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Out of all the weddings I've experienced, Sam and Sam are definitely towards the top of the list when it comes to fighting for Joy well on their wedding day -- their love for each other and steadfast hope for the unity that God is building helped them to not be fazed by the distractions, stresses, and drama of the day!

Silos are amazing for texture and composition, but these were perfect to showcase the couple's love and personalities!

I wanted to capture how their loyalty to one another is vivacious...

The following are some highlights of the wonderful day:

Every element of the wedding showcased Sam and Sam's hearts

some great moments, captured :)

Funks Grove is unbelievable!

Samantha's beauty is unparalleled, for sure!

Sam and Sam had a great group of ladies and gentlemen to celebrate with them all weekend :)

Some chuckles, for sure :)

A chapel of trees?! Most perfect!

Their first look was completely sweet:

The wedding party cheered them on in these precious moments :D

These smiles couldn't be better to express the joy that filled the place

Some highlights from the ceremony:

Sam and Sam actually kissed before the pastor declared them husband and wife...they just couldn't wait!!! I don't blame them, the anticipation was unbearable.

Mr. and Mrs. Spence!!! WOOHOOOO! I love this collage so much...their Joy is so intense!

Reception:

They ate, drank, and were merry!!!

Sam and Sam, thank you so much for letting me a part of your day.  I am truly grateful that Stacy got us connected, because just getting a glimpse of how you love Jesus and each other has built up my faith, and it has been so good to see how your steadfast loyalty to each other inspires those around you!  Your joy through obstacles has been so contagious, and I know you will only continue to grow closer to each other with each passing day, so I am excited for you guys to discover more and more deeply just how much He will unleash His favor and peace upon your new home as you look to Him together :)

One of my favorite things about being a part of the community here is that I can revolve my life around amazing people of all personalities, backgrounds -- regardless of whether they are students or not, at all walks of life.  I love watching babies grow because they learn in such a novel way and all react completely differently as their personalities develop.  Luke for sure has a certain pizzazz!

Just hanging out around the house on a beautiful Fall morning...

See the resemblance?!  What a great and growing inheritance of joy Luke has :)

So chill and safe in the arms of so much love.

Letting him discover some pumpkins (one of nature's more outstanding vegetables, in my humble opinion!)  

Family picture is complete!

I just am so excited to see this family's love unfold and explode like a million fireworks.  Kyle and Holly, please know that you walk in the crazy great blessings of the Most High -- it is so clear that He holds you: He holds you near to Himself and each other, He holds you in protection, He holds you in time and eternity, He holds you in the very notes and undulations of His voice, He holds you as He unleashes the massive storehouses of grace and Promise!  

Laura had the best group of ladies surrounding her with excitement and Joy all day :)

The Reception Hall was artfully and beautifully decorated, check out all the gorgeously bright colors!

Mike's men had a chant/huddle thing they would do to cheer them on :) In general, there was a lot of laughing and love going on, it could not have been better!

The beautiful ladies hanging out before the ceremony...

The breathtaking bride!

Wedding partiers!

Down the aisle...

Some moments...

MARRRRRG'D! The lake, basked in sunset love, was perfect for these moments!

Check out this awesome cake that Beth made!  So genius!

I've always known Mike and Laura to love to dance...they definitely did not disappoint on their big day!

We had the WhimsyBooth set up and it was a huge partayyyy in the closet ;)

Dear Mike + Laura, Thank you so much for letting me take part and capture these great and precious moments...there was so much Joy and so much celebration going on all day and I know it's because of how both of you allow God to use you in this community in a powerful and beautiful way.  There is so much strength in the two of you coming together, and all of us are so excited for your years ahead!!!

Leah was a little cranky until she discovered the grapes...

...the bubbles helped cheer her up too!!!

Leah is so loved :)

Grandparents, lookin' great!

Get some air!

