#Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

[pinksprucephotography]

Reasons to Book a Wedding at the Radisson in La Crosse, WI

[zzaphotoaday]

[doraminatook]

We're About To Get Playfully Blasphemous Here (or...The Metaphorical Death and Resurrection of Me)

2023 was the year I turned 33, and in case you didn’t know, many religious scholars cite that as the age Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.  Now, within literature there’s a trope called the Christ-like figure in which a character sacrifices themself and from that death, something happens in order to advance the plot.  Usually that something is either the “dead” character rising from the ashes and obtaining new powers (think Gandalf the Grey battling the Balrog and then coming back as Gandalf the White) or the protagonist being so moved by the death of this secondary character that they are reborn in some way (think Red Badge of Courage’s Jim Conklin (JC…get it?) whose death changes Henry’s opinion on war.)

Because I’m a storyteller and have a dark sense of humor, I began to wonder if I would somehow have a Christ-like-figure-moment within my thirty-third year of life.  (Not long after my birthday, I told my mom that I just had to make it to 34 and then I would have “beaten” Jesus; being a good Lutheran woman, she did not appreciate this joke.)

Now, I may be reaching or forcing figurative imagery into the literal world (isn’t that what artists do?), but I think I did have a “death” and consequential “resurrection”.  

I’m at a strange place in my writing career in that I am not famous (by any means) but I’m also not considered emerging.  Recently, I was told by a theater that I should “sit this contest out” and give someone else a chance but at the same time my work has not been produced enough to catch an agent’s eye.  (It doesn’t help that theatre companies have an intense fixation on world premieres.  They want to be the first one to do the show, apparently assuming that as soon as a piece gets produced once, that means it’s finished.  But that’s a rant for another day.) 

Currently I live in Milwaukee and for a long time I thought (or at least hoped) that I could maybe just make it work here; it is technically a theater town.  Add to that the fact that my whole family lives in Wisconsin, my financial situation was not ideal, and my best friend (platonic soulmate) had made it fairly clear to me that she did not wish to move away from Milwaukee.  When I was honest with myself, I knew that I wanted to get out, but there were so many things holding me back from making the jump.  

As soon as the thought of moving away entered my head, Anxiety would perk up.  Always eager to be the backseat driver, it would shout things like, “Isn’t life here good enough for you?  You’ve got a roof over your head, a job that allows you to pursue your passion, and you’re perfectly healthy.  Be grateful for what you have and stop expecting something more!” 

I attended a workshop for other playwrights from the area and, at the risk of sounding arrogant, I didn’t have a lot in common with many of them.  Discussions and questions whirled around about how we find time to write, where we get inspiration, and how we format a script properly.  Some of the writers present had never even finished a full script.  I certainly am not bringing this up in order to shame anyone, but it was an eye-opening experience for me.  Was I a proverbial big fish in a little pond?

My anxiety had an opinion for that, too.  

“Wow!  Way to be egotistical, D!  You think you’re so much better than everyone here?  Get over yourself!  You’re not special.  You’re just another ‘artist’ who thinks they’ve got something special to say!”

A few weeks later I was at my cousin’s wedding and after the ceremony, he approached me to offer congratulations for all the success I’ve had…only to then immediately cut me off guard with the question, “So when are you moving to New York?”  As the groom, he was quickly called away for photographs and I never really got to answer his question.  

If this moment had been in a play, the spotlight would have hit me right then and there and I would have begun some contemplative soliloquy where I openly pondered, “New York, eh?  Maybe I should go to New York!”

Obviously, as a theatre person, the idea of moving to New York had crossed my mind; it’s the theatre capital of the US for obvious reasons.  But, at the same time, New York just didn’t feel like me.  (I have a lot of opinions on NYC, especially when it comes to the outrageous ticket prices.  When it costs a small fortune to see a Broadway show, art becomes a luxury rather than a necessity.  But that’s a rant for another day.)  It certainly seemed daunting, and every good dream should be at least a little daunting.  But New York was daunting without being exciting.  It felt like something I should do…something that was expected of me.

LA didn’t do it for me, either.  Nor Seattle.  I considered many locations, but nothing really made me sit up and take notice.  I wasn’t about to dive headfirst into debt and throw away a good thing unless it was something that truly excited me…something that was enticing enough to spark a change.  

Again, Anxiety spoke up, “Calm the fuck down, D!  New York?  Even if that is what you wanted, they’d eat you alive there!  You’re a soft midwestern girl who can’t take criticism and cries at the drop of a hat!  You really think you could handle New York or LA?  Also, the cost of living in any of those places is way more than you will ever hope to make!  Stick with Submission Helper.  Stick with the contests and the festivals.  Go back to dreaming only as big as The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.  Sit down and shut up!”

It may have gone on like this…if not for the summer of 2023.

Close your eyes and picture it: WGA strike, Barbenheimer, The Eras Tour, OceanGate, the Grimace Birthday shake…and in the midst of it all, I was having an epiphany.  

A favorite television show of mine dropped its latest season and I eagerly pulled out the Chardonnay and the popcorn to binge it all.  The vast majority of the show takes place in London and features several actors whom I admire greatly.  Between the giggles, sobs, and various twists and turns of the emotional rollercoaster that was Season 2, something all at once occurred to me.

This is what I want.  

That’s where I want to be.  

I want to move to the United Kingdom.

Was it daunting?  Hell yeah, it was daunting.  

And it was exciting.  

It was a dream that excited me.  

It burned inside me.  

It raged.

It burned so hot that I didn’t know what to do with it.  I paced around my tiny apartment, simply stunned by the prospect of it all.  

Anxiety was in the process of drinking a quad shot espresso con panna and promptly did a spit take upon hearing this new idea.  In a frenzied panic, it bellowed, “Are you nuts?  What the hell do you think you’re doing?  YOU can’t move to the UK!  It would be so difficult!  You’d need to apply for a Visa…or something like that!  Do you even know how to apply for a Visa!”  

“No,” I metaphorically replied, “but I could learn.”

“I bet it’s super difficult!” Anxiety shot back, trembling in fear, “I bet it’s expensive and complicated and you’ll never figure it out!  I bet your sense of humor wouldn’t translate!  I bet you’d end up broke and living under a bridge and crying because you threw away this good thing you had!”

For a split second, Anxiety almost won…but somehow, prompted by the promise of this new dream, I dared to ask, “But what if it worked out?  What if I could figure it out?  What if I somehow scraped up the money and did the research and filed the paperwork and just made it work?”

If it were a play, I would have been standing center stage, staring out into the audience like some kind of dramatic hero and whispering hopefully, “Yes…what if…?”  

It has been a long road to get here, but, despite what Anxiety likes to tell me, I did figure it out.  The process has been stressful enough to induce atypical Shingles and a few anxiety attacks, but it’s happening.  It’s actually happening!

This October I’m going to grad school at the University of Essex where I’ll pursue my masters degree in Scriptwriting.  I’ll hone my skills as a playwright while learning the ins and out of writing for film, television, and radio.  I’ll take the train into London on the weekends and see every show I can at the National Theatre.  I’ll get new life experiences.  I’ll do my best to explore every inch of that beautiful island.  I’m going to do something new because it’s scary and, most importantly, it’s exciting.  

(To add to the awesomeness of this new adventure, my best friend (platonic soul mate) is moving with me and pursuing her own dreams of studying acting…also at the University of Essex.)

My “death” was not as dramatic or world-changing as Jesus’s, but it gave way to a new life for me.  The power of storytelling combined with a newfound confidence was enough to catapult me into something new, something different.    

And I know you’re wondering what show I was watching that prompted this sudden change; if you know anything about me, you’ve probably guessed it already.  

Along with seeing as much theatre as I can on my visits to London, I also plan to have surreptitious meetings at The Bandstand, feed ducks some frozen peas at St. James’s Park, and maybe help avert an apocalypse (or two).  My birthday is in January and it just so happens that Season 3 is scheduled to begin filming around that time; perhaps on my winter holiday, I’ll put myself onto a train and take myself up to Edinburgh.  I have so many thoughts on what could possibly happen next to my favorite angel and demon…but that’s a rant for another day.

