During those years I didn’t think too much of it, because I wasn’t sure how I felt about the table to begin with. The angles and windows I added to the piece were a calculated although experimental adventure in furniture design back in college. It recently made the journey to our house and I reluctantly tried it out in the living room. It started to grow on my and now I feel at home with it’s modern and imperfect design. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I made it, but I like that it is finally being used.

I loved the chance to work in other mediums during college and have a more well rounded experience with art. Taking a break from the computer and using my hands in a more practical way was a welcome reprieve. It still is – while I don’t have a workshop to make more tables these days I gravitate to the kitchen and start cooking!

aww. it’s matt + jasper!

Three years ago Matt and I were amazed at the idea that you could make marshmallows from scratch. So we decided to try it. It turns out they are much more fluffy and melt in your mouth than the store bought kind, and we were hooked. Along the way I got the idea to make them for all of my clients and send them out a Christmas gift. The idea stuck, and this week – for the third year in a row – I spent two days making, packaging and mailing out homemade marshmallows to all of the people I photographed this year.

In the past I tackled this project on my own and often found myself covered in powdered sugar late at night trying to finish up. For the first time, however, I had the help of some great friends and am so thankful to them… I should probably make them marshmallows too! We made approximately 400 marshmallows in both vanilla and peppermint flavors and each box contained a few of each kind. I also put a card in a each box that had a note on one side and a recipe for hot chocolate on the other.

Here’s a little look into the process of this year’s marshmallow making and packaging. I promise it is easier than it seems, but I suggest you don’t look up the recipe and just be impressed. I love to send these out and let all of my 2011 clients know how much I enjoyed working with them, but I want to let my blog readers know as well! That’s why I’m going to send out two more boxes of marshmallows to two lucky people who comment on this post. Comment once a day until Sunday at midnight – and the winners will be announced on this post in a comment on Monday. Merry Christmas!

It was almost midnight on New Years Eve. Peter had joined Sophie and her family in Michigan to ring in the New Year and attend her cousin’s wedding the next day. Once the ball started to drop he stood up and tried to get Sophie to join him. She thought he wanted to kiss her – which she had no intention of doing, standing in the middle of the room with her family watching. After reluctantly joining him he dropped to one knee and asked her if she wanted to do something special with him in 2011. Surrounded by her family, he asked her to marry him and she said yes.

When planning a wedding it can be easy to get lost in the details. To forget about the purpose of the day, worry about frivolous things, and get caught up in everything that the wedding is not. If you read the first post from Sophie and Peter’s wedding you know that their day was chalk full of details, personality, and diy projects. Despite their obvious inspiration and hard work they never lost sight of what they wanted their wedding day to truly be. Balancing these two sides and not letting one take over the other is a difficult task not easily achieved. It take a lot of effort to keep a wedding day about the wedding and yet have it personal and inviting enough to not look like the rest. They managed to perfectly marry the planning and details with the wedding and create one of the most unique weddings I have been a part of.

Today I invite you to take a closer look at the wedding day. This of course centers around the ceremony, which is only partly told through the photographs. It was Sophie and Peter’s intention to have a wedding ceremony that had a time for worship and singing, and time for prayer, and a time to exchange the vows that last til eternity. The choose their friend, Jim Ehrman to officiate and he spoke some of the most honest, accurate, and challenging words on a wedding day. Jim asked family and friends to describe Sophie and to describe Peter and the word that came up the most for both of them was driven. They work better together than apart when they put each other first – which really is what a marriage is all about. While I could go on an on about the wedding day I’ll leave you with the pictures and hope you enjoy once again looking into the lives of Sophie and Peter and the day that brought them together.

We pick back up before the ceremony, after the first look when the bridal party got together for a few pictures before heading to the church. It was drizzling at this point, but it didn’t last long and cleared up for the rest of the day!

The church was close to bursting at the seams filled with happy guests ready to witness the wedding. Sophie and Peter chose to be married there for several reasons, including the fact that it was the same place that Sophie’s parents and grandparents wed. The great thing about doing a first look – in my experience – is that it adds so much to the wedding day. The moments walking down the aisle are just as emotional, but being able to share your thoughts, excitement, and anticipation before the ceremony while you are alone and not in front of all of your guests, is something you can’t replicate.

Each reading, song, transition and story was purposeful and meaningful to both of them and soon the congregation as they witnessed the ceremony unfold. 

After a joyous exit, the bridal party loaded in to the Mog and headed back to the farm. The Unimog is an german truck known for it’s off road capabilities, and has made Sophie’s dad known throughout the county since he comes to plow people out in winter. After having the truck shipped from Germany he assembled it to his liking and it has become a staple in the family and community, so naturally it was a part of the wedding day. 

