Wendy and Chris spent months creating the details that went into their wedding day, and it all came together perfectly. The ceremony was filled with the most delicious golden light just as the sun set over the beach, and afterward guests walked up through the grass to grab some cocktails and party down. The wedding and reception both took place at the Aruba Marriott Resort on Palm Beach, and it was truly one of the most gorgeous settings a couple (and a photographer) could ask for.

We stopped in at the hotel spa to catch up with Wendy while she got ready....

When I saw this circle pattern on the furniture, I just couldn't resist....

This was the view from Wendy & Chris's suite. Scrumptious.

We treated Savannah & Haven to their own private little portrait shoot....

And then I grabbed the "real" jewelry shot:

Meanwhile, the guys were chilling out with a Corona or two across the way....

Because the ceremony was at sunset, Wendy and Chris decided to meet beforehand to do a few shots together. I love when couples get together early because it allows them some time to relax a bit with each other and it give us a bit more time to get some extra amazing shots:

I love love LOVE this shot. I stole the idea from the man in the black socks who I spotted on the beach a few days earlier...I think the execution was the best part. It went a little something like this:

Me: Ooh! Why don't you guys go stand under that tiki hut over there?
Wendy & Chris: Okay....
Me: That's great! I'm just going to back up a little here...
Chris: Um...Can you even see me?
Me: Uh....no.
Chris: Oh. Should I move?
Me: Uh....no. I kind of like it with your head cut off. I actually did that on purpose.

At the start of the path to the ceremony, we found crazy coconut man. Ooooh was he excited when he saw my camera! He had the largest knife/spear I've ever seen and was tossing coconuts up in the air and slicing them as they came down, and yelling in about 3 different languages the whole time. Then he'd pop a straw down into the coconut and hand you your drink. It was a little scary and fabulous all at the same time. I highly recommend the coconut man.

On to the ceremony.....

Huge thanks to my sister Elisa who came out to second shoot and rocked out photo shoots all over Aruba with me! I'll post some shots from our adventures around the island next....

More to come soon....

Today is my birthday, and I'm all alone. Well, not ALL alone....I mean, Jed is around, and we'll go out tonight and celebrate.

But I FEEL all alone because my birthday buddy is not here to party down with me this year. That's right -- I have a birthday buddy. In a very happy coincidence, my pop-in-law Craig and I were both born on June 12th, and every year since I moved out to PA we share a cake and we blow out the Odie candle together. See? (this was us last year.)

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!*

But this year, he's out in California. And I have to celebrate by myself. And I was starting to get a little sad. And missing my birthday buddy.

And then I realized that I had done too much fun stuff this year to be sad on my birthday. I was a little nervous about turning 30 last year, but the truth is....it was an incredible year! I had the opportunity to do so many amazing things and go on way too many fantastic adventures....how could I not be excited about what else is to come?

So instead of being sad and pathetic and missing my birthday buddy (although I do still miss him, just a tiny bit), I decided that it would be way more fun to give you all a big laugh and share the behind the scenes shots on this past year.

This is the REAL story of my 30th year, and what I did when I wasn't behind the camera. Only 1 or 2 of these shots were taken with my pro camera, so be prepared for some grainy point & shoot fun.

Are you ready? Here goes. (deep breath....)

I spent some time hanging with Big Man (aka my nephew Liam).

Threw on the ol' wedding gear for a crazy shoot with my friend (the fabulous) Susan Stripling. (image by Susan, photoshop by me):

Took goofy pictures with clients.

Took goofy pictures with clients and my assistant at weddings.

Visited the fam in Massachusetts:

Resorted to kindergarten behavior at my parents' house:

Is it just me, or does everyone turn into a kid again when they go back to the house they grew up in?

Made goofy faces while I was supposed to be "gardening" with Jed.

Tried on sunglasses with my sisters-from-another-mother.

Played bridesmaid for a day at my sister-in-law Abbie's wedding (and picked up an excellent new brother-in-law, too!)

Walked down the aisle at Penn State...how appropriate!

Picked cherries on crazy cherry picking day in Ithaca.

Spent time with my sweaty beast...

And I still think he's cute, even like this.

Made new friends:

Made new friends AND wore a bathrobe on the beach.

Took my sister and the kiddos out on the boat.

Turned cranky Jed....

....into happy Jed:

Got too close to the camera at the race track.

Drank some vino with my dad in Germany

Spent some time looking dorky in Oberammergau:

Tested the dunkel bier in Germany

Hit Red Square in Moscow....

And the infamous Hofbrauhaus in Munich:

Here's why this is funny. I've got some gangsta arms for a girl, and I could barely lift this glass, let alone try to drink it. It was a process. I think it took me two hours to finish this one beer.

Still workin' on it...

Became king & queen for a day in Russia

Grabbed a shot with the Schneiderweisse cart as an ode to my old dog Schneider:

Found a much more reasonable glass in Munich:

Learned how to play the church bells in Russia.

Took goofy photos with my mom in Denmark:

Took goofy photos with my uncle in Denmark.

Celebrated my dad's aunt's 85th birthday at Tivoli (the best amusement park ever!) in Copenhagen.

Ate ice cream at the beach in Denmark with my cousins:

Dragged our Christmas tree through the woods.

Hugged my horse on his birthday:

And gave him a big smacker, too!

AND took ridiculous self-portraits with my sister in Aruba while we were out for a shoot.

So that's my story! Thanks to everyone who made it so much fun. Here's one last shot especially for all of you fabulous folks:

Happy birthday once more to my birthday buddy!!!!
Please leave us a comment and make our day even better!

Exhibit A: the Sadie

Exhibit B: the Hayden

Exhibit C: the Sadie & Hayden duo

Exhibit D: Sadie voices her discontent with the evil picture taking machine/chew toy

Exhibit E: Yum.

This is the story of one very creative little girl on a rainy morning, and her empty box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Well....I guess that WAS the whole story.

And these were the results:

The end.