(Fun fact: I say this line at least once a week...if only to myself.)

[chuckpatch]

Another picture from my upcoming book “Silver Keeps” from Eyeshot Publishing: Patti’s wedding

MAYBE I’m not the world’s worst wedding photographer, but in terms of conventional wedding depictions, I tilt strongly toward the incompetent side. I seem to always shoot from an odd angle, catch Aunt Samantha with her eyes closed and mouth open; forget to photograph really important guests (I’ve never missed the bride and groom, though) and generally stand too far from the stars of the event. Despite that, I love photographing weddings, or more precisely, the parties that follow them. There are few social occasions that bring together groups so diverse in age and background for, what almost always turns out to be, uninhibited, even joyful, playfulness. I just don’t want to be the official photographer. Decades ago, I occasionally acquiesced when friends wanted me to photograph their weddings. I’m pretty sure that I gave Patti and Tom dire warnings of the likely outcome when they asked me to shoot theirs in 1982, but maybe because they didn’t have enough money for a real photographer or assumed that because I was always carrying a camera, I knew what I was doing in all situations, they persisted, and I agreed. I had hardly any equipment – just the Leica with its 35mm lens, and an Olympus OM-1 with a 50mm Macro. I figured I could swap my Vivitar flash back and forth between them “as needed.” The wedding and reception were in a simple banquet hall in rural Wisconsin. It mostly took place on a large, covered terrace next to the hall on a sunny June day. I did my best to take the classic shots, but when I developed the film, I found this one shot of Patti’s friend, Kate, arriving with her children that I simply do not remember taking, and it’s the only shot on that roll where I point the camera down the road. It’s not a wedding picture, and I considered not even including it in the set I ended up providing, but, (along with these other goofy shots that ARE wedding photos, the group shot is a favorite because it features the parents of another friend) it was the best image I caught that day.

[missanxietyinvestigates]

Who were you, Mary Jane?

For a class assignment, I had to go to the local cemetery and choose a grave to research. I ended up picking a broken, weatherworn grave that just said "Mary Jane". There was clearly more, but the break was part way through the words, and so much of it had worn away that even a gentle pencil rubbing couldn't bring it out. Something about her seemed sad and lonely.

I found her last name, Hathaway, on FindAGrave, where you could see slightly more of the grave and where it was before it was broken. It reads, "Mary Jane, wife of Hiram Hathaway" with the rest sunken into mud.

I found her on Ancestry, but her profile was strangely empty. So was her FamilySearch and her Genie. Her husband's was equally empty. Three sources total between them. Eventually, through manually searching through records, I discovered her parents Enoch Aiken and Mary Bailey.

I expected information to start flooding in now, it had been two hours and I finally had enough to do some cursory searching, but the only thing I found was death records, and things on her parents. Eventually, though, things started to reveal themselves.

Mary Jane Aiken was born in 1837 in Cornith, Vermont. Her mother was from Hartford, Connecticut, and her father was from Cornith. Enoch had been a blacksmith all of his life and looks like his father was one too. She had three older brothers, two older sisters, and one younger brother.

(East Cornith, early 1900s, via Cornith Historical Society)

Mary somehow managed to elude the census all her life, so she disappeared from the historical record for a while. She probably spent the time before her marriage with her family in Corinth.

Her mother passed away from pneumonia in July of 1863. She was 69.

When the Civil War rolled around, (at least) two of her brothers and her father were called to war. The house would have been just her and her sisters. Her father was a blacksmith, part of the First Cavalry Regiment, Company D. He would have seen the Battle of Gettysburg, and came back to tell the tale.

You can read more about his unit here:

One of her brothers though, her little brother William, did not make it back from the war. He was shot and killed in the Battle of the Wilderness, on March 5th, 1864, in Spotsylvania, Virginia. We are lucky enough to actually have a photograph of him publicly available (though the image quality isn't great):

Her father would come back to Cornith, presumably for the funeral, and would pass away the next month, April of 1864 (his records say he died of dropsy).

I can't imagine the amount of loss that Mary and her siblings were feeling, losing both their parents and their little brother in a little over a year.

On April 27th, 1872, Mary appears again, marrying Hiram Hathaway of Bennington, Vermont on April 13th. Depending on when the wedding was, it would have been a rather chilly wedding.

Her husband, Hiram Hathaway, was born in 1837 and had grown up in Bennington. He had several siblings. He had been a farmer most of his life, though he also managed to elude the census a few times so he may have had other jobs.

Hiram had also had a rough 1860s. In 1863, when he was 26, his father took his own life using opium. In 1866, he lost his sister, Mary, though I can't find how she died. In 1868, he lost his mother to old age. After that, the rest of his siblings scattered to the winds. One to Wisconsin, one to Florida.

In June of 1872, her husband would appear in the paper, as putting up no trespassing signs for seemingly no reason. You can read the whole clipping here:

In 1874 and 1875, Mary Jane would write wills that had the executor of her estate as her friend, Abraham Gardner. I couldn't find anything on him, it seems like there were several Abraham Gardners running around Bennington at the time. She notes in her will that she wants all of her money to be put the the benefit of her husband, giving him monthly allowances. She wanted to give everything but the house, furniture, and one set of bedding, to her sister Aphia. We also get to see her signature:

On February 15th, 1875, Mary Jane Hathaway passed away from cancer. In 1876, due to her debts, her entire estate had to be sold off.

As unfortunate as that is, it gives us a very interesting look into her life, as an inventory and appraisal had to be made of all her things.

Among her items, she had:

A stereoscope (though no stereoscope cards were noted)

Many many sewing notions (it seemed to be a hobby of hers)

Numerous photos of family on her walls along with (at least) 3 photo albums.

A room full of books, especially on the history of religion and geography books.

Painting supplies

A box of "trinkets" (probably sentimental items she kept)

Her school book on grammar.

And a much clearer picture of what she was like starts to develop.

She's an avid reader, was very sentimental, and cared quite a bit about her family. She enjoyed sewing and painting, and maybe scrapbooking with the things she collected (though that part isn't confirmed).

In 1880, Hiram remarried to Ellen Thurber, a local Bennington woman. He moves into her parent's house, where he works as a farmer. One family tree says that he died in 1889, but I can't find anything to prove or disprove that. As far as I can tell, Hiram has no death records (at least none digitized). He is also not buried with his parents and first wife. He does not appear to be in the cemetery at all. His story ends with his marriage to Ellen.

Mary's sister, Aphia, died in 1901 due to paralysis in Keene, NH. Her brother, Enoch, would die soon after in a debtor's house.

After finding this all out, I went back to the cemetery looking her Hiram and to visit Mary again. I searched all over that section, but I think if Hiram was buried here, his grave has been eaten by the hill.

Hopefully, Mary's story can be reunited with the rest of her family, and maybe one day some more information will surface about her or Hiram.

I hope so. She deserves to be remembered.

[kitnita]

how does his season of the bachelorette play out?

SO he's competing for the heart of kelsie (a 26 year old second grade teacher from wisconsin who was runner-up in the previous season of the bachelor because it was kind of a coin flip for jacob (27, small business owner (he runs a crossfit gym)); he preferred blondes and kelsie was one of six brunettes that season who didn't have a head full of blonde highlights so he said it was a really hard decision but privately that's kind of what it came down to; him and his final pick break up while kelsie's season is airing). jake Did Not sign up to go on the show himself — his older brother & sister nominated him one night after they all got drunk hanging out and when the show reached out they convinced him to say yes to going on.

kelsie's whole thing in interviews after being named the bachelorette was saying that she knows she'll be able to keep the men in line 'because as a second grade teacher she's used to being on her toes!' except the show took that as a challenge and her cast was mostly comprised of just the most volatile mix of personalities they could find.

a lot of viewers found jake kind of bland for the first half of the season; a nice midwestern guy who stayed out of drama, had sweet enough moments with kelsie, and didn't make funny reaction faces for the editing team to splice in as it aired.

he had a twitter-beloved bromance with the guy who would go on to become kelsie's final pick (kameron with a k, a 26 year old wedding photographer from florida. production used the two of them hanging out as their chill guy b-roll while the rest of the men devolved into pvp warfare) & as the show went on he opened up about the injury that ended his hockey career while he was at BU. kelsie was a college volleyball player 'and could, like, totally relate!'

mostly she liked that he used his post-injury communications degree to work as a communications director for a junior hockey team 'because it meant that they both liked working with kids!'

