My oldest niece, Madeline, got married in Salt Lake city this past weekend, and not only was I going there to celebrate with her as the aunt, but I was also going to be her wedding photographer. I was a little nervous about the drive alone with the kids from Colorado to Utah - even though I have done that sort of thing more than once - and I was a little nervous for the portraits too, since it has been years since I have done wedding portraits. Lucily, everything turned out great.
On Thursday morning, I was up at 4 am and we were on the road by 4:45. I got to Ogden, Utah around 1:30 pm and we were so happy to make it to Brent and Marilyn's home there. The kids immediately made themselves at home playing outside and with their toys, while I passed out from exhaustion on the couch and took an hour long nap.
Later, when Marilyn got home from work, we spent hours talking and catching up. It was the perfect way to start our adventure.

Friday morning, we were up early and back on the road, but luckily it was only for an hour when we drove to the temple in Salt Lake City. We got there early, so we could have time to wander around temple square, which was wonderful. The spring flowers were amazing, and the kids loved getting to see everything.

We met up with my parents and my sister Holly and her husband. Almost 50 years ago, my mom and dad were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and so I made sure to get a picture of my parents in front of the temple.

Lily and Derek truly love being on temple square. As Derek was showing me a "really cool fountain" he found, I lost track of Lily. I turned around to see her deep in conversation with a set of sister missionaries from Russia and Croatia. She was just chatting away with them, and when I walked up, she promptly introduced me and her brother. Pretty fun :).

The temple was amazingly gorgeous in all its spring splendour. All the colors of the flowers were the perfect contrast to the gray granite.

Lily and Derek were so excited to get to touch the temple, as this was the first time I had taken them this close. They also really wanted pictures on the stairs, and then Lily wanted a picture in the alcove where the brides often stand :). (It was almost exactly 11 years ago that I stood there for pictures after Kevin and I were married there.)

Soon, we met up with everyone to go in for the wedding. My sweet niece, Megan, watched Lily and Derek for me during the sealing, which was so nice. The sealing was amazing, and it was so fun to be in there with 3 of my sisters too.
Afterward, I got right to work taking the wedding portraits. And Derek got right to work running away from the various people assigned to watch him and Lily. I often found myself tripping over Derek as he was trying to climb up the side of the temple, or when he and Lily found a potato bug. One of the portraits, you can just see him running into the frame to escape his babysitters.

Lily kept herself busy by talking to the bridesmaids, holding their flowers, helping hold the train of Madeline's dress, and just making friends with anyone who would listen.

And I was busy taking portraits, which was stressful, but so much fun. It was even better when I changed out of my heels and into my tennis shoes. It only took once of almost falling down the stairs mid-shot to remind me that, even if they didn't match, they were more comfortable and considerably safer :).

And at the end, I had someone snap a picture of me with the bride, my wonderful niece :). And I had to get one with my mom and two of my sisters. It was so much fun to see them, especially Wendy, since she lives in Texas and it had been a while.

The bride and groom were just glowing with happiness when they exited the temple, and their joy made them very compliant as I ordered them around for pictures. (And thanks to my tripod, I was able to get in a few of the group portaits.)

I LOVE how their portaits turned out. There were so many that I loved, it was hard to find a favorite (I will put more on my photography blog when I get the chance). We were very lucky with the lighting, as right when we needed it, we would get a perfect little cloud to cover the sun. And like I said, the flowers were amazing, and it didn't hurt that the bride was gorgeous :). Oh, and it was the perfect opportunity to play with my new wide angle lens.

After portraits, it was time for the wedding luncheon at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Salt Lake. The lunch was delicious, but my favorite part was talking to my sisters and my older nieces. Derek was especially enchanted with my niece Megan, holding her hand and telling her all sorts of stories. It was great :).

Then it was a mad dash to the reception in Alpine. Holly came with me and the kids, which was so fun, and she helped me pick out a few of the portraits to edit up for the reception in Idaho Falls the next day. The reception was another opportunity to talk and laugh with my sisters, Holly, Wendy, and Cheryl. And Lily somehow made a friend of the cake decorator, who gave her a bag of frosting to decorate crackers with :).

The kids and I stayed at the house where the recpetion was held, and so they had a room to hang out in and go to bed, while I was free to socialize and continue my job as the photographer.

That was one yummy cake :). And I had to capture the throwing of the bouquet (check out Lily trying to get it), as well as Madeline and Jacob's get-away from the reception :).

Saturday morning, the wild times began again, as the kids and I left early in the morning to drive from Alpine, Utah to Idaho Falls for reception number two. We got there a little before lunch time, and I left the kids playing with their cousins while I went into town to meet an old friend for lunch.
Melissa had been a good friend of mine when I lived in Savannah, Georgia, and her husband works for BYU Idaho in Rexburg now. When I knew I was going to be there, we made plans to meet up, and we had a yummy lunch at Red Robin and we talked for two straight hours. It was so fantastic to see her! I wish I had thought to snap a picture of the two of us.
When I got back, we all went straight to work helping with final preparations for the reception that night. Before the reception, friends of my sister Cheryl, had prepared a nice dinner for all of the family there. It was very nice, and good for all of us to get to sit and take it easy before the reception - and it guaranteed that everyone remembered to eat :).

The reception was beautiful and low-key. Lily changed into nice clothes and helped serve and take away plates with her boy cousins. I took more pictures, and Madeline was able to sneak some food every once in a while :).

Derek spent almost the entire reception watching a movie in a room off of the kitchen, which was awesome. So glad Cheryl thought of that!

Once the reception was winding down, I sent Lily and Derek off with my parents to get tucked into bed at the home we were staying that night. Then I got busy coordinating the present opening extravaganza :). We set up chairs for the bride, groom, and mother of the bride, and then we had the little boys gather presents and bring them over. Madeline and Jacob would open the presents they were given, Cheryl would write down who they were from, Melanie would place the presents in a pile, and Michelle would throw away the trash into a huge garbage sack :). It was a blast.

It was a fun night, but I was exhausted by the end. I went to Cheryl's neighbor's home, where my parents and the kids and I were staying, and went straight to bed.
We all got up early on Sunday morning and went to Cheryl's house for a delicious breakfast. Then I got the car all loaded up with our stuff, Lily and Derek, and my mom, who came to spend the week with us. The drive was long - around 11 hours - but it was wonderful to have my mom for company, and the kids were as well behaved as always in the car. We rolled into town just about bedtime for the kids, which was perfect.
The weekend was a little exhausting, but it was so much fun and completely worth the long drives and such to be there for it all :). I am so happy for Madeline and Jacob and their new life together!