I loved this wedding. I mean I really, really loved this wedding. And let me tell you why. . . because it was like being in the middle of the best romantic movie you have ever seen. There were tears. There was laughter. There was face-touching (which you know is my favorite). There were groomsman shenanigans. There were sweet and sassy bridesmaids. But most importantly, there was love. Giant, rushing, warm, shiny, sparkling waves of love.

(Jeez Louise, I’m crying already and I’m only two paragraphs in.)

Even though several months have passed since this wedding, when I look at the images, I can feel it like it was yesterday. I can feel Kari’s exuberant dance around the dressing room after she put on her mother’s cathedral veil. I can feel the unique (albeit mysterious) bonds of masculine friendship when Logan is hoisted onto his best man’s shoulders. I can feel the pain and pride of Kari’s oldest brother speaking on behalf of the father they lost. I can feel the sorrow, comfort and love as Kari dances the first dance with her mother, and they wipe away each others tears.

And although there was certainly sorrow, there was so much joy. Kari and Logan stood hand in hand in the middle of the dance floor as Minnesota’s Wedding Entertainment Director Extraordinaire Bill Hermann spun the tale of their love – from a match made on eHarmony, to their engagement, to their wedding day. Everybody – and I mean everybody – was hypnotized. Watching the two of them gaze at each other while Bill’s low, melodic narrative carried us along in their story was beyond moving. It was epic.

And then things got crazy.

It’s not often that you get to see a dance floor packed from edge to edge at a wedding. And all the events that might go quietly into the night at a reception, like the garter and bouquet, were done with such flourish that they became events in and of themselves. When Kari threw the bouquet, there were hands everywhere grasping at the floral projectile. When Logan removed Kari’s garter, they were literally surrounded by every man and boy in the place. When they did the anniversary dance, the floor was packed shoulder to shoulder with couples in love, which as you can imagine, is heaven for a mush bucket like me.

 So this is my Valentine’s Day gift to you. Looking at these images will not only make your feel Kari and Logan’s love and joy, it will make you feel your own. You’ll think of how much you love those around you and how lucky you are to have their love in return. And it will feel oh, so good.

 Happy Valentine’s Day!

 Now go kiss somebody, already!

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Last night I walked away with the following eight honors at the 2010 Northern Light Regional Convention for MN, ND and SD professional photographers:

• MN Wedding Photographer of the Year
• Distinguished Album
• Haga Wedding Award
• Court of Honor
• Northern Light Highest Scoring Wedding Print
• Fuji Masterpiece Award
• Kodak Gallery Award for Photographic Excellence in a Print
• Kodak Gallery Award for Photographic Excellence in an Album

But before I put down one more word of horn honking, I need to give a big, fat THANK YOU to David Grupa, David Johnson, David Jones, Erin Dunn and Kirsten Holscher.  I have a terrible time choosing which of my images to enter because I become too attached to the subjects.  I would make my selections based on the history of the image, how I felt when I took it, how I feel when I see it now, and how I feel about the people in it.  These wonderfully gifted photographers spent their valuable time helping me see my images with fresh eyes, and their advice was instrumental in achieving the list of awards above.

I’m especially proud of the fact that all of the images I entered were created for actual clients.  I didn’t hire professional models and stylists or rent a special location.  These are real brides and grooms being photographed on their actual wedding day.  It was a privilege to take part in their weddings, and I’m grateful  they allowed me the time and creative space to produce the images you’ll see below.  Meghan and Brandon, Jill and Paul, Katie and Sean, and Mary and Peter  – thank you, thank you, thank you!

Additionally, the images were awarded by trained, experienced professional photographers and judges, men and women who’ve spent decades learning, improving and sharing their art.  I value their opinions and greatly appreciate their gifts.  To have them recognize my work as being worthy of the awards above is truly an honor.

Album: It Starts With a Kiss

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Print: A Quiet Corner

Print: Leading Lady

Print: A Perfect Storm

And here’s the deal-io muchachos, and I say this only because I have witnessed it personally, Sarah’s presence is more calming than prescription pharmaceuticals.  And for anyone that’s ever planned a wedding or participated in a wedding, you know that things can get downright frightening.  Moms get stressed.  Sisters get lost.  Best men get intoxicated, and red things get spilled on white dresses.  But with a qualified, experienced wedding professional like Sarah, all you’ll have on your to-do list is to enjoy one of the best days of your life with the most important people in your life.

And here’s a little secret you may not know about wedding photographers . . . we’re all terrible control freaks.  In order to create gorgeous images, we want to control the light, control the pose, control the location.   Having to “share” a wedding with another professional can rattle our obsessive-compulsive nerves.  But I can honestly say, and I’ve told Sarah this myself, that I wish she was at every wedding I’m invited to photograph.  And that, my friends, is the highest praise I can give.

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Marie’s creative genius has inspired cakes with giant sugar snowflakes, meringue flowers, delicately hand-painted orchids, fondant sculpted into Coach purses, wedding dresses, and race cars, and a four foot Klingon Bird of Pray ship (Marie has a special affinity for geeks & nerds).

Not only are her cakes visually amaz-z-zing, this Sugar Samurai knows her stuff, and she’s not afraid to deliver a factual smack-down to competitors that dare spout misinformation about her beloved fondant or lies about dyes staining your guests’ teeth.  I’m willing to bet that any cake-related questions you have would be answered with a quick trip to Marie’s blog.  You’ll find her wisdom to be straightforward, passionate, funny, and as she states herself, “snarky” at times.

But we girls need a cake to have more than just a pretty face.  We want a cake that is so delicious we want to sneak home extra pieces in our purse (not that I’ve ever done that . . .).  Let me assure you, you’ll want to carry an extra-large purse to your cake tasting.  A few of Celebration Generation’s most popular flavors are Chai, Raspberry Dream, Turtle Chocolate and Pina Colada.  Grab an extra piece for me.