lighting each other up with laughter: a dayton ohio wedding at coco’s

I feel very lucky to photograph weddings for so many reasons.  But one of the big ones is this: there is so much we can learn from love.  Seeing how my couples love one another is amazing, and definitely not something I take for granted.   As Jesse got ready with his “groomspeeps,” as they were affectionately dubbed, there was laughter and there was lots of fun for sure.  And as Ashlie got ready, with her mom and sister and friends all close by (I love the way her mama is looking at her in this next one!),   …there was also lots of laughing.  Especially as they celebrated the little victories, like buttoning Ashlie’s dress and getting her veil in just right.  But every time these two were together that day – oh!  The laughing!  When they saw one another for the first time, they LIT UP. Ok, fine, so there was crying too.  But it was the crying that comes with the laughing and the love and says: “Holy smokes, we’re here!  It’s our day!  I love you so much I can hardly even stand it!!!”  Surrounded by lots of love, these two. They were married by their good friend, in front of a backdrop of green and green and just a few leaves beginning to let in the autumn.   There was laughing again as they said their vows.

And they could hardly take their eyes off one another.  Not in that googly-eyed way, but in that way that showed they were so happy to be there together, experiencing this together. So maybe, just maybe, Jesse gets a bit of that glorious laughing from his mom.

As we had a few drinks back at 16-bit bar and arcade for their engagement session a few months ago, I remember being struck by how they laugh together.  When they see each other, they giggle, then as their time together goes on, those giggles turn into full-on, wide-open LAUGHS!  They make each other SO happy.  It’s awesome to see the transformation that happens when they are together.
Jesse’s suit was custom made, and even just showing Ashlie the purple lining made them both crack up.

And so here’s the thing to be learned from this love: All that laughing makes perfect sense.  Because when you’re really, truly in some super love, life just feels more fun!  I know that they are there for one another during the rough patches, too – that they help hold each other up.  But the way that they laugh during the good parts is outta sight!

Ashlie and Jesse, you two really do light each other up!  Love to see you starting your marriage with such joy.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day.  And thank you for reminding me that love and laughter go hand in hand.  I’ve been taking every opportunity lately to laugh with my man, and it’s been awesome!

If you are newly engaged (or know someone who is), and would like to chat about me photographing your love and laughter, I’d love to hear from you!  Let’s start up a conversation here!

Venue/Catering – Coco’s Bistro (the people here were wonderful, even clearing away tables to remove clutter from the background in the name of pictures!)

Cake – Ele Cake

Dress – Watters Bridal

Shoes – Kate Spade

Flowers – The Flower Shoppe

Makeup – Jilian Mason, Arc Artistry

Hair – Square One Salon

Suit – Renaissance

Cufflinks – CuFFactory

Music – Chic Violinista