I’m crazy about Erin and Christopher. And, if you weren’t already, by the end of this post… you will be too. I guarantee it 🙂

Chris has the most amazing relationship with his family. While most grooms get ready with their groomsmen… he got ready with his dad, brother and mom… and it was perfect 🙂

This whole post makes me smile. I bet $5 it will make you smile, too.

See…. you’re smiling already, aren’t you?! You owe me $5. 😉 Here’s Erin’s mom… but I’m guessing you already knew that… they look exactly alike 🙂

Grandma is clearly impressed. 😀

Erin had only one request of us… “Be sure to get a photo of Christopher opening his gift!”  Once I heard what it was… I understood why it was her only request!

Bear with me here… I don’t remember 100% of the specifics so I’ll say what I remember. 😀  You see… that shirt that’s framed? That’s Chris’ shirt he wore faithfully to every University of Illinois basketball game…. he wore it until the Fighting Illini made it to the National Championship in 2005 where they lost to North Carolina. Because of the loss, he decided to retire it. A couple of years ago Erin asked, after seeing it in his drawer, “so, now that your shirt’s retired…. what are you going to do with it?”

“Have it signed by Bruce Weber [the coach of the Illini Basketball Team)…”

“That’s cool…” Erin responded… and she never forgot. 😀

A few weeks before the wedding, the stars aligned and Erin was finally able to make it happen! Weber just happened to be in his office, but only for a limited time. So, Erin shipped off the shirt… it passed from secretary to secretary and BADABOOM BADABING… BRUCE WEBER! 😀

To the average blog reader this may not seem like a big deal… but from what I gather… it was not an easy feat. Furthermore, his reaction to said feat should help you understand how big of a deal this really was.

Erin, you win wife of the year for that move… and you’ve only been a wife for a a few weeks. 😀 I’d say things are looking up! Blog readers, take a look at yourself in the mirror right now… SEE! You’re smiling! CHA CHING… $5 more dollars for me!!!!!

I love this. For so many reasons.

Those trains are sneaky!

My favorite ❗ I’m up to at LEAST $20 by now.

IT’S WACKY BOBBI TIME!!!!!!

Chris and I are absolutely geniuses. As you can clearly see here, we are the definition of creative collaboration. 😉 Let me explain how a true creative collaboration unfolds.

The groomsmen left while Chris stayed behind so I could grab a couple of shots of him alone. He said, “what do you want me to do… Jump on this wall?”

“YES!”

He jumped, I clicked.

I then showed him on the back of the camera he said, “That turned out much cooler than I ever imagined.”

“I agree!” 😉

Oh, and about those orange socks… Chris wanted to wear an orange tie to match the University of Illnois… Erin wasn’t a fan of that idea. Instead, the gift Chris opened right before the framed shirt… those orange socks 🙂

HOLY HOT BRIDESMAIDS BATMAN!

KAM’S is to this bridal party as The Max is to Saved by the Bell or as The Peach Pit is to 90210… Get it? Good!

WACKY FREAKIN’ BOBBI STRIKES TWICE IN ONE DAY!!!!!!!

THENNNN… we were off to the Illini Inn… home of the infamous Mug Club. I know what you may be wondering… How does one get into the PRESTIGIOUS Mug Club?!

1. Sign your name to the register and fill out your membership card
2. memorize your “mug club” number on aforementioned membership card
3. chug your 20oz beer
4. shout your number
5. the bartender rings the bell and announces, “WE HAVE A NEW MUG CL
   UB MEMBER!”
6. you are now officially a member of the Mug Club 😀

Erin wanted a new card… with her new name… with her wedding date… so, off to the Illini Inn we went 🙂

The bartender took one look at her small frame and all but rolled his eyes… he pushed out a trash can and said, “if you can’t handle it… here’s the trash can for you to vomit if need be…”

Erin flexed her muscles (I’m not making that up)… picked up that mug…. and chugged.  AND CHUGGED SHE DID!!!!! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. This little lady is impressive! The bartender picked his jaw up off of the ground and did what he was supposed to do… he rang that bell and announced “WE HAVE A NEW MUG CLUB MEMBER!”  BOOOOOYAH!!!!!!

BTW, for those of you out there who, like me, don’t know how ILLINI is pronounced….”ill eye nye”. My ignorant self kept thinking Mike was saying it wrong… EGG ON MY FACE!

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I think that Erin and Chris had the best song selections I’ve heard. Their first dance, “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train. I heard the song while I was in Myrtle Beach and couldn’t help but smile.  I even asked my husband to dance with me in a non-dancing environment… and dance we did 🙂

It’s a tradition… and who am I to object?! 😉 You all owe me like $100 or so by now.