This might be the first picture I’ve taken while driving. Don’t tell. We stopped at the neighbor’s barn on the way to the family farm for some pictures…

The ground that was a cornfield less than a year ago was completely transformed into a grassy enclosure perfect for a wedding reception. To see all of the details from the reception head over to the first post, or continue on with the rest of the evening’s events.

The party had begun and lasted in to the evening as people danced till they dropped. It was a celebration, and one that I so enjoyed being a part of, so thanks again for inviting me along and three cheers for the newlyweds! hip hip hooray!

Sophie and Peter are the intentional. It was no surprise that their wedding was the same, and I don’t think they could have planned it another way. They thought about the experience they wanted to share with their guests, and how they would invite them in to their lives to share in the celebration of starting their lives together. They have a kind of love you rarely see, perhaps because of the unique challenges and experiences they have been through together. The journey that brought them to their wedding day shaped who they are and gave them many reasons to celebrate in a way that only they could. Not only was everyone present at the wedding a part of Sophie and Peter’s lives past, present or future, they were invited to join them on their journey moving forward, in to marriage. It was evident to all who attended that this wedding was an effort to continue building the community that had supported them and celebrate the part each person played in their lives.

Today I’m excited to share the hours of planning and hard work that went in to this day with part I of II from the wedding. This post focuses on the preparation, which includes the deatils of the day, getting ready and the first look. The details were so deeply rooted in Sophie and Peter’s lives and stem from the very things they love. They represent the investment of many family members and friends, and once again reinforce the idea of community Sophie and Peter built their wedding around. As Sophie said: Luckily, I have a family that was very willing to jump on board with our visions, and two parents who match me in creativity and energy. But I guess the story starts before me, to the fact that I was born into a family of hardworking farmers, dedicated carpenters, and traveling missionaries. The details of my heritage—maps, travel, wood, seeds and plants—gave me a taste for everything that I now appreciate so deeply. I come from a long line of people who value family, hospitality, and oneness. I knew that I wanted to make our wedding day not only a celebration of us but an invitation for our friends and family to participate in our lives more than ever, representing true community.

I have been looking forward to this wedding for a year, felt honored to document the wedding, and developed a friendship with Peter and Sophie along the way. They so intricately wove their lives into the planning of this day I hope the photographs tell the story for years to come. Enjoy the hard work they put in to their wedding (literally everything is handmade) and look for the story of the wedding day on Monday!

When she started to plan, Sophie realized that everything they needed for the wedding they already had. They decided to have a wedding at home, on the family farm, in the middle of a cornfield. Literally, in the middle of a cornfield. They spent a year preparing the field and planting grass so that it could be the space you see in the images today.

Me, my mom and sisters collected random china for months. We borrowed a lot of it from friends, and the rest we bought really cheaply at local second hand stores. Though we were washing and packing china sets away by table for a solid day, it was an awesome, inexpensive, beautiful alternative to renting china for 200 people… or eating off plastic plates.

I am in love with doilies in general. So, I decided that I wanted to make a big paper mache lamp of doilies. This was really complicated, actually, and I credit my mom with purusing this on her own after I gave up, and making it happen.

For favors guests were given personalized cedar coasters and homemade jelly!

For the coasters Dad got limbs of cedar from back in our woods and we worked in the shop to cut it into round pieces and sand down both sides. We only put 2 coats of varnish on one side, so that our guests could use it in their sweater drawer, if they wanted, or as a coaster. I then hand-wrote every guest’s name on the varnished side. This project took an extremely long time, though I don’t regret it at all. I loved doing those personal things.

We used old milk jugs from our friend’s dairy for water on the table, and I decorated them with strips of the burlap and some lace trim that I found in my grandma’s basement (which is literally packed with material that has been collected for the past 40 years for making quilts).

I’ve always been in love with my grandma’s book collection that’s hidden away in her basement, and she has no idea how valuable it is because she just says that they’re “her old books.” She has a lot of first edition classics that I remember her reading to us. I borrowed those and put about two on each table.

The girls got ready in the church just down a few roads from the farm. All of the dresses were handmade, by Aunt Sandy, adding another completely custom touch to their day

The gift I gave to my bridesmaids was their shoes, which I bought from an organization called Sseko Shoes in Kampala, Uganda. It is a company that employs young women who are pursuing college educations, and it was intentional to give them a gift like this. I ended up making my own straps for them out of lace ribbon.

Sophie and Peter got ready at separate locations and then had their first look at the farm where the reception was. They spent the morning setting up everything separately, so when they saw each other in the tent for the first time they were able to enjoy not only the start of their wedding day, but the hard work that brought it together.

For the outhouse area I knew I wanted a little seating area in this space. I asked Dad if it were possible to make a bench-like thing out of square bales. An hour later Dad came in the house and said I needed to go to the barn with him—the glamorous hay bale couch was born! The pump sink was probably my favorite. Dad and I found the old pump in the barn, and Dad stripped the paint off and gave it a coat of varnish. Then he built the wooden base, installed the trough and we had ourselves and awesome outdoor hand-washing station!

