Zak + Stacey {married}

World, get ready for a SERIOUSLY photo heavy post…because here comes Zak and Stacey.

I know most of you reading this know their story, how Sam was their now-famous second shooter at their beach engagement session, and that Stacey is the amazing woman behind Flair Brides + Maids. And my goodness, World, if you had assumed that her wedding was going to be incredible, well, you have NO IDEA. (until you keep reading, at which point you’ll totally get it.)  It’s possible that Stacey is the MOST stylish person I have ever met–with impeccable taste. THIS was gonna be good, no doubt about that!

SIX HUNDRED AND ONE.  That is how many days passed between engagement and wedding. In those 601 days they faced more trials and tribulations than most married couples face in their first 10 years together.  This day was filled with so much joy, love, appreciation of life, that I think I was still high on that feeling through the middle of the next week.

The first message from Stacey that day came as a text at 7:30 am. She said “BRING CUTE UMBRELLAS. Going to HAIL.” To which I replied, “No worries. Hail is white. It matches!”  I looked quickly at the weather which looked gorgeous, except for a tiny chance of a shower in the late afternoon. And maybe hail.  When you’ve been planning a wedding for 601 days, you really want it to go as smoothly as possible!  Not that I was worried…this is why we have cute umbrellas.

Stacey and Zak planned a LOT of time for photos…a photographer’s dream come true! They had their completely sweet first look, then we got the formal shots out of the way, and just as we were wrapping that up, the sky turned BLACK and opened right up. So much for our stroll down Comm Ave!  Not to worry, the Harvard Club has so many nooks and crannies, we were just fine. And as it turned out, toward the end of the cocktail hour, fates changed and with the help of Carly, the Maid of Honor (and MVP, if I get a vote) convinced the group to go outside for just a few minutes!  AMAZING. Carly, did I give you a million points for that? Million points.

I feel like I have known Stacey for a long long time now, and being wedding professionals, we talk shop. A LOT. I followed her pinterest boards and felt like I had a really good sense of the vision she had for her day. And I don’t know that I have ever seen a vision come to life with such accuracy! I felt like I had walked right into her “wedding ideas” board!  Even her guests were all insanely stylish. And crazy dancers to boot.  All that style, mingled with all that joy and happiness made for an absolutely, wonderfully, completely perfect day.

And there was no hail in sight.

Zak and Stace, I love you guys. Thank you thank you thank you for having me along for the ride…I hope you enjoy this not-at-all-small sneak peek! I can’t wait to get the rest of these images to you!

 

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The amazing Steph Johnson met me at the Harvard Club and we went to this enormous room where the girls were getting ready. Not one person in that room was worried about the weather, though…as sounds of laughter and merriment drifted out of the open door.  I have never walked into a getting-ready room that was so bubbly and excited!  The girls were all dressed in monogrammed white oxfords–I really LOVED that detail. Shortly after our arrival, Petaluma arrived with the flowers, OH THE FLOWERS. I swooned over those babies all day.  Melissa and Tom from Long Haul Films were part of the day and I can’t wait to see their capture of the day…you can bet your sweet bippie I’ll be posting that link right away!!

 

Stacey’s gorrrrrgeous dress by the one and only Coren Moore, with that gorgeous belt by a.b. Ellie:

I love this next image…there is a LOT of hairspray that goes into a bride’s wedding day look….see??

Carly, the MOH-VIP awaits with the veil….

When the most stylish bride of all time says, “You guys HAVE to see the beautiful bathroom”, you go. You just go.

Stace decided to have her girls join her for a few minutes, and a thank-you speech to her bridesmaids got  her a little choked up…

Safe to say that the girls love their gifts!

Meanwhile, next door at the Elliot Hotel, Steph hung out with Zak and the guys. There were good looking guys, nice suits, tie bars, and crazy socks abounding.

Steph, love this one!

Hellooooo, handsome.

Just before the the first look! Again, a perfect image from Steph.

Love this corner in the Harvard Club…

I’m saying, when you are the owner of Flair, it’s a sure bet that your bridesmaids are going to look AH. MA. ZING. Having GORGEOUS girls to start with totally helps too.  And seriously, those Jenny Yoo dresses were real stunners!!

I wanted to add a photo of the Kraft family…Zak’s parents were so wonderful not only to me, but to Sam when they most graciously opened their home to us for Stacey and Zak’s engagement session. Ali, Zak’s sweet sister and Stacey’s dear friend has become one of my favorite people too, and I think it’s pretty clear how I feel about Zak and Stacey! I count myself so fortunate when I find a family that loves and cherishes each other the way the Krafts do!

Stacey, you are so so beautiful…

Sock-awesomeness.

Now, I can’t say for sure, but its entirely possible that I told these guys to put their hands in their pockets, and jiggle…something. Can’t be sure. They look like they are having fun, though.

This room was SO beautiful. And to get married under a portrait of George Washington? How cool was that?

Familiar faces abound here! I know you remember Sarah…she and Stacey (and MVP Carly!) went to college together, and Sarah did a beautiful reading and wore a knock-your-socks-off dress.

This may be one of my faves from the day…Carly, looking at her best friend just before walking down the aisle…I’m a little teary thinking about it!

The ceremony was so full of emotion–from the teary walk down the aisle to laugh out loud moments like this…I love how hard the bridesmaids are laughing!

No rain! No hail!!

love love love these…

Two words: Bad. Ass.

How many favorites can I have? Because here’s a BIG one.

The toasts were sweet, and emotional, and once again I was happy to have a big camera in my face to hide my tears!

Zak and Stacey are not cake people…they are ICE CREAM PEEPS. So this gift was perfect for their day!

Hello, happy girls!! That’s Zak’s sister, Ali, who has been in front of my camera before as a Flair model…and I’m totally hoping to have her in front of my camera again someday…maybe in white?

No wedding cake for ice cream peeps….it’s a MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDAE BAR. Saaaahhh-weeeeeet.

Check out these gorgeous guests and their dance moves!

THIS was my favorite thing. Two guys pretend to be swinging a double jump rope and people come and “dance-jump”. It was the greatest dance floor extravaganza ever.

I had to include this…I love EVERY SINGLE FACE in this photo!

Steph and I are more than photographers. We don’t just take photos. We dance. Oh yes, we dance.

Photographer with two beloved brides, taken by yet another favorite bride!

 

World, if you have followed to the end, I commend you. No doubt you are now feeling a little more stylish (Stacey can have that affect on you!) and I hope you’ll take another moment to leave a comment for Stacey and Zak!