Just before our wedding season really starts to heat up, we decided that we needed to get a good vacation of R&R to refill and gear up. We had no destination, no plan, and no one to answer to as we packed up our little car and headed out on the open road. The first leg of our trip was driving out to Tillamook Oregon and headed south on 101. We stopped at every beach, every state park, and every little sign that showed any signs of interesting facts, monuments and whatsits. We were photography junkies and true hippies and we were modern day wonderers.

Here are a few photos from the days.

I suspect that my window will be rolled down as my feet dangle out the window. Wind will be blowing threw my hair and the sun will be beating on my face. We will hold hands as we drive down the open highway, jog on the beach and possible cuddle under the stars. It will be great to get away for a short while.
Since wedding season is quickly approaching, Eddie and I decided that we should leave on a road trip to get our brains fresh and loose. We have a one week trip with no destination, no timelines and no plans. So far we have nowhere to stay and have no idea what direction we are going. The only plan we have is to bring our little Lucy, our cameras and I guess a change of clothes. That would be important. Other than that we are going to be old fashioned wanderers.
We may not always be posting on our blog over the next week, but I hope all of you will check in to see how our travels are progressing.

I hope to post one last blog before I go so check back tomorrow.

Here's a photo for you. Today the sun was shining through the gorgeous trees in our backyard. I had to set down my granola cereal and get my camera to capture the gorgeous flowers.

As she swung her legs back and forth under her desk she peered over her shoulder and returned a goofy faced grin right back at Aron Zampardo. He was the cute kid that everyone girl had a crush on. He was oober athletic and just enough of an extrovert to get himself into a little bit of trouble. Nikole was the quiet blond with a smile that made her face bunch up into a gorgeous grin. It was infectious which must be why Aron continued to taunt her in a little boy crush kind of way. After several years of school, tough tests, and sacked lunches she got a little less shy and a bit more awnry herself. She was able to tease him back about how oober cool and popular he was and their friendship became something special. After high school they didn't see each other much, but then a time came when they became roommates which strengthened their relationship and solidified in their minds that they would always be friends.
Then life threw Nikole a curve ball that changed the direction of her life forever. She began one of the toughest periods of her life and Aron was there right by her side. He lifted her up, held her hand when she needed it and turned her tears in a gorgeous smile.
It wasn't hard for her to see what was happening between their friendship. She had a gorgeous man in her life who loved her, protected her and was willing to walk the toughest roads with her....they fell in love.
Aron + Nikole you have a beautiful love story about a love that can surpass anything. It's love story that only God himself could create. Your love has withstood childhood changes, tough times, lost connections and let's not forget all the teasing. You're family is truly gorgeous and I am so glad that I got to witness your wedding day. Congrats you guys!



So, all morning there was a little more drama than normal. Nikole's little girl had a loose tooth...a very loose tooth which she pulled and tugged on all morning. Everyone helped give pulling advice, painful faces and of course their share of stories as a kid. It made my tummy a little sick, but it was a fun twist on the normal wedding day stuff.











It was quite a big part of the morning.











One of my most favorite parts of the day was just after the ceremony was over. The newly names Zampardo family walked hand in hand out into the lobby where both of the children just burst into tears. It was as if all of this emotion had been building up and now that they were alone they could all share their tears of joy together. It melted my heart to see how much the wedding meant to the kids. Ahh, it was a seriously beautiful moment.

I can feel the intensity in the air and I am so excited. I can smell the fresh flowers, buttercream frosting, champagne and high heels fresh out of the box. Wedding season is approaching fast and there is a buzz in the air. I can not wait to get waist deep in weddings!!!

Here is a little something something from an engagement session we did a few days ago.

