Walk with me through Kelsey and Tai’s dreamy day. Their wedding was a cold day in November that ended up being coated in the most beautiful snow storm.
Venue – Northern Pacific Center in Brainard MN – https://www.northernpacificcenter.com/
I first met Mason & Selin in Florida, of all places. They were guests at a wedding I was photographing there. Read more about how we met here.
I had been so excited about this wedding. Simply because of them. We have become so close over the last year and I am so excited to see how they grow in love and what they accomplish in this world. Because I know that they will do great things together.
Their wedding day was perfect! I felt like I got to be a part of their fairy tail day!
One of those weddings that I want to relive over and over again! You could feel the joy all day long.
Mason and Selin met as little kids. Selin actually told a childhood friend the day she saw Mason that she was going to marry that boy! How amazing, to know your husband since you were both so young. To literally, grow up together.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful lake side wedding at The Quarterdeck Resort.
More to come soon on Selin’s sunrise session the next day!
Mason and Selin chose not to see each other before their ceremony. They had a moment alone, with eyes closed to talk and pray. I could hardly keep myself together standing in that room. Sweet Mason wouldn’t even touch her dress, he didn’t want it to give him any hints of what it looked like before she walked down the isle.
The sweetest little newborn session! I always love when families come out to the studio for their sessions. The lighting is my favorite. Its almost edible! Baby Grant was total perfection for hi session. He slept the entire time and loved all the cuddles. Big sister Quinn was so loving and I always enjoy giving the older sibling some time in front of the camera alone!
I hope this brings you joy today! That you feel the sweetness all over!
I so love a sweet in home newborn session.
I met this beautiful family 2 years ago for their son Luke’s newborn session. This is one of my favorite parts of this amazing thing that I get to call a job… that I get to watch families and children grow.
Sweet Alaina was born on the 8th of October. Katie and Josh chose to wait and see whether their baby would be a boy or a girl. This is one of the best surprises I think this life has to offer for us.
I hope you enjoy this sweet session and that it fills you with joy and hope today!
Warmly,
Krista
Mark and Courtney met while out one night with friends. They went on their first date two nights later and have been inseparable ever since. It’s so easy to love this couple!
I had met Mark a few years ago at another wedding and then later that same year at his sisters wedding. He is such an incredible guy and his family radiates that same nature as well. I am continually blown away at the people that I have met just this year. The families and the stories that I get to be a part of.
Mark and Courtney had such an awesome day! Everything was wonderful. I especially loved their ceremony. Their Pastor spoke about the way that great marriages have the ability to change the world. I fully believe this. And if any couple is going to make big changes its going to be Mark and Courtney. The kindness and love that they share with others is completely genuine. I wish you could all personally know them. I am so looking forward to seeing how they change the world with their love story!
Another amazing and surprisingly fun part of their day was when Goldy Gopher showed up during the best man’s speech! He even stayed and danced the night away with everyone. Now that’s an awesome wedding gift!
Mark and Courtney- thank you so much for sharing your love story with me.
Cheers…
Venue: Minnesota Valley Country Club
Church: St. John Neumann Catholic Church
D.J.: Instant Request
Florist: Design in Bloom
Cake: Hyvee (Eagan location/ Baker Kelley
Dress: Effie’s Bridal
Bridesmaids Dress’s: Davids Bridal
Hair & Make-up: Primped
Party Bus: Aspen Limos
Suits: Savvi Formalwear
How many people do you know can say they met their soul mate in kindergarten? I know that this was the first time I had ever heard it.
Max & Jenni have literally grown up together. I find that so rare and so special.
Their wedding day was full of tears… “Happy tears” as Jenni says.
As we got ready for their first look Max chocked up with the thought of his soon to be bride coming towards him. From there on the day was full of tears and kissing! Every time Max looked at Jenni he teared up and then he kissed her. What an amazing memory to have from your day! That your husband couldn’t stop his joyful tears at the thought of you becoming his wife and then he couldn’t stop himself from kissing your lips. It was such an incredible day to be a part of.
Max and Jenni were married at Legacy Hills Farm in Welsh, MN. I was so excited to be at this venue. It is beautiful everywhere you look.
Jenni also has amazing taste. From her dress to her florals, I was in photographers heaven! I loved her bouquet wrapped with a piece of her mothers wedding dress. Every detail was beautifully crafted. I hope you enjoy this love story as much as I did. Congratulations Max and Jenni and thank you so much for having me.