(the show listed his job title as 'sports information director')

he had his second one-on-one before hometowns, where viewers fell in love with him because him and kelsie went ice-skating with his younger brother for the day portion of the date. most people thought she was going to dump him here because she didn't seem that into him romantically compared to some other guys, but robbie (27, job listed as 'crypto guy') had an absolutely abysmal hometown date wherein kelsie felt attacked & like robbie didn't stick up for her, and also robbie's sister-in-law was basically like Yeah They're Just Like This.

by fantasy suite week it was pretty clear who kelsie's two frontrunners were (kameron with a k & miles, 28, a travel agent) BUT there ended up being some drama between her & them re: Did They Use The Fantasy Suites To Fuck Or What so she sent jake home separate from a rose ceremony.

in his limo exit interview jake looked stoically out the window and was pretty much like, sometimes it hurts worse to lose your dreams in a really understandable way, because you run out of arguments with the universe and start to wonder if you’re not meant to get what you want. etc etc etc.

so basically everyone fell in love w him at his hometown and he was a cute, unproblematic guy who had kelsie’s stamp of approval during the rest of the season + an appropriately bittersweet limo exit. public opinion soured a little bit on both kameron AND miles after their fantasy suite debacle because the world 'slut shaming' got tossed around, no one wanted robbie after seeing his family, and the rest of the guys were either blander than jake or actual scum who no one would root for.

so jake was the fan favorite to get named bachelor almost by default and really production’s only pick if they wanted a guy from this season. he didn't actually fall in love w kelsie but he liked her fine and the process did make him start thinking that he Wanted a big, serious, fall-in-love forever relationship.

jason was the producer assigned to jake, because nick in this universe is still a maple leafs prospect & jason himself still played hockey to a certain point before also stopping, so all the other producers was hoping they'd Bond. jason began to genuinely like jake as a person and was glad he made jason’s life relatively easy by not getting into any shit jason would need to dig into for the show. also, by not having any old racist tweets for the fans to unearth.

jason being so chill was part of the reason jake accepted the bachelor position — he trusted him to keep things chill again. & then the plot of the fic itself will Follow From There!

[longlistshort]

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum opened in 2023  in a new location in Palm Springs as part of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza. It consists of several exhibition areas that tell the story of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. These include an immersive digitally animated film in a theater at the entrance, scale replicas of the Indian Canyons, and videos, historical photographs and documents. The museum also includes several artifacts including those found during excavations for the plaza that are over 7,000 years old.

The museum also has a gallery for rotating exhibitions focused on traditional and contemporary Native American art. Currently on view is For a Love of His People, the black and white photography of Horace Poolaw.

From the museum–

Horace Poolaw (Kiowa, 1906-1984) was born during a time of great change for his people—one year before Oklahoma statehood and six years after the U.S. government approved an allotment policy that ended the reservation period. A rare American Indian photographer who documented Indian subjects, he began making a visual history in the mid-1920s and continued for the next 50 years.

Poolaw photographed his friends and family, and events important to them—weddings, funerals, parades, fishing, driving cars, going on dates, going to war, playing baseball. When he sold his photos at fairs and community events, he often stamped the reverse: “A Poolaw Photo, Pictures by an Indian, Horace M. Poolaw, Anadarko, Okla.” Not simply by “an Indian,” but by a Kiowa man strongly rooted in his multi-tribal community, Poolaw’s work celebrates his subjects’ place in American life and preserves an insider’s perspective on a world few outsiders are familiar with—the Native America of the Southern Plains during the mid-20th century.

Organized around the central theme of Poolaw as a man of his community and time, For a Love of His People is based on the Poolaw Photography Project, a research initiative established by Poolaw’s daughter, Linda, in 1989 at Stanford University and carried on by Native scholars Nancy Marie Mithlo (Chiricahua Apache) and Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For a Love of His People: The Photography of Horace Poolaw is organized by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibition was curated by Tom Jones (Ho-chunk) and Nancy Marie Mithlo (Chiricahua Apache).

[mastermindxsl]

Emerie Leigh Photography

Capturing Moments, Creating Memories: The Essence of Emerie Leigh Photography

In the heart of Southeastern Wisconsin lies a haven where moments are immortalized, emotions are frozen in time, and memories are crafted with care. Welcome to Emerie Leigh Photography, where every click of Milwaukee Photographer camera is a testament to the beauty of life's fleeting moments.

Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Milwaukee, Emerie Leigh Photography stands as a beacon of warmth, authenticity, and passion for the art of photography. Led by the visionary talent of Emerie DiGiovanni, a maestro behind the lens, this esteemed establishment caters to a diverse clientele seeking more than just photographs – they seek stories, emotions, and memories captured in the most enchanting manner possible.

At Emerie Leigh Photography, the ethos revolves around the belief that every individual, couple, or family has a unique story to tell, a distinct essence waiting to be unveiled through the lens. It's not merely about snapping pictures; it's about delving deep into the soul of the subject, unraveling layers of personality, and immortalizing moments that resonate with authenticity and charm.

Specializing in an array of photography services, Emerie Leigh Photography caters to the diverse needs of its clientele. Whether it's capturing the euphoria of weddings, the intimacy of elopements, or the joy of family gatherings, each frame speaks volumes about the dedication and craftsmanship infused into every shot.

Milwaukee Photographer, Wedding Photographer, Wisconsin Photographer, Elopement Photographer – these are not just keywords; they are the pillars upon which Emerie Leigh Photography stands tall. As a seasoned professional, Emerie DiGiovanni possesses a keen understanding of her craft, effortlessly blending technical expertise with a distinctive style that's warm, earthy, and utterly captivating.

What sets Emerie Leigh Photography apart is not just the impeccable quality of the photographs but the experience itself. Every session is meticulously planned to ensure that clients feel comfortable, relaxed, and most importantly, themselves. It's about creating an environment where genuine smiles, heartfelt laughter, and unfiltered emotions take center stage, resulting in photographs that exude warmth, authenticity, and timeless beauty.

But beyond the artistry lies a deeper philosophy – a commitment to celebrating the essence of human connection. Through her lens, Emerie captures not just moments but the raw emotions that define them – the love shared between partners, the bond between families, and the joy of celebrating life's milestones.

What makes Emerie Leigh Photography the best choice for discerning clients? It's not just the stunning photographs or the professional expertise; it's the passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to turning fleeting moments into everlasting memories. It's about preserving the essence of life's most precious moments in a way that transcends time, allowing clients to relive those cherished memories with every glance at their photographs.

So, whether you're planning a wedding, embarking on a new chapter as a couple, or simply want to capture the beauty of everyday life, trust Emerie Leigh Photography to transform your vision into reality. With Emerie Wedding Photographer behind the lens, every moment becomes a masterpiece, every photograph a cherished memory, and every client a lifelong friend.

Experience the magic of Emerie Leigh Photography – where moments come to life, memories are etched in eternity, and the beauty of human connection is celebrated with every click of the camera.

[xoashdurham]

My Interview on the Be Brave With Emma B Podcast

I recently was interviewed on the the Be Brave with Emma B podcast, chatting all about my bravest moment & the life lessons that followed!

