Wedding Date: June 28th 2026

Some weddings I photograph as a professional, and then there are the rare few I get to photograph as family, and this was unmistakably the second kind. I've had the privilege of documenting Betsy and Larry's family for years now, generations of milestones passing through my lens, so walking into their home on this particular morning felt less like arriving for a job and more like showing up for people I genuinely love.

They got ready right there in the family home, and before Betsy headed out for the first look, I got to pull her and Meta into a big hug. Down at the end of the dock, Larry stood waiting, and when Betsy finally appeared, his reaction was absolutely priceless. Shock and pure joy tangled together on his face, the kind of expression you simply cannot direct or ask for.

My wife Janelle joined us for the day too, because honestly, this family has become like our own over the years, and having her there just made the whole thing feel even more special. We spent time soaking in their gorgeous backyard, the lake stretching out behind everything making for the perfect backdrop. Betsy's bouquet was stunning, bursting with color, and it fit the whole tone of the day perfectly.

But if I'm being honest, the moment that meant the most to me had nothing to do with the ceremony itself. Years ago, I photographed their grandchildren, two sets of twins, all piled onto the family sofa. This time around, with those same kids so much older now, we recreated that exact photo on that exact sofa, and getting to watch how much they'd grown while capturing that full-circle moment again is something I'll carry with me for a long time. Spending time with the grandchildren was, without question, the most important part of the whole day for everyone involved, myself included.

The ceremony took place right on their deck, overlooking the lake, with the kids scattering petals down the aisle as Larry waited at the end alongside their pastor. Those same grandkids stood up as the wedding party. The weather cooperated beautifully, and every single face in that small crowd was lit up with joy. Personal doesn't even begin to describe it.

Afterward, everyone gathered for a gorgeous catered meal, salmon and seafood and all sorts of delicious things, before Betsy and Larry made their exit the way only this family could pull off, climbing aboard a boat while everyone stood in the backyard waving them off into the evening.

Vendors: Food Gallery Catering (catering), Arts & Flowers (florist), Jill Elaine Designs (stationery), Sally Berry & Co. (wedding planner)