Excuse my Absense

Please excuse my absence from my blog for the next few weeks! But, do check back in August for some beautiful families and some pretty awesome weddings:).

Ashley & Dave | Slippery Rock, PA Wedding Photography

One of my favorite portions of a wedding day is the time for toasts.  I always look forward to hearing the carefully chosen words of those dearest to the bride and groom. I heard some funny and moving toasts this past Saturday, but something one of the best men said stuck with me.  I don't remember his exact words, but he shared that Dave is always concerned with the comfort and happiness of his friends and family.  And I know that everyone would agree that this is true of Ashley as well.  All day on Saturday, Jake and I watched Dave and Ashley care for those around them.  Let me fix your dress, Mom.  Make sure we get a picture with my Aunt.  Did you guys eat yet? Oh, I have grasshoppers all over my dress?...It's okay, let's finish the pictures!  It was their wedding day, but they were always looking out for the comfort of their family, friends, and even their photographers!  

Thank you so much, Ashley and Dave, for asking us to document your wedding day!  It was an honor to be with you two, truly.  We hope you're having a fabulous honeymoon--from the mountains to the beach:).  And even more, may you be blessed with a long, wonderful marriage! 

I decided to change things up and blog this wedding a bit differently (and more extensively)...I hope you all enjoy it! 

I loved watching Ashley get ready with her mom and bridesmaids at her side. The room was filled

with singing and laughter! Ashley was such a happy bride, not to mention a stunning one.

After getting ready, we headed outside to capture some portraits on the grounds of Oakview.  The 

golf club has so many gorgeous landscapes for wedding photographs.  It was quite warm (and we 

went out before and after the ceremony), but everyone was so flexible and wonderful to photograph! 

I'm grateful to say that Ashley & Dave had an indoor ceremony at the golf club, as in with AC:).

 Dave's cousin officiated the ceremony and did a terrific job. 

Married!! Ashley, Dave, and their families put together a fantastic reception for
their guests, complete with dinner, dancing, and custom donuts from Clark's!

Ashley and Dave opted to do sunset pictures and I'm so glad. The light was gorgeous!

I'll end with a capture from their sparklers exit, a sweet surprise from Ashley's parents!

Venue | Oakview Golf Club
Dress | David's Bridal
Hair | Shear Excellence
Flowers | Hillberry Consulting
Donuts | Clark's Donuts
DJ | Magic Moments Disk Jockey Service

Chelsey | Grove City, PA Lifestyle Photography

I'm not sure where to begin with Chelsey.  I took these photographs several weeks ago, and I've had this post put together for days.  But the words...oh, the words have been escaping me.  How do you condense a 15+ year friendship into a few paragraphs for a blog post?  I guess that you just can't. But I do want to give you a peek into the sweet, loving, always-growing, grace-filled, kindred soul of my dear best friend. 

I met Chelsey my freshman year of high school in Bakersfield, California.  My family had just moved to California and I started my first day of high school without as much as an acquaintance.  Within a few days, God gave me Chelsey. She was the most unabashedly gregarious person I had ever met.  Add to that our shared faith and common interests in music, literature, and swimming--it didn't take long for our friendship to flourish. By senior year, we were best friends. We went separate ways after high school and, with the exception of summers during college, have never really lived near one another again.  But our friendship has remained through all of the distance, and I couldn't be more grateful! 

Chelsey is a marathon runner, a song-writer, a kick-butt barista, a world traveler, an amazing wife, a body image ambassador...I could go on. She is the kind of girl that pulls you in. She wears everything on her sleeve, is always up for an adventure, and considers no topic off limits. Oh, the stories I have with this girl!  Driving through our hometown's popular teen hang-out spot screaming at the top of our lungs from a Jeep convertible tops the list.  But more significant than Chelsey's infectious personality is her intimate relationship with Jesus.  I don't talk about my faith much on this blog, but I really can't talk about Chelsey without sharing our faith. This girl has faced her fair share of sorrows, but her story is beautiful. It's a story of her persistent, humble, and strong faith. But more so, it's a story of God's relentless, lavish, and indelible grace.

Well, Chelsey just came out for a visit last month and it was perfect. While she was here, we stole away one evening to capture a few photographs.  They are some of my favorites that I've ever taken--not because of the externals necessarily (though I am proud of them), but because they showcase Chelsey as she is--beautifully confident and at peace with the woman God made her to be.  I love you, Chelsey!