Lucy and AJ's wedding at the Arboretum at Flagstaff was the kind of magical forest summer wedding I love to photograph and be a part of. The day was at times calm and quiet, at other times full of laughter. It was the kind of wedding celebration that feels effortless. Nice!

One of the highlights of the day was definitely the "first look" moment between the couple. Before the wedding, the three of us talked about the benefits of a first look. It can definitely take away some of the pre-ceremony nerves. And in this case, it totally did just that. It was one of those moments you strive to capture as a photographer - the raw emotions and joy that can't be staged or replicated.

As a bonus, after the first look we took 15 minutes or so to walk around the property and make some rad portraits.

Everything felt relaxed and unpretentious. The guests were mingling, laughing, and having a great time throughout the day. Definitely comes through in the photos.

The Flagstaff Arboretum features a tented reception area. In this case the tent was strung with lights to its top. Super beautiful. After a family style meal and then a first dance, the dance floor erupted to the best iPhone playlist of all time. Non-stop dancing. Awesome party!

This forest summer wedding was fantastic to document. As a photographer, I love capturing wedding moments that tell a story full of real emotions. I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of AJ and Lucy's wedding day and to have the opportunity to create images they will treasure for a lifetime.