Dayton Weddings | Echo by Design | Wedding + Portrait Photography

..Jake + Liz | A Nazerath Hall Wedding..

I couldn’t wait for the ceremony to begin. This couple had waited for this very moment, this interaction of time, a harmonic wave of emotion that was on the very precipice of imploding. Everyone in the room waited for those doors to swing open. Namely Jake. The music was building and as I hid behind my camera, waiting, my eyes began to water. This was what it was all about. This is why I do what I do. For a moment such as this. When a pure and beautiful bride gets to take the walk of meeting her waiting suitor at the end of the aisle. Finally the doors swung open and there she was, walking in all of her radiance, standing tall with the most precious smile on her face. One turn of my heel and a look at Jake and he mimicked the same smile that his soon-to-be wife had. Locked eye in eye, rocking back and forth on his feet, anxious to go down to meet her.

After the opening prayer, Jake finally came down from the stage to meet his bride. After receiving her hand over from her father, he leaned in and told her how beautiful she looked, as he led her to the spot where they would become one. The whole room was beaming as she blushed out of control. Looking at Jake he was about to burst with excitement. Pastor Scott led into the ceremony with prayer, their vows, and the exchange of rings. Choosing to take communion in lieu of a unity candle, they had a few minutes to receive the sacrament of the gifts. Jake took Liz’s hand and glanced at the ring on her finger. Ever so closer to becoming one. He held her hand close to his heart and they prayed together. He prayed over their marriage and the first day of the rest of their lives together. Once their friends and family had been served they took of the bread and the cup. We prayed and then, the moment that they had been waiting for. Their very first kiss.

Pastor Scott prayed over them and ended, Jake, you may FINALLY kiss your bride. Nervousness set aside, Liz wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck without hesitation and he leaned in and kissed his bride! Everyone began hooting, hollering, with bursts of applause {which may be the loudest I’ve ever heard!} Well with all of that, one kiss just wasn’t enough, so Jake leaned in for kiss #2. Over the noise, Pastor Scott said, You’re not even letting me do my favorite part. {Which was the announcement.} So everyone finally calmed down for the brief second to hear, I pronounce to you Mr. + Mrs. Jake Kohring! Cue loud cheering…again!! It was such a spirit filled ceremony!

Shortly after, their reception followed at ..Nazerath Hall.. where the celebration continued. After some memorable speeches led by the maid of honor and best man, dinner and dances were underway. The party never left the floor, dancing Gangnam style and creating their very own Harlem Shake! At the end of the night, they turned off the lights and rocked the show to the light of their cell phones. It indeed was a night worth celebrating!

Jake + Liz! I was beyond honored to photograph your day. The moments that you made were far worth just capturing, but holding on to for a lifetime. I pray blessings over your marriage and know that you have an awesome family and church to hold you strong through the years! Congratulations to you both again. What a truly beautiful day!

..THE FIRST KISS..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..The Truth About My Vacation | Confessions of a Photographer..

I hear it over and over in my head. The constant repeat of the shutter flying out of control. My son sitting in his stroller looking at me with the most adorable smile, and yet he had no idea that I was ready to burst into tears. I shut my camera off. Took out the batteries. Took off the lens and cleaned all connecting surfaces. Praying in those short moments that my camera would turn back on and all would be fine. Nothing…Zero. Zilch. Nada. My camera decided that as my family and I were on the top deck of our cruise vacation, our boat literally pulling away from the dock, that it was going to die on me. I looked at my husband, when my eyes began to well up with tears. The helpless feeling that crossed over me, crushing my heart all at the same time, as I slowly felt the boat start to gain momentum as it pulled out of port. I couldn’t help but want to stop the ship. To tell them we weren’t allowed to leave until I had another camera to document my son and all the new memories we were going to make together as a family. Brad took me in his arms, gave me a big hug, and as always reassured me that it would be fine.

As we were leaving Miami, I wasn’t ready to admit that for the first time as long as I could remember I didn’t have a professional camera on my hip. Or even a consumer’s camera for that matter. We both had our iPhone’s. Not exactly what I pictured using to document the gorgeous sunsets, clear blue water, white sandy beaches, and my son exploring three new countries he wouldn’t remember. I felt melancholy. A funk that I thought would be over after experiencing two days of rain in Florida. {Which should have been time spent on the beach.} Noticing that I was still having trouble with this raw emotion, Brad kissed me on the forehead and said, Take this as a real opportunity to relax. It will be refreshing for you. Your supposed to be on vacation.

I sent up a prayer, knowing that it was going to be difficult. Very difficult. I literally felt like my arm had been cut off and I was trying to figure out what the next step was in recovery. To some that may seem a tad extreme, but for me, it’s who I am and what I do. It took everything I had to keep myself in a good mood the first day. Constantly tucking the lost memory thoughts in the back of my head and trying to take advantage of ‘real’ time spent together. All the while stomaching the costs that would be involved much sooner than expected.

