Because this love story would be incomplete without a few moving pictures – here’s a little video of Jena + Steve’s gorgeous Lutsen Wedding:

They’ve been together eight years already. They’ve grown up alongside one another, gone through life changes together, and endured so much. Through it all their love has deepened. Strengthened. Grown exponentially larger and more robust. It filled their wedding day. Encompassed us all and it was magnificent. Jeanine and Ryan are especially kind and giving, and the moment I met them I felt like I was a part of their family. They trusted me wholly, and to a photographer, that really does make all the difference. Jeanine sat down, in a thicket of tall grass and brush  (and her dress didn’t have a single speck of dirt on it – because I’m impeccably careful!) and because she trusted me, and my vision, we were able to create some of my favorite bridal portraits ever.

As my last wedding of the year, for me this day was bittersweet. I’m so thankful for my 2012, and can’t believe the body of work I’ve created in the last year, the clients I’ve had the honor and extreme pleasure of getting to know, or the amazing friends I’ve made. 2012 has been wonderful to me, and my hope is that 2013 and the rest of forever is equally as amazing for Jeanine and Ryan.

And then some.

Because no two people deserve it more than these two.

This isn’t  Katie and Andy’s wedding day. At least not entirely. This isn’t their whole love story – but rather a sampling of the happenings in the lives of two amazing people on a cloudy and cold Saturday in October.

These are my favorite things – my favorite moments – from their wedding day. A beautiful old church. A fabulous pair of heels. A group of good friends.  A little girl who wouldn’t stop dancing. A game of tag. A giant rock. Sparklers. Food. Two people in love.