pennsylvania
in the misty morning fog with
our hearts a thumpin' and you
my brown eyed girlvan morrison | brown eyed girl
Sam and Emily.Oh Sam and Emily.Can I just say how FUN it is that my friends are falling in love and getting married?Finishing up school, starting their lives, and meeting their somebodies.
It's the best.
Sam and I have been loooooong time friends.Our mothers met when they were pregnant with us,and in summer 1989 we were both born.He was my first "friend" and he's been more like a local cousin to me.
When we finished highschool,Sam headed up north to further his education in a cold, "middle of nowhere" Michigan college called Hillsdale.
All of us teased him:"You KNOW you are going to go up there and meet a girl.Probably a stupid blonde.Hahahahah!"We all knew that was funny, because Sam is very smart.Very hard-working.Very quality.And definitely not shallow ;)
By summer 2009, Sam had indeed gone up there and met a girl.A girl named Emily.
On his summer break he brought her by for a quick trip in Maryland.We all loved her.And her homemade Strawberry Shortcake.And her sweet yet witty, gentle but firm personality.
And Sam was clearly taken with her ;)
They spent the summer writing letters,missing each other,and waiting for school to start again in the fall.
That whole year passed and their friendship grew,but you know how it goes...Sometimes guys need to take that big step from "boy" to "man"and sometimes that means hard decisions.
God had good plans for Sam and Emily,and part of that plan was a summer 2010 break-up.That was was filled with no letter writing,missing each other,waiting for school to start again in the fall,AND growing up.For both of them.
And God took care of the rest.
Shortly after returning to school,these two were inseparable.
Praise the Lord.Cause if Sam had let Emily go,I would have kicked him in the shins.
Emily, I'm so amazed at how perfectly hand-picked you are for Sam.He needs you - not in a fluffy, dumb way.But he really does.He needs your help, your character and your love.You're so wonderful for him.
And Sam,you have been a true friend for so long.You are trustworthy, kind and ambitious.I know Emily will be loved deeply for the rest of her life.
I'm so happy for you both.Beside myself kind of happy.
Their engagement shoot happened at Sam's childhood vacation lake up in the mountains.
His father proposed to his mother on the banks of the exact same lake years ago.His grandparents own a darling blue home right off the lake,where Sam has gone his whole life.
'It's one of those towns that has stood still.Everybody knows everybody.There aren't house numbers, just house names.There is no cell-phone service.It's perfect.
And out on the water,in this old beautiful boat,Sam asked Emily to marry him. 
Gotta hand it to you, mister, you did good ;)
And the best is yet to come.
Congratulations Sam + Emily!
i could be your state,and i could be your nation.
doesn't get better then home,
now does it?
home | she + him
MAYDAY MAYDAY.*I think this is my longest post... at least in a long time... if not ever.****But it's worth it to go slow.***Not because of me, but because of them,The Happiest Couple I've Ever Shot.There is a whole lot of story, sentiment and happiness.It gives me chills and makes me dream big about being in love.I present to you:Michael + Jocelyn + their wedding.
After driving through hilly and sunny Pennsylvania hills,I rolled through the gravel driveway,ran through a field (following the signs),and found a little red house,where Jocelyn was inside - just about to put on her custom light pink dress. 
She was also ready to put on her mother's veil,and pearl necklaces borrowed from various close friends and family. 
It was storybook quality.As I stood outside to take this shot I could hear Jocelyn and her three sistersgiggling, hollerin' and being girls inside the bedroom. 
The first time I met Jocelyn was at a friends birthday party less then a year ago.She was Mike's date.Who is Mike?
Mike is a brilliant and award-winning filmmaker and storyteller,part of the Vinegar Hill Creative team,and my bestie, Lydia Jane's, older brother. 
SoooOoo, at the particular summer party,Jocelyn was simply my best friends big brothers new girlfriend.Got that? 
But very, very quickly the sweet, funny, exciteable "Joce"(pronounced: "Jos")became a part of the Hartnett family.Like, ridiculously quickly.She fit in like she truly had been there forever. 
But before we get ahead of ourselves,we must learn about how the little lovies met.Remember how I mentioned Vinegar Hill Creative?Well, the other part of the team lives in Indiana, PA.Mike lived in Brookeville, MD.This meant lots and lots of skype, phone-calls, driving and... no good.Mike (and is business partner-best friend Dave) decided to have Mike come to PA for a bit.
Vinegar Hill was originally started by two crazy, dreamin' PA boys,Dave and Ian.I won't go into too much detail here,but you should check out Lydia's pictures of Ian's weddingand read his story.Absolutely amazing and breath-taking.But after a nearly fatal car accident,Ian wasn't able to participate in the company like he had in the past,so Mike joined the team. 
