J. ANNE

My house is right by an elementary school where Megan’s mom volunteers. I often see a group of young boys and girls walking home from school together. The boys in their black yarmulkes, bouncing soccer balls on their knees. And the girls huddled in circles, giggling at the boys. I find it to be incredibly adorable. I will smile and imagine a young Megan and a young Drew walking hand in hand… because their love feels like this. It feels like they could have met in grade school. They have loved each other for so long, and with such conviction that it seems as effortless as a school girl crush.

Which is why I wasn’t surprised when we walked into Megan’s and Drew’s hotel rooms on their wedding day, and they were both full of laughter and excited energy. There weren’t nervous tears, chaotic stress, or any other concern in the world. The first thing on both of their minds was making sure that they sent over their wedding day gifts for one another… him a debonaire watch, her diamond earrings.

Both were interested in what the other was doing without them, and both had their mental clocks set to the time of their first look. Because all that they wanted from this day was to be together. To be husband and wife. To hold hands just as they would have if they had met during lunch recess.

Megan was the epitome of a classic bride with a perfect ballerina bun, and a soft rose bouqet.  She had a fabulous team behind her with the workings of DBD Las Vegas for floral and design and Amelia C. & Co for hair and makeup.

Drew kept it classy right alongside his beautiful bride, and his dad was on hand to make sure that he was ready for the biggest day of his life.

Megan & Drew chose to do a first look which allowed us to capture an intimate moment before their ketubah signing, and to nail down all of their formal photos prior to the wedding festivities.  For months before the wedding, Drew had let me in on a secret gift he was going to give Megan at their first look.  Megan knew that there was a surprise happening, but she didn’t know when… or what… her soon-to-be husband had up his sleeve.  If you guys know Megan, you know that this did not sit well with her.  She is an event planner, and her wedding was the most important event that she had ever choreographed.  So, needless to say, she was consumed with emotion when Drew actually pulled this secret off and handed her a small jewelry box at their first look.  His gift to her was the matching necklace to the custom designed earrings they had created together.

It is hard for me to let you guys know when an image is Janelle’s and when it is mine.  I feel like I would be keeping a running commentary… this is mine, that is hers… blah blah blah… Because when two people’s images come together so effortlessly to tell a story, it would do the story an injustice to pick apart these moments.  But… when an image is so gorgeous, and could stand alone in a sea of beautiful imagery, it has to be discussed.  The image below is Janelle’s, and it makes me jealous.  I want so badly to pass it off as my own, but alas… I can not.  This is easily one of my favorite images of the day.  As Janelle’s photos usually are.

Janelle and I learned earlier on during the engagement session that Drew has an amazing game face.  Twerk, Drew, twerk.

This photo below rivals Janelle’s from above as being a contender for favorite photo.  I die over the moment right before a kiss.  The anticipation, the excitement, and the love… it’s everything.  Everytime.

Megan & Drew had a huge wedding party… and party they did!!

Acylic made an appearance at when #megandrewsaidido… and it was to die for!!  Chuppah’s are notoriously hard to shoot when there are fabric swags at the corners because all of the important people get lost being the fabric.  But the acrylic was both gorgeous and proved to be very… well… see-through!  And their ketubah… um, perfection.

The ketubah signing and the bedeken ceremony is my favorite part of Jewish ceremonies.  There is so much emotion with just your closest family members and wedding party.  Tears are usually shed more freely during this ceremony, and the imagery that comes of it is simply stunning.

The bigger wedding ceremony was held on the terrace, and the magical blue skies were so amazing as the sun set behind the mountains to the west.  Night time weddings are so classic and timeless, and I loooove the look of barely lit photographs.

Megan and Drew shared a beautiful first dance together, and Megan’s dress rippled and lifted into perfect waves of happiness as her husband showed her off to everyone in the room.

At the end of the night we were exhausted and giddy at the same time.  It was a wonderfully executed wedding by Open Invitation coordination, and it all came together so beautifully.  Just as Drew & Megan come together so beautifully as husband and wife.

 Congratulations, Megan & Drew!  Thank you so much for sharing so much laughter with us, and for showering us with gifts and love.  And a huge thank you to the photo bombing champion, Sandy, Megan’s mother, for her friendship and help during the planning process!!

Venue, Cake, Lighting – Red Rock Resort
Photography – J. Anne Photography
Invitations – Minted
Flowers & Design – Destination by Design
Coordination – Open Invitation
Hair and Makeup – Amelia C. & Co.
Custom Jewelry Design – Jeff White Custom Jewelry