Every wedding holds a special place in my heart, but Megan and Zach’s really stands out. Megan has been like a bonus little sister to me for as long as I can remember. Our parents are the best of friends, so we’ve basically grown up together. Many Friday and Saturday nights were spent with all five of us siblings together while our parents hung out, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

As we’ve gotten older, I’ve found that as the oldest of our siblings, Megan and I share some similarities, and it’s been so fun to watch her turn into such an impressive woman. I’ve loved watching her fall in love with Zach (they’ve been together since middle school!) and my respect for her has grown as they’ve navigated the waters of Zach’s military commitment and moving away from family. They’re such a cool couple.

Megan and Zach’s wedding day was on June 3rd, which made my heart skip a beat right out of the gate because HELLO GILMORE GIRLS! Who better to get married on the fictional kind-of wedding date of my favorite TV couple, than my favorite bonus sister 😉 All kidding aside, while June wedding days often bring showers and heat, this Saturday was perfect. It was hot but not too hot, sunny but not too sunny, and no rain in sight.

I met Megan and her best girls at Hollywood Style to kick off her Mitchell, SD wedding. This was my second weekend in a row starting at Hollywood Style and for good reason – these girls know how to rock a wedding day! One of the stylists is also a sister to the bride’s BFF and bridesmaid, so it was a family affair. The girls looked so dang cute in their matching robes! Megan seriously thought of everything. Everything was picture perfect.

I love these black and whites of Megs getting ready. She was beyond stunning. This girl is basically a model.

We headed over to Hitchcock Park in Mitchell for Megan and Zach’s first look. Zach wrote Megan the sweetest love note, and even rolled it up in a cute package for her! What a sweetheart.

I know any time you see your future husband or wife on your wedding day, it’s special, but man…I’ve got a real soft spot for first looks. I absolutely love the reactions I see, and I love that couples can really relax a bit because they aren’t being watched by a crowd of 300. Plus, the first look is often the only time that day that you get to be alone with your future spouse – seriously!

Get ready for wedding portrait overload. These two are RIDICULOUSLY photogenic.

Megan’s bridesmaids’ dresses were so different from anything I’d seen this year, and I loved them! I love the ice blue color, and the unique but super flattering cut. The dresses looked stunning on everyone…although it helps that the wedding party was full of such good looking people!! Seriously – what’s in the water!?

I LOVE when grooms do something a little different, and these navy suits and bowties were just that. Don’t you love them!? They looked so sharp and really stood out.

We had a pretty great background for family portraits, so I had to have Megan pose a little more. The Mitchell First United Methodist is beautiful! This is only my second wedding there – more please!

After the ceremony, I stole the newlyweds for just a few minutes for some alley portraits. How cool are these!? They’re so different from what I usually get on a wedding day, and I think I may have to make time for more urban shots in the future. I love them!

I joined this fun crew on their party bus and at Mitchell’s Blarney’s for a pit stop after the wedding, and then headed to the reception while they continued bar hopping for a bit (cuz what is more fun than hitting up a couple bars in your wedding dress?! NOTHING!).

Another reason why this bride is my fave? SHE MADE HER OWN WEDDING CAKE! Seriously, Megan can do it all. I’m pretty confident in that!

Black and white first dance photos just give me all the feels. I love the ones of Megan and her dad!!!

Megan and Zach, I’m so stinking proud of you guys and can’t wait to see everything you do in the future. Your life together is going to be amazing – that is something I am sure of! Thank you so much for letting me be part of your lives and your wedding day. Love you two!