This entry is officially the longest blog entry I’ve ever posted… warning you now 🙂 (you’ll see why soon…)I absolutely adored her dress. It was as though it was made for her! Oh, and it had pockets. Where were pockets when I got married?! I was taking this photo, being sure to keep myself out of the mirror, when Margaret (Emily’s mother) said to me, “I love when your reflection is in those mirror photos!” So, I took a small step to the left and badaboom badabing… I aim to please! 😀 …meanwhile……so much happening!My favorite thing about this image? See in the small mirror? That’s momma Margaret 😀Everything this day all happened on this property… they got ready in this old house, their ceremony was on the lawn, and their reception was in a tent attached to a barn built in 1837 (then moved to this location in 1914). These two were so cute walking down the aisle. They kept trying not to cry by laughing. Then the second they both got to the front and could no longer laugh… the tears started flowing… …all of a sudden, it got much much cooler…and breezier. The sun was hiding behind a big cloud. Given the ridiculous heat and humidity, the guests didn’t mind it! I, however, being married to Mike the weatherman, knew that on a hot, humid day when the temperature drops that drastically and the wind picks up… storms could be on their way. I looked over to Mike, knowing that he would be pulling up the radar on his phone and ran over to ask him what was happening. “We should be able to get through the end of the ceremony, but after that… we probably have very little time for family photos before it lets loose.”Emily, you’re cute. 🙂
congratulations!!!!
uhm… wow to that sky! Notice her dress? Yeah… that’s the WIND!I saw this sweet moment happen… but, knowing that the storms were coming… …I quickly lined up what was starting to be a receiving line and made family photos happen right then and there…Immediately after taking this image… Mike said we needed to get indoors. So, we did…. Then BOOM! This happened!!!! This is part of the catering staff rushing food into the barn. Let me just say, given the circumstances… the fact that food wasn’t delayed is beyond impressive to me!Remember from earlier when I said that the tent was attached to the barn? Well, people were unable to walk between them without getting soaked. Here are two girls playing in the water while the father of the groom is getting soaked while attempting to seal it up (he succeeded!).…we stayed in the house until the intense rain passed over.Lori the wedding planner and her staff wait for a clear spot to take the cake over to the tent. …the rain didn’t pass quickly… and I think that cake got heavy, so she sat it down 😉
….then, a little break in the downpour.They ate dinner, cut the cake…. Right after they finished their dinner, we took them out into the light drizzle, and finished up a few portraits of the two of them (as we weren’t able to do it after the ceremony because of the impending downpour). Mike warned us that we didn’t have much time as a new storm was growing directly northwest of us. He said, “these could potentially be kinda bad storms…” Emily asked, “Do you mean like tornadoes bad?” Mike responded, not wanting to alarm her… “nah… I don’t think so.” But, I knew Mike… I knew he was just trying to keep us all calm. And because of that… I knew that we needed to haul ass! Right as we were finishing, I looked to the sky and saw the incredible storm that Mike warned us about. Lori (the wedding planner) saw us heading away from the tent and said that we needed to get inside and do toasts. Now, I never insist “just one more” as wedding planners/caterers have very strict timelines to keep track of… and we always respect them. But this time… nope… I insisted, “just ONE more photo, promise!” She responded, “okay, just ONE more,” as she could see that it was important to us. 🙂 We didn’t have the right lens with us (it was in the tent, and we were in a hurry!) to really capture this storm’s amazingness… as that storm was literally just minutes away. So, with my 35mm 1.4 lens attached to my camera, I snagged this. I SO wish you could have seen the true vastness of this!!!!
So, we head into the tent, the maid of honor starts her toast. I take a few photos and see that Mike is missing. Now, if you know Mike… you know that that’s VERY out of character. He NEVER misses an important part of the day, NEVER! And knowing that this major storm is about to blow through, I rushed into the tent to see if I could find Mike. There he was, trying to refresh the radar on his iPhone (you think connection speed is bad in the city!?), all while looking quite concerned. Now, again, if you know Mike…the guy who gets on a roof when a storm is coming… when Mike is concerned about the weather, things are about to get crazy. Also keep in mind that we’re in the middle of the country… where there is no such thing as a tornado siren. He said, “I see rotation in this radar…” UHM WHAT?! ROTATION??!?! Mike!!! Is this a tornado?!” He says, “I don’t know for 100% sure, but there’s definitely rotation!”
