This weekend we made the trip down to Sperry, Iowa to the Myers Wedding Barn for Jake and Mackenzie’s wedding. The whole property is basically a playground for us because there are seemingly endless beautiful spaces for great photos.
We spent the morning with the girls as they all got their hair and makeup done. It worked to everyone’s benefit that Mackenzie is antsy and can’t stand sitting around (especially on her wedding day). She was finished with hair and makeup a little early, so we were able to run ahead of schedule before the ceremony. This was quite nice because that gave us all the opportunity to take breaks and seek some respite from the smoking hot outdoors in between photos. Before going outside though, Mackenzie made a lot of people cry, just by putting on a white dress. What a wedding dress means and what a wedding ultimately means are weighty things and many succumbed to the gravity of Mackenzie and Jake coming together forever. Mackenzie was not one that succumbed to anything, however. Her now husband was not so stoic when he caught his first glimpse of her at their first look, and there is absolutely no shame in that. I quite prefer it, and I’m sure many others do as well. Tears show a reverence for the situation, and also joy of the highest sort. In short, tears are probably the most authentic emotion and they are my favorite thing to witness and capture.
The kids were asking, “Why did they have to choose such a hot day to get married on?” It was a fair question. The heat index was up over 100 and there was even a heat advisory in place. Jake had the worst of it in his navy suit and his not so cooling mullet. In the full heat of the day, it was time for the ceremony. As the wedding party and family members lined up to walk down the aisle, there Jake was, standing at the altar, waiting in full sun as the sun baked his navy suit for at least 15 minutes. As hot as it was, Jake still lost it again when the time came for Mackenzie to finally walk down the aisle. The ceremony was quite short, but I don’t think anyone minded that—vows, rings, sweaty kiss.
After some family photos, we finally experienced the relief of the modern miracle air conditioning. After dinner, there were toasts from the wedding party and more tears, which you know I was a fan of. Once the first dances were wrapped up, we went outside to take advantage of a really nice sunset and slightly more moderate temperatures. I am also quite a fan of dramatic sunsets. Give me tears and a dramatic sunset and I can do some work with those.
The reception saw a couple dance-offs (sunglasses required), a Dixie Chicks sing-along and some excessive Silento participation. Even though the A/C was pumping and keeping the place cool, there was still sweat being generated on the dance floor, that’s for sure.
Jake and Mackenzie, we appreciate you guys choosing to have us document your smoking hot wedding day! We wish you all the best for a lifetime of love and happiness together!
Hair – Morgan Oler
Makeup – Brooke Olsen
Flowers & Day of Coordination – Myers Potting Shed (Amanda)
DJ – Brian Jepsen
Cake – Full of Grace
Catering – The Drake
Photographers – Carter Photography
