Katelyn is from Chicago, Chris is a Dallas boy.  They love sports and each other.

Where should we go for their engagement session?  Some place fun and romantic?  Maybe a picnic basket and a red & white blanket?  Nope.

How about someplace loud and rowdy where a fight might break out and they can get mad at each other?  Yes! Perfect!  A Stars & Blackhawks game!

My favorite thing about these two is how Chris keeps Katelyn laughing.  It was hard to NOT get a photo of her just cracking up when they were together.

Sometime around the 2nd period the photo session came to an end.  You see, Katelyn’s Blackhawks were beating Chris’ Stars 3-0.  Chris got a little grumpy.

That’s ok though.  (I work for the bride.)

Meagan & Joe had such a fantastic wedding day at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, AR.

They had such a great time during their First Look; we are gonna jump straight to those photos. :)

I love when couples have a chance to just sit and talk before their day gets rolling.  Joe said “I can’t believe people get married without seeing each other.”  Meagan kept going on and on about how he helps calm her down.  And now that she had seen him, she finally was able to settle down a bit.

Pop.

Most brides know it’s coming… most forget.  I love the giggle they always let out right after.

Reception was at the Little Rock Club.   30 floors up. :)

After the toast when the party was about to start, the guys took off their jackets to reveal theses amazing shirts.  They are their “Party Shirts.”

And party we did.

Meagan & Joe, thank you for sharing your day with me.
Joe, thank you for your service.
Meagan, thank you for sharing your husband with our country.

Megan & Stephen’s story began like most great love stories.

Boy meets car.  Girl meets car.  Boy & Girl meet at car meeting.

You see Megan & Stephen first met at a Dallas Camaro car club meeting.  At first they didn’t quite hit it off.  I asked Megan about this and this is what she had to say.

Megan: “He thought I was a heathen and I thought he was stuck up.”
Me: “Who was right?”
Megan: “Both of us.”

Little by little they realized they kinda liked each other.  Then one day the decided they liked each other enough to get married.  Along the way they found other things they like together.

Near the top of the list if video games.  They have 2 giant TVs where they play Xbox together.  And, despite the fact that Meagan is a Marine, Stephen seams to hold his own in the first person shooter games.

After some fun at Dave & Busters we decided we had to include their babies in the session.

Stephen, thank you for letting me place a flash on your car.

Megan, thank you for helping me beat Stephen at Pac-Mac.

You guys were a blast!

Hey look.  It’s beautiful people.  In beautiful light.  Looking beautiful….

I get it.  You are engaged.  You wanna look engaged.  You wanna look like all those beautiful Pinterestable people that smile in the evening light and show off their love and diamond ring in one timeless golden photo.

Here’s the thing though, you are not everybody else.  You are you.

You may not be able to do this pose.

You may be taller than him.

He may be WAY taller than you.

Maybe he likes to wear a hat.

There are thousands of reasons why this may not work for you. You know what…. that’s ok.

Maybe when you look at those beautiful people in the golden light you think…

I hate those people.  I don’t like that photo.  Those people suck.

Here’s the thing.  You don’t have to like those photos.  You don’t have to be everyone.

You can be yourself.

Maybe you hate “fancy” clothes.  Maybe you don’t like to hug.

Maybe you would rather put on camo and go into the woods with 4 rifles, 2 bows, 1 pistol, and a knife.

Cuz you know… that’s who you are.  That’s what you do.

If that’s the case… Do it.

Be yourself.

Why would you want to copy someone else when you two are one of a kind?

I get it.  You want to have a great wedding.  So you look to everyone for ideas, inspiration, and what to do.

But, when you look at everyone else, just remember.

This is the first time you two are getting married in the history of marriages.

Your wedding is an original.

Your story is unique.

Tell it on your terms.

I just realized it’s been forever since I posted anything about my family.  And let’s be honest… it’s really the only reason you come to this site.
Wedding-schmeddings.  You really only care about my family photos.  Here is a little peek into what we’ve been up to.

Some of these you may have already seen if you follow me on Instagram. (Which of course you do right?)

Right when Jo & I got back from Haiti we kicked things off with our annual vow renewal.  Each year Danille & I renew our vows in our back yard with just the kids.  They each get to play different parts and Danielle and I put on the clothes we got married in.  Most of these images came from Jo.  He was the photographer we booked.

(While we are on the topic… does anyone else think wedding photographers charge WAY too much money?)

Sara is and has always been our nature lover.  She is all about anything that is the great outdoors.

My favorite part of summertime is having piles and piles of friends over and listing to our kids run and play in the backyard till late into the night.

This was the year Luke & Eli both conquered their fear of the water.  I was so so proud to see them just jump in and paddle away for their life.

We kicked off another year of homeschooling.  This is Danielle’s 1st year teaching 4 kids.  She’s kind of amazing.  We also started a new tradition.
Field trip on the first week of school!  The Children’s Museum of Houston was a winner!

My wife adores sunsets.  My daughter adores making leaf art.

This one is too good not to share.  We were at a random rest stop and one of the kids saw a bug which prompted Danielle to jump up and start screaming.
(Have I mentioned how much I love my wife?)

Sometimes when Eli goes to the dentist he leaves his pants unzipped.  (Like a boss.)

Zoo time!  The shot of Jo with the map in the cave is one of my most favorites ever.

Sara enjoyed feeing the giraffes so much she made a doodle about it later that night.

I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve look over and seen my wife with a pile of kids around her.

Sometimes she’s teaching them.

Sometimes she’s reading to them.

Sometimes she’s comforting them.

I never grow tired of seeing her.  Every time I catch her “mothering” I fall deeper in love with her.

Before I know it these two boys will stop being 4 and 6 and be 14 & 16.  That’s why they are already saving up to buy their first car.

Speaking of how time flies… About 1 week after Jo was born a new video game came out that I wanted to play.  I was a dumb husband and “forced” Danielle and Jo to ride up to Tyler with me to buy it.  She was such a fan of the moment that I commemorated it with a photo.

Fast forward 10 years and they just rereleased that game and Jo just played it and beat it.  Time for another commemorative photo. :)

October was the month that I decided I would become a runner.  Happy times!  It was also the month Blockbuster closed.  Sad times.

This family is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.  I love the trips, laughter, learning, and growing that we all do together.

There are always piles and piles of dishes to wash and put away but I always try to remind myself that the dishes were put there by those tiny humans that I’m crazy about.

I love wedding days.  I love seeing a couple begin their life together.  I love how they totally are giddy about each other.

I also love knowing a little secret.  A secret they can’t even comprehend.

The secret is…

If you play your cards right

If you work and struggle

If you fight for your marriage

If you parent your hardest

If you love your kids when you are most tired

If you date and continue to fall in love with your spouse…

One day you will look back on your wedding day and think….

I had no idea how blessed my life could be.