So, without hesitation, I run over to the wedding planner, and say, “TORNADO WARNING!!!! WE NEED TO MOVE THESE PEOPLE!!!!!” Lori immediately runs over to the DJ and tells her to make an announcement for everyone to head into the barn… remember the aforementioned barn that was built in 1837… yeah, THAT was the barn that was going to save our lives!!!! AHHHH!!!!! Right as the MOH is giving her final “raise your glass” the tent gets COMPLETELY dark (ISO 25600 below) and the wind picks up a LOT of speed. I snapped the photo below (which I had to manually focus because the tent was so dark that my lens couldn’t auto focus!). Notice Matt’s wind-blown tie? Yeah, crazy! So, anyway… the DJ takes the mic from the maid of honor and tells everyone that there’s a tornado warning and to head into the barn. So, shockingly quickly and calmly… the nearly 300 guests head into the barn.
Here’s the craziest part of the story… are you ready for this? Literally minutes after everyone went into the barn… the tent collapsed! In the image above, that pole right in between them (and directly behind the head table), was completely on the ground and bent. Right after the tent came down, I looked out the window and saw one of the rented carnival kiddie rides in the air (which I later found out was caused by 90mph winds!). I immediately crawled under a table (a table where the food was sitting) and went into the tornado drill position that we all learned in elementary school, all the while Emily’s and Matt’s guests were singing “Amazing Grace.” Blog readers, I genuinely, in that moment, thought I was about to die. This was the scariest moment of my life. You see, this all happened just 13 days after the terrible Joplin tornadoes went through, so it was all so fresh in my memory. It was in those few minutes under the table that I took the screen capture of the radar above. I knew that, regardless of my fear, it was still my job to document this day…. and in my emotional state, screen captures were the best I could do. I was only under the table as the funnel cloud passed over the barn, which only lasted 5 minutes (but felt like an ETERNITY!)… so, Mike and I were able to capture some of the reactions. At the same time the tent collapsed… the barn doors flew off. Now do you see why I was crying?! Man oh man I was so scared!
The tent material you see in the background… those aren’t the tent walls… that’s the roof. THE ROOF ON THE GROUND!!!! Also notice how high the water got? Yeah… we weren’t able to quickly enough grab our bag of flashes, and it was completely immersed in water. When Mike later told me that it was left under the tent I couldn’t have given two poopies! If that’s the worst thing we lost that day, I’d consider ourselves incredibly lucky. Though, that being said… when we unzipped the bag after everyone had left, there wasn’t a DROP of water on our gear… NOT A SINGLE DROP! For you photogs who want to know it was a Lowepro Omni Pro Soft Box, and that bag wasn’t even rated for water proofing. BOOM!And THEN… two firemen came to make sure everyone was safe.
So what do I do? I pose up a picture! 😀 Oh, notice on the right side of the barn…. that was where the barn doors were that flew off. But how did the wreath, hanging on by a NAIL, not get touched!!??
It was at that point that Emily and Matt decided to call off the rest of their reception… and the guests started leaving. We circled the property to photograph the destruction. All the while the rain still coming down… Notice there are no walls on the tent? What you see left standing there is only the roof. their beloved custom-made altar… 🙁As only their very best friends/immediately families remained, Mike looked over at me and quietly said, “I think the best man should give his toast as he wasn’t able to earlier.” GENIUS! So, I looked over at Keaton the best man (who had since changed out of his tux) and said, “You have to give your toast!” He responded, “but my notes are in the tent!” My response, “So?! You got this!” And then that’s what he did! And it was perfect! Then I looked over at the maid of honor and said, “Your turn!” Her response, “I already did it…” So I said… “well, we missed it in all the chaos… so, can you do it again please?” And she did. And it was perfect!
Meanwhile… as they are giving their toasts, Mike asked Margaret (the mother of the bride) what their first dance song was. Yes, I tell you… that Mike, he’s a damn genius! He told me what it was and I downloaded the song onto my iPhone, someone pulled up their car that had an iPhone jack, and badaboom badabing… their first dance!…and it was perfect! I can tell you right now, the way that these two, along with their families, handled this whole situation… remarkable. Absolutely remarkable. There was NO way that anything could have ruined this day, not even 90 mph winds! 🙂 Even as the tent fell down, Emily laughed. I mean… what else is there TO do? Hide under a table and cry?! 😉The limo arrived early to take them to their hotel…And just like that, their wedding day had come to an end… and it ended as perfectly as it could have 🙂
……………………………
sharpsville, ind.
wedding planner • Boldly Chic Events (who I highly recommend!)
