Wyatt + Hilary | Spring Blush & Creme Wedding | Part 2

(To see PART ONE of Wyatt + Hilary's Arizona Wedding, Go HERE.)

I had heard from wedding coordinator, Meagan Crain of MC Events AZ, that the details and setting were gonna make our heart swoon a little bit. This is one of those weddings where I showed up to green rolling courtyard of Tucson's hidden wedding venue, La Mariposa, and had a sharp inhale. My eyes got wide. There were sparkly tableclothes set with wooden place settings and classy rustic carved numbers. Their wedding cake was paired with an anniversary cake for their grandparents--celebrating THEIR anniversary on the same day. 

Wyatt + Hilary were a gracious bride and groom. They were eager to get married and deferred so many timeline and organizational pieces so that we could really cover a plethora of moments and get such a wide, diverse story. Their first look moment made me cry. (oh the way they diffused and were so excited about eachother!) Their wedding party was jovial and attentive. Their family was so complimentary. Their friends were crazy. The food was delicious. The toasts were meaningful. And their dance floor rocked. -- Especially when you see what the bride tossed instead of a bouquet as a prank. So. Much. Fun.

Thank you so much for letting us be your storytelling, memory-keeping, sparkler-dodging wedding photographers Wyatt & Hilary! It was a joy to be part of this season with you two!

// VENDORS //

Wedding Coordinator: Meagan Crain of MC EVENTS AZ // Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography {LKM STUDIOS} // Ceremony Venue: Corpus Christi Catholic Church // Reception Venue: La Mariposa // Scottsdale Wedding Gown Boutique: Marie Gallery // Bridal Hair & Makeup: Gadabout // Bridesmaids Dress: J Crew // Flower Girl Dress: Nordstrom // Groomsmen Suits: Mens Warehouse // Cake: Cakes by Genevieve // Florist: Urban Stems Designs

Wyatt + Hilary | Spring Desert Wedding | Shades of Pink & Happy Part One

We are excited to share this desert spring wedding in the eastside foothills of Tucson Arizona. Blush and creme were soft against her satin and the polished aesthetic of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Huge peonies were graced with eucalytpus leaves and set against brick and blue skies and whispy clowds. It was a beautiful desert spring day and the shades of pink, class and happiness were rich and effortless.

Here are a few highlights! 

// VENDORS //

Wedding Coordinator: Meagan Crain of MC EVENTS AZ // Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography {LKM STUDIOS} // Ceremony Venue: Corpus Christi Catholic Church // Reception Venue: La Mariposa // Scottsdale Wedding Gown Boutique: Marie Gallery // Bridal Hair & Makeup: Gadabout // Bridesmaids Dress: J Crew // Flower Girl Dress: Nordstrom // Groomsmen Suits: Mens Warehouse // Cake: Cakes by Genevieve // Florist: Urban Stems Designs

More highlights coming soon! Tomorrow we will be sharing Part 2! 

Art + Sara | Ralph-Lauren-Meets-Mad-Men Inspired Engagement Session

"I was standing on the other side of the glass yelling as nicely as I knew how. We started to laugh. “you want us to do what?!” Their muffled querry came across the glass. my fingers were purple, i was shivering so hard i almost dropped my camera and i most definitely just stepped on a jumping cholla. “LOVE HIS FACE!” i hollered with a chattering grin. After the series was shot I skipped back inside giggling. “wow guys. that was difficult and possibly the most unprofessional i’ve felt in a while…. BUT LOOK AT WHAT WE DID?!” I showed the back of my camera--this picture--the reflection of the winter trees, the bright blue of the sky, and the pop of colors in the modern living room and the dog. oh that dog named blue."

Art + Sara had flown in from Guam to visit family in Tucson. We had prepped for many things, but COLD wasn't one of them. At the end of the day, it was our spontaneous decisions that really nailed the book-end seal-the-deal elements of their session. Shooting through glass, working with horses, playing with interior decor that ends up pushing me as a photographer and providing a really fresh, modern portfolio from this session that has us giddy. Below are a few highlights from their modern love story session! 

