Danielle & Aaron.... oh, how I could go on & on about how much I adore this couple.
You might remember them from their romantic fishing engagement session! You can check it out here.
This was a unique wedding when it comes to photography because Dani's dad is actually an amazing, extremely experienced photographer himself (he has photographed over 600 weddings throughout his career ....yeah, six hundred!).
So it was his desire to also shoot his gorgeous daughter's wedding, and I was called in to help throughout the day and then take over during the ceremony & reception so he could be fully present. It was so much fun watching his joy as he photographed his sweet Dani on her wedding day! And quite the honor to be able to photograph it as well...
Aaron & Dani's story is one for the books. Seriously. I asked her to tell it for you, and I am so excited to share! Here we go...
From Danielle: "We saw each other almost every day, but after working together for almost a year, Aaron and I had barely spoken ten words to each other.
Despite this, however, I was fascinated by him. There was something about him that made me giddy when he was around."
"He came to me one day in May asking if I knew of anyone that was a nanny. Given that I have a passion for children, and that I was looking for extra income over the summer, I immediately replied that I could babysit for him.
He replied, a bit flippantly, that he needed “a little more than a babysitter”. Being the kind of person that I am, I took this as a challenge. I may have been young, but I knew that I was capable, and I wanted him to take me seriously."
"I went to him again with my offer, explaining that I had experience. He said thank you, but that he had actually found someone a few days before.
I was disappointed, but eager that I had finally had a conversation with this man that I felt so drawn to."
(This is one of my favorite moments of the day...Aaron's daughters seeing their new mom in her wedding dress for the first time...oh, my heart!)
"Now this next bit, you may call chance, or perhaps a convenient coincidence....but we swear that it was fate! He came to me again and asked if I could please help him.
The nanny that he had arranged had called and told him she could no longer help, and his children were only a few weeks away from the end of school. I (of course!) agreed. So, I became his nanny, and we began to get to know each other. The summer was going by, and I got a glimpse into his life."
"I was there for his three beautiful children through their first Summer without a mother. It goes without saying that I fell in love with those little blessings, but by the end of the summer..
I knew that I had fallen in love with this amazing man as well."
"He was charming, and kind. He was the bravest man that I had ever met.
But I was also scared. This man that I was so in love with, was 15 years my senior, and he had three children. How was I ready for that? Could I be the mother that these children so desperately needed?"
"All of these terrifying questions had me trying to run away, but Aaron was my rock.
He saw in me what I could not see in myself.
He supported and comforted me through my fears, and we grew to love each other deeper than either of us could have imagined that we could love."
(The above images are some I took of Dani's dad photographing them...such special moments, I wanted them to be fully remembered!)
"I could no longer be his nanny through all of this, so I began to take on a more motherly role."
"Thanks largely to Aaron's unwavering belief in me, I was then confident that we could do this. Together.
This brought us to the most trying time of our relationship. What would other people think?"
"The answer to this one question was the biggest turning point and most profound lesson that our time together has brought our way.
The truth of the matter was that we belonged together."
"This was God's plan for us, and others' opinions were irrelevant."
"We chose to love each other, unconditionally, and forever, and THAT is what mattered."
I always love the moments directly following the ceremony. The raw emotions are beautiful. Such overwhelming joy!
The newly joined family. These 5 are going places, I tell you!
I also asked Dani to tell us about her wedding planning experience..
"Planning our wedding was honestly, a breeze. We had the greatest support from my mom and sisters, and we cut our budget by taking on a lot of DIY projects!
Aaron was adamant that he wanted me to do most of the planning, and that he wanted the day to be everything that I ever imagined. What a great man that I chose to marry ;)"
"He was involved in major decisions, such as location, ambiance, and song choice type of things, and left all the small details to me." 
"We had originally planned to have the ceremony at the Bell Tower Chapel in Boring, Oregon, and then move to the reception at my parents' house up the road. This was the plan until four days before the big day! More guests were coming than anticipated, and this put us over capacity.
Though this fact induced a few tears, my rock and voice-of-reason, fantastic husband (then fiance), brought me back down to earth by telling me that the day was still going to happen, no matter where it was located. We called all the guests, moved the Ceremony over to my parent's as well, and everything turned out more perfect than we dreamed."
Her advice to future brides:
"1. You are marrying the love of your life.
You will be surrounded by the people that you love the most. And whatever happens during planning, or on your big day, it will be perfect, simply because of those two facts.
The day that you worked so hard to plan for will fly by, so cherish every precious, perfect, and celebratory moment."
"2. Your photographer and videographer are your two most important vendors.
At the end of the day, and in 50 years, all that you will have left is your love, your photos, and your video!
Whether it be to reminisce together, or to show your children for a sentimental moment, or maybe even a good laugh, it is a must-have in my opinion."
"3. HAVE FUN!!!! This is one of the greatest and most exciting times in your life...."
"Your wedding day is the beginning of an amazing and love-filled journey, and you only get to do it once."
"So breathe, relax, and enjoy every blissful second."
Aaron & Danielle, I can't thank you enough for asking me to be a part of your day, being so excited about your images, and loving each other through everything..no matter how scary it might be at times. You two are so loving, and are setting an amazing example for your three beautiful children - I can't say enough to tell you how much I appreciate and look up to you & your selfless hearts!
May the Lord continue to bless you in abundance as He already has, and come alongside you as you bless others as well. :)
(Second shot for Jeff Marsh Studios; thanks Jeff!)
