365 Days of Love: Melissa + Zach

Mary Fields Photography

365 is the number. Love is the measurement. 365 Days of Love that is. That’s what this sweet couple celebrated recently and I was privileged to document it.

Zach and Melissa’s love for each other is so clear. They met in Missouri in 2007 at a coffee shop and dated for a short time before their paths took separate turns. She headed overseas and he stayed put. About a year later, those paths reunited in Dallas, TX coincidentally…or maybe not so coincidentally because you see, they were meant to be. He proposed in 2010 and they married in 2011. Now, a year after they said their ‘I Do’s,’ they are still celebrating their love.

Wanting to keep track of all their adventures together in the years to come, they decided to do an anniversary shoot each year that commemorated something special about that particular year of marriage. Yep, LOVE that! When they contacted me with the idea I was more than onboard. We met early in the morning to escape the summer heat and had such a blast! Since this was their first year together, their first apartment was particularly special so we made that our location. Being a sentimental addict, I loved this idea. We spent the morning doing things they enjoy doing together and simply celebrating their first 365 days of love.

Enjoy some of my favorites from the shoot!

Happy Friday!

Melissa made these awesome little flags and got Sprinkles Cupcakes which are to die for. Really.

There are some great walking trails around their apartment and they love taking walks together. It made for a beautiful first spot.

Mary Fields Photography

Melissa…you are beautiful.

If you are planning a wedding this is a fabulous idea. They had their wedding guests write them a card at the wedding for them to open on their 1 year anniversary. What a fun idea!

Yeah, this light was too good to be true.

Favorite.

Mary Fields Photography

They love to cook together so we headed to their kitchen and did some early morning baking. SO fun.

They also love to drink coffee so these were a fun gift. Seriously awesome mugs.

We then headed out to the porch to take some pics with this cute sign. Love it.

Love and coffee. Can it get better?

They both also love to read together which I greatly admire. I need to read more…

Yep, another fav. The light made me get really giddy. If you are a past client, you know what that looks like!

Married! And loving it!

With the summer sun coming up in full blaze, they were troopers and headed out for just a few more. Love this tree.

ONE YEAR!!! I told them they needed to close every anniversary shoot incorporating something that represented the year they were celebrating. This one was easy. 25 may be a little more difficult!

The Way It Should Be: Jenna + Logan

Mary Fields Photography

Some wedding days are characterized by stress. I can’t say that it doesn’t make sense to me, it’s a lot to pull off and you hopefully only do it once. This wedding day, however, was characterized much differently. She laughed the whole time. So did he. As I spent the day with her especially, I remember thinking, “This is the way it should be.” You are so excited to marry your best friend, the love of your life, that the day is full of joy and you are calm because nothing else matters. Nothing but saying “I do” and starting your life together. So, that’s what this great couple did on a beautiful Sunday in Dallas, TX and I was so privileged to be there as they laughed, danced and simply enjoyed the day they had been waiting for, for oh so long.

Logan and Jenna, I cannot tell you how fun it has been to get to know you over the last few months. I love the way you make each other laugh, the way you love each other and the way you keep your focus on the right things. Your wedding day was purely a joyful occasion for all who were present. I know that this has been a long time in the making and so I hope you are enjoying finally being husband and wife. I am confident that the years to come will be full of laughter, love and changing the world around you for Christ. You two are a special pair!

Enjoy some of my favorites from their Dallas wedding! As always, I have too many but really…can you blame me with these two?

Happy Tuesday!

Stunning Jenna. Stunning.

Ladies and Gentlemen, THIS is why you do a first look. The reaction on his face along with the PLENTY of time we had for portraits makes it all worth it.

Best reaction ever.

Logan gave Jenna her wedding present and then the two took some time to pray together. Another reason for a first look…you wouldn’t be able to have that sweet time together.

Seriously you two, you made my job so easy.

We were definitely in some yummy light here guys. Logan and Jenna are very familiar with my ‘yummy light’ giddiness.

Definitely a favorite.

