Alexandra & Andy got married on the loveliest rainy spring day in early May of 2021! This micro-wedding at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, and a backyard reception, will forever be a highlight for me.
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Cedar Falls
Trent and Jessica will be getting married in just under 2 months, so it was high time to get some engagement photos taken for them! I’ve known Jess for a while, and so when she emailed me that she knew the two of them would be getting engaged shortly and she wanted me to photograph them, well, how could I say no!?
Niki and Sam both teach music, in different schools in Northern Iowa. In fact, they technically meet in college at the University of Northern Iowa (go figure and Go Panthers!) but didn’t start to actually interact until a few years later, post college. I love them and the photos we captured together in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa!
I adore these two humans! I met Kurt long before Kristen was in the picture. He’s always been a solid man of God, serving those around him with humble strength. I can’t even remember meeting Kristen, but I do remember her senior year, we just “clicked” and I decided that this girl was one that I wanted to keep up with after college. Not that we’re best friends, but I have a fond place in my heart for this girl! She and Kurt started dating that year, and it just made sense.
If, like me, you’ll be doing some shopping online as the turkey and mashed potatoes settle this evening and into the weekend, I’ve got some great tips for you to look into! Besides finding great deals to help me stretch my bank account, I’m a huge advocate of shopping local and supporting small businesses. I have collected quite the resume of local shops in Iowa (mainly in Cedar Falls, Ames, and Des Moines) so pull out your legal pad of paper (or iPad!) and let’s get planning!
As an Iowa wedding photographer, I’ve photographed over 50 midwestern weddings and attended 20-30 more! However, I’ve only been in a bridal party a few times in my life. Two years ago, my best friend got married and I had the honor of standing up with her as one of her maids-of-honors. It was a wonderful day, and I also learned quite a bit! Here are a few lessons from my day in Erin’s wedding.
Kelly is friends with Aimee through their classes at Cedar Falls High School. Kelly andI met up for coffee earlier this summer, and bonded over our mutual love of the local Cup of Joe and UNI Suzuki’s violin program! It was even more fun getting to know her last weekend, when we wandered around CF for her senior pictures. :)
It’s been a busy summer of fun and travel. I can’t believe that we’re almost halfway through it already! Clarissa (the sister) and I traveled to Chi-Town, I camp counseled High School girls for a week, and we celebrated the 4th of July. What else could you ask for?! :)
We began photos at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, where Danae and her ladies were snacking on bagels, drinking sparkling cider, and getting made up. Knowing some of those women made the morning extra fun for me! Danae had chosen a gorgeous deep purple for her bridesmaids to wear, and I just have to say--this may be one of my favorite color palettes! Not to mention her ring...heavenly. I'm so thankful to have had the time for detail photos, especially the sweet heirloom handkerchief Danae carried!
People, and new friendships, are some of the very best things about life. (I'm also an extrovert and suuuuper people oriented...so that's probably why!!) It's been so fun for me to get to know Emily and Rich over the past 3 years. They are servant-hearted people, generous givers, and so kind! As I've gotten to know them and spend more time with them, I've also been able to watch their family grow. Last year, they added the cutest (and strong willed!) little girl into their family. It's been amazing to watch her change and grow, both physically and in personality! She definitely wasn't sure about the camera (or me, for that matter) but we still managed to capture some fun family photos!
It isn't too late to schedule a family session this fall! I have a few spots open yet in November, so shoot me an email via the contact page above if you want some updated family photos for your Christmas cards!
With love,
Amelia Renee
I am so thankful to have been the one to document Madeline and Steven's first day of marriage! These two are beyond the best together, and I loved how joyful and God honoring the day was! The way Steven looked at Maddy all day, and the sweet way she always rested on him, shows the deep level of love and tender care they have for one another. These two tied the knot at Trinity Bible Church in Cedar Falls, and held their reception at the beautiful Old Fifty-Six Barn in Grundy Center!
Enjoy a few of my favorite moments and photos from their wedding day!
Once the girls were all ready, we headed over to the first look location. Since their reception was at a barn, but too far away to get to before the reception, Steven and Maddy decided to have their first look at the barn where we shot their engagement photos! I love the consistency in that. Plus, it was a gorgeous spot!
Vendors
Venue: Old Fifty-Six Barn in Grundy Center
Flowers: Bancroft Flowers
Caterer: Moment in Thyme
Event Planner: Ladybugs
One of the joys in being a photographer is that it's a natural way to connect with people…including friends from my high school days! It's wild to believe that my class graduated from Cedar Falls High seven years ago. What's even crazier, is that I haven't seen many of my high school friends since then. So much can happen in seven years, so when Annie emailed me about updating their family photos, I jumped on that!
