I’ve known Becca since I was around 12 or so, meeting her in middle school where in North Canton, all of the local elementary schools combine. She was always so nice and friendly and while we were never super close, I always thought of her with high regard. We continued to be friendly all through the rest of our years together, sharing some hours together in choir with dear old Mr. Hayward. Ahh, Hoover. How I miss thee. OK… maybe not. After graduation everyone goes their own ways but due to MySpace (snicker now!) we reconnected a few years ago. Before I even started with the idea of being a wedding photographer, Becca told me she wanted me to take pictures at her wedding if/when she got married. She knew that Greg was THE ONE but just wasn’t sure when THAT QUESTION would be asked. Eventually it was – just as I very very very started with this whole shooting weddings for a living idea. Becca saw my early work with landscapes and random people and saw something she liked and told me then she HAD TO HAVE ME no matter what. Awwwh, so flattering.

A hop, skip and a year or so later, she finally nails down a location and things start rolling with the planning and of course I’m on board. I got to go down with Becca and her awesome Mom to see the venue and get ideas for shooting. We had a fun girly day and finished it up with me being introduced to the best thing to hit fast food ever, Chick Fil A Sauce, YUM!

Becca has been counting down the wedding with “I’M GETTING MARRIED” being a often heard cry from her in person or Facebook (does anyone really use MySpace anymore??). She was SO excited to spend the rest of her life officially hitched to Greg! I have to say, it’s awesome to see her so happy. He’s a great guy and treats her the way she deserves to be treated – like the princess she is!

The day arrived and I spent the day taking pics of her and the girls getting ready and all the fun stuff that leads to the final walk down the aisle. While the skies threatened rain all day, there was not a drop that fell at all on her wedding day. Everything went off perfectly, the way that Becca envisioned it. The ceremony was short but meaningful and full of laughs and the recessional was perfect – them literally running down the aisle to the Dueling Banjos and leaving in their getaway car.

The reception was much of the same perfectness. Beautiful toasts, heartfelt dances with special loved ones and magical laughter was abound. The night wound down with Becca’s favorite thing, karaoke. Have I mentioned that Becca is a country singer as well as moonlights as a DJ? She is and she does! Kicking off the night was Greg’s son, then Becca’s son brought down the HOUSE with his rendition of “Boom Boom Pow” and rounding out the children was Becca’s daughter sung some Lady GaGa with a friend. The final kicker to all of these kids with some serious pipes and amazing talent was the flower girl (niece to the bride) singing some ABBA.

Now I’m going to mention something that was going on behind the scenes as a little tip for photographers. After the ceremony, my camera was dropped, breaking my 24-70 lens to the point that it couldn’t be used. I was easily able to recover, using my prime lenses to take up for the lengths I was missing …. but how many photographers out there have backups to your lenses? I hear time and time again on forums that you must have backups of bodies (which I have double of) but how often do you hear backups of lenses. If I didn’t have my primes with me, I would not have been able to shoot virtually ANY formals due to the restrictions of the venue on where I could shoot. I literally would not have been able to back up enough without either running into a wall or an area of the venue that I was told if I set foot on I’d be thrown out. Even if your backups are off-brand, I strongly urge all photographers to make sure that you’re not only carrying backups of camera bodies but the major focal lengths as well (a wide angle, a mid-range and a telephoto).

Now… onto the pictures and a final THANK YOU to Becca and Greg for choosing me to capture your day!

Vendors:
Cake Artist: Litty’s Cakes
Ceremony/Reception/Catering: Lakeside Center
DJ: DC Sound Productions
Florist/Decorations: Joy Monastra

Becca and Greg had a bet that the other would cry on the wedding day. Becca tried VERY hard to be the one that didn’t cry, but Greg was sneaky and sent over a beautiful letter with the clincher – earrings that were VERY unexpected. She cried, but it made for a beautiful moment!

I love when flower girls are particular about petal placement!

Becca and Greg’s kids – Max, Lexa and Austin – walked down the aisle to a prerecorded song which Becca sang.

When I first saw this image when editing, I thought it was a final squee of glee from Becca knowing that she was getting married. She later corrected me telling me that in fact, she was stepping on her dress and about to fall!!! Luckily she righted herself and no one was the wiser.

A sand ceremony with all the kids! I loved this idea!

The getaway!!!!

One of my very favorite bridesmaids pics EVER. One of Becca’s bridesmaids had a picture of her trying to “run” away and her bridesmaids holding her back by her dress. However when we recreated this, Becca ended up falling but wasn’t hurt and laughed and laughed. Made for a great moment!

The guys were just as much fun as the girls!

Yummy light + awesome love = win!

My couples make my job so easy…

Boom boom booooom….. boom boom booom!

Finishing the night (for me at least) singing to her new hubby!