Exquisite bouquet.

Oh I love this. They are going to spend so much of their life laughing together.

Jenna, seriously you were such a beautiful bride.

These groomsmen were such troopers…

Such beautiful ladies.

Neon green socks. Hilarious. I can always count on the guys to be crazy fun. And this is definitely not posed…

Praying before the ceremony.

Love this shot of Logan and his mom. So sweet.

Married!

Ok, so really awesome. Logan made Jenna’s wedding band out of a quarter. Apparently quarters before 1964 were made out of 90% silver so he spent hours hammering it into her ring. If you look inside the band, you can still see the year and the word ‘liberty.’ How cool is that?!?!

Love it.

A daddy dancing with his daughter. One of my favorite parts of the wedding day.

So we managed to sneak up to the top of the building for some Dallas skyline pics and I am SO glad we did. Some of my favorite shots of the whole day!

Yes…this did happen. Jenna and Logan are known for doing lifts (even at our engagement shoot) which is way fun. Even more fun that they would manage it in a wedding dress and tux. Awesome.

Perfect.

A Blessed Day: Jessica + John

Mary Fields Photography

I follow Jasmine Star (world renown wedding photographer) like she was an ice cream truck on a hot summer day. Like a band groupie on tour. Like Robin follows Batman. Like Luke Skywalker follows Obi Wan. Her blog is bookmarked on my home page and it’s part of my daily ritual to check up on what latest advice/work she has to share. She has shaped so much of how I approach my business and how I seek to work with my clients. You could say she has been my mentor, my Yoda, my Mr. Miyagi. Don’t worry, the rest of the wedding photog industry follows her the same AND I have met her once so I’m not a total weirdo. We even have a picture together which basically makes us best friends.

One thing I remember Jasmine saying on her blog was that she loved when a bride becomes a friend. What an interesting thing to say I remember thinking to myself. However, from the time Jessica booked me several months ago until now, I can say that I consider her a sweet new friend. How cool is my job?

Oh Jasmine, wise you are. Continue following you I will.

John and Jessica are special. They are special because on their wedding day and every day leading up to it, they had one purpose. To honor God in their union. It was the morning of the wedding and she had woken up sick. However, she never flinched. Her goal was to marry John and to humbly commit her life to him, in sickness and in health. Thankfully the Lord was gracious, giving her new energy and health, allowing the day to be exactly what it should be. Blessed.

They were married in a beautiful chapel in North Texas with their loved ones watching in agreement of their vow to one another. The pastor recalled the workings of their relationship over the years and it was clear that God had gone before them, aligning their paths from that day forward. With an incredible amount of peace and joy in that beautiful chapel, they made their pledges, shared communion and were pronounced husband and wife. Oh glorious day.

Jessica and John, you really are special. I did not know you at all before this process started and yet, in my few months of knowing you, I am confident that this is a special union. You both have your sights set on what matters. Eternity. Together, I am sure that you will do greater things than apart. Please know how blessed I was to be part of your engagement and your wedding day. I am grateful for the friendship that was started and hope it continues in years to come.

Enjoy some of my favorites from their day!

Happy Monday!

Ashton Gardens. Gorgeous.

Oh bling bling.

Mrs. Sarver.

Jessica, I bet you’ve never had this happen before…

Of course if you are a guy hanging out before your wedding…you’d be watching a baseball game. What else?

Seriously beautiful chapel. The natural light made me a little…no much more than a little giddy.

Their parents praying with them.

Married!

So handsome.

Beautiful girls.

The bride’s one request. Bridal party silly faces. LOVE it. What a fun bridal party.

Jessica, one word. STUNNING!

I may be in love with this shot.

Girl, you are too beautiful for words.

I think he’s in love or something.

So…they make my job way too easy.

Favorite.

John and Jessica Sarver.

Mr. and Mrs!!!!

Love this picture of Jessica and her father. His first girl to get married. So sweet.

They had this really fun part of their dance. It was awesome.

