His hands shook. A little. His voice did, too. A bit. Not enough to overshadow the words he’d prepared and put to paper, but enough to evoke emotion. In the watery and welling eyes that watched on. In the bride. In his son. In his bride. In himself. Enough to command the moment. Enough to make it… momentous. Because it was. After all, he was the father of the groom, and this was the last wedding rehearsal he’d ever plan. He paced back and forth, like a car in stop-and-go traffic, telling the story of each mile marker and every milestone in his son (and daughter-to-be’s) pre-married life. With every stop. Another maker. And every go. Another milestone. The lifeless winter trees that’d lost their leaves and the white tent overhead that made a cloudy day even darker couldn’t steal the spring or suffocate the shine (of pride) that he had — that he has — for this sweet couple.
Then, he said it.
Put on your hat and go.
M and B, you’ve lived your life wearing that hat. Melissa, you don’t like hockey. But you go to his hockey games. Because you love him. Braedon, you dance with her in the kitchen, in your socks. You never would by yourself. But you love her. You both do exactly for each other what your great-grandmother said to do: you put your hats on… and go. Not because you have to. But because putting people first is who you are. And that fact doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. It extends to everyone who gets to call you a friend. That’s why it felt like the world stopped on its axis on your wedding day. Because you stop yours for everyone else. All the time.
You show up for life.
Because putting people first is who you are.
That’s why we wouldn’t let anyone else in the world photograph your wedding. Because you’ve never substituted anyone or anything else in your place for the moments in our life, big and small. You’ve always been there. You’ve always showed up. At the starting line. At the finish line. And all the way though.
The least we could do is show up for you.
The least we could do is pick up our cameras… and go.
the creative team
Event Coordinator: Ashley Gain Weddings
Bride’s Dress: Watters • Bride’s Ring: Shane Co • Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka • Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The Dessy Group • Catering: Creative Cuisine • Ceremony Location: Secret Garden • Ceremony Music: Carson Parks • Dessert: Inspired Sugar • DJ: Infinity Entertainment • Floral Design: Paradise Valley Florist • Furniture Rental: Prim Rentals • Getting Ready Location: The Buttes • Groom’s Ring: Brad Studio on Etsy • Groom’s Tuxedo/Suit: Brothers Tailors • Groomsmen’s Tuxedo/Suit: Brothers Tailors • Hair Stylist: Tara Hainsworth • Invitations: Champagne Press • Makeup Artist: Arielle Rondeau • Officiant: Scott Gardner • Photographers: Amy & Jordan • Photo Booth: Fun in a Flash • Reception Location: Secret Garden • Transportation: Just For You Transportation • Venue Coordinator: Alexis Bommareito-Sobey • Videographer: Produco Films
Our Gear: Canon 5D Mark III • Canon 50 1.2 • Canon 85 1.2 • Canon 70-200 2.8 • Canon 100 2.8 • Canon 24-70 2.8 • Canon Speedlite 600 EX-RT • Entire Gear List