Antiques are valuable because they’re rare and they stand the test of time. From lace and vases, to chairs and suitcases, Liz and Jon’s antique wedding décor reached from the past into the present, and reminded everyone what’s so beautiful about elegance and so admirable about endurance.

Liz and Jon are high school sweethearts. Like her brother and sister-in-law. Like her parents. Like us. They’re sweet together. He’s playful. She’s passionate. They’re a perfect pair. During his toast, Liz’s dad reminded Liz and Jon that their families have hundreds of years of marriage on their side, thousands of moments cheering them on, millions of memories encouraging them forward.

As the night ended, Liz and Jon exited the reception surrounded by bursts and flickers of sparkling light (those moments and memories cheering them on, perhaps). They closed one chapter of their lives – the one that started with braces and bleachers – and opened the next page, the one where their moments become personal history and their memories become family legacy.

Liz and Jon, thank you for giving us the pleasure of capturing the beginning of the rest of your life together. Marriage is a blessing. Savor it. Cherish it. And, remember, just like antiques, love isn’t valuable because it’s always newly discovered. It’s valuable because it’s recovered, dusted off, polished, and constantly made new.

It seems like just yesterday that we were huddled with Katie and Todd in coffee shop on a cold, November evening, warming-up over festive drinks and listening to them dream about the future. We laughed (a lot), talked more about life and love than photography, and probably overstayed our visit; but we left with new friends, and that’s why we love what we do. Springtime came quickly, and the brightness of Katie and Todd’s personalities infused their wedding day with color and character.

Katie and Todd, someone told us recently that the best way to preserve memories is to remember them forward. Here’s one of our favorites to remember and take with you into that future, the one we heard about on that November night so many months ago. Happy anniversary.

She spotted him from across the dance floor. His confidence on the dance floor was matched only by his skill. This boy had moves. She was drawn to him. With a little encouragement from her best friend, she decided to go for it. Surrounded by mason jars and country music, Heath and Rachel took a chance on each other that night. He twirled her around the dance floor and swept her off her feet. Little did they know, their love story was just beginning.

As they walked hand in hand on the beach, Rachel’s heart was pounding. This might just be the moment. Heath had made dinner reservations and everything had been perfect. They walked together along the shoreline at dusk, and as they approached the end of the beach, she became more and more sure. This was it! She watched him bend down… and dump sand out of his shoes. Deflated, Rachel felt silly for thinking this would be the night he popped the question. Heath knew exactly what he was doing. They headed back the way they came, and just when she least expected it, he surprised her with a ring.

Heath and Rachel’s wedding day was absolutely perfect. Their love is so tangible, and their smiles were undeniable. Their family and friends were elated, and the party was electric. They danced all night, and he swept her off her feet all over again. Heath and Rachel, we can’t even begin to tell you what an honor it was to get to spend the day with you.

Venue: Eagle Mountain Golf Club | Florist: Lena’s Flowers | Hair & Makeup: Vu Salon | DJ: Universal Disc Jockeys

They first met at church when they were only in junior high. At a time when a driver’s license was still a distant dream and a ride to the mall was priceless.  At a time of braces, and textbooks, and calling each other’s house phones just to say “hi.” They met at a time time when nobody looked as cute as they wished they did, and everyone had the whole world in front of them. They met at a time when they couldn’t have possibly been thinking about spending the rest of their lives together. But destiny had other ideas.

When Pat proposed to Audrey, he took her back to that church. To the place where it all started. He took off her blindfold and revealed the place where it all began. And on their wedding day, they got to relish in those memories. Surrounded by their friends and families, they committed their lives to each other, and in every smile, and every tear, the love was tangible. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we were so honored to be able to tell the story.

Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club | Design and Decor: Laura Kehoe | Florist: Petals & Lucy | Invitations/ Paper Products: Champagne Press | DJ/Lighting/ Videography: SKM Entertainment | Getting Ready Hotel: Montelucia Resort and Spa | Wedding Dress: Lillian Lottie Couture | Makeup: Brooke Beyler | Hair: Beauty by Veronica | Coordinator: Shannon Baccanini | Ceremony Music: Colton Avery | Cocktail Hour Music: Jo Watson an the Birdman| Banquet Assistant: Denise Pope | Clubhouse Manager: Marcie Mills | Officiant: John Nerland| Men’s Formalwear: Alfani | Transportation: AZ Limo |

One of the best parts about this job is that we get to spend time with the absolute coolest couples. Michelle and Evan are the perfect example of why we love to do what we do. Their wedding was a blast. From the moment we got there, they were relaxed, joyful and so much fun to be around. We clicked right away, and it felt like the four of us had all been friends for years. After Michelle and Evan got back from their honeymoon, they called us and took us out to dinner! How cool is that? They are some of the greatest, most genuine people we have ever met, and we feel so proud to call them friends.