Since Peter loves nuts and Sophie loves candy, they decided to serve both as their appetizer. A table and a trough were set up with both and custom bags printed for guests to fill up and enjoy as they like. They way they displayed everything was perfect and guests couldn’t be happier having something to enjoy throughout the night.

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If there was any weekend of the year I could describe as a whirlwind, it would be this past weekend. I photographed two weddings in two different states while also spending time with family and friends. Megan and Brian were married on Saturday and were so naturally in love it was beautiful. Honestly they were one of the easiest couples to photograph and I have to hand it to them for enjoying their wedding day. It sounds crazy, but it’s not always an easy thing to do.

One of the reasons they were so natural and relaxed was because they did a first look. They made that decision and it really was the best choice for them. When I arrived and Megan was getting ready the nerves were building like they did on race day when she used to compete on the track team in college. She reminisced how everything would be fine once the gun went off and she started running, but she wasn’t sure how that translated to a wedding day. As she found out the first look was that start she needed to get the ball rolling while staying cool and collected. After seeing Brian for the first time and spending a moment together, the day went as planned without fear or hesitation.

From there on Megan and Brian read my mind as I gave them direction and asked them to interact with each other. They laughed, kissed, smiled, and were obviously in love… and on a hot July day with the wedding ahead of them, they looked their best taking pictures first.

Inviting. If I had to pick one word to describe what Luke and Margaret’s wedding was like, inviting is what it would be. Each detail was planned to not only express their personality and relationship, but to welcome their friends and family in to their lives on their wedding day. When Luke asked Margaret to marry him at his family’s cabin in nearby North Carolina they were already in love with the area. They started the journey of planning their wedding but it wasn’t until they found their actual location that things started falling in to place. Andrew Jackson State Park fit them perfectly and allowed them to host a gorgeous outdoor wedding filled with details and DIY projects and southern charm.

This first post is dedicated to the details that Luke + Margaret planned for their day, and to give you a sense of the very unique space it took place in. It’s the getting ready post (which includes some of those photos) and will prep you for rest of the wedding which I will post on Monday. So, let me set the stage…

It was a beautiful South Carolina day and warm radiant run streamed through the trees at Andrew Jackson State Park. Two long rows of ten picnic tables were being set with linens, burlap runners, bamboo and vintage plates, and numerous small vases of flowers. The gray and mustard color palate came to life against the emerald surroundings of the park. Like flowers in bloom small paper lanterns hung from the trees and were one of many delicate touches adorning the space. Nearby in the amphitheater the stage was being set for the ceremony, with a fabric runner and curtains paving the way for the place that Luke and Margaret would be married. Afgans, quilts and throw pillows were decoratively placed to create comfortable seating areas for the guests in the open yet private space.  The park maintained its character, but it was being transformed as if Cinderella.

The summer before the wedding Margaret worked at Sassafras Flowers in Rochester NY so she became very well acquainted with flower types and styles for her wedding. Luckily, she had none other than the fabulous Maura Harrison (owner of Sassafras) help her not only with her flowers but the arrangement and set up on her wedding day and I can’t even tell you how amazing she was. Of course, it’s nothing new since her shop is full service and they regularly set up for weddings… but believe me I’ve seen all kinds of florists and I’m not the only one to say Maura and Sassafras are the best.

love those long tables! it was fun to have all of the guests close by and sitting family style. The personalized cookie bags were a hit for guests to take a treat home with them – if there were any left! Once you see the desserts (all homemade) you’ll understand.

the view walking in to the amphitheater…

and a close up of the stage

gorgeous lanterns and sitting areas

a vintage chair to hold programs and the view of the amphitheater from the stage

The guest book and welcome table displayed the book I made for them as well as all of the “mad lib” response cards people sent in from their invitations. Creating a table that has a display and more than just the guest book added so much character and interest for people waiting to sign – I would highly recommend it.

the drink table! everyone had a mason jar with their name on it

once the location was ready, it was time for our bride and groom to prepare! This little chapel in the park was the rain location and where Margaret got ready

After an quickly slipping into her dress with the help of friends, the real dilemma was how to tie her necklace – bow or no bow, ribbon showing or not – crucial decisions that involved a group effort. They made the right decisions and I think she looks amazing!

We got a few pictures before the ceremony which I love since everything is fresh and there is so much excitement in the air. Once you are finally dressed for the wedding you really feel like the day has arrived.

Margaret! you are so beautiful!

Luke is equally handsome and not only are they a good looking couple, they are amazing people. I’ll tell you more about them on Monday and I hope you enjoyed the all of the details, have a great weekend!