Annie married Josiah a year after we graduated, and they now have two adorable little boys! Their family is fun and caring—I could tell just how close they are when their oldest told me that his favorite superhero is his daddy. *cue all the heart eyes* It was a treat to shoot some family pictures for the Smith family…you just can't go wrong with cute little dudes in chambray, right?!
Clare met me for coffee in April, and I just knew from the beginning that she was the kind of gal I wanted on my Senior Model team! [If you live in Cedar Falls or Waterloo & want a deal on your senior photos, mention to me that you know Clare!] This girl has a heart bigger than Texas, sees the Lord in the details of life, and cares about each and every person she encounters. Not only is her character amazing, but she is talented. She writes for the Tiger HiLine, the CFHS newspaper, and has been in theatre productions at Cedar Falls High School…where she will be a senior this fall! It was so much fun to photograph her senior photos…and I can't wait to see what adventures her senior year (and beyond) hold for her!
We started off wandering the downtown Cedar Falls area, found some beautiful flowers (one of her only requests!) and then finally made our way outside of town to chase the sunset. You just can't go wrong shooting in a field in June at sunset in Iowa! (Oh…and we ended with some 4-Queens Ice Cream!!) I hope that these photos capture just how joyful and sweet Clare is—of course, they don't compare to being with this gal, but maybe you can just pretend. ;)
You know couples trust you when they agree to take their engagement photos outside…during the winter! Maddie and Steven both grew up in Cedar Falls, started dating in high school (I actually got to take both of their senior photos!), and have been attending UNI the past few years. Steven proposed to Maddy this fall, just down the street from Cup of Joe, where we started off their engagement photos. I'm so excited for their August wedding, which will certainly be much warmer than their engagement session! ;) Enjoy a few of my favorite photos!
“I’m gonna live where the green grass grows
Watchin’ my corn pop up in rows
Every night be tucked in close to you
Raise our kids where the good Lord’s blessed
Point our rocking chairs towards the west
Plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows”
It's hard to express this day with words. Jess was my very closest friend for three years in high school, and watching her move away to college after graduation was so hard for my little 18 year old heart. However, our friendship remained constant…through twitter, skype, and the occasional sleepover. A few years in, Jessa started talking to a boy. Brandon. "B." And wouldn't you know it, college graduation, way too many miles of driving most weekends, a puppy-turned-dog, and grad school later, they are finally married!
Photographing Jessa's wedding day was so very sweet. It's what we dreamed of in high school, come true at last! Actually, it's not. It's better. Because our dreams in high school were sub-par and awfully hilarious. Good thing God knows better than that. ;) Enjoy Jess and Brandon's wedding day photos—a sweet summer day full of sunshine, prairie flowers, family, friends, and so much love!
Beth and I bonded for the first time when we were both bridesmaids in her brother's wedding. I remember keeping an eye on Erik & Beth during the reception, thinking they were both fun together, and hoping in the back of my mind that someday…down the road, of course!… that they'd maybe ask me to photograph their wedding. Sure enough, they got engaged & Beth send me an email not long after! These two get married later this month in Des Moines, and I'm excited to photograph their intimate wedding day. :)
“I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t
Want anybody else but you.”
Jon decided to come visit Erin for her birthday weekend. They went on a picnic date out at Big Woods Lake…little did Erin know what was to come after they wined & dined! Jon challenged Erin to a "most artistic photo" contest. While she lay on the ground photographing some flowers, Jon removed the battery from the camera he was using and slipped in a ring…and once Erin pulled out what was making the "mystery rattling noise," Jon got down on one knee...
These next photos are (selfishly) my favorite…after they'd had a few minutes, Jon yelled out, "AMELIA! You can come out now!" Erin's face & reaction was priceless. She'd wanted me to photograph this for sooooo long, but had told me multiple times she didn't think Jon knew that, or that he'd ask me. Little did she know that he'd started the conversation back in March. 4 months previous. HAH!
After more gawking and freaking out and us generally not knowing what to do next…we walked around the park area & took more photos! Because, what else are two photographers going to do? ;)
And, it wouldn't be a celebration without heading home to share news with the family & eating some Scratch cupcakes! ;) Erin & Jon, I'm so thankful to have been a part of this life-changing evening, and even more thankful to walk with you both through life for the rest of our years as friends.