Wyatt + Hilary | Red Mugs & Desert Wash Coffee Dates | Lifestyle Engagement Session

Wyatt + Hilary are planning their wedding from Sacramento. Knowing that they only had a few trips to cram a whole lot of strategic wedding development in, we snagged some time over the holidays to meet for coffee and hang out in the desert. I was told Wyatt doesn't like pictures. And my response was, "whelp good thing he doesn't have to. he just has to love you and i'll be there for it..."

So we met on a chilly winter morning. Stopped for coffee and then found a wash where the sun was just barely beginning to kiss the dew...

Here are a few favorite moments with these two...

Featured on Arizona Bride Magazine!! :D

SO ABOUT THAT GOOD NEWS...

Earlier this week i shared a facebook status that talked about good news in the photography department. good enough to make me burst into tears. and it’s friday and i can share now. but i want to explain why it means a lot. cuz some of you might be underwhelmed and think i’m silly. which is fine, but it was a big deal to me. 

9 months ago i started trying to submit work to different publications. both online wedding sites (the knot, green wedding shoes, ruffled, wedding chics, style me pretty, grey likes weddings…) and nothing. i got no replies. i take it back..one reply was a rejection. and i get it. It’s part of the way things work. hours were spent culling, submitting files in the variety of different ways that different blogs requested, writing reviews, gathering the details to present each wedding and session that was submitted as best as possible… hours were spent… and nothing.

(not to mention…with each submission, you can’t just blast that submission to multiple sources. publications want to have exclusive feature privileges so i would have to submit my best of the best to one selected magazine than wait for a month or two and then hope that the next submission would pick it up before the submission was outdated or out of season…)

so i stopped. discouraged. acquiescing to the reality that my capacity is only what it can be right now. i was ok. the worst was not hearing. even worse than a rejection. rejections could be constructive. helping me learn what to shoot. what publications don’t want. how to shoot in a way that tells a story with people but also captures the details and nuances that publications are hunting for… but nothing. for a long time.

and then a random email sent at midnight to a publication got a reply within minutes. not just a reply, but they wanted my session featured and they wanted to have it moved up the calendar and instead of waiting 3 months to have a slot scheduled, they gave me this friday. TODAY.

So, friends, folks. I present to you my very first feature. And by non other than, Arizona Bride Magazine. If you want to increase traffic and analytics, check out the feature and leave a comment. You guys--you friends, family, fans who are reading this--you and your support with Laura K. Moore Photography is the lifeblood. Thank you. So much.

GO HERE FOR THE FEATURE: http://arizonabridemag.com/…/glowing-autumn-engagement-sess…

Austin + Corrie | Lifestyle Engagement Session: "Adventure Meets Goofy" | Mt. Lemon, AZ

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” 
― Jim Bishop

"Our session was not only the most fun I have ever had taking pictures, but it was extremely comfortable and care free and I felt like the essence of Austin and I really go to be conveyed through the pictures!" ~ Corrie, Bride

Austin + Corrie made mention that they were goofy and adventurous. They wanted those things really captured. Mt. Lemon was where Austin proposed earlier this summer and they were keen on getting some of the mountain details and active bike nuances and sillyness in between. 

When we arrived near the top of the mountain are jaws dropped. We had no idea the leaves would be on fire and FALL would have already arrived. The couple were so giddy and eager to just love and be loved and be free... this session really was like a breath of fresh, lively air. 

