the opposite side of the church....to get THIS shot.  OH YA.....Superman aint got NOTHIN on me.... ;)  And FYI...that PF Flyers bit is from Sandlot.  The best movie ever.....FOOOOOREVVVVVVER....Okay moving on.... :)

Rollin out in style....that's how you do it....

Aren't they gorgeous???

LOOOOOOVE it!

On to the reception!

Both of those cakes were super yummy.....I have that in my contract....you must let me eat cake... ;)

"From this moment"...Shania Twain...

"He didn't have to be" Brad Paisley....this song makes me cry every time...


"You'll be in my heart" Phil Collins


Time to open up the dance floor!  WOOT! WOOT!






Remember when you were in 7th grade???  HAHA!...


Dollar dance.... ;)




Congratulations you two!  THANK YOU again for letting me be a part of your special day! :)

AND for a slideshow and more photos of Erin and Aaron's wedding
CLICK HERE


Have a fabulous day! :)

Remembering 9/11

As most of you know, today is the 9 year anniversary of 9/11.  I remember that exact day, where I was, and all the emotions I felt that day.  I was a freshman in college.  I had just woken up and was in the shower getting ready to go to class listening to the radio, and that's when I heard that 2 planes had crashed into the World Trade Center.  I won't type the exact words that came out of my mouth.....but I was shocked.  I then hurried up and turned the television on and there it was, the 2 towers of the World Trade Center on fire.  I was speechless.  Then it was reported that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon.  That's when I called my mom (who worked on a military base).  I was scared.....very scared.  I knew that they were going to lock down the base, no one could leave, no one could get on.  I wanted my mom to come home, but the base was already on lock down.  My mom couldn't leave her building.  My dad also worked on base, and he couldn't leave his building.  So I got dressed and went to my first class, I didn't want to be by myself.  My first class had been cancelled, but our professor was there.  She was crying.  We all went into the main complex and gathered around the tv and watched as the towers fell.  I felt sick.  I then went to my second class and my professor tried to make everyone do an activity which involved reading our book....no one read their book, no one did the activity.  We just sat there.  After spending a few more hours in front of the tv, I called my mom.  I had a tennis match scheduled that afternoon and our coach told us that we would still be playing.  My parents always went to my tennis matches, but because the base was still on lock down they wouldn't be able to make it.  I was very upset, I just wanted to see my parents.  Our tennis match was about an hour away and the van ride up there was silent.  We were all emotionally exhausted.  I remember looking out the window up at the sky, there were no planes in the sky.  We lost our tennis match that day, and we really could care less.  We just wanted to go home, I just wanted to see my parents.  When we arrived back at school, my mom was waiting for me in the parking lot.  She followed me home in which I had to stop for gas, I always wait until my gas light comes on to get gas.  Bad habit.  As we pulled into the gas station there was a long line....the longest line I had ever seen at a gas station.  People were saying that the price of gas was going to go way up etc.  I had never seen that before.  Then when we got home we turned on the tv and just watched.  They were searching for survivors.  I remember hearing the sound of alarms.....it wouldn't stop.  It was the PASS device on the firefighters uniforms, it wouldn't stop.  After crying for a good hour or so, my mom turned off the tv.  We were both exhausted.  My head felt like it was going to explode. 

Eight months later my dad had to go to New York City on a business trip.  My dad flew me there for the weekend and we went downtown and did the typical tourists activities.  One day we went and visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, then wondered around lower Manhattan.  I started to notice the closed subway stations and the empty buildings and that there were less amounts of people walking around.  Then I saw buildings with boarded up windows.  It was ground zero.  There was a huge hole in the ground blocked off by orange plastic fencing and bulldozers everywhere.  The area was surrounded by posters people had made, American flags, flowers, and stuffed animals.  My dad and I walked around and looked at all of the pictures of family members who had passed away and read the handwritten notes from their loved ones.  At one point, a man standing next to us turned and said to my dad, "I was in the 2nd tower that day" and the exact floor he was on.  I don't remember the exact floor he was on, I just remember him starting to cry.  My dad then reached out and hugged him, and we both started to cry.  To this day I have never forgotten that moment, and it still makes me cry.  After returning home and developing my pictures, I made a photo collage.  The whole experience was very moving for me.  September 11, 2001 was a day I'll never forget, and that photo collage still hangs in our living room.

We will never forget.