Let me just say that I don’t usually post so many dancing pictures but I couldn’t help it. They had an AWESOME dance party. And in the middle of the day! Impressive!

Ruth, you are way to cool for words. Seriously, I cannot even express how wonderful you were throughout the whole process and not to mention your crazy awesome dance moves!

Pure awesomeness.

Coolest Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom. They danced the whole time. No really, they did.

Oh Lauren, you made this way too fun for me. Can you come to all of my weddings?

Possibly some of my favorite shots from the whole day. Especially the one on the right.

Maid of Honor getting some air. Perfect.

An All-Star Team: Marissa + Peter

Mary Fields Photography

She is a gem. That woman who you look at and think, ‘I’d like to be like her.’ She is faithful. Patient. Kind. Godly. Joyful. A GREAT cook. Nurturing. Warm. Compassionate. Fun. Not to mention Beautiful.

Marissa is what you would call a catch. I mean really, she is an All-Star to the max. I’m sure she has her faults as we all do, but you can’t be around her for two minutes without wishing she could just rub off on you. Maybe if you just stand a little closer her All-Starness will have some affect on you…like osmosis. Well, this All-Star has been waiting for the Lord to bring her co-All-Star into the picture and not just waiting, but waiting patiently. Her faithfulness is uncanny and her standard for the man she was waiting for didn’t waiver. How wonderful too that the Lord did not disappoint.

They met about three years ago at the Kanakuk Institute where she is the Dean of Women, loving on the female students so very well and so very faithfully. He was a Chicagoan who had traveled the world and by a crazy connection had found this Bible training program tucked away in the Ozarks of Missouri. They were just friends for that year, although she was instantly endeared to the man that he was, the kind that is All-Star material. Upon graduation, he headed off to Hawaii and so she thought their roads were separated. A year later, however, his road brought him back to that little town in the hills and his heart began to be drawn to this catch of a woman. He would visit the summer camp she was running simply to be around her and to build that friendship he hoped turned into more. As summer ended and fall began, their friendship strengthened and her heart was more and more endeared to this man she had fallen for long ago. When he confessed his affection for her she was giddy with excitement.  After four-ish months of dating, he knelt to the ground and asked her to be his bride, seeing as everyone has the gem that was before him. On a perfect Saturday in early May, they joined hands and said their vows, promising forever. Their guests sat in a beautiful chapel overlooking the lake in that small Ozark town where it had all begun, and everyone was thinking the same thing about this All-Star team. It was worth the wait.

Marissa, words cannot express how serious I am when I say that you are a gem. You are genuinely a model of a godly woman. Thank you for being such a sweet friend over the years. Being part of your wedding was an incredible blessing for me as I got to witness the great faithfulness of our God. Peter, there are few that would deserve a woman like Marissa but simply put…you do. What a match the Lord has ordained! Wishing you both the best in the years to come!!

Happy Sunday!

(And once again…there are too many. Apparently my ‘working on it’ isn’t going very well)

Marissa and Peter kept a chain to count down the days. They saw each other for coffee that morning and broke the last chain together. Sweet.

Peter wrote her the sweetest note for his ‘Wife’ and she of course had to share it with her girlfriends…duh.

You didn’t know that I was a make-up artist on wedding day as well did you? Just call me Wonderwoman.

And this is my other Wonderwoman half. My sister the hair stylist. She’s the best.

This wedding chapel is beautiful and both Marissa and Peter wanted to get married here, even before they were dating.

I had to post these in honor of Mia, Marissa’s mini cooper. The get away car and her baby!

Somehow cowboy boots remain a theme in my work and its totally unplanned. I love it though.

Sweet moment between the bride and her mother. It’s moments like this that make my job so fun.

Marissa, really you were a STUNNING bride.

Can you tell she is an All-Star by the number of friends she has?!? See, I’m not the only one that thinks so. Pretty girls.

Beautiful bride.

Marissa’s niece was the flower girl and I am so glad I was there for this moment…seeing her aunt for the first time. Moments like this are priceless.

And see what I mean about him being an All-Star too? Obviously he is well liked!