I first met Emma when I was her wedding photographer, and since then, we have become very good friends. When I was out in Wisconsin to photograph a wedding this past October, she and I met up for coffee and girl time. During our coffee morning, she filled me in on a little secret: Emma was starting a podcast! Her concept was all about talking about the bravest thing you’ve ever done, and she…

[amberfaber40]

Nashville Baby Photographer | Welcome Lucy! - Family Films & Photos

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Lucy arrived into the world smiling, Im sure. She was so sweet and smiley! She and her sister are already bonding. The entire family was just so in love with the new baby girl. Lifestyle shoots allow me to capture memories, pure moments, raw emotion. And I am falling in love with film and videography […]

Sydney Newborn Photographer - Lifestyle in home

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Wisconsin Home Newborn Lifestyle Portraits || Wheaton and Greater Chicago Senior and Family Portrait Photographer

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BKLP ~ Maryland Lifestyle Photographer-Newborn-Branding & SEO « Baltimore, Harford in-home lifestyle newborn photographer

A relaxed in-home newborn session using the rooms with the best lighting. Breanna will make you feel comfortable in front of the camera from start to finish. She lives in Harford County and travels to Baltimore, Pennsylvania + Delaware .

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Portrait and wedding photographer based in North Texas, available for travel anywhere in the world! We create genuine imagery inspired by vibrant love.

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Remy's At-Home Newborn Photos | Family Portrait | Hunter Premo

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New Parents with their Newborn - Tressa Wixom Photography

These photos make me smile every time I look at them. It’s the combination of Jordan and Katie being some of the kindest friends I have, plus I was able to photograph this baby boy Smith being born. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for every child I see born, it’s such […]

Bay Area Newborn Lifestyle Photography — Bay Area Family Photographer

These Newborn Lifestyle photos were photographed at home, with a five week old baby and toddler. Mama wore a postpartum-friendly beautiful soft wrap dress that's available in my client closet to borrow. Newborn lifestyle photos are laid back, organic, and authentic to this stage of life.

Newborn Photography Lifestyle Studio Session

As a newborn photographer, my goal is to provide an experience that is not only stress-free, but filled with Bright & Joyful Newborn Photography. We achieve this in a beautiful studio flooded with natural light.

In Home Newborn Session, Montana Newborn Photographer

Jessica Byrum is a professional photographer based in Billings, Montana. Specializing in the un-posed, capturing the chaos, and shooting for all of the moments in between. Offering family, maternity, and lifestyle newborn photography in Billings and available for travel.

Aliza | Lifestyle Newborn Photography | Medina, Ohio

We offer a wide variety of photography services including engagement, family, engagement, senior, newborn and maternity sessions! Get in touch with us today!

Baby Miles | Newborn Photography

Newborn Lifestyle Photography Session Is it too soon to say that 2020 has been one crazy year? Earlier this year, due to the pandemic, I rescheduled all of my in-home newborn sessions to the outdoors. The one thing I missed the most this year was going into my clients

WILDER | LIFESTYLE NEWBORN - Rachel Pourchier Photography

Wilder, your name lives up to your beauty. I mean I should have know with two beautiful parents they would make such a pretty baby. I love continuing my relationship with my clients when they invite me into their home to photograph their brand new baby. I love these newborn baby lifestyle session because of simply all the details. Any parent will tell you how they want to remember the little tiny baby toes and fingers and newborn hair. How Dad was able to hold his baby girl in his big strong hands and she was perfectly sleeping in them on his chest. The close up details are almost always my favorite images. I love the mystery it keeps for the viewer to finish the photo with their own mind. I could go on forever with these new baby details but I will let you see for yourself. Enjoy baby Wilder!!

Lucy arrived into the world smiling, Im sure. She was so sweet and smiley! She and her sister are already bonding. The entire family was just so in love with the new baby girl. Lifestyle shoots allow me to capture memories, pure moments, raw emotion. And I am falling in love with film and videography too – because what better way to capture emotion! Please enjoy Lucy’s video and sneak peek!   Warmly,

[oldmke]

There are several stories as to why Elizabeth Plankinton chose never to live in this ornate mansion now occupied by the Knights of Columbus. The stone home was built around 1890 by her father, John, millionaire pioneer in the meat packing industry, reportedly as a wedding present. Miss Plankinton's fiance was Richard Hamilton Park, whom she hired to execute the bronze monument of George Washington that still stands in front of the Central Library. The wedding never took place and Miss Plankinton consequently lost interest in the new home. It was purchased in 1896 by Mrs. Margaret Johnston, and sold to the Knights of Columbus in 1910. Later, the organization had the address on W. Grand Ave. (later Wisconsin Ave.) changed from 1432 to a more appropriate and historically significant one, 1492. (Photograph courtesy of Harold Weinholz and information from the Milwaukee Public Library local history collection.)

[pinksprucephotography]

The First 3 Wedding Budget Decisions You will Need to Make

The First 3 Wedding Budget Decisions You will Need to Make

Your budget is one of the first things you will discuss when planning your wedding. Below are the first three wedding budget decisions you will need to make.  Once you have these three decisions made, you will then set and determine the overall budget for your entire wedding day. Wedding Budget Decision #1: Venue Your wedding location will play a leading role in the creation of your budget.…

[jemontgomery]

Save the Date Wedding Cards | Featured Wedding Vendor Basic Invite

Hello to ALLLLLL my lovely brides and grooms! Its that time of year again, wedding season is about to begin, proposals are just itching to be made. And boy oh boy do I have a vendor for you!… <3 <3 <3

I’ve teamed up with the lovely folks at Basic Invite to show case all their beautiful custom invitations, wedding website options and more! Tailored to your wedding needs, this company has some slam dunk items to make your day even that much more special. I would absolutely recommend creating a wedding website and printing out formal cards too. Creating a website, as well as sending out official “save the date” cards allows friends and family the time to plan ahead. Trust me, you’d be surprised how far in advance some people need to schedule their time off from work! If you want all your friends and family there for your big day, give them the leg up and get those details out there as soon as you can! **It doesn’t hurt to showcase all those details in an extremely gorgeous package either :D

I mean, just check out these color options. Basic Invite has all your save the date wedding card style needs, from sunflowers to peonies (my favorite flower <3), to all the colors of the rainbow...

And the cool thing abut this vendor? Not only do they provide the invitations, but you can also create your own wedding website ( I mean really, how convenient is that?). Free Wedding Websites - Our wedding websites are completely customizable! They're mobile friendly and super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details, along with images, and a convenient map with directions for your guests. Choose from 180 custom colors, and a design suite to match your wedding invitations!

Almost Unlimited Colors - Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. You can change the color of each element on a card, with over 180 different color options. The card can be exactly how you want it, down to the littlest detail. This is what sets us apart from any other online stationery company and is our biggest draw.

Custom Samples - Basic Invite allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their invitation so they can see the card’s paper quality and how it will print before they have to place their final order.

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes - We are just as colorful with our envelopes as we are with our invitations. Customers can choose from over 40 different envelope colors so that they can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All of our envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be closed quickly and easily. 

Over 900 Wedding Invitation Sets - Each of our wedding invitations is part of a set. We have all the wedding stationery you need, like save the dates, wedding invitations, enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs, and even matching thank you cards!

Free Address Collection Service - Use our free address collection service to request your addresses with just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing.

Seal & Send Wedding Invitations - Our seal and send wedding invitations are an all-in-one wedding invitation with a tear-off RSVP postcard included! The Seal & Send is our newest collection and brides and LOVING them. Currently, we offer them in over 30 designs including our ever-popular foil options, and, like our other products, they are customizable. What's special about our Seal & Sends is that guest's addresses are printed on the front of each invitation so no envelope is necessary! All you have to do is share a link, collect guest addresses, and upload them onto your design. Once you receive your order all you have to do is add postage, fold your invites, and secure them with a sticker! Simple and easy. Check out all the options on their user friendly wedding website.

Happy planning !! Basic Invite social links: Social Media Links: @basicinvite

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[louiephotographysblog]

Gender reveal & Surprise purposal 💍💙

What a wonder event it was ! Congratulations to the beautiful Haberling couple 💙, also there having another boy !! Congratulations again 💙 much love !

[centralwiscophoto]

Married in a pandemic November 2020

Canon T7i

Rhealism

[onlydreamofmysoul]

Speak Now

This.... was supposed to be short. But then it spiralled. I hope you guys like it! Characters and their world by @lumosinlove

Julian

“Re?”