hair&makeup • Evan Todd Salon
florist • The Empty Vase
videographer • friend, Luke Helmer
ceremony&reception • Kelley Historical Farm
dj • 500 lbs of Sound
cake • Mammaw’s Sweet Shop
tent&rentals • Party Time Rentals
caterer • Shoup’s Country Food
dress • watters
……………………………
their songs
processional • Variations on the Canon –Arranged by George Winston
recessional • Signed, Sealed, Delivered –Stevie Wonder
introductions • Say Hey ( I Love You) – Michael Franti and Spearhead
first dance • Lucky -Jason Mraz ft. Colbie Caillet (OH! The irony.. ;))
cake cutting • “Sugar Sugar” –The Archies
what were supposed to be:
father/daughter • “My Wish” –Rascal Flatts
mother/son • “A Song for Mama” –Boyz II Men
last dance • “Save the Last Dance for Me” –Michael Bublé
emily+matt
What was the most memorable moment of your day?
emily: Hearing the rest of the maid of honor speech and the best man’s speech. With no microphone, no lights, them tag teaming it, and the people we love the most around us. That was just wonderful.
matt: Definitely would have to be seeing the tent fall down. You can’t really beat that!
What was your favorite detail?
emily:Would definitely have to be the beautiful flowers. The Empty Vase did a fabulous job. The ceremony literally took my breath away it was so beautiful!
Any advice for future bride/grooms?
emily: Don’t worry about the little stuff. Unfortunately not everything will go perfectly, but enjoy it! It’s the best memories you have when things go wrong. And in the end all that matters is that your married 🙂
matt: DONT PLAN AN OUTDOOR WEDDING!
Funniest memory from your wedding day?
emily: Besides really the whole reception, standing with my dad before we walked down the aisle, both teary eyed. Then looking at each other and just laughing for no good reason 🙂
matt: Really do you even have to ask?
If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
Probably not, mainly because we had such a epic wedding. Pretty much everything that could go wrong in the reception did. Not many others can top us, and we will have people talking about our wedding for a long time. Scratch that I would, I would make sure everybody got cake before they left, because my parents were left with so much of it!
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Dominican Republic, Punta Cana. We would highly recommend it, it was fabulous!
matt+emily+bobbi+mike
Emily and Matt, I can’t thank you enough for EVERYTHING that day. There isn’t anyone else that I would have rather been in that situation with… and that’s the truth!
And Margaret (the mother of the bride), I adore you 10000%. How you, the mastermind and perfectionist behind it all, handled the entire reception literally collapsing was beyond impressive. I can only hope that if in the same situation in the future with a potential daughter, I won’t be crying under a table ;). Thanks for making me laugh all day long.
Your friend forever & always,
~bobbi ❗
What can I say? I’m a smiler!
Mike, you were so incredible that day. I often jokingly refer to you as “Mike the weatherman”… but on that day you may have saved a lot of people from getting very badly injured. From calling a tornado warning to suggesting they still have toasts and a first dance regardless of the situation. Thank you for caring so much about the people that we photograph.
The shoes were toast… but the suit… well, our dry cleaners got a tip that week! 😀
You can’t tell here, but I have my camera tucked inside my coat jacket to keep it as dry as possible… it worked shockingly well. 😀
For those who stuck through and read this entire entry… high fives!
❗
i love that the bride is smiling the whole time! im glad everyone is safe!
This is the craziest wedding ever!!! Mike and you are such troopers!!! Good job!!! The pics are amazing!!!
What a crazy wedding! Great memories though! 🙂
This is one of the best weddings I’ve ever seen. Y’all have the best attitudes and have amazing images in the dark, in the light, in the rain… So cool.
Holy COW!!! What an amazing story this couple will be able to tell their grandkids someday!!! Beautiful shots as always Bobbi and Mike!!!!
Oh my woooord, girly! I was riveted to this post.. way to rock a tornado. Goosebumps.. truly…
Simply amazing! Despite the severe weather, you were still able to give this couple amazing images! I admire the work that you two are able to create…simply inspiring.
This is super crazy! I’m glad you both got through this okay and kudos for documenting everything
awww… this post is AMAZING :). Made me tear up.
Bobbi u and Mike never cease to amaze me! No wonder your clients adore you so much! Bravo on this wedding!!
Wow!!!! What a story! Can’t believe it! You and Mike as well as the bridal couple did such a great job! Congrats!
WOW! What an incredible story!
WOW! What an incredible story!
Amazing. You captured it all beautifully – I love that you had them still carry out the speeches and first dance. So glad you all made it through safe!
WOW! Beautiful pictures through a horrifying turn of events. Love the way you narrate the pictures. I want to have the two of you photograph my wedding- you have such an amazing talent, and huge hearts- this blog post is evidence!
