Surprise Wedding Pictures

On the day of our wedding, our very talented wedding photographer-Tracy Hill-brought along a second photographer who was job shadowing her. 

I was so excited to get the amazing photos back from Tracy that I kind of forgot that this other photographer had a bunch of pictures from our day too! So imagine my delight when I got a disk full of what I consider "extra" wedding pictures.

Below are a few of our favorites-all taken by Jessica Lynn Photography.

Ben and Nate

I love that cloudy sky we had

I love seeing that ring on his finger

With the temple's cape thing, since it was freezing after all

I love this one of my stunning flowers, which were one of my favorite wedding details

Chasing the ducks

Making wishes

The little model 

I love that he picked out the ring all by himself

The Wedding: The Whole Reason

Thanks for bearing with me through so many pictures and posts about our big day. There were so many pictures that I love that I couldn't help but share as many as possible

And, I saved some of the best for last.

There was a day, in early March, where we realized that we had sent out approximately 600 wedding announcements with the wrong address. The address that was sent happened to be an address for a funeral parlor. I was at work when I found out. I quickly left the office, and called Nate.

By the time I finally got him to call me back I could laugh at it, a little. Talking to him made everything better. We decided it made sense after all, since we were dying to get married. He made me laugh, when I was the most exhausted and overwhelmed.

That night I saw a quote that summed up exactly how I felt about the man that could always make me smile:

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Being engaged to Nate was like that. 

I'd found the man I wanted to spend my forever with-the man I wanted to never, ever be parted from. Once I'd decided that I couldn't wait for the day to come where eternity would be our reality. 

That day was the happiest of my life up until that point, but each day with him gets happier and happier. I've said before that I'll never forget the way he looked at me that day, and how could I when he still looks at me with such love?

He was the reason the wedding was so happy, and he is the reason I am so incredibly happy. 

All our beautiful wedding pictures were taken by the very talented Tracy Hill. 

The Wedding: Our People

I've always maintained the firm stance that the people in my life are simply the best. The people I'm honored to call my family, and friends are quite frankly, the most kind, giving, happy group. The love, joy, laughter, peace and clarity they bring to my life leaves me overwhelmingly content. Words do not exist to express the way I feel for them.

One of many good things Nate has brought into my life is his circle of people. I've been surprised at the love I feel for his people, some of whom I've never even met. As I've listened to his stories involving these people, the impact they've left on his life is evident. I've come to love strangers because of the love they've shown to the one I love the most. It's a new, and beautiful feeling.

So we were very pleased to have so many of OUR people celebrate with us. Our people, because that's what they've become. So many of our people sacrificed so much in order to be with us, others unable to attend sent their love through cards, texts and phone calls, and the happiness they all brought into our day is immeasurable. 

Because our people are simply the best. 

I can't finish a post about our people without a shout out to our parents. It was because of them that everything from this day was possible. So thanks Mom and Dad for looking at venues, watching me try on dresses, taking me to fittings, meeting with awful caterers, tracking down addresses, paying for all above things, and often calming my stressed soul. Mom and Dad Rau thank you for Nate's suit, for traveling, for the dinner, for the open house, for making me feel so welcome through this whole process, and for raising the man of my dreams. We love you all. 

All our beautiful wedding pictures were taken by the very talented Tracy Hill.