Alan & Ann - Engagement!

Last week I got to photograph one of my favorite events to date...a live engagement! And not just ANY engagement...my brother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law's engagement!!! And let the record show, I also helped introduce these two! I am officially counting it as my second successful match up resulting in a wedding! I'll start back at the beginning then get to the pictures!

Almost exactly two years ago, Rob and I took a trip to Colorado with our friends Mary and Tony. While we were playing cards one night we had the wonderful idea to set up Mary's younger sister with Alan! We made some calls, sent some texts, but it wasn't really the right time for either of them. Fast forward about eight months, and Alan is now living with Robby and me. One afternoon I brought up how I had heard Ann was going to back over Labor Day weekend and that Alan should call and ask her out. Alan was kind of hesitant, so Robby took his phone, dialed Ann's number, waited two rings, and then threw the phone at him.

And Alan asked her out.

The went on their first date a couple days later and Alan came home and his exact words were "She was really cute. And funny. We actually had a really good time."

Gee, Alan....did you think I was setting you up with somebody who wasn't cute and funny and wonderful? :)

About a month later it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that these two would get married. At least for Robby and I (and Mary and Tony). It was just a matter of WHEN. Well, we figured out the when last weekend.

Alan called Robby (and then called me a few minutes later since I wasn't with Rob) on December 1st and said he had asked Ann's dad to marry her. He didn't know when it would happen, didn't have a ring, didn't really have a plan....but he had taken the first step! A few weeks later Ruthie, Ann (Rob's mom...not Conklin...:)), Alan, and me went and found a ring after taking a peek at some of Ann's pinterest boards.

Alan then told us his plan for the proposal. He was going to take Ann to his grandparents' farm in Hutch, where they went on a few of their first dates (Robby used to take me there, too....those Ramseyer boys sure know how to work it with the ladies.:)). He wanted to propose outside and incorporate a bottle of Ramseyer wine that they had recently been given (there is a Ramseyer Winery that Rob orders a couple boxes of wine from each year). When he first came up with this plan he had no idea it would be snowing. It was absolutely gorgeous. I'm so honored Al asked me to take the pictures. I absolutely love how they turned out and am so glad they will always have these as a reminder of such a wonderful moment!

Congrats Ann and Alan! We can't wait for the wedding!

The set-up.

They finally arrived. My heart was racing so I can't imagine how they felt!

Ann reading her note...look close and you can see that Alan has retrieved the ring from his pocket.

I think she said yes. :)

Hi guys!

The ring!

After the proposal they took a few minutes to just enjoy each other...and a glass of wine.

Cheers to a matchmaking success! :)

Back to the Conklins' for Ann's birthday dinner...and engagement celebration!

Kathy looks very happy about getting to plan one last wedding! :)

Ann's family was so excited she didn't even have time to take her coat off!

Making some phone calls!

Ruthie and Ryan couldn't be there...thank goodness for facetime! 

I wish I would have taken more pictures after the Ramseyers all showed up, but they brought my baby and I got distracted. :) 

What a wonderful day it was! Can't wait for November 29th! Welcome to the family, Ann! :) 

Meredith Family

A few weeks ago I talked about the Meredith family when I posted Mary Charlotte's senior pictures. While I see MC, Mimi, and Greg pretty regularly, it was SO great to get to see the boys! Both Will and Patrick (we call him Pete....but apparently nobody else does anymore, so I'm sure his girlfriend was thoroughly confused when I kept calling him Pete:)), anyways, both Will and Pete are back in Arizona but were in  Kansas for the holidays.I'm so glad they were able to spend the holiday in Hutch with their fam!

As I mentioned in my previous post, this family is so, SO special to me and I am so glad they asked me to take their pictures!!! It was a little chilly, so it was an awesome, quick session. Even with it being pretty quick, I told them I'm going to have a million outtakes of them trying to get their dog to face the camera (for some reason Sage only wanted me to photograph her hindquarters). Since I only had a little bit of editing time available, I stuck to the regulars...but don't worry guys, I will include the outtakes on your disc! :) Here is a little sneak peek at some of your pictures!

The picture below is a perfect depiction of Sage's favorite pose. :)

But once I got in for the close up, Sage was all about it. 

Madi - Senior Pictures

As I sit here listening to the freezing wind blow around outside I can't believe how much the weather has changed in just a few days. We took Madi's senior pictures on Saturday in the most perfect weather! It was maybe a touch windy, but in the middle of November you never know what you'll get, so I'll take it! I had a great time taking your pictures, Madi! Good luck next year at HCC...then on to KU! Rock Chalk! :)

We decided to snap a few pictures with Madi and her "entourage." Loved these of her and her mom!

Anybody who knows me knows I love a good sibling relationship. How cute are these two?!

Mary Charlotte - Senior Pictures

The Meredith family has long been some of my family's closest friends. My parents could tell you stories of living a block apart and sharing lawn mowers twenty-five years ago (which is funny...because technically that still applies now, too), road trips through the badlands to Montana, fishing out at their old pond, many meals shared, and so much more. Our parents have even been BFF's since before the days of Mary Charlotte! :) MC and her family moved to Arizona many years ago and we were so sad to see them go. Then, just about a year and half ago we got the amazing news that they were coming back! They moved back at the end of Mary Charlotte's sophomore year...but I swear you wouldn't ever know she left. And if you know MC at all....that isn't the least bit surprising. She is so sweet, outgoing, and personable. She made moving part way through high school look easy! She joined the girls golf team, soccer team, got involved in StuCo...she has just done it all! She made fast friends and it seems like she lived in Hutch her whole life.

It is funny because before I left town to take these pictures Rob asked when I would be back because we had our small group that night. I said, "Oh, probably 5:30, definitely no later than 6." Robby looked at me very seriously and said, "Really...because you say that but then you usually end up eating dinner at the Merediths' and coming home later than planned." I laughed and said "True...but today I'm hanging out with the Merediths' when I take their pictures! So I really will be home at 6!" :)

It was so fun getting to hang out with MC and Mimi as we took these pictures. Their family is so special to me (and my family!) and I was honored to get to take her senior pictures. Hope you like your preview, MC!

We started off taking a few pictures on her front porch, which is fun because later we went and took pictures on the dirt driveway of their house before they left Hutch, too! 

I'm pretty sure the next picture was taken after Mimi told MC to strike a pose. Looking good, MC! :)

 

This next picture was taken in the driveway of the Meredith's old country home. :)