WOW WOW WOW!! what a day!! it’ll be a day everyone remembers forever, that’s for sure. even though it was chaotic, the photos were amazing. everything down to the reactions of the guests. i’m glad everyone was safe!!!
and thinking back to what mike said awhile ago, “she makes things pretty”…well hats off to you mike. you keep people safe 🙂 hive five to you!
What an incredible story!!! I literally teared up!! So scary yet your pictures are amazing!! The part where it was just close friends and family, having the best man and MOH still give their speech and the first dance… man, what a story! Yeah. This one goes down in history.
i love the way everyone handled it! kudos and well done to all!
Holy crap! I love that despite it ALL (hello, a tornado?! 90 MPH winds?!) you and Mike managed to keep your cool and take amazing pictures. In the end all you can do is keep calm and snap on. Great work you guys!
HUGE Kudos!!! I have family in Kokomo and remember that day when all the crazy weather blew thru!!! What an amazing story and bride and groom–and you documented it so perfectly! Love (and weddings) are perfectly imperfect…Here’s to wishing them a marriage full of love and happiness, and calm after the storm! 🙂
Best.blog.post.EVER. And even with the chaos, a beautiful wedding with some great shots. So glad everyone was ok. And I’m telling you, I love a good boost of adrenaline, but my butt would have been crying under a table too!! 😉
That is just amazing! I started out this post thinking, “That has got to rank as one of my most fave wedding dresses of all time!” and ending by thinking, “OMG! I can’t believe Emily didn’t break down in tears! She should be my new bff!” Bobbie & Mike, you guys did an awesome job!
Oh my gee! How scary. So thankful that there were no injuries, but what an amazing story to tell the kids down the road! A wedding no one will likely forget! Well captured, too! Awesome.
so so amazing. and, i’ll totally take a high five, but give you one, too! you captured such beautiful images amidst the chaos!
Not only did I stick through and read the entire post, I was absolutely riveted the whole time! Oh my gosh. I kept thinking, “Wow, if I were shooting that wedding, would’ve I thought to do that?” You guys are incredible!!!!! Kudos to Mike for being such an awesome weatherman (but please, don’t quit your day job!) and to both of your for the brilliance of the toasts and first dance. You went so far above and beyond that you pegged yourselves as the photographers no one will ever forget (in a good way!). Gosh, I loved this wedding/story the most out of all of them so far. Fantastic!!!
Amazing work under pressure!
wow! what a crazy day and they will forever have amazing photos to share their story. beautiful wedding!
Amazing! This wedding story brought tears to my eyes, you guys are awesome at what you do and I love the love you share.
Thank you for sharing with us!
Wow! You two are amazing! The photos you managed to capture are glorious! Congrats to Matt & Emily, I think this day shows your love will be indestructible!! lol
big fat teardrops falling on my desk.
you two are simply amazing, and I’m glad that you’re still around to continuously amaze me some more!
<3
EPIC indeed! High fives to all of you!
Wow! Mike is like me – I have ALWAYS been a compulsive weather-checker. I like to know what is coming my way at all times. It excites and scares me! Either way, what a bride, and great photos. I love your work so much…and it inspires this little amateur trying to make it out there in the big world of photography.
Wow! I knew you guys were my fave photogs for a reason. You guys turned the craziness of that day into gorgeous pictures. And, Bobbi, I love the way you tell stories. I bet this is a wedding you guys will be talking about for a long time, too.
Wow! Such a truly intriguing blog/story! You had be riveted the whole time. I can’t believe your tenacity to keep shooting through it all! Amazing. Great images. I’m sure their wedding will be one to down in the record books and will be talked about for years to come!
This post seriously made me tearing up!!! And I don’t even know these people!! They look just as happy after all that mess as they did in the beginning photos! True love! And, seriously, I truly believe that no other photographers could have done this amazing of a job under these circumstances!! Is there anything you two can’t make beautiful?!?!
The most amazing wedding photography blog post ever. Seriously. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just….wow. I have no words for this post or the amazingness of that day. How lucky was this couple to have you two there? Superheroes, you are 😀
You guys are fantastic! You did such a great job of capturing the entire day! From the yell at the salon to chasing them out of the driveway you guys did an AMAZING job! It was great to meet y’all and I am so very thankful for Mike the weather guy and Bobbi with her wonderful humor and creativity that makes it that much easier to keep smiling and laughing! We appreciated everything you guys did! The pictures turned out amazing!
OH. MY. GOSH! They are so right, they’re wedding was EPIC! Best decision ever to have you guys there with them! And her dress is AMAZING! I love it. Those flowers were gorgeous too. They are so super cute and I am in awe of how they kept their cool through all of that! (and you guys too.) Much love!