Julian’s voice was quiet, but his brother heard him anyway. Remus always heard him. Sitting out on the porch under the starlight, just like they used to do when Julian was very small and Remus would let him sneak out of his room after their parents put him to bed. They would sit on the porch swing under a pile of blankets, usually with a mug of hot chocolate and just hang out. Sometimes they were quiet. Sometimes they laughed at jokes, but no matter what they were doing, Jules treasured every memory. 

It was fitting this was how he was spending the night before his wedding. 

“Yeah?” Remus half hummed, tilting his head, tearing his eyes away from the stars to his brother. 

“Were you scared? The night before your wedding?”

Remus smiled softly, cupping his mug. “I was a hell of a lot of things before my wedding. Nervous? Sure. But not scared.”

Julian nodded, the heavy knot in his chest twisting. Maybe he really was making a mistake. 

Then 

“Hi, I’m Katie.”

Julian grinned and shook her hand. “I’m Julian, but you can call me Jules if you want.”

Katie nodded, a funny little business -like movement as she stood in her fairy costume, wings poking over her shoulders. “We’re all playing downstairs, wanna come?”

Julian nodded eagerly, pulling away from Remus and his parents and rushing down to the basement. His feet halted when he reached the bottom, his eyes wider than dinner plates.

“Woah,” He breathed. “You have a rink in your house!”

Katie nodded, giggling. “Oui. Jouez-vous au hockey?”

Jules blinked, looking at her in confusion. “Oh, I uh, I don’t speak French, sorry.” He said as his face flushed a little but Katie just grabbed his hand and pulled him over to a wall of skates.

“That’s okay. Do you play hockey?”

Now this, Jules understood. 

“Yes!” He said, bouncing on his toes in anticipation, noticing all the other kids playing on the ice and realising that he might get to as well. 

Katie looked pleased as she pulled a small pair of white skates and took off her shoes. “My brothers have lots of skates, you should look and see if there’s some in your size.”

Julian went to them immediately, looking at them in awe, all of them far more elegant and expensive than any he had ever owned. He found a pair in his size and pulled them out gingerly, even though they looked well worn. 

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to borrow them?” He confirmed with Katie, even as he pulled off his shoes. Katie just nodded impatiently, having already laced up. 

“Oui, it’s okay I promise. Now come on! I wanna go skate!”

“You can go,” Jules said, rushing to tie them up, “I’ll catch up.”

Katie looked at him like he was crazy. “Don’t be silly.” She said, reaching a hand out to take his. “We can go together. Come on.”

Julian finished tying his skates, stood up and took Katie’s hand. Together, they stepped onto the ice. 

Now

“Are you scared?” Remus asked, his concerned voice cutting through Julian’s thoughts. “Because it’s not too late you know.”

“No, no it’s fine.” Julian said, hoping it sounded reassuring to Remus. It didn’t to his own ears. “Just nervous I suppose, but you said that’s normal.”

Remus tilted his head the way he did when Julian would pretend he hadn’t eaten the last chocolate bar, even with the evidence all over his face. 

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Julian sighed, resting his head on his brother's shoulder, hearing the heartbeat that used to rock him to sleep. 

“Yeah, yeah I know.”

Then

“Hey Katie.” Jules said, still a little shy but glad to see a friendly face in the locker room. 

“Jules!” She beamed, bouncing over in her ‘Dumais’ jersey. “Whose number did you wear today?”

Jules flushed as he lifted up his number six shirt to reveal the number twelve underneath. “Both.”

Katie nodded, impressed. “Cool. Hey wanna go get some snacks?”

Jules didn’t even respond, just told his mom where he was going and raced her down the corridor to the kitchen, running past the rows and rows of framed photographs and dodging photographers and reporters. 

“Ha! I win!” He yelled as they burst through the door to the kitchen, racing through the doorway at the same time. If they had been a little bigger, they might have gotten stuck in the frame.

“Nah ah!” Katie protested, “It was a tie.”

“My foot went in first”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“Yes I do.”

“No you don’t.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Whoever wins the race back to the locker room is the actual winner.” Katie proposed and Jules nodded, satisfied. 

He climbed onto the counter to reach the high cupboards, only to discover the cabinet stocked with mugs and glasses. 

“Over here,” Katie said, giggling as she opened the fridge, scanning for something good. “Ooh, chocolate!”

Jules jumped down and went to her side. “Can we just take it?”

Katie nodded. “Oui. Plus, they’re not supposed to eat chocolate, so we’re doing them a favour by taking it away.”

Julian donned a matching smirk. “Katie, I like the way you think.”

Now

“Oh here you are!” Sirius half-whispered as he poked his head out the front door. “I’ve been looking for you two everywhere.”

Remus pulled back a corner of the blanket and patted the bench beside him. “Wanna join us?”

Sirius looked to check with Jules first, before nodding and sliding in next to Remus. Julian had long since overcome his starry-eyed obsession with Sirius-the-hockey-god but he’d never be over the love for Sirius-his-brother-in-law. Sirius who had come to all of Julian’s big games. Sirius who tended to be awake whenever Julian couldn’t sleep, so he would wordlessly take him out for midnight drives. Sirius who had later taught Julian to drive in that same car Julian accidentally crashed one icy morning. His brother in law hadn’t even gotten mad, not for a second. Julian had personally seen one of his friend’s parents red with anger after spotting a scratch in the paint, but Sirius hadn’t even blinked at the massive pole shaped dent in the hood of his car, just run to make sure Julian was alright. 

“Sirius?” Jules asked into the soft silence. Sirius just hummed in response. 

“Were you scared? When you were getting married.”

Sirius seemed to still for a moment, a gentle breeze rustling his curls as he thought. “Non.”

Remus’ chin ducked towards his chest, his eyes flitting to Sirius. “Really?”

Sirius scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Well, I was scared for sure, but I was scared of messing it up, or that my family would make a surprise appearance at the reception or that we’d lose the rings. But I was never scared of a life with Re.”

Remus laughed softly. “We did lose the rings.”

“Oui. But it didn’t even matter, it all worked out, ouais? So really I had nothing to worry about.”

Julian and Sirius chuckled too, all three of them remembering back. Julian had nearly forgotten about that - surprising since it had been partially his fault. His and Katie’s. They had become inseparable by then and the two of them together had gained the name ‘JK Chaos’. 

Then 

“Come on, let’s see what’s in here!” A nine year old Katie whispered to an eleven year old Jules as they crept through the country house that was being used as the staging house for Remus and Sirius' outdoor wedding. 

Katie rattled the brass door handle, but it was locked. “Do you have a key?”

Julian gave her an incredulous look. “I don’t have a key to my own room, why would I have a key for here?”

Katie shrugged, her dress swishing gently, the bluebell shade bright against her skin. “I dunno - groomsman duties?”

Julian laughed but shook his head. They walked down the corridor a few paces, stopping at the window that overlooked where the ceremony would take place. Chairs bedecked the grass, all turned to face the focal point - the beautiful ivy arch, bedecked in flowers. Everything was immaculate, untouched. Any guests staying in the country house were still getting ready and the rest had yet to arrive. Jules lifted on his toes to see a little further out the window, but a tall sturdy tree to the right blacked his view. 

He turned so quickly he nearly got whiplash, grabbing Katie’s wrist unconsciously. 

“Look! A tree!”

Katie raised her eyebrows at him. “Jules, I’m pretty sure they have trees in Wisconsin too.”

Julian shook his head, too excited to even roll his eyes. “No, look where that tree is! If the window to the locked room is open…”

Katie’s eyes lit up, her mischievous grin returning.  “We might be able to get in.” She breathed. “Jules, you genius.” She grabbed his hand and began rushing down the corridor. “Let’s go!”

“Is it open?” Julian called, a couple of branches below Katie. 

