Taylor and Danielle

You probably already know my friend Taylor’s story, and how far he and Danielle have come since first dating in 10th grade.  And you also may (or may not) know that this is in fact their first and only wedding despite what your grandma’s chain email said… :)  So the story I will tell today begins on a late summer day in 2014. Having waited 9 months with a ring hidden away, Taylor finally found the perfect quiet Sunday to surprise Danielle with a romantic picnic on his family’s acreage. He hid the ring in a pint of ice cream, which looking back was a memorable mistake. Danielle opened the tub of melted ice cream to find her engagement ring nearly drowning. In true Taylor and Danielle fashion they laughed it off, excited to finally make it official.

Fast forward to October 3rd, 2015. Having stayed in close contact with Danielle throughout the planning process, I can tell you, everything was in its place. The weather was perfect and their guests made it to Iowa from all around the world.

Danielle chose to get ready at her parents house in Cedar Falls. It made for a beautiful setting that Saturday morning, overlooking a serene cornfield.

As Taylor waited for Danielle to arrive for their first look, he took a quiet moment alone to write her a letter.

After their first look, the wedding party ran out to get a first glimpse of the bride and groom together. We have been encouraging more first looks lately, as they spur such genuine and candid moments to capture.

It was quite the wedding party! With 10 attendants on each side, we had to find wide open spaces to fit everyone in :)

The Morris’ property has so many scenic locations, this orchard included. Taylor’s dad has planted over 2000 trees in 20 years on their property!

And out of all of the trees, this one was struck by lightning earlier in the year but survived! I thought it was a fitting tribute to resilience.

Their reception was to be held at the Pipac Centre in Cedar Falls. We made a quick stop before the ceremony to continue pictures so we could make use of the stunning Italian villa inspired property.

The ceremony was held at Danielle’s family church, St Patricks in Cedar Falls. The classic architecture made for a timeless backdrop.

This group has been tight for so many years, so it was a party right from the I-do’s!

One of the highlights of their wedding was the one-of-a-kind handmade decor that Danielle orchestrated. She came up with so many crafty ideas that the handy Morris’ helped build her vision.

We snuck away for a quick “golden hour” shoot. The lighting was perfect! It was a gorgeous sunset for a gorgeous day.

Congrats Taylor and Danielle! We look forward to your future together!