Glacier National Park Wedding | The Hausladens | Destination Wedding Photographer

Mr. & Mrs. Hausladen

West Glacier National Park, Montana | Mountain Wedding | Destination Wedding Photographer

When Holli and Kyle first reached out to me to be their wedding photographer, they were planning their wedding at a family farm. The day we were scheduled to meet for a consultation, Holli reached out apologetically and said they had changed their minds and wanted to get married in one of their favorite spots to travel, Glacier National Park. Instead of shouting back via email “TAKE ME WITH YOU,” I kept my cool and said, “I love to travel, so if you decide you need an elopement photographer, don’t hesitate to reach out.” (Smooth, right?) I gave them some quotes and I may have cried inside with happiness when they decided to bring me with them. Seriously, what an honor!

It has been such an adventure ever since. From their camping and canoeing-themed engagement session to their mountain wedding and everything in between, I have LOVED getting to spend time with this couple (and their sweet pups!)

I traveled with my boyfriend, Jake (who doubles as my second shooter and assistant for destination weddings), his parents and grandparents who had Glacier on their bucket-list of places to visit. We stayed at this amazing rental place I booked from Airbnb called the Moonridge Retreat in Whitefish, Montana. It was the perfect, private location for us! We hiked and saw lots of wildlife, ate lots of good food, went whitewater rafting and celebrated my birthday! We even hired our own photographer while we were there, Elsa Eileen Photography, because I wanted my own beautiful mountain photos! (And it was a BLAST!!)

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(These 3 photos below are just a few of the photos our photographer, Elsa, took for us in Glacier!! LOVE!! )

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The day came for Holli and Kyle’s wedding and I was so excited, I knew it would be a breeze. (I didn’t account for all the tourists, but that’s what creative angles and photoshop is for, right?!) They decided to do a private first look on the little beach area, so as Holli arrived looking stunning, we turned Kyle to face the mountains while his bride prepared to see her groom for the first time. Pure joy. Pure love. THIS is what weddings are meant to be! Holli even had a little surprise for her dad - she had a Harley patch sewn into her dress! (Her dad told her that the dress better have the Harley logo on it for how much spent on it! LOL. 100% worth it, girl!)

Since I was only there for a few hours, and the fact that Glacier National Park can take hours to get through, we did the family photos near the ceremony site and wandered around to find all the best spots for Holli and Kyle’s portraits. Of course, the goal was the get epic photos of them with the mountains!

Of course, I wanted to give them some variety for their wedding photos as well! We walked to this little patch of woods, found a boat dock with an amazing view and just had great time soaking it all in! I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to visit Glacier National Park to celebrate Holli and Kyle, who decided to listen to their hearts and do their wedding THEIR way.

Going back through these photos, I have so many feelings! But seriously, pinch me! Is this my real life?! Is this what I get to do for my “job?!!!” I CRAVE traveling and experiencing new places. If you are deciding whether or not to take the plunge and have a destination wedding, I hope you do it! You won’t regret it - AAAAND I’d love be your third wheel, fly on the wall, go-to-girl, a.k.a. your photographer! I’d to meet you and talk about your plans and dreams - just fill out the info below!

Aruba Beach Wedding | The Johannsens | Destination Wedding Photographer

Mr. & Mrs. Johannsen

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino | Beach Wedding | Destination Wedding Photographer

Early 2017, Stephanie reached out because she and Brian were needing to get some photos taken in celebration and documentation of their 10-year dating anniversary that would also serve as their engagement photos. We had a gorgeous day and so much fun! When she mentioned that they were getting married in Aruba, I was so excited for them! After thinking about it and looking into it, I just HAD to ask if they’d want me to be their photographer. They were SO. EXCITED. I was SO. EXCITED!!!

They incurred a couple hundred dollar vendor fee for booking a photographer outside of their resort, but assuring me I was totally worth it (so darn sweet!), I started watching flights and looking for where we would stay.

Stephanie and Brian used a travel agent (Angie Aldrich with Destinations Unlimited)who set up EVERYTHING for them, and got me any information I would need to photograph their wedding as well. She was amazingly helpful and I would highly recommend a travel agent if you’re having a destination wedding somewhere you’re not familiar with out of the country.

September 2017 came and we booked our flights. I always use Google Flights and check on them a few times a week. i keep a log of what day it is, how much flights cost and how long the flight is so I can go back and compare. I start to see trends, like when prices tend to jump and drop so I know when to watch for them. I’ve used apps before and they don’t typically show me ALL the flight options, so I’ve stopped relying on them. We decided to book our stay through Airbnb because as much as I enjoy hotels, I LOVE having an entire space - especially since we were staying for 14 days! In my experience, they’re less expensive and less complicated. And having a full kitchen is necessary for longer trips because you can make your own breakfast/lunch/snacks when needed. And an almost private pool…. perfection.

We decided to invite another couple to travel with us! They were wanting to celebrate their 10-year anniversary somewhere tropical and had never been to Aruba. And to split the cost of the condo we rented would save us some money as well! (We also were offered a car rental through our condo and decided to take them up on it. We could’ve walked or taken public transport for cheaper but we really enjoyed having a vehicle ready at any moment for our use.)

We arrived in Aruba and were there for almost our 2 full weeks before Stephanie and Brian’s wedding date. I used that time to enjoy the island - the culture and the tourist-y parts, their foods and drinks and soak up the sun, all the while watching for amazing spots for their wedding photos. If you’re considering a trip to somewhere warm, I would definitely go back to Aruba and would recommend it , some of our favorite things to do, besides sit in the ocean or pool all day, were:

Food: Zeerovers (authentic food, unique experience), Casa Tua Pizzeria (pizza with a fun environment), Red Fish (authentic food, restaurant-style setting), Flying Fishbone (high-end, popular restaurant, eat at a table in the water) and Chicken and Lobster for breakfast (we stopped once because they were the closest to us and happened to be open and fell in love with their waffles!)