“Un moment.” She muttered and he smiled, knowing she was concentrating too much to even have listened to him, never mind switch to a language he actually understood. She paused and grabbed the silky top layer of her dress, gathering and tying it in a knot around her waist, leaving the white underskirt hanging. “Allors,” She said, sounding much more satisfied. She climbed onto the branch that extended towards the window and shuffled along it, craning her neck. 

“It’s open!”

Jules let out a whoop of victory and climbed the rest of the way, careful not to stain his suit as she slid her fingers into the small gap, prying the window open so they could both clamber in. The room was unimpressively empty. Lovey, like all the other rooms, perhaps a living room if the several couches were to be trusted. A wall of shelves boasted an impressive amount of books and everything seemed to be edged with gold. Other than that though - Julian couldn’t see any reason why the room should be barred. 

“A mystery.” Katie said as she trailed her hand along a bookshelf. Julian agreed with her as he sat down on one of the luxurious chairs, a little side table with a lamp on his left. 

“What’s this?” He voiced as he picked up the little black box that had been resting in the light streaming in from the window. Katie wandered over to peer at it as he opened it carefully to find two gold rings resting inside. 

“Oh.” Jules whispered, finally understanding. “That’s why it’s locked.”

They both picked up a ring, looking at them curiously. The metal glinted in the light and Jules angled the one in his hands to read the inscription. 

“Mon voeu.” He muttered. “What’s mon voeu?”

“How would I know what you wish for?” Katie retorted, before she read the engraving on her own. “Oh right I see. ‘My wish’.”

“Oh.” Jules repeated. “That’s really nice.”

Footsteps and voices came from down the corridor and Julian and Katie froze. 

“Did you see the cake?” 

“It’s literally all I’ve been thinking about since the tasting.”

Julian met Katie’s eyes, both of them hardly breathing as they listened carefully. Lily and James. 

“The tasting was months ago!”

“So you can guess I’m pretty excited about it.” Lily chuckled. “Do you have the key?”

Julian rushed to put the box back on the table and he and Katie half flew in their rush to get back out the window. Katie went first, Julian close on her heels as they scrambled down the tree. 

“Where did they say they left it?”

“On the side table with the lamp.”

“Oh I’ve got it, come on, let’s get back.”

Julian let out a sigh of relief while Katie looked at him in horror. 

“Jules…” She whispered as she pulled a gold ring out her pocket. “We have a problem.”

Julian felt his heart speed up as he pulled out the matching ring. They had been in too much of a rush to put them back. 

“We are gonna get in so much trouble.”

Now

“You were so scared.” Remus laughed, tears forming in his eyes, matching ones already wetting Julian’s cheeks as he lost himself in the memory. It was true - to this day, Julian remembered the way their hands trembled and they stuttered through the explanations, but in the end, no one had cared. It became a funny story to tell at the reception. 

“You laugh, but we dropped them in the grass on the way to bring them back and it took us so long to find them again, we were seriously trying to come up with something to replace them with.”

They burst into a new round of laughter, Hope coming outside at the racket. 

“Boys!” She scolded as if they were all little kids. “You should be in bed - it’s a big day tomorrow.” Despite her commanding tone, her eyes were soft. Time was a fickle friend to all but Hope Lupin, who looked just as lovely today as she did twenty years ago. And perhaps even twenty years before that. 

“We’ll be in soon.” Sirius promised and she nodded satisfied, vanishing indoors again.

“Suck-up.” Julian teased, elbowing Sirius. “Always wants to be the favourite.”

“I think he is the favourite.” Remus grumbled. “You’re the youngest Jules, so you’ve got that going for you. I, however, have been replaced.”

Sirius chuckled, a low sound from his chest and curled an arm around Remus. “You can be my favourite.”

“You can’t cook like she does.” Remus lamented dramatically, but grinned to show he wasn’t serious before kissing Sirius’ cheek. 

“We probably should get to bed though. Especially you Jules, you need all that beauty sleep you can get.”

“Hey!”

Then 

Hey Jules! 

You got a phone! 

Yup! JK Chaos can finally go viral! 

Thirteen year old Julian chuckled as he sat in the passenger seat of the car on the way to practice. 

Sirius says hi. Katie texted and Julian sent a picture of him waving in response before tucking his phone into his bag and climbing out of the car. 

“Thanks mom!” He half yelled as he closed the door and ran inside to the rink, waving at his friends. 

“Hi Julian.”

Julian turned to see one of the members of the girls team - Anna. They were the same age group and the two teams often had to share the ice if the rink was busy. 

“Oh hey Anna, how’re you?”

She grinned, her light hair tumbling around her face until she scraped it back into a ponytail as she chatted to him. Julian was never sure how girls managed to tie their hair back so quickly with so little effort but it was pretty cool. He wondered if maybe he should learn so he could do Katie’s sometime.

“I’m good! I’d better run though, I’m late for practice.” 

Jules nodded and with that, Anna was gone. He blinked and continued his way to his own locker where many of his own team were already gathered. 

“Hey guys!” He grinned, and just like that, his head was back in the game. 

Now

Julian stared up at the ceiling of his childhood bedroom. The glow in the dark stars were still there, although their glow was very faint now. Not that Julian needed their light to guide him, he had looked at those stars all his life, he could map them out better than a sailor. 

He was getting married tomorrow. 

And so, he did as he so very often did. He texted Katie. 

Then 

The Christmas party was loud and busy, people seemingly in every nook and cranny in the house. Julian looked around for Katie, he had been here for at least an hour but he had only seen glimpses of the other girl and she had always been busy, whether it was helping Celeste put out food or chatting to others and once even putting out a minor fire she had certainly not caused by tipping over a candle  but so far, she hadn’t been able to talk to Julian. 

Julian finally caught her eye and they managed to slip away going out to the garden, past the pool and down to the swing hidden by a great big tree where they had always plotted and planned. 

“We need a code word.” Katie said by way of greeting. “So we can say it and the other knows we need to talk, just us.”

Julian agreed. He couldn’t believe it had taken this long to think of something like that. At fifteen, he and Katie had been best friends for at least six years now. 

“What should our code word be?”

Katie shrugged, sitting on the swing and rocking back and forth gently. “Pancakes?”

Julian laughed, but he nodded. “Yeah that works.”

Katie grinned, but her face quickly became more serious. 

“Hey Jules?” She asked, her voice softer than he had heard it in a long time. 

“Yeah?” His tone matched hers, but he didn’t know why. He hadn’t planned it. 

“Have you ever kissed anyone?”

Julian froze, his heart stuttering. In the moonlight, Katie’s hair glowed, silver catching on the dark strands braided back, her jeans and jumper not suitable for the weather, nor were Julian’s own but they hadn't planned on coming out here for long. “No.” He whispered. 

Katie nodded. “Yeah, me neither.”

She stood up, shivering a little. “Come on, we should get back inside.”

Julian could only blink, but made to follow her. “Yeah okay.” He followed, taking a few quick steps to catch up with her when Katie turned quickly and they collided. 

Katie reached out and steadied herself with Julian’s shoulder before surging forward and pressing their lips together. Julian stayed frozen where he was, her lips warm against the cold night. 

Katie pulled away and stepped back, nodding to herself. “I just wanted to know what it’d be like.” She explained and then launched into a description of what new drills her hockey team were learning. It was funny, everything was different, but nothing had changed. 

Julian thought about the things they were learning in science, all the calculations. How there always needed to be a constant. 

He thought maybe Katie was his constant. 

Now

You up? 

Is this a booty call? Cause I gotta say, it seems like inappropriate timing.

Julian laughed, then covered his mouth, hoping he hadn’t woken anyone. Katie’s quick wit had never once failed to amaze him. 

Darn, there goes my plans 

Why are you still up?

I just can’t sleep

So you’re texting me?

Who else?

Then 

Julian got his first girlfriend at seventeen. 

Anna was lovely and bright and sweet. They had been dating for around six months already when she finally met Katie, the Dumais girl arriving in Wisconsin for a weekend visit. 

Julian didn’t know why he had been nervous - they both got on really well. He had had no indicators to suggest otherwise and yet the entire week leading to their meeting, his head had been full of anxious ‘what ifs’. Not to mention the knot in his chest. 