The second day in, I woke up feeling refreshed. Maybe it had to do with getting some real Vitamin D or taking in the smell of the Caribbean Sea around me, but it was different. I knew that everything would be taken care of just as He always promises. It didn’t change the fact that I was totally missing having a camera at my side, but I felt like I could take in the fresh air and breathe a bit deeper. Almost like a freedom had washed over me. Over the course of our trip, I let Brad do most of the documenting with our iPhone pics and our video camera {thank the Lord we had it.} With the time that I didn’t have the camera in my hand, I was able to walk with Eli on the beach, show him how to play in the sand, and carry him koala bear style after a long day of play. Those were the moments I wanted to remember. Maybe they weren’t documented from the professional standpoint I was use to, but at least I was able to be in those moments with him. I repeat, I was able to be in those moments with him. Usually when I’m behind the camera I’m not, and I was ever so reminded that even when it’s important to document our life, it’s also important to be in the moments in life. That is my photographer confession.

Here are a few moments that were captured throughout our trip. {Forgive the iPhone photos!}

Just for the record, I had taken my backup camera to protect my main camera from any possible sand and/or water damage. {Which is always possible with being on the beach!} That is why professional photographer’s have backup equipment, in case something insanely crazy like this happens to their main camera. So as a lesson to any newbies shooting weddings or once in a lifetime events, make sure you are prepared for instances like this. Yes I will never be able to go back and relive the moments on vacation, but there is no messing around when it comes to someone else’s major lifetime event. Don’t have that should of, could of, would of moment!

..IN THE MOMENT..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Jesse + Stephanie | A Winter Engagement..

It has been a long winter. I know right now we are all grumbling and murmuring at the groundhog whom said it would be over soon. Especially me! I’m not a fan of winter, or cold, or snow really. I’m pretty sure I started preparing for spring in my head months ago! All the while trying to battle the cabin fever. {Winter wouldn’t be so bad if it included sunshine and palm trees!}

Late last fall, Jesse + Stephanie asked me to capture their wedding day. By then the leaves had fallen off of the trees and winter had already started to move in. Being cool and damp we thought we would try and make a snowy winter session work. Between sicknesses and work schedules, winter defeated us. Finally, we hit spring forward and I was almost positive that spring was on its way! The temps began to lift into the 40’s and our tulips began rising out of the ground! And then the weatherman crushed my heart and said another snow storm was on it’s way. With only three weeks until the wedding we knew we couldn’t wait on spring! So we toughed out the blistering wind and found some warmth in the few rays of sunshine that made it past the clouds.

This adorable couple met at work in 2007. It took all the flirting that Stephanie could do in order to get Jesse’s attention. She says, “He was too shy to ask me out at first, but eventually he caught on that I liked him. He found out where I liked to hang out, came to see me, and finally asked me out! We’ve been together ever since.” It may have taken Jesse a little while to catch on that Stephanie was flirting, but he knew he loved her. He knew he wanted to be with her. So on January 20, 2012, Jesse bought some wine, cupcakes, and a ring and waited for Stephanie to get home. Stephanie couldn’t wait to get home after a long day of work, but was surprised to find Jesse with all of his goodies. Needless to say, that Jesse popping the question turned her day around!

Jesse + Stephanie! With your wedding day rapidly approaching, together let’s pray for warmer weather! Thank you for asking me to be a part of your day and I am so excited to see you both become husband and wife!

..WINTER DEFEATED US..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Kyle + Jessica’s Navy Album | Featured Album..

I love showcasing client albums! During the summer months when I’m busy blogging the rest that is happening in front of my camera, these get shoved to the back end of blogging. Not because they aren’t worthy or beautiful, but because I love digging them out in the middle of winter and looking back on the season that had been long tucked away. As I look into the beginning of this coming season, which is quickly approaching, I find that it strengthens me and gives me inspiration. They fill me with joy and excitement for what is to come.

This is Kyle + Jessica’s beautiful nugget of happiness. Married back in July, there were so many sweet moments to their day. You can sneak back to their ceremony where Kyle was so wrapped up in Jessica’s eyes, that he didn’t even start to repeat his vows {..here..}! Or even at the reception where Kyle’s family made them a pretend airplane to give his Mrs. her first official ride {..here..}! But all in all, to wrap up their day they chose an 8×8 Navy Leather Album. {I adore when couples chose something other than the standard black.} They also decided to have their names embossed in silver on the front cover, while on the inside had 40 sides that showcased their day. And what a cherished one it was.

See an album you like or have questions about this album? Feel free to email me and I can let you know about all of the specifics! Have a blessed day!

..NAVY LEATHER..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Cory + Abby’s Album | Toledo Wedding Photographer..

So here we are in what we call ‘down time’ or our slow season, and for me it’s such an opportunity to breathe, renew, and revamp for the upcoming brides + grooms. In the summer and fall months I’m busy blogging all of the latest weddings and sessions, so I save stuff like album show off’s for winter blogging! Well it’s that time again, so over the next couple of week’s you will get to take a look at a few of the albums that were put together!

It’s hard to believe that almost 8 months have passed for Cory + Abby since their quaint outdoor vineyard wedding! They truly were such a sweet couple and I loved watching them come together as one, such a blessing. If you missed their wedding in it’s entirety then you can see their first look + ceremony in ..Part I.. and some of their portraits + reception in ..Part II..!

They have been enjoying this sweet little beauty for a few months now, but Cory + Abby chose an 8×8 leather storybook album. Fittingly for their cover selection they chose a red wine color that will compliment their home. The front cover display’s their engraved name stamped in silver. Wrapped up on the inside are 40 sides laying out their day. The sum of every great moment included!

Congrats again you guys! It turned out beautiful and I hope you are enjoying it in your home now and for years to come!

..RED WINE..

love, echo

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echoes of love