Laura and Preston had the picture-perfect day for an outdoor wedding last fall.  True, it was a little chilly, but I’ll take that over heat and humidity any day!  Fort Wayne was the location chosen for their celebration as it provided the perfect meet-in-the-middle scenario for their families who traveled in.  The day began downtown in the bridal suite…details, details!

Laura is STUNNING!!!!  She is even more beautiful within.

Laura and Preston had the entire day expertly planned…which included a First Look!  Preston’s expression is perfectly Preston.  He knew Laura was approaching behind him and he was talking to me or her, I can’t remember!  I’m not sure if it was his nerves or just Preston being himself.  He is a crack up!  Best of all, Laura thinks so too :)

After pictures downtown (and a trip through the Burger King drive-thru), we picked up again at the park where the ceremony took place.

On the grounds, there is a great pavilion where the wedding party waited for the wedding to begin.  Another perfect opportunity for a few portraits of Laura in the gorgeous light!  She is pure joy!!!

The ceremony was gorgeous!  Tucked into a little corner provided by thick trees, it was a cozy affair with the added noise of leaves crunching underfoot :)  Another fun detail of the day, the Mayor of Fort Wayne performed the ceremony!

Off to the reception just a couple of blocks away.  The entire wedding party walked and lived it up while doing so!

Preston and his Grandma took a few crazy spins on the dance floor.  I see where Preston gets his fun-loving nature!

Laura and Preston, what a wonderful celebration of your love!  The day was more joyful and fun-loving than I can explain.  I hope you both have similar memories when you look back.

Thanks for the opportunity, the cheesecake and for rescuing my equipment from the trunk of the town car.  Seriously, I’m still laughing about that one.  All the best to you for a wonderful life together!!

So, so hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since Deyton entered this world and made Kelly and Seth parents and also became my first Weeds baby!  It has been such a pleasure to return to their home every few months and spend time with them.  It really feels like you become a part of someone’s family when they allow you document such a personal milestone.  Kelly joked that when I first came, she and Seth were worried about how clean their house was….and when I came for the one year session, she told Seth just to leave things as they are and Erin would move them if she needed to :)   Being that I am a  “5-minute shove everything into a closet because someone is coming over” gal, I took that as a huge compliment to our friendship (although their home is ALWAYS immaculate!).

Deyton’s little personality was really shining that day!  His laughs were constant and got even bigger when Grandma showed up!

At each session, we have photographed Deyton with this same basketball that belongs to Daddy.  It’s great to look back and compare Deyton’s size to that of the ball!

Kelly and Seth, thank you so much for sharing your son with me over this first year of his life!  I have so enjoyed spending time with all of you and comparing parenting stories!  And we’ll always have the memory of the poison ivy from his 9-month session :)  Your little man is the sweetest, most adorable thing and I just adore him to pieces!

Here’s a little recap of Deyton over the past year!

I arrived at Austin’s home one warm evening to meet him and his mom, Andrea for the first time.  After corresponding over the phone, Andrea and I knew their beautiful property would be the perfect location for Austin’s entire session.  With gorgeous landscaping and stone facades, it was easy to find endless places to shoot!

Austin was mostly quiet throughout his session…what I think of as the “typical” senior boy.  By this I would guess he was a little less than thrilled when he was told that he had to be in front of my camera for a couple of hours!  But he was a wonderful sport about the two of us women telling him where to stand and what to wear.  And we were right, I loved him in that yellow sweater :)

Austin, it was my absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with you!  Thanks to you and your mom for showing me around the place and allowing me into your home.  Ever since then, I’ve paid much more attention to the Bengals than I would have before!  Enjoy the rest of your senior year.