Second Shooter

During our big ride with the Desert Rose a few weeks ago, I did hand off the camera for a little while. In case you didn't know, Cowboy H is a budding photographer himself, and if I were to ever start a wedding photography business (I won't) he would be my second shooter.

Seriously. There is just something about his images. He has an instinctual ability to capture the true essence of his subjects, to really bring out their best.

That day, he managed to capture a side of me rarely seen:

My grace.

My beauty.

My class.

My elegance.

*Sigh* They're all so beautiful, I just can't decide which one to blow up and put on the wall.

A Homemade Wedding Homestead-Style: Hamming It Up

Hello folks! Despite the forecasts calling for rain all day today, I woke up to bright blue skies, the sun shining and birds chirping! I also woke up with a clear head, thankyouverymuch. There's so much I could get done today! Ah, I love that feeling.

First off, I'm going to run out to the ranch with the dogs and mess around with the horses a bit. They both need baths badly! Then, I might actually clean house and do some laundry. Oh my!

Anyone else have big weekend plans?

~~~

In the last of the wedding saga, things were getting started at the barn during cocktail hour. But Cowboy H and I weren't there yet! We had whisked away to some special locations for our couple's portraits.

We started at this mustard yellow barn, which is kind of a landmark in my small hometown. In elementary/jr. high, my school bus used to stop here to pick up kids! And, my great-grandfather actually built this barn! How cool is that?

I've shown you this one before, but its one of my absolute favorites, so its worth sharing again. Eventually, this one's going on the wall!

From the yellow barn, we moved down the road a little ways into the orange groves. In this location, we were actually directly across the road from the reception!

From here, we actually went to the reception location, but snuck around a bit taking pictures before joining the party. All the "props" you see in the following photos are permanent residents of the barn and its surrounding areas!

By now, we had been spotted and some of our guests gathered round to watch the behind the scenes.

Photo by Katie


Photo by Katie




Please note that Cowboy H is actually trying to drive the mini John Deere.

And with that, I headed straight for the appetizer table!

Photo by Lauren

Up Next: Photobooth or Bust!

All photography unless otherwise noted is credited to the rockin' Applemoon Photography!

A Homemade Wedding Homestead-Style: Best Friends and Brothers

This was our bridal party.

Unfortunately, that's the only photo I got back with all four of us, and the only one not making a funny face is Trent.

Originally, we weren't going to have a "bridal party" since Cowboy H didn't know who to have and I had three girls that I KNEW I wanted with me. I didn't want any of this lop-sided business so we decided to forgo the whole thing. Then, our officiant told us we needed two witnesses at the ceremony, so we decided to just have one person each, who would also serve as our witnesses. Fortunately Cowboy H's brother was able to make it out, otherwise he wasn't sure who to ask.

This crazy lady has out-grown the best friend title and pretty much moved to sister.

We met each other in FIRST grade. Actually, we met before first grade, in Albertson's grocery store after taking our entrance tests for first grade (private school). In second grade we wore the same dress to school on picture day.

We went to school together all the way until the end of high school. While we are almost complete opposites, we always fit together, complimented each other. I made Jenna tone down and relax; she made me act more like a girl and brush my hair. During high school we were almost inseparable.

Please note the creeper in the background is actually smiling.

While we have grown apart somewhat, we always come back to each other. I mean, after 20 years together, it just doesn't go away. That's why I call her my sister now.

Okay, let's put our serious faces on now.

Naw, don't let them fool you! While these two are several years apart in age, and haven't lived together for quite a while, they don't miss a beat. I was so so SO happy Trent made it out (from Missouri); it wouldn't have been the same without him standing next to Cowboy H. He seriously lived up to his Best Man duties too. He escorted me around, ran errands, and made sure to supply my favorite (and only) alcohol to the bar. Thanks bro!

While we were busy taking additional pictures such as these

Butt pincher!

and these

our photogs were also busy capturing some candid moments.

Talking to his beer can since I wouldn't allow it in the picture.


Pinning on a bout.


I like your skirt, Granny.

In the background, the BBQ pit was fired up.

Can you see us in the background? We love BBQ!

You know what, I'm going to save my BBQ crew for a whole new post! They deserve their own after all the rib-eye and chicken they cooked for us! Plus, I want to tell you about each of them, since they were not a hired crew. They were specially selected vounteers!

Stay tuned!

Next time: The Pit Crew and we finally head to the church

A Homemade Wedding Homestead-Style: Say Cheese!

Ohhhh, everyone hates the family pictures. But truth is, if it wasn't for all of these people, the two getting married wouldn't exist, or wouldn't be exactly who they are. So, we take family pictures. And hopefully get them hung on our walls (hangs head).

We took family photos before the ceremony for a few reasons.

1. My mom was the head chef. There was absolutely no way she could be posing for pictures during cocktail hour. She had to finish prepping dinner!
2. We wanted our family/friends to be able to go directly to cocktail hour and enjoy themselves before dinner was served.
3. We wanted cocktail hour to actually be an hour. This stemmed from a wedding we went to a year ago, where we sat around in the bar of the reception site for over TWO hours waiting for the bridal party/family to take all their pictures. Let's just say there was not much to do besides drink. Uh-uh, no way that was happening at our wedding.

So, onto the photographs. I'll try to keep them brief.

Cowboy H's sibs: Trenton and Tiffany.


My younger brother, Joe. Please remember that I am nearly 6 feet tall.


Cowboy H's mom and her husband.


Cowboy H's dad.


My dad and mom (and brother again).


Cowboy H's grandma.

Ready for another goof on my behalf? I had forgotten to tell my grandma that we were meeting before the ceremony to take pictures. After scrambling around, we sent Cassie and Katie to pick her up. Then, halfway to the barn, my grandma realized she forgot something at home. So they had to go back to her house.

At this point, we were all standing around waiting for my grandma. Around the barn, tables were being decorated, napkins folded and all that other jazz set-up. (Let me tell you, even my ushers were helping fold napkins!) Suddenly, Cowboy H came out of the barn wearing THIS:

THIS, is the hat he was wearing when I met him.

Some of your may already be familiar with this hat. I got, just maybe, a little excited.

And then, finally, my grandma was there so we could take the last pics.

Next Time: The "Bridal Party" and Outtakes!

Happy Faces

This is my 50th post!!! And to celebrate, I've brought two of the happiest faces along with me. Enjoy!