Stephanie Klein Photography

One of my 2012 resolutions was to keep on top of my blogging.  Mind you, for the record, that was last year’s resolution as well.  Nearly a year ago, I switched over to a new blogsite in the hopes that it would help me blog more regularly.  You know, kinda like the “If I pay for a gym membership, I’ll use it” mentality.  What happens with a family of five, like all other things laundry, school, cooking and cleaning, is that life turns into a balancing act , and things fall to the side.  Its a crying shame, for I lose the chance to introduce you to some of the most amazing people that I know.

With love on my mind, I decided to start out February making good on that promise.  After all, there’s been too many fun family moments, gorgeous couples and brand new babies to not share.  It would be wise to start fresh with 2012, but I’ve missed sharing all but one wedding from last year, and I thought I would work backwards a bit these next few weeks and see where I get!

Mike and Denise’s wedding was the last one of the year, taking place a few days after Christmas on a dreary, rainy day.  It was the second of two Christmas-week weddings, both brides high school friends with half a nation between them in college.  Unlike the wedding just a week and a half prior, this one threatened a day of nonstop rain.  I had an hour long drive to Salem from Portland, so on the way down, I worried myself sick wondering if the impending weather would put a damper on their moods.

Who was I kidding?  I walked into a room full of girls getting ready, and if I hadn’t known any better, it was 70 and sunny out.  Moods couldn’t be budged, this was a day to celebrate.  It was Mike and Denise, for crying out loud.  It would take a lot more than a bit of rain to get these two down.

The wedding went off without a hitch, a crowd filling their home church and joining at the Mission Mill in Salem to celebrate the night away.   We caught a slight break in the rain to get outside for some pictures around the historic woolen mill.  It was a beautiful day, such a fun wedding to top off the Christmas season, and mark a new chapter in their lives.

I can’t wait to share some more amazing moments with you.  I’ll stop hogging them all to myself. 

So what if I am an entire month late?

Luckily, I don’t think the boss will mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I told you so.

Its not too often that I get to utter those sweet, sweet words.  If you ask my husband, hardly at all.  But in this case, I had something right.  You see, a few months ago when I blogged about Chris and Shannon’s engagement pictures, I knew that this wedding would be a big deal.

Sure, at nearly 500 guests, its the largest wedding I have ever photographed.  And with 15 people standing up for them, its the largest bridal party, as well.  But these things are all minor details in comparison to what was big about this wedding.

Pendleton may be a small town, but I’d be darned to say that its not full of the biggest hearts around.  You see, when that many gather to celebrate two people coming together, you know that they’ve got something that you don’t see everyday.  And that was certainly the case with Shannon and Chris.

Hotels were booked to capacity, parking lots packed full, and excited parents and relatives filled the halls with the bustle of last minute preparations.  There was a joyous excitement in the air, as scores of friends and family overflowed into the hall, in a long line waiting to be seated for the ceremony.

All for these two.

Was I nervous about a wedding like this?  Oh yes, like you wouldn’t believe.  But I brought in backup, who didn’t disappoint.  I was fortunate to have the talented Jason shooting alongside me that day, capturing even more memories as fast as we could snap them.  It was an incredible weekend, full of amazing people, fun memories and a celebration like you wouldn’t believe.

Congratulations Chris and Shannon!