"Oh, I can tell you two are truly in love." What?! Really. As a stranger who has never met the couple you can tell that they are truly in love? I always got a bitter look on my face whenever I heard someone saying things like that. How can they possibly know? Jennifer and Graham are the first couple who really made me think that there are circumstances where you really can tell.
Graham is a shy, quiet guy with bright blue eyes and a heart that pounds for only one woman. The lucky woman wore red that day and a sassy pair of heeled boots that just reflected her flirty personality. The two of them were total opposites, but complete compliments all at once. It didn't take long until I realized that this was my "Oh, I can tell you two are truly in love" kind of couple. Of course they did everything just like any other couple, but there was one thing that just explained how deep there love really was.
It started with a light sigh and then it became a deeper sigh. That same breath turned into a heavy heart pounding sigh that let me know that he was more than a little stressed out. Graham was having a hard time. He doesn't like pictures and actually gets outrageously nervous in this exact kind of situation. He never said one complaining word, never a bad look and never refused to smile when Jennifer beamed at him. He just wanted to do his best for the one he loved even though it might have killed him a little inside. He took gorgeous pictures because he really loved her. He didn't know what else to do, but look at her and love her. I kept thinking to myself that he could have just refused to be there or be an "active" part in the photo shoot. But for him to show up and try as hard as he could really showed me that they were truly in love. He took another deep sigh just to calm himself down and it warmed my heart.
I have since told their story to several of my friends who adore tales of love just as much as I do.
Jennifer and Graham, you are a beautiful couple. I want to thank you Graham for being so amazing throughout the entire shoot. I think you have really set the bar for guys...even if it was only Eddie and I watching.



Whenever we have a photo shoot with a new couple we try to build our shoot around who they are together not who we want them to be in that environment. One of my favorite parts of this photo shoot was that it was just so Jennifer + Graham.







We asked them to sit across from each other and just spend time together and this is what we got. Two totally different personalities and a love that just works so well together.

For our wedding I had a list of the things that were "needs" and things that were "wants." We were on a $2,000 budget (for everything!!!!) and we had two months to plan. The needs was a short list that consisted of good food, the color green, and a night time wedding set around candles and everything glowy and oober romantic. The wants list was much longer and I plan on keeping it in my keep sake box because it's so incredibly ridiculous. I love to look back and myself and laugh and just how dorky I was...and am. Anyway, on the list was this fairy tale dream of having sky lanterns lit and lifted off into the night sky. It never happened and I'll admit that I was a little upset about it.
Last night we shot a wedding on Cannon Beach for Lisa + David. I lived precariously through them for one night as I stood wide eyed on the beach as everyone began to light their sky lanterns. In the black of night they carefully held out their colorful paper lantern as they were lit. Shielding them from the wind they protected their glowing balls of light and took a moment to pour wishes upon them for the new couple. The lanterns gently pulled away from their finger tips and lifted off into the sky like fire flies dancing in the deep blue. My heart was pounding as I snapped my shutter over and over again trying to capture the magical moment that was unfolding. It was everything I had dreamed of.
Now that I have seen the sky lanterns in person I can cross that off my "wouda, shouda, coulda" list. Now I know that paper lanterns in the forest would NOT have been a good idea and I really didn't miss out on my fairy tale sky lanterns after all. It would've been just dumb. But, for Lisa & David they were so amazingly magical and perfect for the finishing touch to their wonderful beach wedding.

She comfortingly wrapped her hands around his and urged him to calm down and take a deep breath. She knew he was nervous and hated being in front of the everyone so she did all that she could with a whisper. After 7 years she knows all about him. What makes him laugh, makes him happy and what makes him nervous. They officially found love over evenings at the church where they both went to youth group. He was a lot different than when they first met and there was something so amazing about him, she had to give him a chance. He was always so sweet and nothing changed over the years. The morning of their wedding Tara called him up with a few little reminders just to have him hang up. Why? Because he wanted the first time they talked to be when they actually saw each other. He took the no peaking rule to a new level so he could have an extra special moment with his love.
Their wedding day was so intimate, scattered with family rushing around making sure that everything they could have dreamed of would come true. Every detail was looked after and in careful hands. Friends came from all over to celebrate, dance and be another smiling face shining back as if to say, "we love you two and wish you the very best life has to offer." It's the family and friends that make one wedding so different from the next. They are the ones that make the couple really realize how much people care about them.
From now on Tara and Jon have each other to look after them, but they will always be able to look back to that day to see who is there ready and waiting if they should need them.

Tara + Jon your wedding was gorgeous. You are two very beautiful people who make one amazing couple. We wish you the very best and will be praying for you over the years!

















So the morning of their wedding the boys all ended up at the 7-11 to pick up a few things. Behind the counter they found a small boy who was making cutie catchers (or fortune tellers to the uncool.) They were only a $1 so the boys bought two. One for Tara, one for Jon. Jon opened his and got a profane fortune. They sent one to Tara and she got the same fortune. The actual prediction was nothing to be proud of, but they at least got the same prediction.



My documentation of the fortune and Eddie's














So the little guys wouldn't sit still so I asked them to tickle him...and this is what we got.