“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
-Khalil Gibran

The first time Kim and I spoke about her wedding, I asked her where it would take place. It was a no-brainer — in her parents’ backyard. She said she couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. With three siblings and a large extended family, her parents’ home has always been a place where family and friends gather, for holidays and birthdays, on the weekends and after church on Sundays.

When Kim was a little girl, her family planted a bottlebrush tree in the backyard. As she and her siblings grew up, so did the tree, eventually surpassing them all. It stands in the backyard as a symbol of their family, love, dedication, endurance. It was only natural that Kim+Travis would exchange their vows underneath it, with its beautiful blooms providing a beautiful backdrop.

Kim+Travis, may your love and life together, like the tree, develop strong roots, weather every storm, endure the test of time and continue to blossom with each new season.

Decor/Planning  { Cork & Copper }
Catering  { Roadside Rib Shack }
Bridesmaid Dresses  { Express }
Florist  { King’s Florist }
Hair  { A Salon }
DJ  { Music & More }

More photos can be found at CaronCooperPhotography.com.

“The art of love… is largely the art of persistence.”
-Albert Ellis

Kimberly+Travis met in high school, but it would be years before love would bring them together. Maybe Travis knew all along. Before they started dating, he told Kim that one day he was going to marry her, and he didn’t stop asking her out until she said yes. Lucky for both, she gave in. The couple will exchange vows in her family’s backyard this weekend…and at long last, Travis’ persistence will have paid off. Cheers to this adorably charming couple!

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There’s an old proverb — “Cousins by chance, friends by choice.” It’s certainly true in my life. I am lucky to have many cousins, all of whom I adore. The older we all get, the more I like them for who they are & not just because we’re related. They are a link to my past & our family history — one our children will share in the future when we’re gone. I take comfort in that.

Little Libby is lucky to have three fantastic cousins of her own. They look out for her, they tease her & someday they’ll be telling her stories of when she was a baby. They’ll always be connected. And if spending an afternoon with them is enough to predict the future, they’ll always be friends.

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I love photography & I love my family, so when the two are combined it makes for a wonderful day. This shoot was no exception. Greg’s sister & her family came to our neck of the woods for family portraits & some good ol’ quality time. Distance & busy schedules keep us from seeing them as much as we’d like, & our niece is growing up so fast. Seems like only yesterday she was cautiously sampling the icing from her first birthday cupcake, & now she has blossomed into this sweet, sensitive, yet super silly little girl. She melts my heart…and she has her uncle wrapped around her finger.

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My partner and I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the wedding of Nicole+Justin, our last wedding of 2011. And what a lovely way to finish a fantastic year. We went to high school with the groom and a handful of their guests, making this wedding all that more special. It’s amazing to me to think back to the days of high school (10+ years ago…yikes!), how much we have all grown, matured…well, sort of.

Justin and I used to sit next to each other in Chemistry class. Back then I never would have dreamed I would be photographing weddings, let alone his. I actually thought I would be a doctor, perhaps a brain surgeon. Not so much :) But it reminds me how important it is to dream, at every age. For me, photographing weddings is a dream come true. For Nicole+Justin, it was finding each other.

Nicole+Justin’s wedding day was filled with dreams for their future, promises of love, support from family & friends, and memories to last a lifetime. And did I mention that Nicole was a stunner? To see her walk out and lay eyes on her groom was a brilliant moment; she was the definition of radiant. And the look on the groom’s face — pure delight.

A toast to the happy couple: May you remember forever the joys you felt that day, never forget to dream big and always be as lucky in life as you are in love.