Omar had this idea of coming together at this fence :)

The bright colors really express all of their personalities! Just by knowing Omar and Mayumi, I've experienced a lot of beauty I had never known before, but spending time with their parents gave depth to how great of people they all are individually, and how they weave into each other to create the kaleidoscope of awesomeness as a family :) What a memorable afternoon!

Such great elements for the setting!

I love this shot of Kelly, her mom, and her sister praying together among the rest of these prayer warriors before the ceremony...

It was a rainy weekend but we had enough overcast time outside to make these breathtaking portraits by the blue mansion!

Some shots from their first look, so sweet.  This portrait on the right belongs in a magazine, no?

You can tell their love is strong just by seeing how they look at each other

Perfect couple, wouldn't you agree?

The whole wedding party had great personalities and were definitely looking their best!

Some more great moments :)

The pipe organ just adds to the overall grandeur of the sentiment!

Can't help not smiling with these two :D

What a couple, what a cake!

Some intimate moments from the dances and festivities...

And a great, energetic crowd on the dance floor to end the night and send off the couple!

The way they look into each other just reveals so much trust!

Gaby suggested some pictures by the playground and these are indeed so sweet... The rocks are saturated with so many layers of color and texture...mindblowing!

Steven and Makayla's wedding had many unique elements that worked in concert beautifully.  Bell Hill B&B is one of the many locations around Southern Illinois that helps me to love living here...

The interior design, barn and grounds were perfect for the event!  Steven and Makayla's wedding party also did a wonderful job setting up the decorations :)

Mr. Steven Bonney and his men:

Mrs. Makayla Bonney and her ladies...all being so relaxed and gorgeous:

The couple's first look, when they exchanged love letters:

Southern Illinois -- the perfect backdrop for their love

Wedding PARTY

Gettin' married!

Some hilarious moments after the ceremony :)

I did not have to pose them at all -- these were just them enjoying each other and reveling in the refreshing glory of marriage!

They had this awesome idea to use this as Thank-You cards...so creative!

Hanging out at the reception:

Warming up the dance floor...aren't those lights beautiful?!

Everybody on the dance floor!!!

Some FRESH picks from the WhimsyBooth!

Dear Steven & Makayla, your love for one another is inspiring, deep, and unquenchable like the Mighty River that flows out of your hearts.  Knowing you two and being a part of your wedding have added another facet to my experience and understanding of Joy that comes straight from our Creator's heart, so Thank You for generously sharing such a unique light :)

When I got to Lafayette on the big day, I went to visit the barn where the reception was to be held so that I could set up the whimsybooth ahead of time.  As I stepped towards the entrance, I was stopped dead in my tracks because  of how beautiful all of the arrangements and decorations were!  I was introduced to the great and gorgeous woman behind this tremendous success and I just wish I had words to express how struck I was at how much I loved all the details!  Travis and Sara's wedding was beautiful beyond words...I hope these portraits give a glimpse of all the awesomeness that went down that day :)

The beautiful bride...

I love all of the organic elements...and isn't this idea great?  The couple is going to put up these cross-sections of wood after all the guests sign them :)

Their first look:

We went out to Purdue's Hort Park, braving the heat.

What a couple! And what a party!

The trees provided just enough shade for some epic portraits :)

Here are some with a more industrial look...I just love the lines, textures and colors!

The editing process for Travis and Sara's wedding was filled with surprises for me because they both have the most fantastic facial expressions.

Some shots of the ceremony at Clear River Church...gotta love the brick and the arching beams. They work together so well to frame the auditorium!  

Success!

Everyone had moustaches at their place settings, so it was fun for me to grab quick shots of people wearing them in creative ways :)  This kid made a moustache cup!!!

The lace designs on this cake are fabulous!

First dance as husband and wife :)

...and the rest of the festivities!!  It was definitely one of the best receptions ever.  Everyone danced the night away -- young and old alike.

Here are some of my picks from our whimsybooth!  So much celebration and silliness :)

They had their loved ones and sparklers to send them off...

SO. FANTASTIC.

Dear Travis and Sara, thank you SO MUCH for letting me make portraits from your amazing day.  The genuine emotions of everyone who came to celebrate your love were overwhelming, and I would probably have to sum up my personal experience this way: I learned more about being human that day.  Plus, I fell in love with Indiana, which is a great perk!  Thanks for sharing your love with the world -- grown and united by Jesus, immensely blessed with grace and strength by the community of your hearts :)

Very rarely do I get people who want to go all out for a photoshoot and truly mean it.  Jason and Stephanie went all out for their engagement portraits, and it was definitely worth it! Special thanks to Tom and Terri for letting us use their beautiful land as a setting!

I tried a more vintage edit rather than a straight-up black-and-white because I felt that this processing captured the feel that Stephanie was going for :)

Sunflower patches are the best!

Hauling furniture out to fields is definitely one of the more fun ways to do a shoot!

Their love, framed by a vibrant living room setting out in the woods...

There is so much peace in their gazes

Jason and Stephanie have great personalities individually, but when combined, they explode into a freeing blaze of fun and color.

They make great faces at each other too :)

I love that bottom shot when Stephanie realized she accidentally let go of a balloon: "A dollar is flying away!"

To wrap up our shoot, Jason and Stephanie had the idea of throwing color at each other...I am quite convinced that will never be a bad idea ;) Here is a "before" and "after"

Action shots!

Jason and Stephanie, thanks so much for expressing yourselves so earnestly and letting me capture your moments together. You guys have a unity in spirit that is so rare and valuable and I truly believe it is only going to get refined even more and can never fade :)

The world would be a hugely better place if everyone had friends like Andy and Meg in their lives.  I know that from the deep places of my heart.  Andy and Meg's wedding was so meaningful at every single moment, in every single element, with every single person who came.  "Can you handle this being a stress-free wedding?" asks Meg, with a smile, to people helping out in the wedding.  It was definitely stress-free...and beyond -- it was filled with joy and beauty...it was life-inspiring.

The wedding was held at Water Valley Inn in Cobden, and it was the perfect place!  That's one of the things I am learning to love a lot about Southern Illinois -- there are so many quality B&B's!

All the details -- from Meg's dress to the grand setup was gorgeous and beautifully coordinated.  I loved that the guests sat on bales of hay during the ceremony :)

Along the road to Water Valley Inn, they had signs at every fork of the road to help guide guests...for me, they were great in building anticipation -- with every sign, I got more excited!

Andy and his groomsmen...or should I say 'gang'?

The beautiful bride :)

You can totally tell the joy from within. Also, I just love this barn!

The ladies!

We had a ton of fun in the fields in general -- they had a path mowed so we can safely walk in there and escape the poison oak...

The groomsmen were pro at...well, being groomsmen ;)

Meg and her bridesmaids make a breathtaking scene!

The ceremony was so moving in such an amazing way.  Love came and took His place  in the wedding, sending His Spirit to surround the whole cove, filling every heart.

After their first kiss, Andy held Meg so closely, and they were there together, as one for the first time, in the moment.  Such an amazing thing to witness!

The way they look at each other is radiant and glorious...it is obvious they had already been giving their lives for one another, and it was like I could see eternity in their eyes.

All together now...

The reception was a load of fun!  Kids were running around playing croquet and bags, everyone was in great spirits to celebrate!

I really think that dancing is one thing that can never be adequately captured by still photography...or photography of any kind.  I feel like it's one of those phenomena in life that is not meant to be captured but experienced...and it's a human experience unlike any other.  As I was mulling over this, I decided to try a new technique for the dancing shots to get as much light movement all around people as possible.  It turned out great, and it was so much fun...what a great, great day.

Save the Date! Mike & Laura from Simplexity Studios on Vimeo.

Music: "Meet Me in the Garden" by Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele

The first "issue" Mike raised when we were planning this shoot was an allotted time to be creepy, "or else I'll ruin the whole shoot with creepy pictures."  So we came up with a code word for when they could go crazy with the creepy!  Code word: GREENLEAF.