Wow! You guys are amazing! Thank you very much for posting this!
Yikes. Idk what else to say. 🙁
That story will be told by many for years to come!!
Wow. What an amazing story. You guys did an incredible job documenting a wild wedding day.
THIS IS AMAZING! om my stars…tears and laughs. What an incredible day and incredible way to tell the story. I would have struggled with this one.
Seriously can’t write too much otherwise I’ll be crying.( Oh wait I already am) We can’t say enough how thankful we are for you two. Mike I knew you were lying to me! Bobbi you kept me laughing the whole time. These pictures are amazing. You both are out of this world. I would have to agree with everyone else that it is the most amazing wedding photo post. What can I say we like to do things to the extreme!
Best. Story. EVAR!!!! Love it!! Amazing job you two!!!
Could I love you guys more than I already do? No, probably not. 🙂 freaking awesome job.
holy smokes, talk about prevailing through anything! what a wedding story! LOVE that Mike made the dance suggestion….brilliant. nice work in a crazy situation guys!
Cried like a baby! You guys are troopers. Best wedding of the century!
You know the marriage is going to last a lifetime when couples like Emily and Matt are still able to find joy on a day like that!
All I can say is.. Holy. Crap. That was the best blog entry I’ve ever read, from any photographer, ever. This one goes down in the history books! It’s really given me another perspective to our job, too. We are more than hired help. We are there to document. Here’s your new motto, guys: “Stay Calm and Shoot On!” 🙂
Sweet Mother of all that is HOLY!!! I am not worthy!!!! Your post was a definite tear-jerker…..you guys totally ROCKED that situation. Loved the story, adored the bride & groom and drooled over those gorgeous images! MUAH!!!!
Wow!!! It’s amazing how you were able to keep your composure and then have the nerve to still make incredible images!
Wow what an amazing day. You guys rock for sticking through and capturing it all. Emily did amazing considering the chaos. Great job as always!
What a day! I can’t imagine having to work through all of that…Great work under the worst circumstances!
OH MY GOSH. This is phenomenal, and you guys are awesome. I cried when you got to the part where they had their first dance. What a sweet, insane and memorable day!
Mikey, when you called me after this happened, you were so calm & collected. Thank God you were there & knew what to do. Then I see these pics. Thank God everyone got out of that tent. I am so proud of you & Bobbi. You guys did an even more awesome job than usual.
You guys are amazing! What a team!
HOLY COW!! What a beautiful, wet wedding! Their day will defiantly go down in history – a day everyone will remember.
All I can say is… Y’ALL are AMAZING!!!
Wow. Dedication and true service in its truest form always show in the work you two do. I totally cried reading this. This was terrifying, but you had the instinct to know they would want some of those timeless traditions for it to be complete. Amazing.
Fricking unbelievable. You guys ROCK. Enough said. 😉
OMG this was an amazing entry! High Fives Mike, indeed you are the man!
In Colombia, we have believe that when it rains during a wedding the couple are being blessed with lots of abundance and eternal love… not more needs to be said here 🙂
Amazing photos as always 🙂
Um Craaaaazy! Kudos to an amazing team of vendors that kept everything going. This will be a wedding to share with generations to come 😀
HOLY COW! That is amazing! Beautiful pictures and I am so glad that everything ended up being ok!
Awesome story! Regular old weddings are just plain boring 🙂 This is an adventure no one will ever forget.
Incredible story, and incredible wedding!! They are so lucky to have had such amazing photogs that were so proactive in an emergency!! I just love how you guys handled the situation, and documented the entire thing as it happened. More than beautiful portraits or capturing crazy details, THIS took heart and guts and is what makes the best photographer in my book! Just beautiful. Mike, I’m so glad that being a weather freak paid off. Big-time. 🙂 Love you guys!
Just awesome. A wedding to remember for sure! 🙂
That’s insane! You two handled it so well – I’m so glad Mike is your Weatherman and that everyone was safe!
Bobbi! I was bawling my eyes out by the end of that post. Sister, I would have been right under that table with you and we could have held each other while we wept. I have to say, I am so impressed not only by your professionalism (sticking it out! Amazing!) but the love you so obviously have for your clients. Mike’s suggestion to have the best man toast and for them to have their first dance reduced me to weeping in my coffee. It is no wonder your clients are so fiercely loyal to you… you are just as loyal to them. And high five’s to nerdy husbands! They make the best partners and amateur weather men. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this heart-stopping experience and for making such beautiful images of it.