There is almost no end to the work and creativity Tristan and Colleen put in to their wedding. Best described as a DIY wedding in the country, it was the perfect blend of rustic, simple, handmade, and creative elements. Tristan and Colleen invited their guests to join them in celebrating the day with the backyard party they hosted at the house Tristan grew up in. Simple touches such as letterpressed signs, mason jars, hay bales, small potted herbs as favors, lawn games, a bluegrass band, strawberry shortcake, and of course Colleen’s handmade dress – and Tristan’s handmade vest – came together to pull the whole day together. It was a celebration, and a relaxed one which really made it perfect for kids. Of course there’s nothing like the details that are around when you have a wedding at home, so this post will have lots of inspiration for you. Let’s start with the invitation suite, since we know that it sets the stage for the wedding:

Simple, bright, and unique the invites captured the feel of the wedding day and provided just enough information – I love Plan B. Now the scene when I arrived and everyone was getting ready…

Max had a festive bow on for the wedding day, and did his job cleaning up any scraps that were dropped after dinner – that’s what dogs are for, right? Inside, a cat slept and the shortcake cooled and fresh strawberries dried after washing. Alice, Colleen’s sister, worked on putting together boutineers and corsages, while Colleen’s bouquet below sat waiting for her. Do you love the peonies? I do! Colleen told me they picked them when they were in season (and still tight buds, unbloomed) and kept them in the refrigerator until a few days before the wedding. They opened right up when they needed them too and looked fabulous.

Colleen not only made her dress but the vest Tristan wore -which fit him perfectly! The site for the reception was right next to the house, on the base of what use to be an old barn, but now was a raised platform. Hay bales were covered in quilts for convenient rows for guests to sit in.

After the ceremony I went over to an barn on the family property where there were also some cows nearby.

That dress and vest are looking good! After some pictures we joined the reception and here are some of the details from that below:

All of the kids had fun with the lawn games – even if they were just de-tangling the ladderballs. I should add the kids weren’t the only ones playing games. Washers, ladderball, and Kan Jam were set out for everyone to enjoy – and they did! The fabulous strawberry shortcake made it’s entrance below…

…and was served up for everyone to enjoy. I think they picked all of the berries for this but I could be wrong. A guestbook poster was set out for everyone to sign, and I love the idea of being able to hang it up somewhere and see what people wrote. All in all, it was a wonderful day with so many details and I couldn’t be happier to document it.

To see the full set of images head over to Tristan + Colleen’s gallery, and leave a comment here and help them earn a free enlargement. Enjoy viewing + congrats again to the newlyweds!

What inspired you to make your own wedding dress?

I love the show “Say Yes To the Dress.” I don’t think I’m alone in saying that many bride-to-be’s love watching it. It’s so fun to see all different styles and the incredible detail on the dresses so I got a lot of inspiration from there. On the other side, I can be a pretty thrifty shopper and it wasn’t in my budget to spend hundreds on a dress. After talking with my mom and Tristan’s mom, (who both made their own dresses) I felt like I could take on the challenge myself… and if I needed any help I had a good support team.

So did you go into this with a lot of experience?

I did some sewing growing up, so I was always familiar with the machine and all of the basics, but it was pretty casual. The past few years I really started getting into sewing again, probably from my love of Project Runway. I think my wedding dress was my fourth or fifth dress.

One thing that was really unique on your dress was the crocheted flowers + birds. What was your inspiration and how long did that take to create those?

Last June, Rene’e taught me how to crochet. I had a dream of making a big Granny Square afghan (which is still a work in progress). From there she helped me read patterns and it took off from there. I picked up a couple books with different flower patterns to give me some variety. I took about three months to do all the flowers – yes that sounds like a long time – but they were just little side projects to do here and there. I think the main reason why I wanted to add them on was to make a dress that completely unique; to add a personal touch that would make the dress mine.

What was the best thing about making your own dress and what were some of the challenges?

One of the challenges was getting a perfect fit, since I wasn’t sure how tight or loose I would want it for the wedding day. Since I was doing all of the alternations, it made it harder to make last minute adjustments when I was busy with everything else. That was trumped by having a dress that was completely unique and personal. My first real “fitting” was a month before the wedding when I put it on and my Mom was holding it together in the back to see how much room we had to put in the zipper. I had been working on it for a month already not really knowing what it would look like on… and then I saw it- I got goosebumps! This was *my* dress. That was the best feeling.
thanks for sharing Colleen!  check back later today for the full post on their wedding

love. it’s wonderful to celebrate. If there’s any holiday to be creative and crafty, I think valentines day would win. It’s all about the time and thought put in to the day which is why I followed the recipe from Design Sponge to create what you see above. It was a little more difficult than advertised, but in the end it came together and I love it. It’s surprising what a simple craft or valentine can do. I hope you had a great day and spent it with people you love.