Cortney + Ryan | Minot Wedding Photographer

 

They met in Junior High right here in Minot, North Dakota, but went on to live in separate states after high school. So separate, in fact, they were at opposite ends of the country – he in Virginia, she in Washington State. But neither time, circumstances, nor distance, could keep them apart.

That’s how fate works.

 Cortney and Ryan came home to North Dakota to get married on this beautiful Saturday in June, but in reality, their marriage itself is just as much a coming home for this sweet, funny, and amazing couple.

A little love to some of the businesses that

made this vintage-inspired wedding happen:

Hair  ~ Headquarters Salon

Flowers ~ Country Meadows

Ceremony ~ Carnegie Center

Reception ~ International Inn

Cake ~ Lalee Cakes

DJ ~ Magic City Music Factory

 Cortney, seriously...rawr. You are gorgeous beyond words.

 Love love LOVE Cortney's brooch bouquet.

 Not only did Cortney & Ryan become husband and wife, together with Ryan's beautiful daughters

Kaylee & Cadence, they became a family. 

 

 It is a tie between this photo and the next for favorite of the day.

 Back to where it all began...

This is what love looks like.

 

How to enjoy your day and get great photos! | Minot Wedding Photographer

Some more great advice from The Things We Would Blog:

I have a little bit of wedding philosophy for you. Consider this some very basic tips for being in the right frame of mind for getting amazing photos on your wedding day. Having a good photographer is key, beyond that, there are some things you can do to insure you look your best, happiest, most in love in your photos.

Be relaxed. Sometimes this means having a mimosa with your bridesmaids before you start photos. Just one though. :)

Be on time. Make sure you include enough time for photos. I usually suggest even scheduling extra time so you can have a cushion in case hair and makeup runs late. More time is always better. You can always take a break after.

Be playful. It makes for great photos.

Be flexible. Sometimes the weather or light just isn't cooperating. Maybe there's a huge crowd of people right where you want to shoot. Trust your photographer if they suggest doing something other than what you had in mind. It could be the difference between a mediocre shoot where you wanted or an amazing photo-op somewhere slightly different.

Be in the moment. Don’t worry about what happened before photos or what comes next in the schedule of the day. You're only going to do this once. Enjoy it. If you're stressed or rushed, you'll be able to see it in the photos.

Be away. Go somewhere fun and away from other people so you don't have to feel nervous because people are watching, you can have a private moment together and you don't have people running up to you to ask random questions about details. Let other people figure out the last minute details and enjoy this time together.

Be done before the ceremony. This is definitely a personal choice, but here's why I suggest it.

Be fearless.
Sometimes brides step into the dress and suddenly feel like they can hardly move for fear of getting the dress dirty. Well, just know, if you're wearing something white that touches the floor, the underside is bound to get a little dirty but no one will notice, I promise. Don't miss out on amazing photos because you're afraid of a little dirt. You're only going to wear the dress once anyway.

A Conversation with my Dog

We have an amazing German Shepherd. She's incredibly smart and fiercely loyal. But, as I found out the other night, she's no Lassie.

So, without going into all the details, I found myself in the position of being stuck on the bathroom floor in a whole lot of pain last week and needing some serious assistance. Marc was asleep, so I called for Freddie, thinking I could send her for help. Here is how that conversation went:

Me: "Freddie, come here."

She comes in the bathroom and licks my face.

Me: "Freddie, go get Daddy."

She licks my face again.

Me: "No Freddie, Go.Get.Daddy."

She goes to lay down on her bed. I call her back.

Me: "Freddie," I say, "GO.GET.DADDY."

She licks my face again and goes and lays down on her bed.

Me: "I f***ing hate you, dog."

This weekend I will be teaching my dog a new, useful trick. Like "Go Get Daddy!"

*Sidenote: I do not, in fact, actually hate my dog. So please don't call the ASPCA or PETA or anything on me. I was in a lot of pain. lol

On Getting Older…and 7 Little Words That Changed My Day

There’s no doubt that since I turned 30 (4 years ago…), and had a child, I’ve started to feel…well, older. I never thought my 30s would be so completely different from my 20s (or even the age of 29), yet they have an entirely different feel to them. My 20s were a time of reckless abandon (ok, the really early 20s anyway): college, skipping classes (shhh), part-time jobs, renting, sleeping in as late as I wanted on weekends, spur of the moment road trips with my husband, while my 30s have had a decidedly more grown-up feel to them. In the last 4 years, I have: had a baby, bought a bigger vehicle, purchased a house, started a business, not had a full night’s sleep (can I get an ‘Amen!’ from the mommies out there!), and career-wise, gone from ‘employee’ to ‘manager’. So between all of that and the ‘thank you ma’am’s’ I get from the young whippersnappers at work and various retail establishments, I have been well reminded that time is marching on…ok, and if I’m totally honest, the fact that in my 20s I think I used to look a lot cuter first thing in the morning. As my sister so fabulously put it, “Some mornings I look in the mirror and wonder who that tranny hooker is looking back at me.” I heart her. And it does feel so sadly true many mornings.

So what is the point of this story ramble of mine? Well, getting older for the ladies can be challenging – everything we see on TV and in magazines tells us we need to look youthful and beautiful and vibrant FOREVER. (I mean, have you seen Jaclyn Smith/Christie Brinkley/Demi Moore lately? They look better at 50+ than I do at 34 – it’s hard for a girl out here!!) All of this combined with the lines we swear weren’t there yesterday can diminish even the most confident 30+ woman’s self esteem.

But then there are days like today, when you get a chance to see yourself through someone else’s eyes, someone who doesn’t see the fine lines and pores and ‘maybe if I sucked in a little’ that you do. My daughter and I were getting ready in the bathroom this morning and she asked for a little sparkle powder - my girl, she loves the sparkle! – and as I leaned toward her to put it on, she asked me for what I had on behind my eyelashes. Thinking she meant mascara, I asked, “Do you mean what’s on my eyelashes?” She replied, “No, what’s behind it, on your eyes.” I told her I didn’t have anything on my eyes yet. She looked at me, confused, and said “Then how do you look so pretty?”

And with 7 little words, my little girl changed my whole day.

Coolest Idea EVER

I just came across this on Pinterest (my newest obsession/productivity killer) and had to share it. How FABULOUS is this idea? Artisan bread as wedding favors? I swoon.

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