“You don’t marry someone you can live with, you marry the person who you cannot live without.” ~ Anonymous

I love that quote. I mean, let’s face it people, it’s hard living with someone else. Other people, all other people, do things we don’t like. They do things the wrong way. They don’t operate entirely like us. They’re not LIKE us and in fact, sometimes we are just plain opposites.

But, isn’t it great when we simply cannot live WITHOUT them. We can’t wait for them to be around us. We look at their things and think about them being around us, even if their things are not really what we like, or where we want them to be… or….even if we really HATE their things. Oh, and worst of all, if we really can’t live without them, we start to actually LIKE their things even though if we were in our right mind we would really not like their things at all. So, our great fortune in Life is to find someone that we cannot live without. That, for the most part, takes care of all the rest.

I’m pretty certain that Cricket and Jeff have this great fortune. Perhaps if they weren’t in love they could actually live with each other. I really don’t know. But, what I do know, and what was quite obvious throughout their day, was that these two married the person they could not live without.

Here’s a few shots of their fantastic wedding where we all had such a good time.

I totally love this shot…..I see lots of long walks just like this. I think mom liked the slide show.

Who, being loved, is poor?  ~Oscar Wilde

I just had to post this one of Cricket. I shot her wedding on June 5th and she looked beautiful.

As the Hokies get ready for the Spring Game I thought I would post a little  eSession I did at VT two weeks ago.

I like bloggin about fall weddings when it’s 20º outside!

This was a really fun wedding on a beautiful October Saturday at the family’s Botetourt farm. The colors were gorgeous, just enough of that luscious warm golden cast,  and I think I got at least one of my all time favorite ceremony shots under that beautiful old tree in the back yard. Here’s a few.

Mid-summer, I got a request from a wedding client to photograph the place where he had asked his fiancée to marry him. It’s a little orchard outside of Charlottesville called Carter Mountain Orchard, and apparently this is a place where they like to go every year to wander through the hillside picking apples while just getting to spend time together. It’s the perfect setting for a sunny fall afternoon and of course it is a special place to them.

As I walked through the orchard it wasn’t hard understanding why they love this little corner of their Earth. I thought about those places that become a part of us and how simple and charming some of them can be. It really doesn’t have to be some exotic location or paradise as long as we are with the people that mean the most to us. I’ve got lots of them.

Yesterday, I spent the early afternoon with the bride in her home as she prepared for their evening wedding. There over the fireplace mantle was the large canvas print he had given her as a wedding gift. She was eager to show it to me and I could tell she loves it. Of course I was much pleased and very relieved that she did! I asked her if she minded me sharing this image.

Hopefully, this portrait will serve as a daily inspiration and reminder  of a special place at a special time in their lives. I expect it will be a place that they can visit for many years to come and still get a very special feeling. Perhaps a visit there will become a family tradition, or maybe they will just keep this little place to themselves.

It’s just so nice to have those places that become a part of us.

It was just about a perfect day to get married. The sun was out and temps were in the mid 70’s. The water was calm and quiet with just enough wind for sailboats to quietly circle by and watch the celebration unfold. Then the perfect light for portraits by an old abandoned house I found while scooting through my old biking route on a back road between the ceremony and reception venue. You won’t find stuff like this on the expressway.

The bride was beautiful and I’m certain it runs in the family. I shot her gorgeous sister’s wedding last year. Both girls married now. Mom and Dad need a rest.

Jenna and Robbi, I had so much fun with you two. Have fun out west starting your new Life together.

Mom and Dad….thanks :)

Kemper

This is cetainly one of my all time favorite shots.

I love this shot!

This was an awesome purse!

One of my favorite parts is when the bride and groom make eye contact.

My, oh my. Beautiful girls.

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I love the symmetry in this place.

Well, it’s been a bit rainy lately and that always gets wedding folks a bit concerned. Here is a slideshow from one of the rainiest wedding days ever. I kinda dig it. Just click the image below to go to the slideshow.

A gorgeous, sunny summer day in Blacksburg with just a slight breeze to keep everyone comfortable. The beautiful Hahn Horticultural Garden at Virginia Tech, exotic and lush. Happy people everywhere. I think every bride dreams of a wedding day and setting like this one. It was a ceremony completed with very heartfelt vows, leaving everyone feeling that these two were very much meant to spend the rest of their lives together.

Afterwards, much fun with these two at their reception at The Inn at Virginia Tech where Kelly and Justin set out to entertain their family and guests with a less traditional first dance. Clearly, these two have the ability to mix it up. Elegance and tradition with contemporary flair and groove. I love fun, too :)

Kelly and Justin, here’s to years of happiness for you and your pooches wherever you are :) Thanks for all the time I got to spend with you two and letting me be a part of your day.

Kemper

This is the image they chose for their album cover……

Gentle guidance….

What do I do with this thing????…

I’ve got a few more weddings to blog before I get to this one, but I just really liked this image and I really liked this couple. There was hardly a minute of the day that it wasn’t raining. In fact it seemed like most of the day it was pouring. But, no complaining with these two and they were fearless. We did it all, including a trip outside for some couple’s portraits, complete with umbrellas and determination. It was a beautiful wedding. I loved shooting every minute of it, and we got some awesome images.

So, folks. If it’s raining on your wedding day, ‘taint nothing you can do about it, you will get some great looking portraits, and it’s good luck :)