Laura & Lee

I may have mentioned to Laura a few hundred times how excited I was for her upcoming wedding and the opportunity to photograph at the remarkable Rollins Mansion in Des Moines, Iowa. Of course it was no surprise that neither the wedding day celebration nor the beautiful venue disappointed.  Laura and Lee wisely chose the Friday of Memorial Day weekend for their wedding day. Thus allowing for friends and family to travel in to the capital of Iowa for the celebration.  Marc and I chose to make the drive Thursday evening to ensure our readiness for the Friday celebration.  The drive on I-80 was nothing extraordinary, but I DID get the chance to introduce Marc to the world’s largest I-80 truck stop!  We like to live for the little thrills in life.

As Friday morning came around, we were ready and excited to start our day with Laura and Lee.  As Marc captured the gentlemen getting ready at a downtown hotel, I traveled to the mansion to capture the girl’s preparations. From the moment I stepped on the Rollins Mansion property I knew it was going to be one amazing backdrop for a wedding.  The mansion was built in the mid 1920’s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  From the rooftop terrace there are breathtaking views of Des Moines and the Capital Building.

The only thing more beautiful than the view is the love Laura and Lee have for each other.  The time had finally come for the ceremony and both Laura and Lee were excited and ready to be wed after dating for ten years!  It was a beautiful and much anticipated marriage union for Laura and Lee.

As the cocktail hour began, the bridal party hopped on a bus to celebrate while travelling around for epic portraits at the State Capital building.  Unfortunately for us, the capitol dome was under renovation for the gold dome, but the opportunity to take some portraits there was surely one I didn’t want to miss.

 The remainder of the evening was celebrated with food, cocktails, and dancing under the stars.  Here are a few highlights from Laura & Lee’s wedding day!

A special thanks to all the vendors who made Laura & Lee’s day beautiful.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Rollins Mansion – Des Moines, IA

Officiant: Honorable Robert Blink

Bridal Dress Shop: Reddington Bridal – Park Ridge, IL

Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Azzazie

Groomsmen Tux Shop: Men’s Warehouse

Cake: Hummingbird Confections

Entertainment: Nick Fratzkie

Musician: Kathy Naja

Shoe Designer: Pink