Meanwhile, in the honeymoon suite… SURPRISE! 😉

HAHAHAHAAAA! 😀

……………………………

champaign-urbana, ill.

makeup | BJ Grand Salon
florist | Rick Orr
church | Wesley United Methodist Church
reception venue | I Hotel & Conference Center
DJ | Elite Entertainment
cake | Lori Martin
rehearsal dinner | 77 Club at Memorial Stadium

……………………………

their songs

first dance | “Hey, Soul Sister” –Train
father/daughter | “Father and Daughter” –Paul Simon
mother/son | “My Wish” –Rascal Flatts
introductions | parents & ushers: “Don’t Stop ‘Til you Get Enough” –Michael Jackson. wedding party: “Forever” –Chris Brown. bride & groom: “Chelsea Dagger” –The Fratellis
cake cutting | “Lucky” –Jason Mraz
1st song to get everyone on the dance floor | “Move your Feet” –Junior Senior
last song of the night | “Livin’ on a Prayer” –Bon Jovi

 

erin+christopher

What was the most memorable moment of your day?
erin: Standing with my dad just before he walked me down the aisle and then seeing Christopher for the first time as he was waiting at the altar. 
christopher: The second reading was a poem which is one of Erin and my personal favorites. During that reading,  Erin leaned in and put her hand on my right shoulder. We began to recite the poem together. It was incredibly peaceful moment for me and I will always remember it.

Any advice for future bride/grooms?
erin: As much stress as planning a wedding can be, it is all worth it in the end. Don’t sweat the small stuff and make it your own. I also suggest taking a few moments throughout the day to take it all in.
christopher: Make your wedding your own. Don’t worry about anyone’s preconceived notions about how a wedding should be. If you make it your own and exactly how you want it, it will be truly wonderful.  (best advice ever!)

Funniest memory from your wedding day?
erin: My sister and I singing Salt-N-Pepa songs in the back of the church in an attempt to calm my nerves : )  
christopher: Bribing eighteen towel boys, a manager, and the lady at the juice bar so Mike and I could procure a media pass to take photos with my groomsmen at the University Pool. Coincidentally, this moment is, behind marrying my wife, my second proudest moment of the day, as Mike and I were able to accomplish this feat without getting arrested. That would have been a difficult phone call to Bobbi and Erin.

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
erin+christopher: Not a thing. The day was filled with much love and laughter.

Make up your own question, if you want 🙂

Did you have the best photographers ever?
erin+christopher: YES! ( 😀 )

 

 

Christopher and I have the exaaaaact same complexion…. aka,
rosey. aka, visual thermometers. aka, freckled. aka, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING! 🙂 Comes with being Irish I suppose. 😀

 

bobbi+mike

our favorites: 1. Erin’s laugh. 2) watching how excited Erin was about Christopher opening the gift. 3) Christopher’s relationship with his family. 4) Losing my Invisaligns while taking photos of the groomsmen… “EVERYONE LOOK DOWN… NOW!” 5) Erin’s sisters whispering, while lined up to walk down the aisle, Salt ‘n Pepa’s “Push it” to keep Erin from crying. It worked. 😀 6) The first kiss came outta nowhere… neither Mike or I were in the right spot for it. I looked over at him… he looked over at me… I quickly spotted the third pew that was empty, started gliding across it as quickly as I could, “YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!”, click click click…. as I was still gliding. Miraculously… I got it! The scene to the people sitting in the 4th pew must have been hilarious. OHHHHH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!!!!! 😀  7) the Mug Club! 8) Erin and Christopher laughing/crying with their families during the toasts. 9) the first dance. 10) “Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon is the definition of the PERFECT father/daughter dance. 11) Christopher trying to hide his tears during the mother/son dance. 12) sneaking away into the honeymoon suite to scatter rose pedals with the maids of honor. 13) Seeing hot men in boxers while smoking cigars. DUH! 14) Our photo with Erin and Christopher. Mike and I have taken that photo with many people… and that one is my favorite one to date.  Yeah kind of a big deal! For me, it represents everything I love about this job. Okay, cheesefest over. 🙂

AHHHHH!!!!! I flipping ADORE you two! Thank you thank you THANK YOU for everything… I’m ready to photograph you again, k? k.

LOVE!!!!

~bobbi+mike ❗ + ❓

PS. For those smiling… you can make checks payable to bobbi+mike. 😉

 

 

Not a scene I show you often… 🙂 So yes yes yes… now there’s proof… we DO take altar shots!

MIKE! YOU’RE IN MY SHOT!!!!!!

BOBBI!!!! YOU’RE IN MY SHOT!!!! Mike actually took a photo of me right after they got into that getaway car where I’m giving him a SERIOUS stink eye! This is very rare that we’re in each others shots….. so when I asked him about it later he said, “but I was in the best spot for an awesome photo!” Yeah… remember that image that I named as my favorite? Yeah… he took that… standing in THAT spot. Needless to say, I took back my stink eye. 😉

❗ + ❓