throwback thursday: a best friend's wedding!

When I was thirteen years old, I was just trying to be cool...you know, like all thirteen year olds. Except I was trying to be cool while being raised in an ultra-strict environment...while only being allowed to wear long skirts {no pants! no jeans!}...while not being allowed to listen to any music other than hymns...and limited contact with boys. Needless to say, it was somewhat difficult for me to be "cool." :) But oh, how I tried! There were a few times and places back then when I had a little more room to spread my wings. At church camps and youth conferences, yes we were watched closely, but with hundreds of other teens around, it was easier to push the boundaries a bit.
The summer of my thirteenth year I was living in Iowa, and I attended a church youth conference here in Oklahoma. It was a week long conference, and during that week, I made some cool new friends! I remember it like it was yesterday....There were these cheesy "Get to Know Each Other" surveys in our welcome folders. My friend and I spotted some cute boys that we wanted to talk to...and since I was the always-bold, never-shy one, I made the approach with a survey in hand. I asked them a ridiculous question off the sheet, and one guy came back with an even more ridiculous answer! His name was Michael, and if I was bold, he was {and is} absolutely brazen!! He had us laughing from the minute we met him, and we hung out with him and his group of friends {from Omaha, NE} for the rest of the week. When we left at the end of the week, we all exchanged addresses {no cell phones or emailing for us at the time}, and surprisingly enough, it didn't end there! We kept in touch throughout the year, and saw each other again the next year at the same youth conference. And so it went for the next few years. Each year, our friendship deepened, and we found more times and ways to see each other. Over fifteen years later, Michael and his best friend Nathan {who I also met that first youth conference} have become two of my very best friends! And through them, I have met and developed some of my other very best friendships! We have attended each others' graduations and been a part of each others' weddings--well, not mine obviously. :) We have comforted each other, supported each other, and unconditionally loved each other! I am so thankful for this strong group of very cool friends I have. :)
As I read over what I have written here, I feel slightly melancholy as I remember the carefree days of our teen years. We thought we had it difficult then, but God knew we would need each other as we grew older and experienced some serious heartaches in life. Still, we are so very blessed to have this friendship that cannot be explained through mere words, but can only be felt with the heart!
Earlier this year, Michael got married, and I had the absolute privilege of shooting his wedding! Now, I always love my job, and I truly enjoy shooting weddings...but there is something very special about shooting a dear friend's wedding! I remember telling Michael and Vanessa on their wedding day: "At this moment, on this day, there is honestly no other place I would rather be, than right here, doing what I am doing!"

Here are the photos...

I love this pic because Michael looks so happy, and also because of Nathan's silhouette on the left...




Vanessa's mom adjusts her veil...


Vanessa and Michael are both so expressive! Love it! :)




I would like to nominate these two for The Cutest Ring Bearer and Flower Girl Award! :)








Michael's mom looks on with pride during the ceremony...






















There were tears during Vanessa's dance with her dad...




...And there was laughter when Michael danced with his mom...


The toasts also brought moments of laughter...




...And lots of tears {including the ones streaming down my face!} as Michael talked about his amazing mother and all that she means to him!


{Mrs. Sayers, I love you!!!}


After all that, a full-on dance party broke out! I had trouble narrowing down all the fun dancing shots!

There were sweet couples...


These two couples are part of the amazing group of friends I rambled on about at the beginning of this post. Left to right, they are: Shane & Bre, Betsy & Nathan. I love these people!! :)


...And there was lots of fun dancing!












Michael & Vanessa~
I love you guys so much!!! Your friendship means the world to me, and I am thrilled that I was able to capture your awesome wedding day! I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

~abi~