Dani + Chance : I Do

When you live in the Midwest, you never know what to expect when it comes to weather. Severe weather can happen all seasons, even the weekend of your wedding. Dani and Chance had planned to have their wedding and reception at Little Piney Lodge in Herman, MO. However, the morning of their wedding they received a phone call apologizing for the inconvenience of being flooded out of their wedding venue. It was then that the search was on; to find local venues in a matter of a few hours. I got to witness incredible support and effort of family and friends of the couple work their tail off to make the best of the situation.








With the potential of being a very high-stress situation, everyone seemed calm and collected, including the bride and groom. There were moments in the day that were emotional, but the most memorable moment for me was when Dani and Chance had their first look. It was the first time that they had really been able to spend time just the two of them together, in the chaos of events.


















I like to think that things happen for a reason, and Dani and Chance's ceremony location was no exception. The ceremony took place on a beautiful scenic dirt road, lined with their loved ones. It was truly one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've photographed.








Couples are easy to photograph when they are so in love with one another. Dani and Chance literally glow when they're together, and I absolutely love it.









This wedding party was awesome. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging....and FUN! What a fun group of friends and family to have.








At the end of the day, it was party time, and these guys know how to party! Such a great time with friends and family for the happy bride and groom.

Dani and Chance: Herman, MO

Dress: Teresa's Bridal Boutique - Kirksville MO
Bridesmaid dresses: http://www.bestbridalprices.com/
Flowers: Hillermann's Nursery and Florist - Washington MO (Bouquets, boutonniere, and corsages ), Harold's Wholesale Florist - St. Louis MO (single stems used for decorations)
Catering: Angie from Trailside Bar and Grill  

What was your favorite part of your day?
Dani: First was seeing and experiencing the emotions of our first look. Second was walking down the "aisle." I loved how I was able to see every one of our guests lined up down the side of the road all the while still being able to see Chance. Not once did I have to remind myself to keep smiling simply because I felt so giddy and joyful, the whole day did not matter at that point because I was walking down the aisle to say "I do" to my very emotional best friend (Chance's emotions throughout the evening were also some of my favorite parts of the day).

 Chance: The first look was definitely the best part of my day. All of the setbacks we had experienced in the previous 12 hours didn't matter a bit because I was finally with my bride after several hours of being apart. One look at her in that dress and I was the happiest man on earth. What are a few memorable moments from the day?

What are a few memorable moments from the day?
Dani: I don't know exactly when it was, but sometime during the process of my girls helping me get ready I fell into this sort of calm that came with the realization that this wedding was going to happen. I was going to be getting married in a mere couple of hours.
First look and aisle walk were great as mentioned above, but so was the moment that Chance and I walked into the reception pavilion and he spun me and kissed me. In that moment I just felt completely relaxed and as he took control and tipped me backwards into the kiss.
Also, it was a very special moment when my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Burl helped us girls up into the bed of the truck and Uncle Burl drove us over to the ceremony site. I could just feel the love and pride radiate from my aunt and uncle. Additionally, the truck ride over was so great because each one of my girls was so giddy with excitement.

Chance: As I was walking towards the ceremony site with my groomsmen my older brother by nine years, and therefore my childhood and adulthood hero, walked up next to me and told me "the sun is shining on you, bud." This statement was perfectly representative of how blessed I felt at that moment and only my older brother could have put it so simply and so effectively.

Any advice for future brides and grooms? 
Dani: Basically, there will be some problems that arise on your big day. DO NOT plan for everything and expect it to go absolutely as planned. You will just be setting yourself up for disappointment. Plus, it is the moments that you never expected that will be the ones you hold closest to your heart when the day is over.

Chance: Remember what the day actually is about. Flowers are not priority, cake is not priority, even venue is not priority. What matters most on your wedding day is the same thing that has mattered most throughout your relationship and will continue to matter most for the rest of your life: your spouse. It is YOUR day, so enjoy. Let someone else stress about the details because someone else will already be doing just that.