When I first met Rebecca + Patrick at their inquiry meeting, I did what I always do with first impressions – I put my foot in my mouth.

As we sat down to coffee, the couple told me all about themselves. The more they talked, the more excited I got; they couldn’t have been more my ideal clients – kind, funky, fun, untraditional, and really excited to be married to their best friend. Becca told me she had been following me for ages and had wanted me to be her photographer for a long time (the biggest compliment you can give a photographer in my opinion). Little did they know, I had been working all month prior on how to talk about “ideal clients” and what to say during client meetings.

I started out. “Well guys, recently, I’ve been trying to focus in on my “why”, focus on what kind of people are the kind of couples, the kind of people, I truly want to work with.” Becca looked at Pat, then me, panic in her face. “Does that mean you don’t think we’re a good fit?” she asked. I blurted out, “Oh God, no.” She looked crestfallen, then looked to Pat again. I realized my mistake a half second too late, and again, blurted out something like, “I mean, yes! I meant you guys, you’re the type of people I want to work with! I’m sorry, that was confusing. Yes, I’d love to work with you.”

Luckily, they started laughing, and so did I. They kept me around, thankfully, and between their engagement session in a rainy flower field last year and their perfect, sunshiney wedding day picnic, I’ve captured so much magic through my lens whenever I’m with them.

May 18, 2024 – wedding day – was no different. The day started at the bride’s parents house, with the bride and her people getting ready and coordinating upstairs, while the groom and his boys ruled and roughhoused in the basement. Becca included the most amazing elements in her details for me to photograph, everything from polaroids from their engagement session to their one of a kind, handfasting cord for the ceremony. The couple met at Aldi, during the COVID -19 pandemic, and Becca joked in her inquiry email that she “fell in love with the guy who sold her toilet paper.” Since you need to use a quarter to use a cart at Aldi, she included 4 quarters in their details – one for 2020, the year the met, one for Indiana, where they met, and one from each of the states they’re from, South Carolina and Ohio.

Once Pat was dressed and ready, he and the men headed to the ceremony site, a wooded space he and Becca had previously scouted within a local land trust where they love to hike. At the house, Becca finished getting ready with one of her bridesmaids. Her dress, instead of a traditional white, was a flowy, tiered floor length gown covered with a pattern of flowers, butterflies and bees – absolutely perfect for her. The colors were lovely and matched her bright bouquet and blue block heels.

After the girls made it to the ceremony site, Bec’s girls walked back to the woods to give the couple some privacy for their first look near the entrance. I turned some Hozier on my bluetooth speaker to set the scene for Pat + Becca as they shared a first look. Pat, God bless him, was crying before he even turned around to see her. Bec gifted Pat a handkerchief with his new initials, since HE took HER last name. (Literally such king energy, I love those two.) After they took a couple moments, we all walked back to the ceremony space, humid Indiana sunshine overhead in a bright blue sky with big puffy white clouds. Hozier lazily played on the breeze in the background, blending in with birds chirping and Bec occasionally pointing out honeybees. Pat’s brothers had stayed behind and walked with us with boards to lay over the muddy parts of the trail so Bec wouldn’t get her shoes or dress dirty, sweetly offering their hands to help her across.

The ceremony site was a perfect fit for their 9 people. They exchanged sweet words and rings, followed by tying their hands together in a handfasting ceremony, finishing with a kiss and giggles.

Post ceremony time was picnic time! The couple had gotten charcuterie boxes for all of their guests, filled with meats, breads, cheeses, fruit, and topped with gummy bears (something that was a must for Becca). Becca + Pat got their own charcuterie picnic basket, complete with a small lemon wedding cake and other small desserts. Everyone enjoyed the shade, their food, and each other’s company, most finishing with a shot, well wishes, and a promise to see them later at dinner. Only Bec, Pat and I were left to finish the only thing on the timeline: “frolic and take pictures.”

We took the rest of our time together enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company. I suggested Becca pose with the white parasol I have and she loved the idea – she said the portraits made her feel “straight out of Little Women,” something that really appealed to her little librarian heart. Her dress’ pattern stood out so well, as did her bright blue eyes, against the stark white. We all decided to do one more lap around the land trust, this time, Bec getting her feet muddy and not caring. We took pictures with wildflowers, sang to Hozier and pointed out butterflies.

The Indiana humidity wasn’t playing around, so we eventually needed to call it quits, but it was truly one of those days we didn’t want to end. I love celebrating my people, but it is so sad to see their event go by on my calendar and know the event we’ve been working towards is officially done. I will never get tired of celebrating you, your way.