One standout moment for us was Michelle and Evan’s first look. We love when couples see each other before the ceremony because it sets such a beautiful, intimate tone to the day. The whole day runs so smoothly, and it allows us to capture so much more for our couples. When Michelle and Evan saw each other for the first time, they radiated so much emotion it’s hard to put into words. Luckily, we’re in the business of pictures, not words. And we heard once before that a picture is worth a thousand of them.

Michelle and Evan, today as you reflect back today on your first year of marriage, we hope you remember exactly how you felt in this one moment. We love you guys! Happy anniversary.

She sent a message that changed her life. It was the message that everyone hates sending. The message that everyone hates getting. The Facebook message we all know so well. The one that says I-lost-my-phone-please-send-me-your-number. But what most saw as another routine cell phone message, he saw as an opportunity. An opportunity to reconnect with a beautiful girl he hadn’t seen in two years. And it worked out better than he ever could have planned.

Andrea and Ryan were probably the last two people on earth who thought a Facebook message would be the catalyst for their love story, but love works in mysterious ways. They were soon inseparable, and when Ryan left for the army, they knew what they had was too good to give up. While he was in basic training, they wrote each other every day for six months and counted down the days ’til their ten minute phone call on Sundays. Their relationship continued to grow, and just months after Ryan graduated top of his class with high honors, we had the honor of capturing their fairytale wedding. Andrea and Ryan, thank you for letting us be a part of this new chapter in your lives. Here’s to you!

The sun was melting into the horizon. They had just said, “I do,” and snuck off together to soak in their first sunset as husband and wife. Jason effortlessly strummed his guitar as he serenaded his new bride, and in that moment, they were the only two people on the planet.

This one image is one of our favorites of all time, and while it’s already been featured on this blog several times, it just wouldn’t be right to use any other image to celebrate Emily and Jason’s first year of marriage. Emily and Jason, here’s to many more years of happiness, friendship and a life full of love songs. Happy anniversary.

He bounced a super bouncy ball in his hand as they looked playfully at each other. They were teenagers. Kids. Babies. She did her best to swat the ball out of his hand, but his reflexes were too quick. He smirked as he struck a deal: a date in exchange for the bouncy ball. She took the bait, and ten years ago, they went out for the first time. Fast forward ten years later, beyond the high school dances, past the caps, gowns, and acceptance letters, and through law school and court cases. He took her hand and reminded her of the day that bounced them into the rest of their lives. “If that bouncy ball represents the first ten years of our love,” he told her, “then I have something to show you.” He opened the door to one of the sweetest and most unique metaphors of love: five thousand bouncy balls.

As Jake waited at the end of the aisle, and Marissa walked down in her white gown, we couldn’t help but feel the depth of their love and passion for each other. Jake and Marissa, we felt honored to capture your special day from behind the lens. And if bouncy balls represent happy memories together, you better start saving up, because five thousand won’t even begin to cover it…

Venue: The Chart House | Hotel: Millennium Scottsdale Resort and Villas | Gown: Signature Bridal | Hair: Jenn Dew | Makeup: Lori Rubin | Flowers: Lori Elliot |Invitations: Etsy

We’re only a day away from the moment when the whole world gathers around their television to watch a big shiny ball, wear big shiny hats and let the promise of a new year shine in our eyes. And trust us, we love shiny hats as much as the next person, but this year, we’re committing to not letting the confetti block our view of the infinite blessings we’ve had this year. 2012. The year the world didn’t end. The year that brought us incredible clients and amazing new friends. The year of Gangnam Style. The year that allowed us to follow our passions, and serve couples who are madly in love in the process.

We picked our favorite twelve wedding portraits from the past year based on our gut reactions, based on the way these images made us feel. There’s no way we could narrow it down to the twelve “best,” but they are definitely twelve favorites. We feel so blessed to work with the world’s greatest couples, and we are looking forward to a happy, busy, full-of-love 2013. And maybe just a little more Gangnam Style.

They sat in separate rooms and poured their hearts into handwritten letters. Letters that revealed a love so deep, so raw, so true. As Stacy came down the aisle, the smile on Mark’s face said it all. She was the one. A year has passed since those letters were read aloud, since a tear trickled down Stacy’s cheek, and since the undeniable joy on their faces told everyone that this was their perfect day. It was such an honor to capture Stacy and Mark’s wedding day at Sassi a year ago today, and if this time has gone by fast for us, then this first year of marriage must have felt like nothing more than a blink for them. Stacy and Mark, congratulations! We are so happy for you and will continue to root you on in your marriage for many years to come. Happy anniversary!