Jacob + Nicki | Married

Nicki and Jacob chose to get married on the most beautiful, breezy afternoon in March. On a day that was predicted to rain, we truly lucked out with such clear and dramatic skies! Some of my most-favorite details from this wedding were actually the things that Nicki had been fortuitous enough to plan ahead in case the weather hadn’t played so nice. Her adorable jean jacket, for instance- what a GREAT idea for all future March brides to consider to ensure they aren’t shivering when the sun goes down. Not only that, but Nicki rented a clear, covered tent for the backyard as another major way to ensure the weather wouldn’t impede on our plans. While neither of these things ended up having to “save the day”, they were both items we still ended up using and LOVING that we had on the day-of. 10/10 recommend you write this down if you’re planning a Springtime wedding of your own.

The Herberts did a wonderful job of planning out their special day to fit the specific vision they had in mind. Nicki’s dream was to marry her husband in the backyard of the home they have shared together for almost three years. Because of this relaxed choice of atmosphere, even their beloved dog was able to attend and make his debut in a lot of the formal photos, impromptu. I love that I’m seeing more and more couples choosing to think outside the box with more non-traditional locations, and schedules based on their desires rather than tradition. This time, our plan was to execute a first look with Nicki’s father, then head to the ceremony, take formal photos, then re-locate for a gorgeous reception dinner and golden-hour portraits.

The Boathouse at Sunday Park gets a huge shoutout from me in this blog, because their venue never ceases to reveal the most amazing sunsets during this time of year. The Boathouse staff are always super accommodating, their food is delicious, and their groundskeepers deserve a huge raise, because they outdo themselves every season. Another logistically-helpful thing their venue affords is a door that lead from the banquet room to the outside deck area, which helps out SO much when it comes to stepping away for sunset portraits. This always turns out to be my favorite time of day to shoot at Sunday Park, but “the perfect sunset” doesn’t last for long, so it’s helpful for us to have easy access to run out there at any time we need.

One thing I’m super thankful for is how organized Nicki already was prior to hiring me. With such a short time-crunch on our hands, it was so amazing to see that my bride was type-A, just like me, and had it all figured out. Because of her, everyone was so organized and on-time, which just made the entire day run as smooth as butter. Her schedule allowed time for a special moment between Nicki and her father, where he could see and admire her as a bride for the first time in private. This first-look was so incredibly special and meaningful, and it was all thanks to a little prior planning! I cannot emphasize how important and helpful it is to be organized on your big day- the literal BEST photo results will come!!!

Another unique detail I loved about this wedding were “the wedding glasses”. After ten years in this business, I can honestly say this was a first for me- but it was SO fun that I now think everyone should do it. Jacob and Nicki purchased a pair of fun, party sunglasses and wrote their names on the lenses. They had me pass around the glasses to each guest during their reception, and I have to say how much we all LOVED IT. Everyone had a blast with this simple activity, I was able to interact with each of the guests individually, and the photos came out SO fun! I hope you’re taking notes, because all these valuable wedding tips are literally free.

Question: Tell us a short story about a core memory you took away from your wedding day. 

Nicki’s Answer: A core memory that I have is having the wedding at our house. We’ve built so many memories in it living here for 2.5 years, and now we got to celebrate our love and commitment in the same place where all of our memories are rooted in. Having a small wedding at our house allowed the process to be calm, fun, and easygoing (just like our relationship.) We weren’t forcing ourselves to maintain the same expensive standards that weddings hold. It was the true wedding we wanted for ourselves, not everyone else. 

* Ashley’s Note: Literal chills all over my arms, girl! You and Jacob did this whole thing right; with primarily yourselves in mind. This is the best way to ensure you can look back on your day without regrets- just let your own compasses guide you. I think there’s nothing more special than a ceremony you can call your own, and these images prove how beautiful your vision turned out.

Side-note, I’m sitting here, thinking about how magical it probably is to look out in your back yard and remember your wedding day anytime you want… I see what you did there!!

Question: Do you have a favorite memory from working with Ashley Dorton?

Nicki’s Answer: I have two favorite memories working with Ashley. The first thing that meant a lot to us was how calm and reassuring she was. She was confident with what she was going to do, and I didn’t have any doubt about her expertise. The second moment that stands out in my mind is taking pictures at the Boat House during the sunset. She knew exactly where to take the photos and how to position ourselves with the best background/sunset. 

*Ashley’s Note: I’m so happy you enjoyed our time working together- it was absolutely my pleasure! I always hope to ensure my clients have a relaxed and enjoyable experience by showing up prepared and ready to rock the wedding day. There’s no such thing as a bad location on this property, which made my job so easy, but I’m also a long-time visitor of this beautiful park, so I do have a few “secret spots” up my sleeve. This was also my favorite time from your day. Laughing together in the golden sunlight will forever be one of my favorite places to be with clients.

Question: When planning the wedding, how did you pick each vendor? What stood out about each one?

Nicki’s Answer:
Makeup: KK Shoaf– The thing that stood out the most about her to me as that she uses all-natural makeup products. She worked so well with Lisa, my hair artist, and I enjoyed having her be a part of the day.

Hair: Lisa Rine– Lisa was super knowledgeable and down-to-earth. She was such a calm and fun presence.

Reception Venu: The Boat House at Sunday Park– We chose this venue for our reception because they offered a small, dedicated room for our elopement/small wedding style. There were lots of menu options, which were all very customizable compared to other venues. We got to pick the foods we would actually enjoy eating!! We highly recommend!

Photographer: Ashley Dorton Photography– One thing that made Ashley stand out from the other photographers is her elopement packages. We didn’t want an all-out all-day package. We wanted to capture the true moments that meant the most to us. So happy we went with her!

To Nicki and Jacob,

Thank you so much for hiring me to photograph your special day! Your beautiful elopement was the perfect way to start off my tenth year as a passionate wedding photographer. I’m wishing you both so many more days full of joy and laughter together in the beautiful life you have ahead with each other. I hope to document many more precious milestones for you in the future!

And finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the amazing vendors mentioned in this blog, who played a special part in making this wedding such a success! You’re all true professionals, and I hope to work with you many more times in the future!

Here’s to a lifetime of admiring sunsets hand-in-hand with your soulmate!
Xo,
Ashley

(Blog designed & Written by Sarah of Aligned Artists)