This just goes to show that you guys are amazing. The photos are beautiful even though you were getting blown away by a storm!
I loved this post and I LOVED her dress!! Such a beautiful wedding with an amazing story to tell. I loved the ending… 🙂
Thank you so much for reminding us of all the many and varied responsibilities of a wedding photographer besides just taking pictures. You two are amazing and true professionals. The people look just as happy at the end as they did at the beginning, and I know you had a lot to do with that 🙂
I have to say…wow. wow. wow. What an incredible story for an unbelievable day! I had tears as I was reading what happened….LOVED the toasts at the end. and the B&G with the firemen. Way to take a tough situation and still find the awesomeness!
oh my word, i can’t believe this! GREAT post and BIG high fives to YOU GUYS for making their day so special, even among such chaos. 🙂 you guys rock!
Bobbi and Mike I want to thank y’all so much for being truly amazing photographers at Matthew and Emily’s wedding! You were so funny and always kept everyone laughing. The pictures turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!! I’ll keep this in mind..yall are by far my favorites 🙂
whoa! now i can say, that is the longest post you have. i have to agree to you when you said, the couple handled the situation very well. kudos to you and to the wedding planner! 🙂
thumbs up to you all!! what a gorgeous wedding – the bride couldn’t have handled it better – and she’s so pretty! bobbi, you rocked it – as always 🙂 xoxo
OH MY GOSH!!! I couldn’t stop reading this if I tried. By the end of this blog post I was freaking crying!!! What an amazingly heartfelt story and of course amazing pictures!
oh my! I have tears streaming down my face, big time! And I’m not a crier! What a beautiful story. I am so thankful that you are all safe. High five to both you and Mike!
You guys are incredible. Absolutely. You are heroes. =)
WOW…all I can say is WOW. That should absolutely be in a magazine somewhere……you 2 rock…..and lots of high fives to the both of you!
Cool and scary at the same time. Congrats on rocking it as usual!
Wow, that is the craziest wedding story I’ve ever heard! Mike and Bobbi, you guys did and amazing job. What a great couple (and their family and friends) to work with to keep such great attitudes in this situation!
Amazing, simply amazing!!! This brought tears to my eyes 🙂
your photos are so inspirational! absolutely beautiful! i’m also a wedding photographer and i’m in complete awe!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS!!! My favorite TWO things: The fact that it didn’t really seem to phase the two most important part of that day…the BRIDE AND GROOM! You know they are just so happy to be with each other that they wouldn’t care if a TORNADO hits their wedding! HA! The other: The fact that you two did your job through all of that and still captured some very amazing moments for them (though I’m not surprised)! Kudos and I tip my Photography top hat to you both! 😉
Wow!
WOW! …just WOW!
This is unreal – wow. you guys handled it like pros and the couple and family seem incredible!! What a beautiful wedding all around and a crazy day. so glad everyone is safe and ok!
Sometimes we forget that documenting a wedding day is just that…documenting. Capturing the day as it happens is what brings its beauty, its true rawness. Life isn’t perfect…even when we think we have planned it that way, so how could a wedding day be that way? Taking it one step at a time and capturing it in the midst of it all is what makes it, in the end, perfect…seeing each detail, each moment placed together is what made their wedding day perfect for them. And you guys did it, so very well. Beautiful job! Thankful that everyone was ok and can now relish in the memory of what was their wedding day.
i love y’all and your work!
Tears! How you and Mike handled this was nothing short of amazing, and you managed to get a stunning set of images to boot. Heroes.
Epic blog post! I’ve been following you guys for years. This posting just goes to show how amazing you both are!! Congrats on making a potentially horrible day into a great memory for your clients!!
Wow.
That’s all I got.
awesome xx
Wow, wow, wow. You both are amazing beyond words, and each of us who get just a brief moment with you are left in awe. Such a lovely post, such wonderful pictures, and the feeling and emotion that remained, throughout, kudos to the bride, groom, family, friends, everyone. So glad to hear everyone was safe and sound.
you guys are seriously the most amazing wedding photographers out there – to produce beautiful imagery and at the same time to manage situations the way that you did at this wedding is seriously AMAZING. what an story – so thankful and glad that everyone made it out safe and that it all ended on a good note!
Wow! This story is amazing and just made me rejoice that there are such caring professionals in the world that capture JOY in ANY circumstances! I love reading your blog and seeing your photographs as every one is JOYFUL and makes me smile! A powerful story of love all around, so well told through words and photos! Amazing…simply amazing!
