Ryan and Michelle’s March wedding day was everything a wedding should be: relaxed, overflowing with thoughtful detail, full of laughter (see: groomsmen in a dress for a fake first look), genuine emotion, a stunning sunset, and the kind of joy that only comes from great anticipation.

Surrounded by a crowd who loves, prayed for, and is for them, they were married outside at Lilac Hill in Louisville Nebraska - the sweetest little venue complete with hidden swing-sets, vintage barns and gnomes within the tree stumps.

This was a long awaited wedding day and it showed. Michelle’s Mom’s dress was incorporated all over the place; in the pockets of the groomsmen, the ring-bearers pillow, and wrapped up around her bouquet. Michelle recorded and played a song for her mother-daughter first dance, and the bride and groom (accompanied by just about every single person there) LIT UP the dance floor in truly rare form (I go to a lot of weddings, and this was something else).

Their first-look was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever had the honor of witnessing, and with zero prompting from me the two just melted into one another - taking it in and holding on tight.

It was a day of a thousand beautiful, small and treasurable moments - a great wedding for two great people.

Presenting: the Luekings. 2021 - forever and ever and ever and ever.