Oh boy!  Is this a good one, folks!  Bry and Jake have been getting yearly photos done (which now, to my absolute joy, includes their long haired German Shepherd pup Mila), and I think this year was my favorite yet!!  We met at a sunflower field in Medina, Ohio for a glowy evening couples session, and it did not disappoint.  Walking through a field of sunflowers all facing the same direction (all trying to catch those nice morning rays, no doubt) literally felt like a dream. 5 star review from me, for sure. Take a look at all the goldeny goodness below!!!

In honor of their WEDDING in [roughly] a WEEK(!!!!!), here are Nick and Jalena hittin' the blog with their Kingwood Center Gardens engagement session from earlier this summer.  These two are such a joy, and I cannot wait to meet all their friends and family and celebrate them at their Cleveland wedding and reception.  We met up at this hidden gem historic estate to commemorate their season of engagement, and we got to explore the grounds, chase a peacock (he was camera shy, unfortunately), and just have a good ol' time in general.  And will you just look at Jalena's dress!!  I'm still not over it!!  I CANNOT WAIT to see what she picked for her wedding dress! (and Nick, I'm sure your outfit will also be very stylin', too haha)   Love you two and cannot believe that the day is almost here!!!

This one hits different, folks (as trendy young people would say).  Please excuse me while a write this love ode to Phoebe...My Phoebs.  My person.  It has been an honor to walk through this season with you, and not only this season, but every season before it.  It is humbling that I get to be the friend of someone so compassionate, so intentional, so truly and deeply kind, and someone whose heart is so true.  You inspire me to love others better, and Jesus so clearly flows out of you in everything you do.  That I was blessed with a sistah-friend like you, there will never be enough words of thankfulness for it.  Our Father is so, so good to us.  The coolest thing about seeing you fall in love with Pete (your Pete, not mine haha), was to see him love you the thoughtful and intentional way you have always loved all of us.  There is no doubt that he was the one we waited for all this time.  And if younger Ashley and Phoebe had known that we would both marry our own Peter B's, well I don't think I could have handled the amazingness of that.  The Lord kept it as a neat little surprise for us, isn't that cool?!  I love you deeply and I can't wait to walk every other season of life with you and our Petes, and we'll all be in the nursing home together like, "PETE" and then they'll both answer, "Yeah" in synchrony and we'll look at each other and giggle because I don't think it will ever sink in how richly blessed we've been. I love you. And I love you, too, now Peter B, it comes with the territory.

Jackie and Patrick's Cleveland wedding day was all joy, all the time.  They had their ceremony, which was officiated wonderfully by Jackie's brother, in North Olmsted, near where they just purchased their first home.  It was held at the Grand Pacific Wedding Chapel.  After popping some champagne outside (with Patrick spraying the champagne like a rocket, I still have dried champagne drops on my camera bag haha), we rode all around stopping at fun Cleveland spots like East 4th Street and the Cleveland script sign at Edgewater Park for group pictures.  The bus dropped us off at the Rock Hall of Fame, and we proceeded down to North Coast Harbor where we boarded the Goodtime III for the sunset cruise reception.  Jackie and Patrick had such a fun group of friends and everyone was thrilled to celebrate them.  After an outrageously hilarious best man toast, a whole wedding group picture on the deck of the Goodtime III, and a stunning sunset on Lake Erie, they danced the night away and celebrated the newly weds.  Arrr matey, beautiful photos ahead!!

If you know me, you know that Stillwater Place at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has my heart because it's where Pete and I got second married (thanks to Covid), so it stands to reason that couples also getting married there have my heart, as well.  And boy, is that true!  Emily and Joe are just fantastic and have such a great group of friends and family.  My second shooter Tori and I just had the best day hanging out with them and capturing their amazing zoo wedding magic on film (aka memory cards, but film sounds more cute and nostalgic, so just go with it).  A presumptuous wedding guest name Quilbert the Porcupine (see below) tried very hard to upstage the bride with his adorableness, but to no avail, because Emily just absolutely stunned (I got goosebumps when she put the veil on, I'm not even kidding).  And the dance floor, don't even get me started.  This group knew how to MOVE!  The wonderful day ended with a sparkler exit sending Joe and Emily on their way to a honeymoon in Mexico.  Emily and Joe, congrats.  I hope you felt the love that surrounded you on that day, because I know I did.  You are two very special people.