August 9, 2020

Sounds like it was love at first sight…

“Dusty and I met through his sister at a mutual friend’s Bachelorette weekend. I hadn’t really gotten to know her yet, but she was continuously telling secrets to all my friends and I finally asked what in the world was going on. She bursted out with, “I have a brother that you need to meet!…Once we met, I quickly realized I wanted this country boy to be apart of my life, for the rest of my life!”

Their wedding day was a warm, bright, and sunny August afternoon. Both the wedding and the reception were held at the beautiful and rustic Loft at Keith Farms wedding venue in Ash Grove, MO. The bridesmaids wore dusty blue velvet dresses, and Madison’s bouquet was mostly white roses with baby’s breath and eucalyptus throughout.

As both a friend and photographer I have a few favorite moments that stuck with me from their big day…

First was that her younger brother, Hadden, was her officiant. No, he’s not a minister—but one day they were joking about him officiating her wedding and then he decided to go out and get ordained! I would say that’s pretty memorable!

Second was her first look with her dad. Man, those get me every time! I’m a “daddy’s girl” myself, so I easily get teary-eyed watching these fathers lovingly (and usually tearfully) look at their daughters. Every time I would go to edit those photos where she is hugging him, eyes full of tears, I would tear up a little myself.

Both Madison and Dusty grew up on farms, and Dusty now has his own land. He raises cattle and works his land every day. He loves to farm. He loves his cattle. He loves Madison. And she loves being out there, walking the property right alongside him, dreaming of their future together. This past Spring he decided he couldn’t wait any longer and proposed to her while they were checking calves. A few months later we were standing in the same spot taking their engagement photos.

That leads to the third thing that I loved, and that was the unity part of the ceremony. For their unity ceremony they took dirt from each of their own family farms and poured them together, mixing the new dirt which represents their new life together—literally and figuratively!

I know 2020 has been crazy, and a lot of wedding plans had to be changed, sometimes repeatedly or even canceled. But Madison and Dusty pushed through the craziness and didn’t let it hold them back. When I asked Madison what she loved most about being married she responded,

“Being married to Dusty is a new adventure every day. There is never a dull moment and he truly knows how to make me smile no matter what my day looks like. I love his compassion for the farm, his family and our future. Being his wife is my biggest blessing!”

Congratulations to you both, and thank you for allowing me to be there to capture your day!