Intimate Backyard Wedding, Kyle & Ashton, Lowell IN

Ashton’s father’s speech is one that will stick with me for a long time. During the toast, he recalled when Kyle asked for Ashton’s hand in marriage. At the time, Kyle and Ashton’s dad were physically on a roller coaster, about to take off on the ride of their life. While recounting the memory, Ashton’s father teared up thinking about the irony of the situation. After all, sometimes love is like a roller coaster, a rolling stream of ups, downs, thrills and lulls. Especially, marriage.

In marriage, there are highs and there are lows. There are stages in life that are extremely high and thrilling. There are also stages in life that hurt, that are hard, that break you and change you. While the realities of life can break us down at times, the hopes and fulfillment of the highs are always worth it, as Ashton’s dad said. Especially when you have someone to share it with.

That sentiment resonated with me as a photographer and human who loves love, but also for everyone in the crowd. Ashton’s father’s speech filled the room with the kind of emotional warmth you could tangibly feel. And it reminded us all why we were there — to celebrate the magical, rare connection between two people who were about to embark on their own roller coaster adventure. Filled with all the inevitable ups and downs, highs and lows, surprises, hardships and unexpected surprises that life throws our way.

Photographing this wedding reminded me of that as well. That sentiment shined throughout the connection between Ashton and Kyle the entire day. I’m so excited to share my favorites from their wedding.