RaD flowers for RaD brides

My friend Corrie mentioned to me awhile ago that she was thinking about starting a flower business. And if anyone has ever talked to me, you know that I was quick to jump on that bandwagon. In a nutshell:

I love encouraging people to follow their dreams.

I LOVE helping folks with their businesses.

I love finding the unique brand that each person has.

SO...after a wedding she was able to keep the bouquet of the bride so I could snag some shots for her. I knew Corrie was amazingly creative...but I seriously did not realize just how genius she is with flowers! I have never seen a bouquet like this in Great Falls!

If you are a future bride that oozes style and just plain awesomeness, then I'd encourage you to shoot her a message. Not only are her arrangements beautiful, but her heart too. She is so sweet and truly adopts the vision of each bride's day. She creates unique and gorgeous arrangements that do not distract from the bride's beauty, but compliment her in every way!

Joe & Amber {i do}

The avocado seed plopped out of the ripe meat. She carefully sprinkled her Hawaiian salt over the perfect green snack. This was her day...and even though she expressed that she had jitters, she was so peaceful and calm. The day was fabulous! I was especially excited about this wedding because Joe and Amber opted to see each other for a "First Look." It was wonderful! Amber really wanted her dad to be apart of this special moment. He walked her up the stairs, his arm around hers and presented his beautiful daughter to her soon to be husband.

The weather had me a little nervous and some last minute changes were made, but as always, everything worked out perfect...well, except that I completely lost my shoe in a mud hole and preceded to step into another crater of mud with my bare foot. It was like quicksand, I didn't even know it was there. Oh well. It made us all laugh and I went on as usual...minus a shoe.

While I watched Joe and Amber's slideshow, I was able to peek into the journey of their lives. Together. Through each image I witnessed a joy and love that totally confirmed they were soul mates. It was such a sweet wedding and everyone was so generous and kind.

Thank you Joe and Amber.

For the laughs. For your trust. For your friendship...

Joe LOVES his sunglasses...I could barely get him to take them off the whole day ;)

Yes...I played with some blocks for a little bit...

You girls were so much fun!!!

Joe right before the first look...

Dave's angle

Mine...

I LOVE this image of Amber!!!

So the silly groomsmen were sure that they could hold Joe while he held Amber :)

That ring looks good on ya Joe!

Kim & Dusty {I do}

An honest cowboy.  This is who Kim wanted to marry.  It's all she's ever wanted according to her mom.  Well Kim, I think you hitched the sweetest, most kind and honest cowboy. Ever.  Dusty's parents own the Heart of the Hills Ranch.  It has been in the family since forever...this is where Kim and Dusty were betrothed a couple of weeks ago.  To say that this wedding was fabulous is an understatement.  Kim worked so hard on all the details...in fact, when David and I arrived, it was rainy and mushy. She greeted us with Dusty's muck boots on...still working on the final touches ;) I think Dave had a good amount of fun with the groomsmen too.  Between the PBR and the "gun show" he captured the true personalities of these men...good job honey!

The wedding was BEAUTIFUL!  Even though the rain could not decide to come or go, Kim was at peace.  She was the most calm bride I have ever encountered!  Kim & Dusty, you rock!  Thanks for trusting us to document your day...

(Kim and Dusty were the first couple to book me for a wedding.  They had no wedding pictures to go off of for their decision.  They trusted me and I'm so glad I had them for a first wedding!)

Some details...

The flowers were arranged by Kim herself!!!  

Nothing like a good bottle of scotch while gettin' ready...notice the lint roller to the side

The Gun Show

I love mom's reaction...too sweet

I LOVE this image...When the minister started praying I had to take this shot...

there's just somethin' about a cowboy takin' his hat off in reverence of prayer...

{Expired}

Email can be a wonderful friend if say...I hear from a distant friend...or...get a forward that truly does make me pee my pants it's so funny...or...notifications of sweet comments left on my blog.  NOT however to tell me that my Pharmacy Technician Certificate and License has expired.  How did they get my email anyway?  As I was freaking out about my back up plan being blown to bits by my procrastination, I started thinking.  Do I need a back up plan now?  

Then it hit me.  "Hi.  My name is Ali.  And I MUST CREATE!"  I remember something that a pharmacist once told me...he said, "Ali, you are a square peg trying to fit in a round hole."  This was shortly after he yelled at me to stop singing in the IV room.  Apparently he couldn't concentrate to my awesome made up tunes.  

Point being he was right.  I can't be stuffed in a small room making IV's for people...or stuck behind a desk stuffing envelopes for the elderly who can't remember which pill is which.  I must create.  That is who I am.  And if for some out-of-this-world reason this whole photography thing doesn't work out for me...which I don't see happening...then I know I am creative enough to figure something out.  

So I am liberated...Email, you can stuff it...I don't know where cyber space stuffing happens...but I don't care that my license expired.  I'm doing just fine thank you.  And to prove it to you, here is one of my FAVE images from a wedding that I shot recently...

Dave & April {for real}

April had a vision for her wedding day.  She would want it at Ryan Dam.  She would would have her best friend wear the so carefully chosen purple bridesmaid dress.  She would walk down towards her Love barefoot because it was her day and she could.  Unfortunately her dream never became reality...until two weeks ago.  

Dave and April were going to celebrate their 10th anniversary 2 weeks ago Sunday.  Little did she know that what lay in store was no ordinary card and flowers.  For the past couple of months Dave has been busy planning the most romantic thing I've ever heard of...April's dream wedding.  From getting her dress altered (Hey-if any of you have had babies you know your wedding dress doesn't fit...and if it does...I will be sure to bake you some cookies and send them to you every week until it doesn't) to calling the original bridesmaid to pulling out that Precious Moments cake topper from the closet.  Oh yea...you know Precious Moments rocked the 90's.  He pulled it all together...with some help of course.  

He wanted me to be their photographer because I've heard through the grapevine that April likes my stuff ;)  I was so excited to be able to document this time in their lives.  What an awesome opportunity!  To be able to see this couple renew their vows to a wedding that finally came to fruition.  It was a fabulous day to say the least.  I believe April's heart strings were tugged and that moment when she buried her head in his chest to hide the tears is when my eyes started leaking too.  

April, I am so happy that you finally got your wedding.  I count it an honor to have been able to share that with you.  Thanks to both of you for the amazing day!

She did go barefoot...but wore some comfys on the way down

This girl cracks me up!  She was the only one to catch the bouquet...LOVE IT!!!  I would be her BFF too :)

On the right...their offspring...so stinkin' cute!

This shot was taken by John...my awesome second shooter for the day

Yes...we did take "serious" pictures...but it's my blog and I like posting the funny ones

April...you're beautiful!

Dave & April {sneak peek}

OK...so I'm not gonna spoil the story yet...let's just say that I had THE most fun time last weekend when photographing this couples wedding!  A surprise wedding for April.  I told you it was a good story.  So to torture you Ali style, here are a few images that I love....

We had a rip roarin' time...I love how April is laughing so hard in this image!

I sincerely started crying taking these shots...the way he is holding her so tenderly...the way she is burying her head in his chest...that was it...I was a goner.