Praying before the ceremony. What a blessing for me to be there in the midst of this.

Here comes the bride! Peter’s face says it all.

I think he’s excited or something…

This reaction to being pronounced ‘husband and wife’ is the best ever. Not to mention what he was given permission to do because of it…

Officially Mr. and Mrs.!

Love this.

So…there was this really awesome Rolls Royce.

Marissa LOVES coffee so there had to be a coffee bar. However, they went the extra mile and roasted their own coffee beans as a gift for their guests. The Bo and Mo blend (Peter’s nickname is Bodie). Can you say awesome?

Coolest ring story ever…Marissa bought this ring for her future-husband several years ago when she visited Israel. Now, Peter gets to wear it for the rest of his life.

The original woman in his life as observed by the new woman in his life.

Marissa’s sweet grandfather asked her to dance…and I cried.

Most precious thing…a dad and his daughter dancing.

Sweaty boy getting his groove on.

We snuck out just in time to catch the sunset over the lake.

Best exit ever. Marissa surprised her groom with fireworks before they left…

And Mia takes them away…

An Answered Prayer: Jessica + Reed Engagement

They met in March 2011. Jessica was being brought on to work for Global Aid Network, an organization that seeks to demonstrate the love of God to hurting and needy people around the world. Reed was working for them at the time but unfortunately, and as if to make the story that much better, it was his last week.  “We didn’t talk more than a mere exchange of words,” she said, “but I remember thinking he was cute and it was a shame he was leaving.” Fate would take care of this dilemma just a few months later however, as they reconnected at an engagement party for mutual friends. After talking at length and recognizing they would be attending the same seminary in the fall, Reed’s interest peaked and a plan began to form. Asking Jessica to coffee to ‘discuss seminary’ was a perfect way to learn more about this woman who had caught his attention. Four hours into the coffee date he got her number and their love story started.

Little did they know however, that God had been designing this match long before those lattes were ever served. You see, throughout their lives, God been developing in each of them a desire and a heart to reach the nations…separately. Reed had been praying for a spouse that would share his heart for missions, and the Lord delivered. Faithfully. He gave them each other to fulfill that desire…together. An answered prayer.

With a shared heart for the world, an ability to laugh together and a love that is undeniable, these two will tie the knot in September! I met Jessica at church my first Sunday in Texas and we immediately bonded over our shared love for photography. While being a wedding/portrait photographer herself, she is also pursuing a master’s in media communication so as to use her talents for humanitarian work. I was instantly challenged and encouraged by her heart to use photography to change lives. When she asked me to shoot their wedding I was incredibly honored! Their engagement shoot in downtown Dallas was a ton of fun and I can’t wait for September!

Reed and Jessica, thanks so much for letting me part of this season with you! It is clear that the Lord has brought you together to do great things for the nations. I can’t wait to see where He takes you together!

Happy Thursday!

Love these next two.

Jessica spent part of her life growing up in Dallas and she distinctly remembers this blue building. She would drive to church and always think of how intriguing it was. So, of course it made a perfect backdrop for our shoot.

Stunning. Seriously stunning.

We went downtown for the urban feel but I love these beautiful tall trees in the middle of downtown. Perfect.

Favorite. So content.

What an incredibly beautiful couple! I told Reed that he’s lucky he gets to look at those pretty blue eyes for the rest of his life…

Sweet moment.

I asked Jessica to fix his tie and in the middle of it she and I both discovered neither of us actually know how to tie a tie. I need to add that to my to do list. You never know when that will come in handy.

These red flowers outside the Myerson Symphony center were a perfect backdrop for our cloudy afternoon shoot.

I’m in love with this shot. Love.

Pure delight in the man that she loves.

When Jessica and I were discussing the shoot, she expressed that she really wanted to incorporate Sprinkles Cupcakes which of course was music to my ears. Any girl who loves her some cupcakes is a woman after my own heart. Without even meaning to, she got one white and one black…ironically very bride and groom-esque. I loved it!

