Laura + Will | Murray, KY Wedding Photography

In a word: WOW.

I don't even know where to begin gushing about this incredibly personal, fun, colorful, unique wedding. This is EXACTLY my cup of tea and I feel so lucky and grateful that Laura and Will picked me to be their photographer. I made a social media post a while back about how I wanted to work with couples who were planning offbeat, not-so-traditional weddings and Laura's friend Dana sent her the post.

Laura and Will grew up together and have been together for quite some time. She attended his first wedding on the playground. Check out their "We Do" "Finally" cake toppers below. ;) You could tell how much they're loved as a couple by all their family and friends and how eager everyone was for them to just get married. I mean, just look how happy everyone looks even though it was raining during their ceremony. We knew the rain would blow over but Laura said she couldn't wait any longer to marry Will so we just went for it!

The wedding was on Cinco de Mayo which also happened to be Derby Day this year. Margs and tacos were in full effect at the reception, and the dress (THAT DRESS!), the florals and decor really tied the theme together. I loved watching Laura post in-progress pictures making all those flowers and when I went to do a walkthrough on Monday of the wedding week, both the mother of the bride and mother of the groom were over helping decorate.

It's my dream to be the photographer that people want for their super fun, colorful, unique weddings and I feel like this was a match made in heaven.

Thanks again to Laura and Will and all their family and friends who made it such a perfect day.

Here's the team who helped bring it all together.

Gown Woodstock Caftan by New Crop

Groom's Suit Custom, Indochino

Venue The couple's home

Florals A Festive Touch

Cakes The Cake Lady

Invites Shutterfly

Ceremony arch Walk the Willow with Justin Roberts

Food Doc's BBQ and Catering

Bar Allen Moore

Music Marcus Bell, Stephanie Ray, and Ryan Gilchrist

Rentals Celebrations

Officiant and reading Samantha Bennett

Photography Assistant Nathan Leatherman

Laura's sister officiated the ceremony and read this beautiful piece that she wrote. I loved it so much and I wanted to share it along with the pictures.

"Love Is Patient"

Love is patient.

Love is patient even when every cell of your body is screaming with impatience, because you are thinking, “What do you mean you ‘forgot’ when I only told you 57 times and now everything is ruined?”

But Love says, “Hush. Be kind. You’ve forgotten things, too. And nothing that matters can ever be ruined. Not really.”

Because Love is kind.

Foolishly kind. Endlessly kind. Delighted to hang up your damp towel that you left in a heap on the floor again without saying a word because Love is just so glad you’re here – damp towel and all.

Love does not want what it does not have.

Love does not need you to be any different than you are right now, in this minute.

Love knows that you are always doing your best, even when your best is kind of crappy.

Love doesn’t boast about how right you are and how wrong the other person is. Not even when it’s true.

Love is not conceited that way. Love is eager to say, “I was wrong.” Love is the first one to laugh at herself when she realizes that she’s let her priorities get out of whack.

Love isn’t ever rude. Not to anyone. Ever. Love is polite, says “Please” and “Thank you” and doesn’t yell.

Love doesn’t need to have his own way. Love is not self-seeking that way.

Love isn’t irritable. Which is crazy, because how is a person supposed to not be irritated when everyone else is so irritating? But Love sees that most of the world is acting like a cranky toddler most of the time, and Love is willing to be the grown up.

Love also knows that the only thing that can ever be missing from any situation is that which you are not providing.

So if you want someone to be nicer, then it’s time for you to be nicer.

And if you want the towel picked up, then pick it up.

Love is not easily annoyed. And Love does not go for the cheap thrill of losing one’s temper, nor the equally cheap thrill of self-martyrdom. It’s amazing how loud suffering in silence can be.

Love says, “Honey, I can feel myself getting all agitated. So let me get a glass of water and then you put your arms around me until I remember how much I like the way you smell and then let’s see where the win-win-win-win solution is.”

Love loves win-win-win-win-win.

Because when everyone wins, there is no need to keep score. And Love does not keep an accounting of wrongs.

Love doesn’t use intelligence as a weapon, and Love doesn’t gloat. Love doesn’t even remember that there’s anything to gloat about.

Love knows that power struggles are the ego’s way of letting you know that you probably need a nap.

Love rejoices in the truth.

And the truth is: you are here. And I am here. And that won’t always be true.

So let us treasure this moment.

Love has a big vocabulary, but the words Love loves most are easy:

I love you.
Thank you.
I love you.
I’m sorry.
I love you.
Forgive me.
I love you.
I trust you.
I love you.
I believe in you.
I love you.
I want for you whatever it is you want for yourself.
I love you.
And – Golly, sweetheart, you look wonderful.

I love you.