Are you ready to smile? Because these photos from Julie and Dan’s wedding are so full of joy and love and happiness (and smiles and hugs!) – they show exactly what matters most about a wedding day.
How amazing is Julie’s smile?!
Says Julie, “We did the traditional first dance and father-daughter dance, but for the mother-son dance Dan danced with his sister because his mother passed away five years ago. Dan’s dance with his sister was a very emotional moment, and it allowed us all time to quietly remember his mother.”
Julie shared some of the details about the day…
What’s the story behind the tractor? When I was in grade school, my dad would wake me or my siblings up around 5:00AM to drive the tractor and flatbed through the fields as he and other farmhands picked corn. My father had asked me how I would like to get to the ceremony site, and I joked that he should polish up the old, red International tractor, knowing the tractor was no longer operable and 100 miles away. Ten minutes before the ceremony, he surprised me with a shiny, antique, red International tractor. He had posted an ad on Craigslist and had found one within a day – only in Ohio! Needless to say, I was overcome with emotions and laughter when I saw it sitting in the driveway.
What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the wedding was the ceremony. I felt more confident in that moment than any other time in my life. For someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, I felt surprisingly safe and loved with all of those eyes upon us. And of course, linking hands with my new husband completed the moment.
What is the best advice you received as a bride? The best advice I received was to stop, take a step back and really take in the day. Several times throughout the ceremony and reception I remembered this. Those moments helped me appreciate everyone around us, and I was able to take mental photographs that I will always keep with me.
Vendors
Photography: Summer Drew / Venue: Old Homestead Beach Park in Huron, Ohio / Bride’s dress: WToo by Watters / Groom’s suit: Jones New York / Flowers: Corsos
Congratulations Julie and Dan! And thank you to Summer Drew for sharing these photos!
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joy! Joy! JOY!!
Really great pictures!!!
These pictures really captured so many wonderful moments! I love the shots of the happy couple in the colorful Adirondack chairs! So great.
Such great pictures! This bride could not be more joyful! Love to see that!
Sooooo much fun! Love the photos!
xo
http://www.PlumPrettySugar.blogspot.com
Such great photos! Love love love them
this is so great to see, less than 2 weeks before my wedding! i hope i’m smiling that big on my day.
Amazing. So encouraged by the bride’s words about the ceremony—I am struggling big time with being the centre of attention! Thanks for sharing your JOY!! I hope our day will be just like this, full of love and joy.
It’s amazingly refreshing to see a Real Wedding featured full of smiles & emotions, instead of details (don’t get me wrong though- I love the details). So beautiful & joyful!!
Such joy! Always amazing to see a bride so happy on her wedding day. Thank you for sharing!
Fantastic photos…thanks so much for letting me share in the joy.
kathryn, thank you so much for posting julie and dan’s wedding photos! really appreciate it! so happy w/the feature! and thanks guys for liking the pics!!! koru kate, your comment means a lot & it’s so true…the emotion is truly what shined through at this wedding! yes we all love the details, but most people forget the details right!? they never forget the feeling. thanks all! congrats again to the happy couple! :-)
These pictures are breathtaking and seem to have really captured the true essence of this wedding. The bride and groom could not look happier. Great job.
Your blog has to be one of the most magical I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing all these amazing images and stories….
A storybook wedding captured in the moment–truly lovely.
What a pretty setting! The bride looks beautiful!
Great pictures! Love her smile and her story about the tractor! It was really touching!
As a documentary wedding photographer, it is so wonderful to see a post that is about the emotions and joy of a wedding, and not just the stuff. Blogs are great for inspiration, but it’s nice to see the people too. Thanks for a great post!
This is a beautiful wedding, I love the story in the photography and also the written story. Good advice from the bride about taken a moment to take in what is going on.