Hilary + Joe – 3.29.08

Visual storytelling is what I do.

I get to know couples before their wedding to totally understand them, study them, and ask questions to know as much as I can about them.

Then, on the big day, I search relentlessly for those tiny little moments that in the end come together to be not only the story of one important day, but more a story of who those two people are on that one important day.

Hilary and Joe did not let me down. They completely welcomed me into their family and their lives making it a complete joy to be a part of and document. Thank you to them and their family for that.

On to the details-

*Church: Parkville Presbyterian
*Reception: Downtown Marrriott, Muehlbach Tower Old Lobby
*Flowers: Changing Seasons, Independence Mo
*Cake: Rama Sola
*Dress: Bridal Extraordinaire, shoes: Barneys New York
*DJ: Professional Sound Services
*Rehearsal Dinner: Buca Di Beppo
*Limo: Platinum Transportation

On to the images……

Hilary discussing how she only wants small fake eyelashes. She later pulled them off!

Joe laughing it up.

This was hilarious. Most of the boys forgot undershirts, so the girls had to give up their t-shirts including the make-up artist. Now that is a team player.

Got to get the Manolo Blahnik’s.

Great shots by my assistant Katie of the guys getting ready.

Love the light on this shot of the girls waiting for the elevator.

I just adored their family. Here is Joe’s mom when she first saw Hilary.

Then Hilary and her dad in the limo on the way to the church.

This was so great. The ceremony was pretty emotional. I love how she kept wiping Joe’s tears for him.

The vows.

More tears.

This shot cracks me up. Joe trying to look around the corner to see they are ready for their exit. Mom later told me that this image totally sums up Joe as one always needing to be involved in everything.

Everyone started leaving through the back door so they had to go into a back room and wait for their exit. Wonderful quiet moment.

The exit! Finally!

These next few images were a challenge and a pleasure to make. Let me nut shell this for you. Hilary hates airplanes, especially small ones, Joe took Hilary on a small plane ride over Kansas City and proposed. Hilary still hates planes. However Hilary has a family friend who works at the downtown airport and got us access to shoot portraits there. It was crazy cold but totally worth it.

I just thought this was funny

Finally, this is probably my favorite image of the day. The end of the night in their hotel room right after they got done reading their cards to each other.