John & Christina

Wow... my last wedding for 2018! I can't believe it! I am so happy I get to cap off a wonderful year of weddings with this adorable couple! Snow and falling temperatures were a bit of a worry earlier in the week, but fortunately the sun was shining and a surprising touch of fall warmth visited us for those few daylight hours we had before the ceremony. Everything worked out perfectly for some beautiful shots.

John & Christina are just awesome. When we met over coffee at Panera, a month before their ceremony, I didn't really know them. I'd seen Christina in church and knew extended branches of her family - her cousin was actually the one who referred me as their photographer!

I've sat down to talk "wedding" before, but this conversation was so different from others I've had.

Yes, John & Christina are young... and so were my husband and I when we got married.

They met in high school, but didn't notice each other until a chance meeting a few years later at John's church.

Their love for each other is centered around Christ... and it just made my heart swell to hear them talk about their plans, how they met, and how they plan to start their marriage.

These are people you just know you're blessed by meeting them.

I had no idea Christina was adopted from the Ukraine as a baby. Her sweet mom and dad brought her and a sister home to join eight brothers! This beautiful, sweet, and reserved young woman would end up going to the same high school as John - the boisterous, trouble-finding, fun-loving son of Russian emigrants. While neither gave each other much thought in high school, God would bring them together in a different way a few years later.

At the invitation of a friend, Christina visited a local Russian church... where John's dad pastors.

John & Christina were quickly reacquainted with each other and love blossomed in a way only God can orchestrate.

Six months later, John proposed to Christina.

I am so thrilled I was able to capture these sweet moments for such a special couple... enjoy the start of their happily ever after!

I just love the details... even years later when they look at their invitation, they'll remember the little things that brought them together. It's so important to capture the little things about big days.

These girls are such good friends! It was so sweet watching them work together to make Christina & John's day special.

Stunning... I just can't get over how beautiful she looks!

I just love these sweet moments between a daddy and his girl...

Not a bad looking crew...

When I first met John & Christina, I mentioned that they could let me know privately if they had anything special they planned to give each other. They both shook their heads "no". But when John had to step away from the table, Christina mentioned she would have a surprise for John on their wedding day... I had no idea what she meant, but I love it when a bride surprises her groom!

Christina wrote John a letter to accompany the engraved watch she had specially picked out for him. Pretty much everyone in the room was teary-eyed watching John... Such a sweet and special moment when he opened the box and read what she had written. So many happy tears!!!