Disclaimer:  I've realized something...  I've re-written this blog 5 times...  I have the hardest time writing about friends.. maybe because I'm attached and have seen them grow and in just a couple sentences I'm to express what I've seen over years ...  its just too hard... words can never express the emotion, joy, happiness, excitement, that I re-live as I go through these images... so I'm going to just stick to the story and hope that it comes through...

Okay... where to begin...  first off... last night I was supposed to be having dinner with these two before heading up to SB... but as I land at LAX  I get an interesting text from Erich with a lovely (but truly unnecessary picture of Rosalie's stitched up finger)... needless to say due to an unforeseen run in with a blender... dinner was to be rescheduled... soooo instead of dinner  I sat and worked on their photos in the Delta lounge ... I figured it was the least I could do to help Rosalie feel better...

To begin...  there's always something incredibly special (and stressful... self-inflicted) about photographing a friend's wedding!!! ... when the groom is your friend (almost like a brother) ... who also knows photography (and watched my business from day 1)...  and also has  4 other wedding guests playing with awesome cameras (check out the old school pic) ... and there also happens to be several groomsmen who remember you as a 17 year old freshmen wandering lost on campus...  its not surprising that wrangling this group caused me to lose my voice, have a couple sleepless nights, cry like a baby, and laugh like a hyena...   all in all the reason why I also LOVE photographing friends' weddings...

Rosalie and Erich's wedding was by far unlike any other wedding I have ever photographed or attended.  For being a 200 person affair it was UNBELIEVABLY personal... from the guests heckling the groom from their seats... to the tears falling down Rosalie's cheek... to the laughter as they forgot their INCREDIBLE handwritten vows.. to their unique readings ... and that was just the ceremony... 

Even the usual strangers (aka: wedding vendors) were friends...  from the photographer (cough cough) to the caterer (check out Ashley showing off his pralines to the bridesmaids), to the location... home.  Everything about this day felt like a personalized, hand written invitation into Rosalie and Erich's matrimony. 

The more I photograph weddings ... the more I discover my favorite part of each couples' day.  I usually don't realize this moment till I go back and look at the photos again.  As I sat and went over all of the images from Rosalie and Erich's wedding I had a hard time narrowing it down... there were so many moments that touched my heart.. that showed their joy... that I just couldn't choose.  One minute there would be tears the next laughter...

Rosalie & Erich,  Words (although I sure did write a lot)... really can't express how honored and happy I was to be witness to your beautiful day!  You two are a couple of deep connection... it is clear that there is a love that is one minute full of laughter, joy and ridiculousness and the next a sense of depth and seriousness that only you two can truly understand.  May this balance of laughter and depth continue to grow every day!

Thank you again.

Love
A  (aka Audrey H)