But there was no reason to be nervous… right? He just felt like this because Katie was his very best friend. He wanted them to get along. Yeah, that was it. 

“I like her.” Katie commented as Anna left the Lupin house. 

“Yeah, me too.” Julian said automatically, laughing when Katie elbowed his side. 

“Well duh. That’s why you asked her out.”

Julian shrugged as they walked back inside waving to his dad who was on the phone in the kitchen. “Actually it was the other way around.”

Katie barked a laugh as she threw herself on Julian’s bed, tucking her arms behind her head, lounging as if she owned the place. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.” Julian said as he lay down next to her, staring up at his stars. 

Katie was the one to shrug this time, shifting with the movement. “Neither. It’s just an observation I suppose.”

“And what would that observation be exactly?”

Katie tilted her head to look at him. “You’re careful. Not with other stuff, mon dieu, we all know you’re a reckless idiot on the ice but with this kind of stuff. You’re gentle I guess.”

Julian smiled, that warm rush of feeling known to your core washing over him. “And you’re the exact opposite.”

Katie grinned, some of her dark curls coming loose. “But of course! JK Chaos wouldn’t be balanced if I wasn’t.”

Julian smiled, holding out his hand and they performed their super secret, super complicated, super cool handshake. Katie had named it when she was ten and it had stuck. 

“Well we need balance.” Julian agreed and Katie nodded, blue eyes meeting his for a moment before she turned away, biting her lip. 

“Ouais.”

Now 

Julian looked at the words on the screen, his heart clenching. 

So you’re texting me?

Who else?

Your soon to be wife for one

Julian didn’t know what to do. He felt like Katie was the only one who could help him figure this out, but Katie was the last person he should ask. 

Ha ha. He said, because even that was better than the turmoil inside him. Guess I’m just nervous. 

Why?

Why am I nervous? Cause I’m getting married. I know I call you Katie Kat but I sure hope that brain isn’t made of chocolate.

We should get you up on a stage. Katie responded and Julian snorted,  practically hearing her sarcasm even as he lay alone. 

But what do you have to be worried about?

Um.., How about the terrifying concept of making the wrong decision?

Katie was quiet for a long time. Julian thought maybe she had fallen asleep when a reply finally came through. 

Do you think you’re making the wrong choice?

Julian paused. Was he?

I don’t think so?

Do you love her?

Yes. Julian wrote back, even as something thundered in his chest. 

Well then, you have your answer I guess. Katie responded.  I’d better get to sleep. 

 Jules held his phone close to his chest. 

Yeah, me too. Night Katie Kat

Then 

“Do you love her?” Katie asked out of nowhere as they passed the puck back and forth in her basement. 

“We’ve been dating for two years.” Julian replied, sending the puck back to her harder than he meant. From her raised eyebrows he knew she had noticed, but she didn’t comment. 

“That’s not what I asked.”

Julian shrugged, taking the puck and dragging it around the goal. 

“I guess? How do you ever really know you’re in love.”

Katie raised her chin, blue meeting brown as their eyes focused on each other. Julian could have sworn she was staring at his soul. 

“I suppose it’s something you just know.” Katie said. “My maman and papa are in love. And Re and Sirius. Leo, Logan and Finn. Your parents. They all seem to know pretty well.”

“Yeah.” Julian whispered, his mind reeling. Remus and Sirius were his role models for just about everything, including the love he wanted to have. Was that what he shared with Anna? How had they known? How would Julian know?

Now

Then Jules crept into Remus’ room once more. 

“Re?” He whispered into the dark. The light from the hall dimly lit the room and Remus stirred, Sirius sleeping soundly next to him.

“Jules?” Remus whispered, even as he threw back the covers to climb out of bed, tiptoeing so he wouldn’t wake Sirius and following Julian back to his room. “Hey Jules, what’s up?”

Remus climbed onto the bed with him, just like he used to do when Julian was small and had a nightmare. 

“How do I know for sure?”

Remus didn’t have to ask what he meant. “I guess you never do. You just have to trust that you love someone and they return that same love back to you.”

But what wasn’t quite what Julian meant. He didn’t doubt that Anna loved him. He was just never sure if he loved her the same. 

He thought he must. Julian was twenty six years old, they’d been dating for nearly ten years. Although sometimes… just sometimes Julian thought that was maybe why he had proposed. Because that’s what everyone expected from them, particularly as they had been together for so long. It was the logical next step. 

“Right, yeah.” Julian muttered. “That makes sense I guess.”

Remus held out his arm and Julian hugged him tight. 

“I can hear you mind whirring.” Remus murmured, but Julian just tucked his face into his brother's chest. “It’s not too late Jules.”

Tears burned Julian’s eyes but he refused to let them fall. It was too late, it was all too late. He was on the ice and he could see the collision coming but there was nothing he could do to stop it. 

A song he had heard a long time ago rang through Julian’s head, one line playing over and over again on loop. 

And I asked my friend, what’s a fella to do? Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue.

So Julian held his big brother close, and fell asleep. 

Katie

Now

“I still can’t believe it.” Marc laughed as they ate breakfast at the hotel, his plate piled with food from the buffet. “Little Julian getting married.”

“Yeah.” Katie agreed, taking a big drink from her coffee. “Neither can I.”

Marc continued eating, oblivious to the storm raging inside Katie’s heart. “Why aren’t you best man?”

Katie raised an eyebrow. “Well for one, I’m not a man.”

Marc rolled his eyes, pausing to take a sip of orange juice before shovelling another forkful into his mouth. “Y’know wha- I mean.”

Katie covered her face with her hands. “Okay ew, first of all don’t talk with your mouth full. You’re not five. And second of all, Remus is his best man.”

Marc tilted his head, accepting the answer and Katie could have sighed in relief. She was already tense enough, two people had already come up to her for a picture and at least three had ‘discreetly’ photographed her as she just tried to have her breakfast. She hadn’t even showered yet so she was not looking forward to what the media would come up with later. 

Then 

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Katie grumbled to Adele as her sister finished pinning her hair. “Why am I doing this again?”

Adele didn’t miss a beat. “Because prom is fun, and even if it’s not, hanging out with your best friend in fancy clothes is always funny.”

Katie couldn’t argue with that. Sighing, she stood up and turned to Adele, her floor length gown comically out of place in her room cluttered with hockey sticks and signed pucks, helmets and polaroid's of her with her team. 

“How do I look?”

Adele beamed and kissed her cheek, being careful not to smudge Katie’s makeup. “Comme un ange.”

Katie rolled her eyes but smiled and began to leave her bedroom, hearing the doorbell ring. 

“Wait, shit I can’t go down now!” She said in a mild panic. “Jules is here, if I go now it’ll be like some dumb movie when the girl comes down the stairs as the guy just stares at her. It’s weird and awkward.”

Adele bit her lip as if she was trying to suppress a smile. “Okay, I’ll go and distract them and you can sneak down, ouais?”

Katie nodded gratefully. “Ouais. Merci.”

Katie waited in the upstairs corridor, hearing Adele lead her family into the kitchen. When the voices had dimmed a little, she gathered her skirts, her sneakers peeking out at her as she crept down the stairs. 

“Oh, wow.”

Katie whipped around to see Julian walking out from the bathroom, eyes wider than Katie had ever seen them. 

“I thought you were in the kitchen.” Katie groaned as she let her dress drop inelegantly around her legs once more. She looked him over, eyeing his blue suit with a careful eye. “You don’t look half bad.”

Julian laughed and took a step closer, holding his hand over his heart dramatically. “Wow Katie Kat, you sure know how to flatter a man.”

Katie raised a single eyebrow, a power play of there ever was one. “I mean, you’ve said nothing about how I look so really I think I have the upper hand here.”

Julian quirked his signature goofy smile before finally pulling Katie in for a hug. “You look incredible.”

Now

“Katie, ma cheri, es-tu prêt?”

Katie looked up from where she was rooting through her suitcase to see her mom, stunningly beautiful as always in a deep red dress. 

