Now they can laugh together all they want, they can work out their stress and fights with sparring (I totally thought I was clever and original when I mentioned that but turns out that everyone and their mother says the same thing, total bummer), and Dave can keep an eye on his cute blonde. (Cute story, when Dave, Amy, Brian and I were meeting the week of their wedding I was telling one of my stories about a guy friend who once told me it was important that I turn my dark strawberry blonde hair into regular blonde hair to increase my romantic prospects because, statistically, guys like blondes better. Dave grinned, looked over at Amy with a sheepish smile and said, "It's true. Blondes are much cuter." To which Amy, in her adorable way, blushed and looked away.)
We did their engagement photos at Capen Park a couple of weeks before the wedding where only a few years before I did photos of Amy with all of her brothers and sisters as one of my first portrait sessions ever! They decided on a time bright and early (6:00 is WAY early for us now that we make our own work schedule!) and we were able to catch some of the most breathtaking photos ever thanks to the gorgeous sunRISE!
Dave started scaling the bridge supports and, like a man, Brian egged him on while Amy and I stood there with our mouths open as I gently pleaded, "Dave, please don't fall and die. This would not be cool." Nothing like being a man, right?
Last minute, Amy and Dave decided to forgo the wedding tradition of waiting to see each other until the ceremony to create a "first look" for their big day rather than wait until after to do their photos. Some say that seeing each other beforehand takes away from the specialness when a groom sees his bride before the wedding and that he won't have the emotion he would have otherwise when she comes up the aisle. Oh how they are SO wrong! Dave was stunned when Amy turned him around for their "first look" but that did not stop the tears from flowing when she finally came down that aisle only a few hours later. It takes a real man to cry--how could you not when it hits you that a beautiful, kind-hearted woman like Amy is before you and she'll be yours until death do you part?
Not only did they set up a "first look" but Amy remembered that her mom had said when she and Amy's father got married they spent the morning of their own wedding doing last minute chores and cleaning together (read: stressful morning!). Amy didn't want that to be their memory so they set up a private picnic with just the two of them the morning of the wedding before they starting getting ready. And on a beautiful day of 75 degrees, the weather couldn't have been more perfect!
Amy and Dave made fortune tellers for each of the tables for the reception (with real, awesome fortunes!) and filled them upside down with nuts and mints. What a fantastic idea! Amy picked a rich purple with a few accents of hot pink. They chose their siblings and Dave's best friend for their intimate bridal party and chose Riechmann Pavilion for their reception spot. A first for us, we had Sophia's for the reception dinner! While the guests were finishing their delicious Sophia's pasta we stole away with Amy and Dave to get a few more shots of them by themselves in the gorgeous sunset light. It paid off. What a wonderful day.
I rarely post "getting ready" photos of the groom and groomsmen because they are normally stuck in the basement or youth room with 10 mismatching 70s & 80s couches. (See our post on that talks about getting ready settings here) Instead they were in a room with fantastic natural light. Yay!
When we asked Amy & Dave what their getaway car would be, they told us it would probably be a Cadillac. Imagine my surprise when I'm taking photos of Amy at the salon and I see through the window a black limo pull up. I stuck my foot in my mouth when I said, "Ummm... Amy... there's a limo pulling up" and I see the hairdresser and Amy's mom's faces make the "Sssshhh! It's a surprise!" face. Great job, Mal. Way to ruin the surprise! Amy was absolutely delighted that both she and Dave's family went in on the limo that day. She and her sister, Ashley (who I lived with for a month before Brian and I got hitched) decided to wear matching flannel shirts in honor of Runaway Bride. (You'll have to see the movie to understand.) We all shared bottled water in champagne glasses on our way over to the church!
Amy & Dave's "first look". (I overheard several of the parents and family saying that they all did their portraits before the wedding when they were married and that they thought that the tradition of waiting was a new phenomenon. Who knew!?!?)
Allen's flowers put together elegant bouquets for Amy & her bridesmaids.
Because Amy & Dave did their "first look", we stole away for some portraits with the two of them before the wedding. I love it!
Is not Amy's mom GORGEOUS? We see where Amy gets her stunning looks!
You can still see a trace of Dave's tears as he walks Amy up to the altar. Enraptured would be the word.
See Dave & Amy's fortune teller handiwork? Cute, I know!
When I took this photo I told them that it looked a fairytale. Amy laughed and said, "Well, it feels more like we're walking down a hill and I'm struggling to keep from tripping on my dress." Ah, but the photos tell a different and much better story, Amy. You look radiant!
Whew, Amy, you are smoking hot!!
Dave thinking about how sizzling his new bride is. ; )
Perfection.
And you can see that Dave gets his handsome genetics from his strikingly beautiful mother. Mom's boy is all grown up!
Amanda, Dave's sister, did an amazing dive for that bouquet! (Ashley looks a little jealous, though!)
Too cute!
You know I had to use the fortunetellers for their rings.
Liz (one of Ashley's best friends) did so much work helping to plan the wedding with Ashley & Amy. I couldn't resist throwing Brian into the photo. This blog doesn't see enough of his sparkling face. Sassy, Brian, sassy!
On to new adventures! Amy will be moving straight to Ohio when they return from their honeymoon tomorrow. Talk about new beginnings! Congrats, you guys!
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