Bling Blingitty.

As the sun began to set we headed over to the El Fenix restaurant where these two will have their rehearsal dinner. It has an A-mazing roof top patio for dining where you can see the Dallas skyline. Needless to say I was a kid in a candy shop!

Favorite.

Really Jessica, you made this easy.

Can you say money shot? For real, I can’t get enough of this.

Pretty in White: Jessica Bridal Photography

I’m so excited that I finally get to show you Jessica’s bridal portraits! Whenever I do a shoot, I get so pumped to share the images with the world that it’s like a child waiting for summer vacation at Christmas break. It seems to last For-eeeeeeeever. The wait is over though because sweet Jessica married the man of her dreams, John, last Saturday at the beautiful Ashton Gardens. (Post coming soon) SO, that means that the bridals are no longer in the vault! Hope you enjoy the images of this stunning bride.

Happy Wednesday!

Mary Fields Photography

http://www.maryfieldsphotography.wordpress.com

You Can Stand Under My Umbrella: Autumn + Brian

Mary Fields Photography

It couldn’t have happened to a better couple. When the radar looked like Nickelodeon’s green slime (you 90s children know what I’m talking about) they remained calm. When the weatherman gave his dismal prediction of Saturday’s tropical storm, they remained calm. When the clouds rolled in thick like gray giants, they remained calm. When the skies opened up and dropped water on Sarasota like the ground was crying out in thirst, they remained calm. Even when they made the decision to proceed with the ceremony in the rain, utilizing the world’s simplest invention…the umbrella, they still remained calm.

Why you ask? Why would you remain calm when the day you have been waiting for your whole life, that special day you want to be oh so perfect, is drenched in H2O?

Because they get it. They knew that the purpose of that day, the day they had been waiting for their whole lives, wasn’t about the mud on her dress, the puddles on the ground or even the fact that their guests were standing under umbrellas. No, they knew it was a day with much bigger significance. It was the day that they pledged their lives to each other before a holy God who was more concerned about their commitment than the rain clouds. And they just did that, vowed their lives to each other while holding hands in the rain. While the day was plenty crazy (stay tuned for my horse story…it’ll go down in the record books), the ground…along with the guests..a bit soggy, and things not going quite according to plan, there is one thing I am fairly confident did not go wrong. Not only did it not go wrong, but it was exceptionally right. That is that God was pleased. In some ways, more ways than not, I think it couldn’t have been more perfect. As the rain fell down and the umbrellas raised up, attention was drawn to the main thing. Marriage. This couple did an amazing job of keeping the main thing the main thing and I was so very honored to be part of it!

Brian and Autumn, my shoes have dried, my adrenaline has returned to normal and the radar has cleared. However, one thing has not disappeared since that rainy day in April…my love and respect for you both. Thank you for being a picture of what a wedding and marriage should be about. Your wedding day alone served as a ministry to so many and so I cannot wait to see what the example of your marriage will do in the years to come.

In closing, I thought it only fitting to leave you with these words from our dear friend Rihanna. I hope that they will hold new meaning from now on…

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be a friend
Took an oath I’ma stick it out till the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Happy Tuesday!

(DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS REALLY LONG…I RECOGNIZE THAT I SHOULD BE MORE DECISIVE BUT I JUST COULDN’T. I HAVE TOO MANY FAVORITES. SORRY. I’M WORKING ON IT…OK, END OF CONFESSION)

Brian played football at Purdue so her sisters made her this awesome jersey with his number and ‘Mrs. Wang’ on the back. Love it.

Sweet Autumn got Brian the most perfect gift…a family bible.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of this special day.

Autumn, her mother and some of their friends worked so hard to make every detail perfect. They were stunning!

The theme was the South which of course made me really happy.

W is for Wang…Brian’s last name.

