Just Sharp Enough

Cate + Trent: St. Augustin Catholic Church in Des Moines

Mark — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:12:37 +0000

Venue: St. Augustin Catholic Church
Florist: Boesen’s
Cake: Kate’s Cakes

Charlotte + Thomas: The formula for wedding bliss

Mark — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:15:01 +0000

Probably because I’m not terribly sharp and actually know diddly about engineering, when I heard Charlotte + Thomas were both engineers, I shuddered at the possibilities of a wedding planned with spreadsheets, slide rule and cold, precise calculation. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about weddings is that they don’t want to be planned too much. A wedding day is a force of nature with its own Dali-esque clock and a sick sense of humor with Murphy’s Law as the punchline.

I couldn’t have been more (happily) wrong. Our handsome duo’s low-key, DIY vibe kept drama on the sideline. Built on a foundation of backyard ceremony, BBQ and beer, the wedding gods surrendered and let love set its own schedule.

Jenny + Crystal: Teachers in love

Mark — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:53:56 +0000

Handmade details, Chuck Taylors and two people in love are never wrong.

Venue: Sticks
Minister: Ricky Klein
Catering: Gateway Market
DJ: Knight Life DJ

Nicole + Marcus: Des Moines, Iowa wedding

Mark — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:02:01 +0000

One might look at these photos and say, “Hey, isn’t that the governor’s son getting married? If so, where the heck are the pix of the groom’s father and our state’s glorious leader shimmying the night away?” Pertinent question and I wish I could show you some. Let’s just say that when I ran into the DJ the next day and he regaled me with tales of Gov. Branstad putting on a polka clinic after I left the reception, I was crushed. Conspiracy? Coverup? Who knows? If I had any inkling that the governor was going to trip the light fantastic that evening, I would have staged my own Occupy Terrace Hill to bring it to you. Alas…

Ceremony: St. Augustin Catholic Church
Reception: Terrace Hill
Catering: Christiani’s Catering
Cake: Glorious Desserts
DJ: Knight-Life
Transportation: Majestic Limousine

Tracie + Ryan: Wedding at Jasper Winery in Des Moines

Mark — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:19:19 +0000

Coordinator & Florist: Cynthia Betts
Venue: Jasper Winery
Catering: Taste to Go
Cake: Sweetest Perfections
Band: Flipside
Limo: Absolute Transportation

Jennifer + Mo: Cedar Rapids, Iowa wedding

Mark — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:23:21 +0000

Sarah + Devin: Iowa City wedding

Mark — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:46:51 +0000

If there’s anything finer than keeping it in the family, it’s keeping it in Iowa City, where the people live to celebrate. The bride, Sarah, is the sister of Melissa (pregnant bridesmaid, there’s always one), whose wedding I shot in Iowa City in 2009. Their dear mother, besides being scarily capable of imitating Sarah Palin, is a wonderful hostess and cheerleader. Dad, not to be outdone, brought the house down with his choreographed father-daughter dance.

Liz + Peter: Marshalltown, Iowa wedding

Mark — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:13:15 +0000

Stefanie + Brad: Wedding in Des Moines

Mark — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:21:58 +0000

Keeping it in the family is a great way to get to know your clients and, honestly, save on advertising. That is, until the family runs out of daughters. Such is the case with Stefanie’s family. I photographed her sister Jennifer’s wedding in 2006. The girls are a delight and their father, Brent, takes the wedding cake. Doting, good-humored, detail-oriented and positively beaming with pride, he’s an all-star father of the bride. I’m going to miss that man.

Ceremony: Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill
Reception & Catering: Marriott in downtown Des Moines
Florist: Hy-Vee, Jordan Creek

Marianne + Joe

Mark — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:36:35 +0000