Jenni did a first look with her Dad too! Such a sweet idea!
Alex and Kelly were married on June 17th, 2017 in Taylors Falls, Minnesota at the beautiful Maple Ridge Farm.
I have been looking forward to this barn wedding for months. The moment I saw that big swing in the barn online my heart skipped a beat! It was everything I thought it would be.
Alex and Kelly have known each other for years! Their relaxed relationship with one another is going to make for a wonderful marriage. They are that kind of “friend” to one another that you always imagine yourself growing old with. They share a mutual love for things that go vroom; Motorcycles, fast cars, jeeps, and all cool engines. You know when your bride pulls up in a bright yellow mustang looking like Hollywood that it’s going to be a great day.
Kelly had driven her mustang to one of our meetings before the wedding day and, as she was leaving, our daughter Paisley yelled out, “Wow, that car is awesome!!!” That comment made both of our days!
The day started with Kelly and her girls all getting ready at the hotel. The guys had spent the night at the barn house and were getting ready there! Alex and Kelly had chosen not to do a first look but to see each other for the first time that day when Kelly got down the isle. My favorite moment of the day was when Alex read a letter that Kelly had written to him. His face says it all in the images!
It was such a beautiful day full of joy and happy tears. Alex and Kelly danced the night away with friends and family. They will soon be on their way to Alaska on their honeymoon to travel the state and fish. It sounds delightful.
Thank you so much Alex and Kelly for having me, it was an honor.
Caterer: Devine Swine
Florist: 101 Market
Stylist: Flawless Images
DJ: Party Patrol
Bar: Log Cabin Catering
Boots: Ariat
Venue: Maple Ridge Farm
Ryan and Liz met in Florida of all places, on a work trip. They quickly hit it off and Ryan stepped out and asked for Liz’s number with the help of a friend. I think its such a cool start to their story having both been from Minnesota and then meeting in Florida for a conference! The perfect timing for sure!
The day of the wedding Liz walked into the church glowing. She was one of the calmest and happiest brides! Her joy radiated onto everyone else that day. We started the day at the church and then headed to Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings MN. A beautiful park over looking the river. The day was HOT… 98 degrees to be exact, but that didn’t keep us indoors. The heat plus the wind would have scared most people off from doing outdoor photos. But, not Ryan and Liz. We found the perfect little trail for their first look and the rest of the day flowed really well.
Their reception was held at the gorgeous JX Event Venue in Downtown Stillwater. It was the perfect setting! The vibe of this wedding was so full of life. I wanted to stay and dance the night away too. Ryan and Liz make everyone feel so welcome and so do their families. The day was absolutely perfect! Ryan and Liz are a couple that you want to know. It has been a joy getting to know them over the last year.
Flowers: Tommy Carver
Dessert’s: Bread and Chocolate
Bridal Gown: Amelishan
Bridesmaid Dresses: The Wedding Shoppe
Suits: Mens Wearhouse
Brides Boots: Ariats
DJ: Manny with Instant Request
The woman at the well is a very popular story told all over church congregations and in Christian circles world wide. We have all heard it preached or touched on.
Jesus is at the well in Samaria resting while the disciples head into town to find food. Now, it’s the middle of the day in the desert, the sixth hour, that means it’s HOT! I’m not talking it’s a little hot… It’s the desert. I personally have never been to the desert, but I can imagine that it’s not very pleasant. It’s the kind of hot and dry that keeps us indoors in the summer. The kind of HOT that melts ice cream in a moment and leaves you sticky and unsatisfied.
So, it’s the sixth hour and Jesus is hanging out at this well. The women of the town have collected their water in the early morning when it’s not yet this hot. Smart women! Who wants to go carry heavy water in the desert when it gets warmer during the day? Not this girl! So along comes a woman, in the middle of the day, to collect her water.
Why is she coming in the heat of the day to get her water?
Because all of the other women have left at this point and won’t be there. She has no desire to be around them. To be around the women that would judge her; that would talk about her behind her back (or in front of her, for that matter). Have you ever walked into a room or conversation and all of the chatter comes to sudden halt? And you just feel icky, and know that the conversation might have been about you? That’s how I imagine this woman feeling when she goes to the well in the morning with all the other women. She feels alone, judged, misunderstood, and out of place.
Can you relate? I can.
