Ahh, Michael and Valerie! I just love these two! Valerie and I go way back being as we are cousins (on my husband’s side). I first met her about 10 years ago shortly after Heath and I got married. We have watched her grow from a high schooler, through college and now to the beautiful woman that she is. We bonded over our mutual love for Harry Potter and all things literature. We are both Hufflepuffs and our husbands’ patronuses are capuchin monkeys (I mean seriously, what are the odds?!). Every single time I met with the both of them for the wedding, the meetings lasted nearly 2 hours just because they were so easy to chat with. It was a photography match made in heaven!
When I found out Michael was a meteorologist, I knew that we had to play that up. We drove 3 hours to Gloss Mountain State Park in central Oklahoma for the amazing view and were blessed with the best sunset I had seen all Spring. It was quite a hike all the way to the top of the mountain in their dress clothes but they were troopers! Some of my favorite shots of the year came from that shoot.
We just loved being a part of the wedding day as well. It was so full of joy and happiness both from Valerie and Michael and all of their guests. Here are some of my favorite shots from the day! Congrats, you two!
Ceremony Venue | First Presbyterian Tulsa
Wedding Coordinator | Elaine Harkey
Hair Stylist | Orr Salon
Suit | Suit Supply
Ties and groom’s bowtie | Hitsman
Bridal Alterations | A Fitting Image by Beth
Florals | Nancy Parke
Cake Artist | Merritt’s Bakery
Officiant | Reverend Dan Hutchinson
After Party Venue | John L. Rucker’s Warehouse
After Party Coordinator | Angie Simants
DJ | Lionsroad Studios
Food trucks | Mr. Nice Guys, Mangiamos
Rentals | ABCO Party Rentals
First touch!
The ceremony!
Love this sweet moment with Valerie, Michael, and Valerie’s mom just after the ceremony!
The reception!
First dance!
Father/daughter and mother/son dances!
So many emotions during the toasts!
The reception ended just as the sun was setting giving us perfect light for Valerie and Michael’s portraits! This interior courtyard at First Presbyterian is amazing!
Michael was in Oklahoma Magazine’s “single in the city” edition and his portrait was in this exact same spot. We thought that a shot with his new wife was now in order!
I mean…these two are adorable!
Valerie wanted a photo with sparklers so we made it happen just down the street from Rucker’s Warehouse were the after party was being held!
Michael is a meteorologist for KOTV – New On 6 here in Tulsa so for the last shot of the night, I popped out the umbrella that I keep in my car for wedding day and put the Tulsa skyline in the background. I added a little rain for him later in photoshop!