“I’m ready.” She cleared her throat, standing up straight. “You look amazing.”

Celeste waved her off with a flick of her wrist. “Oh non, look at you.”

Katie blushed, her forest green dress fluttering around her. “Merci.”

Celeste took a step forward, cupping Katie’s face in her hands. “You love him.”

Katie didn’t even have it in her to be surprised. Of course her mom knew. She felt tears well up in her eyes but tried her best not to let them fall - it had taken her long enough to do her makeup, she really didn’t want to have to do it again. 

“Oui.”

“Does he know?”

Katie shook her head sadly. “Of course not, he loves someone else.”

Celeste carefully wiped away the stray tear that had danced down Katie’s cheek. “Are you sure?”

Then 

“I think I have literally never seen it rain so hard.” Julian commented as the two of them stared out the car windshield as the rain poured around them. They faced the hotel where the dance was being held, but even stepping out of the car would have them soaked instantly. 

“See, this was a sign that I wasn’t supposed to come.” Katie commented, her tone dry. Julian side eyed her, not saying anything for a minute before he turned up the car radio. 

“I have an idea.” He said, opening the door and stepping out into the car park in the lashing rain. He ran to Katie’s side and opened the door, holding out his hand. 

“Come on! Come dance in the rain.”

If she had been Adele, she might have refused or protested. She might have even taken off her dress to protect it. 

But she was not Adele. 

So Katie took Julian’s hand, laughing at his curls, already flattened against his forehead and shut the door behind her, watching splotches of water darken her dress until she was fully saturated, tilting her head back into the sky. 

She opened her mouth, sticking out her tongue to catch the raindrops, Jules giggling as he followed suit, the two of them looking absolutely ridiculous and getting very strange looks from passer byers who had made use of the wonderful invention that was the umbrella, but they didn’t care. 

Katie connected her phone to the car speakers and pressed play to a song, grabbing both of Julian’s hands and spinning them in a fast circle, round and round until they fell together, laughing as hands slid over slippery skin and hair stuck to them better than any tattoo. 

And I don't know how it gets better than this

You take my hand and drag me head first

Fearless

And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress

Fearless

Now

Katie couldn’t help but think about that day lying on Julian’s bed. She had said he was careful and she was not. She was supposed to be his counterbalance. 

Katie had been too careful, she hadn’t been doing her job. 

“It’s not too late.” Her mom had whispered. 

Speak now or forever hold your peace. 

Heart thundering, Katie picked up her phone. Six hours until Julian’s wedding she pressed his contact and texted him one word. 

Pancakes.

Then 

Was it just Katie or did Julian seem nervous? Julian was never nervous with her. Maybe it was just the connection of the phone call, she should move to a place where her signal was stronger-

“Katie, I um.. I’m gonna ask Anna to marry me.”

Katie’s eyes snapped to his face. “Quoi?”

Julian swallowed, and Katie watched from miles away as he pulled out a ring. 

“Yeah, I figured it was time.”

“Romantic.” Katie teased as she tried to quell the feeling that she was going to throw up. This was not how it was supposed to go. It had taken her a long time to figure out her feelings for Julian, but at twenty four she had finally worked it out. And he was going to marry someone else. 

Now

“Hey Katie Kat.”

Katie smiled weakly, shoving her hands in her coat pocket to hide the trembling. She felt overdressed in her outfit for the wedding when Julian was still in jeans but that couldn’t be helped. Katie sat next to Jules on the Lupins’ porch swing, glad she was wearing makeup because maybe it would help hide her blush. 

“The weather’s really nice today, huh?” Jules prompted, but Katie just smiled, steeling herself. She couldn’t idly talk about the weather, she would lose her nerve. So she threw back her shoulders, raised her chin and-

“Julian, I love you.”

Julian frowned, taking her hand. “I know, I love you too Katie, what-”

Katie shook her head. “No, Jules, listen. I’m in love with you.”

Julian froze and Katie’s heart beat over a hundred times a minute. Or maybe it had stopped completely. Either way it certainly wasn’t doing what it should be and Katie’s hands shook and she bit her tongue to stop herself from blurting out more when Julian obviously needed to process things.

Julian stood up abrupt, taking his keys out of his pocket. “I have to go.” He said and took off, getting into his car and driving away. Katie sat frozen where she was, alone once more, lost in the place where she had always felt found. Julian drove away, the world spun around and Katie stayed right where she was. 

Then 

Katie opened the door to Sirius and Remus’ house with her key - she had been given one for when Julian had come to stay, so she could come and go as she pleased. 

“Salut, it’s me!” She called into the empty hallway as she dropped her bag and ventured in a little further. Sirius was in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee and he just smiled at her as he pulled out another mug. 

“Hey Katie, you here to get into some more JK Chaos?”

Katie chuckled and accepted the coffee with thanks, cupping it with both hands and holding it close to her face. “What else would I do?”

Sirius just smiled as Julian came into the room, wordlessly greeting Katie with their super secret, super complicated, super cool handshake.

“See you later!” Julian said to Sirius and Katie waved goodbye before they went out the door, getting into the car and driving away.

“What’re we doing today?” Katie asked as she drove. Julian shrugged in the passenger seat. 

“I don’t care, as long as I’m with you.”

Now

Someone was knocking on her hotel room. 

Katie had made her way back, she hadn’t even said goodbye to the Lupins - she didn’t think she could without crying. Instead she went home alone and straight to her room, knowing she couldn’t miss the wedding no matter how much she may want to. If she didn’t she knew that one day, she’d look back and wish she were in the pictures. Wish she was there for her best friend. So she was going to go and smile and be happy because she loved Jules and she could do this for him. 

There was another knock on the door and Katie rolled her eyes. “I’m coming, jeez calm down.” She muttered, the door handle cold on her skin as she opened the door. 

Julian was waiting on the other side. 

“I called off the wedding.”

If Katie had been holding anything, she would have dropped it. As it was, she took a step backwards, blinking. “What?”

“I called off the wedding.” Julian repeated, running his fingers through already very mussed hair. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’m a blind idiot, but I love you.”

Katie was beginning to wonder if any of this was real when Marc came up behind Jules, completely oblivious. 

“Hey Katie, did you get that text saying the wedding’s off? Weird, what’s that abou- Oh hey Jules.”

Katie turned to her brother. 

“Marc, I love you, but if you don’t leave right now I might have to kill you in your sleep tonight.”

“So that’s why the wedding’s off.” Marc commented before backing away, no doubt rushing off to tell everyone what he had seen. 

“Come in before anyone else sees.” Katie said as she took Julian’s hand, pulling him in and shutting the door. 

Julian’s hands were shaking. “Am I too late?” He whispered. “Please tell me I’m not too late.”

Katie smiled as she brushed a stray curl out of his eyes. “You’re right on time.”

And then she kissed him. 

Once upon a time, there had been a girl who kissed a boy in her back garden at midnight. She had been young and inexperienced but even then, she knew the kiss had been magical. 

Today, there was a girl who kissed a boy in a hotel room on what should have been his wedding day. She was still young, but much more experienced so she could now say with much more confidence that if their first kiss had been magical, this one was earth shattering. 

“I love you.” Julian whispered again and again between deep kisses that made Katie feel like her soul was bared. 

“Took you long enough.” Katie grumbled, but kissed him again, twining her fingers through his hair like she always dreamed she would. “I love you too.”

Soon

Katie blushed as she sat in a room, surrounded by both their families. Her dad kissed her on the cheek before handing her a drink and proposing a toast. 

“To JK Chaos,” Dumo said, his knowing smile nearly splitting his face. “For finally getting their shit together.”

Everyone cheered while Katie just laughed, lifting her hand to show off the engagement ring and tilting her head a little to give Julian a chaste kiss. He grinned down at her, hand resting delicately on her waist. 

He surveyed the crowded room for a moment, before ducking down a little to whisper in her ear; “Pancakes?”

Katie was pretty sure her eyes sparkled as she winked at him. “I’ll meet you outside in ten.”

The End.