I’ve read this post three times. I cannot get enough of the easy going and come what may attitude of the lovely bride, not to mention that her groom is HOT (inapropriate??). You two did a classic job of documenting this extraordinary day. Seriously, way to watch out for all of those people and make a mess look beautiful. Their wedding album will be the coolest, ever. P.S. I love your relationship.
This entry brought me to tears. The fact that the wedding day could have been “ruined” in any other Brides mind but her closest family and friends kept them together. Mike and Bobbi urged the day to go on and to make sure they had their happy ending.
You guys are one in a million!
I’m just in awe of you guys. You truly take photography to a whole new level. This seriously brought tears to my eyes. So glad that everyone was okay and that you were able to document such a memorable event in such a positive way.
Wow, just wow! Amazing. And surely one for the storybooks!
while your words are wonderful, what makes you and Mike stand out above and beyond other photographers is that your images have a life and voice of their own. tears, laughter and an increased pulse rate all brought on by your ability to capture the way life feels.
Even hearing you tell this story in person does nothing to trump the images from that day. Pure insanity. Your (and MIKE’S!) grace under pressure is why you two truly are the best in the biz. I 1000 percent believe that.
Amazing! I couldn’t stop reading, you guys are the best.
this made me so emotional… i cried here at my computer reading it. so moved. thank you for sharing!!
i cried. this is amaze. i adore you guys. xo
This is an amazing story of how weddings are built from Love and sometimes, although scary; that is a moment of love that will never be forgotten. Thank you for sharing Bobbi and we are all very glad that every person came out safe from the weather story. Big Props to Mike for taking a risk and leading the troops to safety!
You two are amazing, I can’t believe it. I don’t know how I would have handled that had I been the bride but she looked beautiful even after it all. I’m so glad everyone made it out ok and noone got hurt. I remember those IN storms and they can be so scary. The photos are still incredible despite the storm you guys are quite the pair. You did great! Oh and I love love her dress it’s so pretty.
Wow what a crazy story. Glad everyone is all right and yes I read the whole thing while at work.
They’ll be so pleased to have those photos from the end of their day. What a beautiful story of love in all things. They started off with For Worse so hopefully it’s For Better from here.
I’m so proud of the two of you and how you did everything that day. From making the decisions/calls you did saved many people from being hurt, to making sure their toasts/first dances didn’t get forgotten, you care so deeply and it shows. I’m most proud of the fact that you are truly one of my best friends and I’m honored to be a part of you and Mikey’s life. You love with your whole heart and soul and it shows in everything you do. WOW to the amazing photography – the amazing story – and the amazing love between Emily and Matt. Nothing makes me smile more than to know despite all that happened, they realized what REALLY took place that day – they married the person they waited their whole life for – and they didn’t forget it for once second. BRAVO to everyone involved. BRAVO!!
you’re my best friend… through and through. 100%. thank you heather…
This is AWESOME. I mean, really. I know that in those moments it was anything BUT awesome, but looking back on it now, the grace and amazingness of everyone there to handle the situation the best way they could and carry on…just awesome. Kudos to you both and to the families and friends of the bride and groom!!
High Fives! You both are so wonderful!
Holy effing CR8P! You, Bobbi, are awesome for documenting this whole event through and through. So nice to have Mike the Weatherman by your side, too. Epic.
OMG, Bobbi, that’s incredible. I may have been under the table, too, hahah!! You guys still did an amazing job (any worries there? No!) and what a story. 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
yup – this made me cry. amazing that you caught all these images, and even more amazing that no one was hurt! i can’t imagine being in that situation on my wedding day, but seeing these pictures and how everyone handled everything was inspiring. good work:)
This blog entry…is EXACTLY why I have a savings account at my bank titled “Bobbi + Mike” for my wedding someday…I’ve known for years that you guys will be my photographers. Think I only have a couple years til you will be hearing from me, so don’t go anywhere!!! lol. Amazing amazing work. So inspiring.
One word……..AMAZING!!!!
You two! Not only amazing photographers, but wedding coordinators in disaster weather! You both totally need awards. That was insane!
OH. MY. GAWD I would have been SOOOOO scared! You guys handled the situation like true pros, and I’m so proud of both of you for doing your BEST job EVER on this wedding. The couple will surely treasure these images as much if not MORE than anyone who had a “perfect” wedding. What a story to tell the grandkids!
amazing amazing amazing!
like whoa
One of the best wedding blog posts I’ve ever seen. You did an amazing job in what was obviously very very difficult circumstances and I love how the bride was smiling throughout!! Brilliant 🙂
Bobbi and Mike
I´m a brasilian wedding photographer and I love so much your work.