The chemistry they have together is undeniably amazing and full of character!!

We got to the Japanese Garden at SIU just in time to catch the spring blossoms!

I don't think there is such thing as "too much" Greenleaf.

Their interactions are the BEST.

Dear Mike & Laura, thanks so much for sharing your electrifying love, so filled with character and whimsy.  The way in which you lift each other up to Jesus is awe-inspiring, and I can't help but know that He is blessing and honoring your hearts for each other :) 

Soooo many hearts leaped with joy at Reed and Tashina's engagement :) It was such an honor to make their engagement portraits. Their excitement and joy are so apparent, and they were so incredibly comfortable and natural together...

They like to picnic and take walks together...and look at trees...and at each other ;)

I love that they bring out the goofy in each other!

"Let's frolick!"

"Faith makes things possible (*not easy)"

We found this cool leaf that was shaped like a heart!

Below is Reed and Tashina reading to the fire hydrant...

The arboretum grows crazy awesome formations that look completely different every season, it's such a great location!

The last one is a shot in motion that I was experimenting with...it has flavors of a painting but it also expresses how I feel about just how amazing their relationship is. In this world that's constantly in motion, their love for each other remains unharmed and their combined joy shines brilliantly in their gazes. I can't believe I know such awesome people :)

Welcoming a new baby in the world never gets old.  Meet the newest member of the Wyne family -- Baby Luke!

His dad plays the guitar and his mom plays the bass...are those Luke's fingers shredding on an air guitar?!  In the words of his Uncle Andrew, #SoBomber

Cutest little hands and richest blue eyes I've ever seen!

So much love in the home!!!

CONGRATULATIONS again on your first baby!  Little Luke definitely adds a new dimension to your love, and many are so excited for your adventures together :)  

Perhaps the best weddings are not made of the colors or decorations -- perhaps they are made of quality people.  In this post, I am documenting a momentous occasion, when a whole bunch of quality people gathered together to celebrate the beginning of a beautiful story...

The centerpieces and decor in general were simple and fun -- on every table was a disposable camera for guests to take pictures of memorable moments...from their perspective :)

Meet the BRIDE...and her smoldering gaze!

Meet the bride's party...truly a party, indeed.

I was really excited about having Rent One Park, our local minor league baseball field, as a setting because I had never made portraits in one before.  I was not excited about the heat, but everyone had so much patience and were focused on the joy at hand!  Also, the pitcher's mound made a great stage...who knew?

Meet the GROOM and his party!

Epic.

Meet their beautiful families...

Some highlights from the ceremony :)

Meet the Husband and Wife!  What fabulous love.

I love the lines and color blocks that the field provides for us - the wedding party is looking good!

Are they cheering for an imaginary game? Maaaaybe. More importantly, they are cheering on the new couple.  AJ & Sara had this umbrella in their engagement portraits (done by the fabulous Abigail Mbuvi) and it has become quite the motif in their story!

Party time!!

I tried to pick up some new dance moves from the kids :)

Dear AJ & Sara, thank you so much for letting me be a part of such a fantastic celebration.  Your love is unique, strong, and sealed.  Your unity can only grow and soar to glorious heights from such a solid starting point, and never forget that so many people love you and are rooting for you always!

I love hearing stories of couples who have known each other for a long time -- Sam & Sam's are no different.  They've known each other from grade school but had taken diverging paths that led them back to each other (this sounds like a love song?)

We went around downtown Bloomington and ISU's campus on a rainy, beautifully overcast day :)

Downtown has the best walls and murals!  Sam teaches and trains in martial arts, so we had him show off some moves :D

I love this little tribute to Bloomington on the right...plus this red wooden wall is a great backdrop to their love :)

There are such cool gardens and sculptures all around the campus!!

I'm glad Sam & Sam braved it out in the rain - these pictures are so worth it.

They take walks by this lake a lot, and now they get to tell their grandkids that they had their engagement shoot in the rain ;)