So excited to announce the winners of the top 10 contests from last week.  We had over 2,500 votes and some really really close categories.  In the end, these were the winners.  Thanks again to all my couples for letting me tell their story.  If you did not win, be sure and tell everyone good game before you walk off the court.  You couples that did win, make sure you celebrate responsibly.  No looting or rioting.

Engagement Session: This is the classroom where Emily & Lucas met.  This is the very place their story began.

Wedding Rings: Blake works in visual effects, I wanted him to be able to drop his rings into any film he made in the future. ;)

Bridal Session: Krystle crushed her bridal shoot at Marvin United Methodist in Tyler.

Mug Machine: Much like their wedding day, Lauren & Alex’s Mug Machine was off the hook.  (Do people still say “off the hook”?)

Random:  Lindsey & Jim’s reception and dance floor was the place to be.

Wedding:  I honestly could not have picked a better photo to win this category.

Jaime had been fighting serious migraines all day, in fact we almost had to put off the wedding till later in the day. After the ceremony they were just sitting in the kitchen resting and someone asked them if they were ready to make their entrance and have their first dance. Jaime said she didn’t think she was up for all that. Nolan said no problem. About five minutes later while holding and comforting her they broke out into a slow dance. All alone, with no fanfare, no one clapping, no one watching. I took 3 photos and walked out. It was a moment that just belonged to them.

Just the two of them on their wedding day.

It was a beautiful picture of marriage. It’s not the big public moments that get us through life. It’s not the things we say when everyone is watching. Marriage is about what we do when we are alone.

Marriage is about changing the toilet paper roll.
Marriage is about making the bed.
Marriage is about impromptu slow dances in the kitchen.

Thanks again to everyone who voted.  And to all my 2014 couples.  Let’s make some images that make these 2013 ones look like poo. :)

Kayla & David met all the way back in high school.  She was trying to buy glitter paint but was under age.  She spotted David in the store and tried to get him to buy her contrabands but alas he too was also not old enough.  The paint stayed in the store but the sparkle of their love lives on to this day. ;)  Seriously though… How great is that little story.

David is attending Texas ATM and Kayla is finishing up nursing school.  At first we were going to do their session around campus but then Kayla spotted a balloon festival in Anna, TX.  They made the 4 hour drive and were up and ready to smile at the literal crack of dawn to catch the balloons.

True story:  When David went to ask Kayla’s father for her hand he bought a toy set of farm animals and took them over and they arranged a trade.  Her dad received a few heads of cattle, some chickens, and a pig and David received a bride.

One of their favorite things to do as a couple is paddleboard.  It looked fun.  I was too chicken to get on one.

You may have noticed David has facial hair.  It’s amazing.  I may have run my fingers through it in a not creepy way.

Thank you Kayla & David for being almost perfect.  Thank you David’s beard for being perfect.

What if you could choose the very first words you spoke to the person you were going to marry?  Would you scour Cary Grant movies in search of that perfect phrase?  Would you read every line Jane Austen wrote till you found that hidden gem?  Or… would you just roll with whatever popped into your head?  That’s what Emily did and you’ll love what she came up with.

Emily & Lucas first met in a Physics lab at ATM.  They then went on to fall madly in love while she stalked him at his job at Muldoon’s Coffee House.  They are getting married under the Century Tree next year.  They will live happily ever after.

Ready to meet them?  I thought so.

After a few cups of coffee we were of to the Physics building.   This is the class room they met in. And, on that very first day of class, while sitting at that desk, Emily leaned over and whispered….

“Not to make this weird… but you smell delicious.”

Another little story from their first day in class.
There was a tiny lady bug flying all around that just captivated the students.  Soon after Emily earned the nickname “Ladybug” from Lucas.
So major bonus points to Emily for her outfit choice. ;)

And, like all good Aggies, after class we headed over to the Chicken.

Hey, remember that time they carved their initials onto the wall back when they were dating?

Thanks for a great session.  Thanks for being so chill.  Emily, thanks for booking me.  Lucas, thanks for smelling oh so delicious.

Alecia & Hayden are the perfect example of what an engaged couple in Austin is like.  Fun, quirky, not too serious, and in love with their city.  We went all over town for this session.  There were so many great locations here are just a few of them.

We started out at the Spider House Cafe were they spend some time playing one of their favorite boardgames.

It wouldn’t be Austin without murals.

Hey look, it’s another killer Austin location. :)

Thank you guys for a great afternoon and for living in such a great city.

I get the best couples.  End of story.  Here is a little preview.  Many more coming by the end of the week.