Experiences: Arubiana UTV rental (we rented the UTV for the day and used it to explore the whole island, including the natural pool. The internet-free app they have you download is super helpful and accurate. We had a great time!), Jolly Pirate - Sail, Snorkel, Swing (tourist-y but it was something we will likely never experience again and we had fun). But otherwise we just walked around, tried new restaurants, beaches, and relaxed!
Here are some shots from our stay:

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The day came for Stephanie and Brian’s wedding and I was so excited, and nervous! I had never photographed a beach wedding before, in an unknown area. I had no idea what to expect. But let me tell you, if you aren’t IN LOVE with the idea of throwing a huge expensive, stressful wedding just because that’s what’s traditional, PLEASE consider a destination wedding! Typically I show up and the brides have been up since 6 a.m. getting ready and stressing out about decor setup, etc. I showed up to Stephanie’s beautiful room and she had spent the morning having drink with her best friend and just relaxing. Now THAT’S how you want your wedding day to start! (Although, just like every bride, she did start to get nervous about walking down the aisle, but who can blame her! It’s a public beach with LOTS of spectators.)

We spent the afternoon hanging out with Stephanie in her room, laughing while she looked like a celebrity getting her hair and makeup done simultaneously, and heading to Brian’s room once in a while to photograph the men as they prepared for the big day!

I scoped out the best place to do their note exchange and I photographed a tearful first look with Stephanie and her sweet dad.

Then we all prepared for the ceremony. Everything went great. The backdrop was gorgeous and the photos turned out better than I could’ve expected. Although, we did have a lot of audience members in the swimming suits video taping and photobombing in the background. Between the scorching heat making me sweat so I could only use one eye at a time (worth it), the wind (Aruba’s a bit windy!) and the people in the background being a little too eager to get a good video of a wedding they were not invited to (lol!!) - I admit I was a bit anxious about the photos I was taking. (Also a reason I always have a second photographer with me!) That’s totally not out of the norm for me. Now, those pesky spectators are part of their wedding day story, which makes it that much more fun to talk about!

What came next is what I was the most nervous about - the formal photos! Stephanie and Brian trusted my ideas and allowed me to bring them to a more quiet part of the beach up the road. I wanted a location that would show off the beauty of Aruba in their portraits as well as somewhere I could find some shade from the sun. A bride in full hair, makeup and gown and groom in a full suit and boots can only handle SO much sun and wind. After praying I got all the amazing shots I had planned for, we headed back the beach for their family photos as the sun set.

Their wedding reception on the beach is what dreams are made of. Seriously. I was so happy in that moment I never wanted it to end. The private bartender, waitresses, food, drinks, ambience; everything was amazing. We sat with Steph, Brian and their closest friends and family and enjoyed the sand in our toes and a great meal! (Also, a side note, I tried salad for the first time and didn’t hate it.) They played their music selection from their own iPod, had their first dances in the sand under the lights, and it was magical. When the waitstaff joined in the dance party, that was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

I would go back to Aruba in a heart beat. In fact, it didn’t take long for us to start talking about when we would go back. But there’s something about traveling, experiencing different cultures and their way of living, that my soul cannot get enough of. We have SOOO many places from all over the world on our “Dream Travel” list (Egypt, Malta, Disneyland, Hawaii, Alaska, New Zealand, Ireland, Greece, Finland, just to name a few) and if I can travel with a bride and groom to photograph their amazing destination wedding - I’m going to do it! We’re so excited to be going to Glacier National Park in Montana this summer to photograph and celebrate another couple who decided to listen to their hearts and do their wedding THEIR way.

If you are considering a destination wedding (or know someone who is - please send them my way), I’d love to meet you and talk about your plans and dreams!

Sunset Engagement | Zach and Ana | Iowa Wedding Photographer

ANA & ZACH’S FALL SUNSET ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Hiawatha and Brandon, Iowa | Wedding Photographer

After photographing Zach and Ana’s engagement photos this fall, I seriously cannot wait for their Friday wedding in May! Zach and Ana’s story is so cute, and I loved that they wanted to incorporate it into their engagement photos.

We started in at one of Zach’s fire stations and pulled out the truck where they first met. Ana was doing a ride-along with Zach for her job, and the rest is history!

They wanted more of a rustic, country vibe for their photos so I took them to my hometown of Brandon, Iowa. You know, the largest frying pan?! We had a vision and I knew we would have lots of options there. It was a trek, and it was surprisingly cold, but it was sooo worth it. We found some fall color and walked around until the sun was juuuuust right.

Ana changed into a flowy skirt, lace top and flower crown and all my dreams came to life. Our first stop was the little white church before we made our last stop of the night.

You know that short period of time right before the sun sets when the sun turns everything golden. Yeah, that’s the golden hour. And it was epic for Zach and Ana’s session. So on top a hill in a bean field in Brandon, Iowa, they danced, twirled, dipped and laughed. And my vision for their photos came to life.

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We ended our night a little more quietly; watching as the sun went down at the end of the gravel road. Now, that’s my kind of engagement session! If you’re engaged and looking for a wedding photographer near Cedar Rapids, IA or the surrounding area for your upcoming wedding, I’d love to chat with you! Head on over to my Contact page. (No travel fees within the state of Iowa!)

If you’re engaged and looking for a local wedding photographer near Iowa City or Eastern Iowa for your upcoming wedding, I’d love to chat with you! Head on over to my Contact page. (I travel too!)