Don and Lori: Crown Room wedding

I woke up to rain, in January, in MINNESOTA.  I tried to think happy thoughts, like how umbrellas are pretty, and how it could be 100 below, and how rain is really good luck for your wedding; but all I could think about was Lori and Don and rain. and slush. on .their. wedding. day.  I probably wrooied more than I should, because I wanted it perfect for them.  And quite honestly it was!!  By the time we started shooting, the rain turned to a beautiful mist and the weather was a “perfect” 40 degrees (hey, for January in MN, that is awesome!  Today was -6.  It was balmy!!)  And I could not have asked for a more agreeable, kind, warm-hearted couple for this January day!

It was a match made.  A match made perfectly, and love at first sight.  Don and Lori met on Christin Mingle, a place neither one of them thought to even look into, but after some prodding from family and friends each signed up thinking that there wasn’t much harm in trying.  Lori, being overly busy while working as a PA in the ER, didn’t have much free time.  Don was the same way.  While working to get his masters in Agriculture, working part time at the U of M, and just moving to MN his days were filled.  So when their first date arrived they both agreed on something simple and short. To do coffee.  But what started as doing coffee turned into a day adventure, and a 100% match. That was early summer.

September 12th came.   Lori would be leaving for a PA conference in Arizona the next day, and Don was coming along two days later,  planning to propose to her while they were admist it’s beauty in some romantic location.  However the ring showed up the day before the flight as Don could not wait.  Two days was way too long, so instead he took her to a spot around her home and got down on one knee where she said “of course!”

Personally this was a wedding I was thrilled to shoot.  Lori had grown up a few houses down from ours and was my sister’s best friend.  She and her spunky blond headed sister would come over to our home, along with a few other girls in the neighborhood and frequent the houses for snacks in the winter and Popsicles in the summer.  We played Barbies, Nintendo, and took her dog Pepper on numerous walks.  Her family was close to ours as her little sister and mine played basketball for years together.  Two years ago, we stood in the same church she was married in and mourned the loss of her mother to her battle with cancer.  Last spring, she stood with me as my sister, and her best friend, walked down the aisle.  I am so grateful to know this amazing and wonderful woman, and to get to know Don in the process.  I wish you both the best and know that God will honor what He has brought together.  Much love to you both.  

PS, don’t miss the photo after the slide show.  My little sister, Claire, posted this on facebook about a year ago of all of us girls who played together while growing up.  It is the only time you will see any of us online with a swimsuit on!

And here is your slideshow: