Julie contacted me by way of another photographer, Stu Mullenberg, an a-mazing commercial photographer I had the honor of working with this summer.  *I am ohsograteful for the generous and supportive nature of Portland photographers!  So I spent a wonderful morning with these two beauties, in the company of many Disney Princesses and Princess dresses, enjoyed a tea party hosted by Miss Addison, then a very un-princess, but equally fun, run around their neighborhood park.

Did I happen to mention I love my job? What’s that you say?  Oh.  Well, it bears repeating.

Under a blazing late September sun, five years to the day I did the same, Ben and Emily said ‘I do’ under a canopy of trees on the family farm.  It was a uniquely beautiful wedding that drew on the many talents of family + friends.  Emily’s mom designed the flowers.  Her sister Amanda put together an incredible collection of mini bundt cakes, all displayed on a fabulous desert candelabra built by Ben’s brother.  Ben’s sister Kathryn cooked up a host of fabulous appetizers. And friends pitched in with their music talents, roasting skills, as well as some tasty home brew dedicated to the bride + groom.

What a wonderful way to begin the rest of your life.  What an honor to share an anniversary with two incredible people.

Catering: Cook With What You Have + Loustic Catering Cakes: Robots Love Cupcakes

We just spent the last two weeks traveling to the Greater Metropolitan of Minneapolis, a most fabulous city…in August. And in addition to the family farm in Earlham, Iowa, just west of Des Moines. My husband’s grandparents were celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary with a weekend of weenie roasts and ice cream socials with 250+ of their closest family + friends. For the entirety of their 70 years together, they’ve lived on and worked the same farm his grandfather grew up on. Pretty remarkable feat considering I’ve changed addresses 9 TIMES since my move to Portland in 1996.

I can’t imagine 70 years of my own company, let alone alongside the company of another.  When Grandma Avis was asked what it takes to keep a love and marriage going, I overheard her response  ”Well, sometimes one person has to give more than 50% and sometimes the other one has to give more.  And that’s just how it goes.”

I hope I don’t have to wait another 65 years to get all the people I love into one room.  I also hope I have the fortune of finding my own answers to life + love in one simple sentiment.

Thank you so much Grandma Avis + Grandpa Beryl for showing us how it’s done.

And now for my very first slideshow featuring a few of my favorites.  Apologies for the load time.

Beryl + Avis