So excited to be a part of this journey with you guys! Thank you for trusting me with such precious memories! | LKM

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John + Lauren | A Vintage Private Affair | Destination Wedding | Bisbee, Arizona

John + Lauren // Hosterman Wedding Story

So there is this tiny little historical mining town in the middle of Arizona called Bisbee. It feels straight off of a Hollywood studio set. The aged brick, old signage, red rock set against ivy-covered vintage inns--I was so intrigued. The moment you drive into the narrow roads you are transplanted into this vibe of a vintage city....I'm gonna let the bride, Lauren, take the story from here.

Bisbee is our favorite place to go. It's where we fell in love, where we got engaged, and it was the perfect place to start our lives together. We loved that you can really see a lot of Bisbee in these photos. They capture the essence of this quirky little town!

Meanwhile, John waited to be led downstairs where he would meet his bride...

VENDOR SHOUT OUT // I have to just make a shout-out to my make up artist, Wendy Fiallo, of Wendy Rae Makeup Artistry worked with me for months prior to the big day. During my makeup trial she put my mind at ease and made me so excited about my big day. She is hands down the BEST makeup artist I know. Book her for your makeup for any event. She'll make you look so beautiful and glamorous!

I loved, loved, loved how personal Laura made each photo time...She truly cared about the little details and the moments with the bride and groom...I loved having this "first look".

the girls loved being girly...

Lauren: I'm so glad John and I decided to see each other prior to the ceremony. Those few moments that we had alone really were special and I loved the photos that were captured. Also, getting to take a majority of our pictures before the ceremony really cut down on the time we were away from guests during the reception. Our whole family kept telling us after the wedding how fun taking pictures was! This is something I've never heard before! I've been to weddings and I've always hated waiting around for pictures. Laura made the entire process so much fun though and everyone enjoyed it! 

People made their way upstairs to the private level of Cafe Roka where the small, intimate ceremony took place

I loved getting away with Laura and my groom during the cocktail hour. We feel like Laura really captured the essence of the wedding and of Bisbee in our shoot. When I look at the pictures, I feel like I'm reliving each moment over and over again. 

Laura was so spontaneous! She saw opportunities for great photos and took them...After a few moments of images in the streets of Bisbee, Laura turned and asked if we wanted to take an extra 10-15 minutes to get some even better shots and drive to the outskirts of Bisbee for some last memories....and it was SO worth it! 

We have to take moment for a solid shout out to the entire staff at Cafe Roka! Fred Miller, the banquet manager at Cafe Roka, worked with me for 7 months on every single tiny detail of our ceremony and reception. There were countless emails that he replied. Room measurements he took, menu changes, photos he sent... all of the effort he put in made us feel so at ease with having our wedding at Roka.

Rod, the owner and chef at Cafe Roka, was also a freaking rock star! The day before the wedding, we showed up to decorate and he bent over backwards to ensure everything got set up the way we wanted. He fed us his 5 star food for lunch and dinner the day before the big day AND made the most incredible food for our reception. Our guests kept gushing over how amazing the food was. I've never seen so many to go boxes being used at a wedding before! No one wanted to waste any of the deliciousness! Also, the wait staff at Cafe Roka took care of our guests so well. Huge thank you to them!

John + Lauren, thank you for inviting me into this sliver of your to capture a collection of memories that will be on your walls and in your hearts for the rest of your lives!  You guys are pretty darn special yourselves! | LKM

VENDORS

prep location: Letson Loft Hotel // ceremony & reception location: Cafe Roka // wedding dress: Norman's Bridal // bride's shoes: Dillards // flower girl dresses: Dillard's // make up rtist: Wendy Rae Makeup Artistry // hair: Erica DeFevers // photography: Laura K. Moore Photography

Texture Tuesday | Random Desert Weeds...

After the Tiggas Family session last week, i was driving home and the evening sunbeams caught these weeds on the side of the road. Wanted to share a few of them just because :) 

Oh, and hey, happy cold weather Tucson. We're pushin' mid 70s over here folks. Grab a parka! | LKM

so as i was wrapping the edits of these few textures, my husband Lawson insisted i take that first weed and make it a hard core black and white.... they are the exact same image.... which is your favorite? 