When he moved up to PA in summer 2010, he VERY quickly met little brunette Joce,and there was no turning back. 
Joce and her three sisters had actually gotten word about this "single video guy"moving to the area.Reminds me a bit of the Bennett sisters hearing about Mr. Bingley + Mr. Darcy for the first time."OH! Is he handsome?"
Jocelyn's family swears that the very first night they met,everyone knew it was "only a matter of time."Which turned out to be not very much at all ;)
Less then a year later, there was a wedding.And it couldn't have come sooner. 
Mike has always been an incredibly funny, "life of the party," original, kind guy.Knowing Lydia and her four-person family so well,we often talked about what it would be like when Mike got married.That girl would have to be some girl to fit into their random wonderful crew. 
God truly outdid Himself. 
Jocelyn is perfect for Mike.Mike is perfect for her.
I will never forget when I first saw them together at that picnic.Besides running around in fields, skipping around the pool,talking to each other in "voices," quoting quotes CONstantly,and just generally being giddy and laugh-y,they were con.nect.ted.at.the.hip.It was so easy to see how much they loved to be together. 
But sometimes a few weeks of that can get old.The new-ness wears off.People need their space.Totally normal.
Just not for Mike + Joce.If it was possible, they got closer, sweeter and more "gaaaaah-gaaaah"every following time I saw them.They were best friends, team-mates and absolutely in love.
When they got engaged I selfishly couldn't WAIT to see their wedding.Because I knew it was gonna rock socks. 
The hand-made "powder room," summer sports games in the lawn,and tissue paper flowers didn't dissapoint.But it was just the beginning of the day's Awesome Possum Ness.
Ceremony details were too fun to shoot... 
Oh! Hey! What's up hottie! What's up bestie! 
Loved their programs based off their invitations.Wonderful taste.
EeeeEEeeeee! MY FAVORITE PART.I just love right before the ceremony starts so much.Adrenaline rush.Especially when the venue looks like this?
Adorable woman. 
A lone cello filled the hot air,and it was time;time for the Happiest Couple I've Ever Shot to get married
Happy girl and happy dad. 
Happy Ian + Larissa with more happy but waaaaiting guests.
Happy Mike. 
Happy, happy, happy bride. 
Happy songs. 
Happy ceremony moments. 
Happy trees. 
"I joyfully vow with my whole heart to bring you the kind of love we know of and cherish from the Song of Solomon: a love through the power of Jesus Christ that is as strong as death. Jocelyn, I am your beloved, and you are mine."They wrote their own incredible vows. 
Happy (NOT RAINY) skies! 
Happy sister. 
Happy kisses! 
Happy husband and wife. 
Happy hugs.
Happy tears. 
Happy spontaneous ring-around-the-rosie-dancing. 
If you didn't think all that was happy, don't give up on them yet.It seriously gets better.If you thought that was oh-so-happy, wait for it.It seriously gets better. 
At this point in the show, Lydia took the "formal" shots of Mike + Jocelyn.But I had to sneak in a few ;) 
One of my faves from the day, for sure.So happy, right?! 
I feel like they auditioned for a role and got placed with the perfect match for the movie.But it's real life and so much better then anybody could cast. 
This is where the fairies live. 
And this is a very good place to kiss and hold hands. 
But!While Lydia shot I got to take lots of reception goodness.
Can I sit here every night for the rest of summer?Thanks.
(By the way, the music at their wedding? Out of control.) 
(By the way, the games at their wedding? Out of control.) 
(By the way, the retro handmade decor at their wedding? Out of control.) 
Mike was (is?) a major Lego fan,so at each table they had a bag of Lego's for guests to play with.So much fun!
Now, ladies and gentleman, the most amazing happiness.Brace yourselves.
First Dance Happy. 
Um, BEST ever... best best best couple alive. 
Dinner + music happy.
(Mike + Joce have REALLY talented friends and family who took turns performing live!) 
Happy bride! 
HAPPY DECORATIONS. 
Happy newest married couple and oldest married couple, together. 
Happy besties! 
Happy family! 
This right here was one of the highlights of the wedding for me.They just make everything - even the simplest things! - seem SO fun, funny and wonderful!I had to make this a big cake-feeding-series, it was just too precious.
Happy and talented and fabulous Andrew + Carissa :D Woot! 
Happy glowstick jumprope time...? 
Happy night clouds. 
Happy fireworks and pictures. 
Happy dancing bride, with her best friends, in firework smoke, on a summer night. 
Happy happy happy!
Happy lovers who really are still 3-and-a-half, I think. 
Happy night. 
Happy sparkles. 
Happy wedding. 
Amazing God.
Congratulations Mike + Joce.Your wedding was a "career" highlight of mine,and I couldn't be happier for you both.Seriously.I hope I'm like you two when I get married.
:D
