It feels so good to be getting caught up with my blog! Next week, I’ll be sharing my photos from Kentucky. So if you prefer horses to weddings, hang in there! :)

Aftan and Aric have some kind of connection to weather. You might remember them from the crazy weather for their engagement session last year with the double rainbow and amazing pink sunset. Well, their wedding day was not too different!

Aric and Aftan had planned a June outdoor wedding in the backyard of Aftan’s home in Clara City, MN. Their friends and family had worked for months preparing the site, and I am sure everyone was praying for a sunny day! Well, the morning started out with rain. Lots and lots of dreary rain falling from grey skies. My heart sank a bit.

When I got there, everyone was in good spirits. Aftan’s grandpa called and said he believed the rain would end just in time for the ceremony and not to worry. He’s an old farmer, and the family says he’s always right about the weather. The good news? He was right! After just a few rain drops as the processional started, the sky gradually cleared, and the sun came out. It was glorious!

I like to take couples out for sunset photos if it works into the schedule of the day, so around sunset, we went outside and it didn’t look good for actual sun at sunset. The filter light through a bank of clouds was pretty though, so we took portraits in tall grass with pretty soft light and purple flowers in the background. But then…yep, you guessed it…the sun shone through! It was out just long enough to create some beautiful, warm, back-lit portraits.

You will see in the details collage, glasses of a red beverage in them. Aric’s family owns the Hinterland Vinyards in Clara City. Just following the ceremony, there was a short cocktail hour at the house where guests enjoyed Sangria from their vineyard!

Photographer’s Notes: I have a mentor named Sergio. He’s an phenomenal photographer and teacher. He gave me a tremendous gift earlier this year when he challenged me to keep an open mind about weddings. To not to try anticipate the day too much, good or bad, leave my mind and heart open to just go with the flow. Getting upset because things aren’t going like you had planned hinders the creative process. On a day like the one we had for this wedding, this was critical to me being able to create unique images that told the story of Aftan and Aric’s day!

It was still raining when Aftan and Aric’s first meeting was to happen. There was a church in town that was their backup location and they had wanted some photos there anyway, so we did their first meeting there.

The kids at this wedding were so silly and fun to photograph!

The flower girl tossed petals in dramatic fashion, one petal at a time!

Aric sings in a country band. After the first dance, the band played. It was so fun!