• This is my THIRD couple that has met due to ballroom dancing!  I adore ballroom so it always makes me smile when I hear this.  I also always know that I’m in for a treat when it comes to the dancing at the reception!

• I didn’t meet either until the day of their wedding due to the fact they live in San Francisco.  It happens more often than not!

• It was another crazy Ohio weather day with a misty rain that continued off and on all day.  These guys were troopers though and went ahead with the plans for pictures outside and an outdoor ceremony.

• Because of the rain and the way the clouds were the light was beautiful (as you’ll see in the pics below).  Sometimes I prefer a sunny day + open shade but this day had the absolute most perfect light.  It was like they brought a little bit of California with them.

• I really love when the brides are super hands on with their wedding.  Tracey even took over as the florist for her wedding and the result was spectacular!

Vendors

Cake: Bride’s Mom (AWESOME!)
Catering: Smith’s Catering
Ceremony/Reception: Holden Arboretum Lantern Court
Music: Todd Stoll Quintet Band

I don’t know why but I absolutely adore this image.

I love that they saw each other before the ceremony so we could get a ton of pics in, it also worked out because not too long after the ceremony the rain went from drizzly mist to a steady rain.

This image got a TON of raves when I posted it on my Facebook page (it’s where everything is always current make sure to be a fan!) and I have to admit… I love it too.

Most of the bridal party was made up of siblings, I love that!

I love how the girls had flowers in their hair!

I told the guys to give me James Bond… Matt was saying “that’s CHARLIE’S ANGELS” when this happened.  We all laughed really hard!

*sigh*  They are too perfect for each other! 🙂

Tracey you were a stunning bride!

Matt you were quite the dapper fellow!!

It’s so hard to choose favorites, especially when a day had such perfect light but this is definitely one of the top favorites from the day.  I asked Matt if he knew how to dip and they both laughed… this is when I found out that they met ballroom dancing!

One last final sweet moment in the garden…

Matt is an amazing pianist and one of his gifts to Tracey was playing her a song he composed for her in the moments before their ceremony.  I must admit that I was tearing up when I took this.  Such a beautiful moment!

This meandering path through the forest near the ceremony site may possibly be my favorite aisle ever.  I grew up toddling after my father on paths such as these so this image tugged at my heartstrings just a bit.  While it wasn’t the easiest to photograph, this path was so amazingly perfect in so many ways.  Also I should note that no extra lighting was used here – I was asked a few times what my flash setup was and there was no flash, just amazing light!

During the ceremony Tracey read Matt a letter she’d wrote him for the ceremony.  It was beautiful.

After the ceremony Tracey spent some time greeting guests and this pose was just too perfect not to catch!

Although the perfect cake bites are always lovely, I must admit that a hardy smash is much more fun to photograph!

Rings 🙂

Needless to say, Tracey and Matt’s first dance was choreographed!

Now I get the giggles over the dip!!  I also was elated that they dipped so that I could get a good shot of it – so often the dip occurs at an angle that isn’t the best in images!

A beautiful father daughter dance always makes me happy (and sniffly!).

The night ended (for me) after a perfect son and mother dance!

Thank you guys so much for having me along with you on your special day!!!