June 20th, 2009 – For my second wedding of the weekend, I was back in Minnesota in La Crescent for the wedding ceremony at the La Crescent United Methodist Church and then over to La Crosse, Wisconsin for the reception.
I first met Vanessa & Andy here in Winona at the Acoustic Cafe and knew that they would be fun couple to shoot. They are fun & outgoing and they have a little daughter who is just darling. We then met up a few months later for their engagement pictures and I knew that they and their wedding day would make some great photos.
Did I happen to mention that they had ten people on each side for their bridal party? Big and super fun!! The more, the merrier – right?!
I started with Andy and the guys first as he and Vanessa did not want to see each other prior to the wedding. After taking the guy’s photos, they were going to leave the church and come back for the start of the ceremony. Before we finished, I saw their daughter for the first time and all dressed up and ready to go…
Soon after, I went into the ladies dressing room to get some shots of Vanessa getting her dress on and her final preparations before taking her & the bridesmaids’ formals. Once we finished, it was time for the four kids to receive their gifts for being part of the wedding. It was like Christmas time…
While waiting for the ceremony, Vanessa & her mother shared a touching moment and had to fight back tears…
During the ceremony, the kids were very well behaved!
Other than some unexpected orange socks (hilarious – by the way), the ceremony went perfectly. After family & bridal party portraits, Vanessa got bustled up before heading to a local bar for some pre-reception drinks & fun…
Father & daughter played a little foosball too…
After some photos at Riverside Park, we arrived at the La Crosse Center Ballroom for their wedding reception. Before cutting the cake, Andy learned not to mess with Vanessa.
Ever.
Especially when she’s holding a knife…
Everything was color coordinated, even down to the flasks…
Not too long after, it was time for the dance to begin. Their first dance was beautiful…
…especially once their daughter came running out to them…
Then it was Vanessa’s turn to dance with her father, who just finished reading a poem to her, which he wrote himself.
The dollar dance was fun to watch. In the end, Vanessa received more money and the Matron of Honor rubbed it in to the Best Man…
Things were really getting fun after the Grand March…
The garter removal and toss were fun to watch as well – check out the socks…
After a full ten hours of shooting and fun it was time for me to go, but it really was a great day. Perhaps we’ll run into each other in La Crescent again. I wish you both the best, Vanessa & Andy. I hope you both never forget the love you felt on this day. May each day be filled with fun & even more love…