Bryce + Caroline | El Chorro, Scottsdale, AZ Wedding | Inspiration: Glamour, Peach & Mint

At the fiesta reunion the night before the their wedding, friends and family began to trickle in from all over the country, pre-game and celebrate Bryce and Caroline. A year prior at our initial consult, Caroline and her Mom knew that it was the people at her wedding that would be her most favorite part. Mine too. 

The word dovetail means "to join or fit together compactly or harmoniously." That one word describes this wedding. This family has branches and life-long friends and stories and connections that reach for generations and through a whole lot of experiences. I'll keep words to a minimum for this wedding story. 

VENDORS

Prep Location: Scottsdale Plaza Resort // Hair Stylist: Candace Dunn of Spa Lamar  // MakeUp Artist: Meleah Roadarmel // Bride's Dress: Destinys Bride // Bride's Accessories: Last Chance Phoenix  // Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom Scottsdale // Flower Girl Dress: Target // Bridesmaids Gifts: Tucson Gem Show // Groomsmen's Engraved Pocket Knives: Things Remembered // Groomsmen Tuxes: Mr. Formal AZ // Ceremony Location: El Chorro // Caterer: El Chorro // Cake: Ruze Cake House // Florist: Butterfly Petals // Reception Entertainment: "Best Band in Phoenix" The Hamptons Band 

While the girls had a blast getting ready and sharing memories, the boys relaxed, took things slow, started off with some football and gift-giving.

Both parties made their way to El Chorro where Bryce + Caroline had a super sweet first look. The way she walked...you could TELL she felt gorgeous. And the way he watched her...she absolutely was. 

A friend of the family loaned their restored fire-engine red, super sexy thunderbird...

The day was warm and El Chorro has a variety of locations both indoors and outdoors to keep the wedding party comfortable. The girls grabbed a few glasses of champagne and toasted to freedom and friendship. While the guys watched soccer...

We made our way out to the front of the beautiful property to snag some memorable wedding party formal pictures :) These can typically be boring. standard. ho hum. OR...you can get a party of friends like this willing to laugh and dance a little...

Finding reprieve in the bridal room, the wedding party waited for the ceremony to begin while guests trickled in...

Favorite moment of the ceremony was the way they looked at eachother coming back down aisle. married. happy. excited...

While guests enjoyed a classy, cheerful cocktail hour, the newlyweds took a little skip around the venue as sunbeams burst through palo verde trees and desert brush.

During cocktail hour people just laughed and reunited. There was a real atmosphere of "we are all family here"... 

Once the guests were let into the reception hall, people immediately gushed over the centerpieces. The bride's mom, Diane, had spent the last several month designing these jeweled potted succulent arrangements. Real life. Well-watered. Multi-colored textures and sparkly sand...they were incredible and so unique.

Thank you for trusting your wedding day and these precious memories with me to me and my team!

---

Post Edit: From the bride.... When we were hunting for a photographer we were looking for somebody who was fun, nice and captured amazing photos. LKM's customer service was excellent! I could not have found a nicer person to work with! She was fun and easy to work with l. She was willing to travel to Scottsdale and the pictures turned out amazing! Everything! Everything looks beautiful, detail oriented and really captured our day perfectly! There were no low points! It was all perfect. I will always refer Laura! Hands down, best photographer ever! 

Desert Bridal Portraits | Scottsdale Wedding Photography | Texture Teusday

We're branching away from plants and letting this beautiful bride take stage for Texture Tuesday. Bryce & Caroline's Scottsdale Wedding at El Chorro is being featured tomorrow but for now...here are a few textures and a couture dress and newlywed romance that just make me feel all warm and sparkly inside. Amid Palo Verde trees and Ironwood blossoms, these two snagged some beautiful sunset portraits immediately after their ceremony... 

Check back tomorrow to see their whole wedding story... :) | LKM