Autumn’s mom and dad surprised her with a horse drawn carriage to take her to the aisle. So sweet and romantic. However, things got a little crazy after this so stay tuned for one of my best wedding stories…

Her dad seeing her for the first time. I cried…

One of the sweetest moments of the wedding day was their prayer. In the midst of the craziness they stopped to take a moment and pray. Looking around they realized it was just their family…the original six. In prayer they honored the Lord and then ended with all six in tears. I was privileged to be there for such a precious moment.

Love this shot. Tears of joy as he sees his bride.

And it rained on…

Married! They kissed, were pronounced husband and wife, and the rain stopped. Exactly in that order. Perfection.

Aut, you are one stunningly beautiful bride.

I lose my breath a little every time I see this shot…

Marriage.

So recent events have got me thinking. Marriage. What a wonderful word that can’t even begin to express the depth of what it really is. Having never had the privilege of sharing in such a union, I know that my understanding is limited. However, having also had the great privilege of witnessing some incredible examples of marriage, I feel confident enough to say that the unity of a man and woman is unlike anything else. It is precious. Special. Ordained. Refining. Intimate.

Sacred.

I believe in this unity and I am blessed to be able to be a witness to so many covenants. In the midst of the chaos, the exhaustion and the stress of my profession, I feel so honored to document that significant day when a bride looks to her groom and says, “I do.” It is that union that is worth celebrating because it is set out by God, His plan…not our own.

As wedding season continues on, in the midst of all my craziness, I am grateful today to so frequently be able to join in celebration as a groom and his bride join in perfect unity.

Happy Friday.

(Mary Fields Photography)

26.21.8.

If you have ever seen LOST…you know the significance of numbers.

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 anyone? If you aren’t a LOSTie you may not understand but if you are, you just checked your last lottery ticket to make sure you aren’t going to be cursed for the rest of your life…

Well 26.21.8. are my numbers as of late. I don’t pretend that these numbers will be so significant that they will draw people to strange sci-fi islands, but they do have a great deal of significance in my little world.

26. I turned twenty-six last week! Another year gone by and another year wiser right? Right. A shout out to my birthday partner for life, the newly married Beth Gilland! We have been sharing birthdays…well since the original birthday…and will be for the rest of our lives. It’s inevitable. It was a fairly normal day for me, as in I stayed in my shorts and t-shirt until about 6 pm. The life of working from home! The evening was fun though with some yummy food, good fellowship and fun activities! Beth and I got to spend the weekend together in Florida and celebrate with a small get together last night which was a blast. Funny, since being apart these last three years, we somehow manage to always be together on our birthday week…totally unplanned. Well, thanks 25 for being so great and 26…you have a lot to live up to so get crackin.

21. My sweet friends Autumn and Brian got married this past Saturday on the 21st in Sarasota, FL. She was a stunning bride and I was SO excited to be able to shoot the wedding! More to come on that soon!

8. This weekend started the craziness. Eight weddings in 8 weeks. Yep, you heard me. It is wedding season and that means my weekends are filled to the brim. It’s a marathon of a schedule but I couldn’t be more excited! Coffee is my new best friend, pinning on boutonnieres is my new trade and my camera will become my new permanent appendage. Bring it on!

Happy Monday!

You Bet..and Some Blinggity on the Bloggity.

It was 1979 and they were in love. In love in the great romantic city of Washington DC. It was about October, leaves were changing and they were sitting on the floor discussing the future of their relationship, where it was all headed. The ‘M’ word came up and he expressed his hope to use that ‘M’ word forever. With a bit of sass and a gleam in her eye, she said, “So are you asking me or telling me?” Slightly caught of guard but not missing a beat he replied, “Well…I guess I’m asking you. Will you marry me?” With a smile so big it could only belong to my mother, the queen of big smiles, she answered with a line infamous in the Powell household.

“You bet.”

I spent a good portion of this week perfecting my macro photography skills although they are FAR from perfection! Details like these are extremely hard to get just right. I spent a lot of time on every groom’s pride shot…the ring. After all, he liked it so he put some bling on it and its sparkly-ness needs to be shown to the world! I used my parents rings to practice which was a lot of fun. Enjoy some of my favorites!

Happy Thursday!

My favorite.