Gretchen & Tom decided to get married in Mexico & I couldn’t be more happy that they did! The quaint Azul Beach Hotel was the perfect backdrop for their sweet, intimate wedding. And can I tell you, spending time with couples & getting to know them, especially in a situation like a destination wedding, is so much fun for me! These two are seriously so in love…my favorite moment? After the ceremony I had the two of them alone on the rooftop for a few photos in the setting sun & Tom, reached in, pulled Gretchen to himself tightly & sweetly kissed her on the forehead…ahhh…my heart! I am so happy for them & all that lies ahead of them! Congratulations!

Here’s a little sneak peek of what I am working on right now! This little gem of a wedding was so! much! fun! I can’t wait to share the rest of the images! For now, just a little grooms dinner teaser. Enjoy!

The end of winter means the beginning of wrapping up wedding plans for these two! I had the idea for this session in the works for quite some time and I’m incredibly lucky that Stephanie an Aaron were willing to wait until I said “Today is the day!”…from the crisp white snow and warmer-than-cool temperatures to the setting sun I think it all came together beautifully! Stephanie and Aaron were quite the troopers for me as well…the road to this particular park was closed so we had to hoof it there through the melting snow…I thought it was pretty treacherous, my boots were soaked (!) but that’s nothing for these two. As avid campers, hikers and mountain climbers, and by mountain climbers I mean SERIOUS ROCK CLIMBERS who like hang off the side of cliffs, I think they got a kick out of my apologies about having to walk in the snow!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The two amazing couples below have sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Natalie to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple’s story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Elizabeth & JB

Wedding Location// Columbia Manor, Maple Grove, MN

Their Story// Elizabeth and JB’s love story is a little unique. The two met through a mutual friend in high school. JB was the cute boy and Elizabeth was the star struck girl. They hung out a few times with the arrangement of my best friend of course, but they went their separate ways. A few years later, one summer back from college Elizabeth’s best friend and her decided to call him up. From that night on they were inseparable. That is, until Elizabeth went back to school in Hawaii. The couple never lost touched and became best friends. A few years later Elizabeth moved back to Minnesota and her and JB have been together ever since.

He is my friend and soul mate. In May of last year he got down and proposes (I wish I could say it was a surprise, but a month earlier he mentioned this to me over a romantic dinner because well we are best friends and best friends always like to talk first right?)This past August he started Med School in Maine and I am here teaching in Minnesota. These past few months have been tough, but we are doing it. I will be making the move out there this summer. I can’t imagine my life with out him.

Couple #2// Katie & Jeff

Wedding Location// St. Paul, Minnesota

Their Story// Katie and Jeff met about a year and a half ago at a wedding.  The wedding was for a mutual friend of the both of them, Katie was a bridesmaid and Jeff served the dutiful role as an usher. After the wedding, however, Jeff returned home to Arizona.  Even though he was a few thousand miles away, Katie and Jeff stayed in touch.  They talked daily, and sometimes for hours at a time.  They got to know each other very well and Jeff  decided that a trip back to Minnesota was in order.  During this time, the two hung out quite a bit and it was during this visit that Jeff and Katie officially decided to date long distance. The distance was hard but they made it work. In July, Jeff decided to pursue his career as a pilot back in MN.  Katie went out, helped him pack up, and drove across the country to bring him home.  Since his return to MN they have been inseparable.

Katie has had in mind what she wants her wedding to be like for a very long time.  It was always a fall wedding with cranberry dresses for her bridesmaids.  They will be getting married in St. Paul, MN on November of 2012, the weekend before Thanksgiving. They are both thankful for each other, thankful for their friends and family who have shown them support throughout the years, and thankful that they are going to be celebrating the rest of their lives together.

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm – March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="5"]

This winter has been so brown! Oh how I’ve been yearning for a little color! While it’s nice to have a little snow now to freshen everything up, I still long for green & gold summer days & purple & blue sunsets…which made me think of this pretty little wedding I photographed! Ben & Megan were married in the month of June at a friends house. Personally, one of my favorite parts of their day was stealing them away to get photographs of the two of them alone…such an amazing couple & such a perfect summer day! ciao!