I was so excited to receive Heidi's email recently. Heidi, you see, is a newly engaged bride-to-be with a gorgeous sense of style. In planning her own wedding, she found the process so fascinating that she started her own blog, Unabashed Bliss. As she finds things she likes or hopes to use for her own wedding, she features them here. I definitely suggest you take a peek!

The article we're featured in today is about balloons as props, featuring our adorable couple Jackie & Zach :) Click the button below to check out the article!

You might remember Rori and Matt from their engagement and wedding posts, but today there is even more online excitement to share!

Recently, I received an email from a sweetheart named Chantale. Blogger & wedding enthusiast extraordinaire, her blog (La Belle Bride), specializes in featuring photographers and real weddings that have an artsy, vintage feel. I was so honored that she stumbled across my site and asked if I would be interested in submitting a wedding to her.

While so many of our photos have an artsy & vintage feel, I could think of no better wedding to submit than Rori and Matt's.

Click here to read the article about Rori & Matt's wedding on La Belle Bride!

Yep. You heard me. They ELOPED!

And there's no better service than Facebook to get the word out! I found out via Jackie's status update, which read: is married to the love of her life! Yes, the wedding is still on for next July but we just couldn't wait any longer :)

And I can't blame them, really. Their chosen wedding date would have meant an 18-month engagement for the two young lovebirds. I remember when Jake proposed, I wanted to run away with him and make it official right away. Because, when you're young and in love, sometimes patience is the last thing on your mind.

And 'twas the case with Jackie and Zach... during a simple conversation one day this winter, they decided they just couldn't wait until July to make things official. They like to do things differently. They were excited to plan an intimate ceremony without being in the spotlight of 200 guests. They described their decision to me as wanting to make it official for themselves, but still not wanting to take away from their big wedding planned for this summer for all their family and friends to enjoy.

So, on December 16th, 2009 - a Wednesday, they went to their minister's home and he performed a 20-minute ceremony in his living room in front of his Christmas tree. Zach's brother Jake and his girlfriend, Kira, were there as witnesses.

At the holidays, Jackie & Zach had the chance to share the news with family and friends. Needless to say, all were completely surprised, but also so very happy for the lucky couple. Their wedding this summer is sure to be a big celebration for everyone. Jackie told me that she is stoked for the opportunity to wear her gown, walk down the aisle, and celebrate. Zach confessed that he is relieved he won't get hit on in public so much now that he's sporting his temporary wedding band (to be replaced with the official one this July), and is much looking forward to his Bachelor Party :)

But perhaps the best, most romantic, parts of this story are the beautiful thoughts that Jackie and Zach had to share about each other:

From Jackie... "Being married has been so amazing and fun. We didn't really expect to feel any different from before but we totally do. We feel so much closer and every time I look at him, I get so giddy inside because I get to call him my husband! I love it."

From Zach... "I love my wife. She has been so supportive and I am excited about our new life together. We have such great plans for life. We both want to be parents of a role model family that supports and loves each other, accepts all people equally and gives back what we take from the Earth. My wife is an angel and she has the kindest heart. She has taught me so much and I feel so privileged to be in her life."

These proclamations give me goosebumps, and teary eyes, and a heart full of happiness. And this, my friends, is what it's all about.

Congratulations you two. I am so honored to be your photographer. You have something special, and there is so much to celebrate!

(And a huge thanks to their witness Kira for making sure to get some photos of it!!)

I love my new iPhone. And I mean seriously LOVE it. The ability to read email while lying in bed is really just soooo exciting to me.

This morning, I woke up a bit late, and totally dazed and confused. Would I have time to get to the gym on time for class? Do I need to walk the dogs or is it raining out? Do I have time to put my contacts in? My mind was reeling, but I still managed to unplug my iPhone from its charger and sort threw my 14 new emails.

When I saw her name in my inbox, my heart skipped a beat.

Would it be good news?

A gentle let-down?

You just never know.

But it was good news. Great news, in fact. A lovely bride emailing to let me know that the feeling was mutual and that we were their top pick for their wedding photographers and "where do we sign the contract"? (i.e. words that make me MELT).

I immediately jumped out of bed as if I'd had a few shots of espresso intravenously. Me and my crazy hair ran into the bathroom, iPhone in hand, screaming, "WE BOOKED THE WEDDING!!!" and read Jake the email word-for-word while he showered. He knew I was referring to the lovely couple we'd just met this week and shared in the excitement. I did a happy dance. He laughed at how fast I woke up, made fun of my crazy hair, and we decided we'd celebrate over dinner tonight.

And while I know we are one of so many vendors and so many choices a couple makes for their wedding, just one piece of the pie, I am pretty sure the couple never really knows how much their choice means to US. And it does mean so much to us, so thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our fabulous couples. We love you SO much!!

Joyce is beautiful... full of life and energy, and so much love for her children and her new husband, Mike. Mike is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve like a giant badge of honor. He puts it out there for the world to see, and I think that is the reason it comes back full-circle to him. Joyce and Mike are a modern-day Brady bunch, and this joining of their two families was so very special, a huge celebration enjoyed by all.

I could not believe the call when Joyce told me her wedding was taking place at Tam O'Shanter Golf and Country Club in Bellevue. This is the neighborhood where I grew up. Where my sister was on the swim team... where we both took tennis lessons... where I went trick-or-treating, and where my parents and neighbors still live. My friends and I actually used to take the wrong bus home from middle school so that we could stop off at the clubhouse and have snacks with our friends. And put it on dad's golf tab - thanks Dad :) Had I known then that some several years later I would be shooting a wedding at that very clubhouse, I would have never believed it.

So here I was, living the dream some 10+ years later. Joined by my husband Jake, and absorbing every ounce of love oozing from this wedding. And so much love was oozed. Joyce and Mike are truly loved separately and together by all their friends and family. Joyce danced with Mike's dad, kids with the grandparents, and I couldn't help but get all teary-eyed behind my camera. I literally had goosebumps watching everyone embrace this union. Joyce's son and daughter sang live during the wedding ceremony. They are both so talented, and sounded so beautiful. (Be sure to check out Austin's music here!) Toasts were toasted, and grown men cried. And then they partied, partied, partied until they could party no more.

Special thanks go out to Aria Style for their always beautiful and impeccable decor, and Austin Beaver for sailing through a flawless night and creating a vibrant energy with bass so loud I am sure TOS registered on the Richter scale. It was so fun, and I didn't want to leave!

Enjoy several images of their wedding here - no textures on these as I wanted to get them out before this weekend, but I will be sure to share some of the fun textures later with you :)