You see, this woman has now had 5 husbands and the man she’s living with now is not her husband. In that time this was NOT OK. You didn’t live with men unless they were your husband or a family member. You also didn’t typically get married more than once. Also, women were not really spoken to by men. So imagine her surprise when Jesus starts speaking to her and asking her for a drink.
I could imagine her turning and looking around to make sure he was really talking to her, and not someone else. Like when you think someone is waving at you, and you wave back, and then realize they are waving at someone behind you, and it gets real weird for all parties involved…!
And then Jesus does the unthinkable by asking her for a drink of water. He asks a Samaritan (who the Jews did not speak to) woman (who the men did not speak to) for a drink. The crazy thing is that He knows all of her sins. He knows exactly who she is. He is God, He is all knowing! She doesn’t understand, and asks Him why he has nothing to draw water with himself? Jesus goes on to to say to her “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
The woman stands there dumbfounded! Not only does Jesus have nothing to draw water from the well with, but what “living water” is he talking about? She asks him if he is greater than Jacob, the man who built the well. Until this point, Jacob has been the one to look to. Jesus explains to her that “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
“SIR, GIVE ME THIS WATER, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE THIRSTY OR HAVE TO COME HERE TO DRAW WATER.”
This request is simple. She still has no idea that she is talking to Christ, but the idea of never being humanly thirsty again and never having to come to this well in the middle of the day again sounds so sweet to her that she asks for it right then and there. It’s then that Jesus tells her that he knows all her sins. About her many husbands and the man she lives with now. She thinks he may be a prophet. She knows that the Messiah is coming. She tells him this. She has a full understanding of what she has heard up until this point. That Christ will come and “He will tell us all things.” That’s what she says to Jesus.
John 4:25- The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
I can’t imagine what she must be trying to process in this moment. This guy knows everything about me and he says he has living water, that I will never be thirsty again??? Who is this man?
He then says (probably very cool-ly) “I who speak to you am he.”
This sweet woman then drops her water jar! Can you see it falling to her dirty and dry feet as she realizes who she is speaking to? The water splashing all over the ground and her taking off towards town? The NLT version of the bible says that she “ran back to the village, telling everyone.”
She RAN, in the heat of the day because she was welling over with living water. She RAN back to the town where she has been mocked, left alone, pushed away, disgraced, and unaccepted, to tell these people about Jesus! The very people who she made a point to steer clear of by gathering her water in the heat of the day. She couldn’t contain herself. And they all listened. They all went and believed.
This woman was a sinner and Jesus chose her to RUN and tell everyone about him. He could have picked anyone from that town. He could have gotten there in the early morning and sat with all the other women who would have been there filling their water jars. But he waited for that sinner. That lost woman, needing a friend, a savior, and living water, so that she would never be thirsty again.
I love that Jesus uses the stories of the sinners to speak to this world. He wants your mess because he is BIGGER than it. He covers it and the moment you grasp that you will have no choice but to well over with that living water and splash it on everyone else. Oh my gosh, LORD give me that water! I don’t want to contain it! I want to drop my jar of problems at my feet, at your feet, in the heat of the day and RUN to the people who despise me, to tell them about you! I want to cast aside all my fear of judgment because you are the ultimate judge. Lord let my life well over with your living water.
A while back I got the privilege to meet baby Sawyer! I have been photographing this sweet family since Avery, their oldest was 3 months old! That was almost 5 years ago now!
I have always had a wonderful time with this sweet family. I was so excited to find out that they would be having another baby. And you guys, he is so crazy loved by his big sisters.
We did Sawyers session in the studio when he was about about 6 days old! The perfect age for a newborn session.
I love the light in the studio for newborn sessions. It is so fresh and bright and life giving. Happy spring!
What can say about Jason and Amelia? They are just the best!!
After 7 years of dating this is a couple that knows who one another is, what sets them on fire. You can see it shine through them when they are together! They have the most genuine smiles towards one another. They are just the cutest.
Jason and Amelia didn’t know what exactly they wanted for their engagement session so they gave me the go ahead to do whatever I wanted! So, I did. I set out to find a dress, a florist, a canoe, and a bunch of food to style their session to perfection. I love that they were open to anything. Even when that “anything” meant getting in a canoe, on a really windy day, on a cold lake and standing up in it while I shouted directions from shore.
It was such a fun shoot and I am so excited for their June wedding. They are a beautiful couple with so much life to give to those around them.
I hope this session inspired you to do something fun, and maybe even a little out of your comfort zone.
Floral Styling by : Cassie, of Two Designs
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