I´ve never had make a comment in another blog out of my country (because my English isn´t so good, eheeheh).
But this history was amazing. Oh My God!!! It was!!
Congratulations!!! You are incredible!!
Hokey Smokes! Glad you two are okay and what a great lesson for all brides and grooms…remember the important stuff. You guys deserved combat pay for this. I think you probably are the only two something like this could happen to!!
What a well told story! I think I got some goosebumps and my eyes got a little watery for a moment…
I read this entire post in slack jawed incredulity. You guys are incredible – the images are fantastic, that goes without saying, but to continue to document the day and to encourage Emily and Matt to keep the celebration going afterwards – kudos to you two. The bride and groom were blessed to have you guys as their photographers. And y’all are my heroes!
Oh my goodness!! How scary… you had me tearing up for a little bit there. I’m so glad that everyone is okay, and that you have some incredible images to document their very unforgettable day!
Wow! Certainly very memorable! Fantastic atmospheric photos.
Amazing story and great photography, you guys kept focussed throughout on why you were there. You would have probably made good war photographers as well.
Just love the fact that both the Bride and Groom are smiling throughout and lets face it – that’s one wedding that the families will talk about for years to come!
Wow, what an amazing story, thank you for sharing it with us, Nicky
Well written story of the events, you guys are a great team!
Speechless!! Wowzers!!!
What an amazing story! Thank you for proving why it is so important to hire professionals for a wedding! You did so much to keep their special day flowing and perfect. Imagine if Uncle Joe had been their photographer…. Nice work!
Amazing Bobbi! I love how the community came together…thanks for sharing!
Wow! That is INcredible! Well done you! That is an amazing tale and so glad you were all ok! xxx
Amazing story! Thank the lord for Mike the weatherman and what an incredible couple and family to take it all in their stride.
I definitely woulda been under the table with you 😉
Amazing – just amazing. Great photographic story. You should be able to weather any storm now.
That is one amazing story. You certainly had all the right people there to deal with the situation. Glad everyone is ok. Bravo!
I think this just goes to show the importance of having amazing photographers like the two of you. It is not simply about photographing a wedding but about doing everything you can for the couple. What you so and how you help is what makes the two of you so awesome. As for the couple well they kick butt. To stay calm in such a situation and not let it spoil the day show the strength of a couple, a couple who recognizes what is important. Congrats to them!
Marisa, I adore you. Thank you for always being our cheer leader. 🙂 Hope you’re doing great!
Definitely an epic day!! Wow, what a great couple (photographed by an even more amazing couple!!)
oh.em.gee!! how incredible is this? god bless them.. really..!!
[…] .. Spending some time with Illustrator, designing wedding invitations. .. Reading this blog post about the craziest wedding day experience ever. .. Talking to Reba for 13 minutes on my cellular […]
What an awe-inspiring post! In the midst of fear, love prevailed! Beautiful.
Beautiful images and a lovely story.
You lived through my absolute BIGGEST nightmare. I’m sure most people are scared of tornadoes, but my phobia would have killed me in your situation. I give you the highest fives possible. You got some amazing shots!
Holy wow!! What an amazing story and photos! I mean wow wow wow.
Bobbi and Mike, You two are the best. Knowing you two is a treasure for me!!!!!
clearly you guys are awesome as are Emily + Matt. Vicki, who left the first comment said, “…knowing you two is a treasure for me!!!!!” I only wished I did know you. Maybe someday.
Amazing!!! Never leave the couple until its done…You and Mike are the best!!!
Lovely blog – amazing documented photos of the storm. Love that they made the best of the day.
PS – Who designed her wedding dress?!?!?! BEAUTIFUL~
wow… I am in tears reading this!! Bless you both for saving the day in so many ways.
I’m not even sure how I got on here….but I couldn’t stop reading. You guys are amazing, thank you for sharing this really happy story 🙂
Congratulations on a truly incredible day! Emily and Matt were so lucky to have you two to keep everything in perspective! Clearly those two are in a lot of love 🙂
That is a crazytown story!!! Amazing couple, amazing images, amazing day…..but seriously you guys really saved it all!!! Wow. WOW!
Matt and Emily- I sincerely hope you have a wonderful life together.
Bobbi and Mike-amazing photos and amazing story!
My Fiancee grew up in tornado country all her life, they could get a lot worst than it did- luckily no one was harmed 🙂
Take care,
A-maz-ing!!! You are a tribute to your craft! Echoing all the sentiments stated before me!
wow. praise God everyone was safe from that storm! how awesome!
this was the awesomest “longest blog post” EVER. I love you guys!!
Ummmm, amazing.
Wow! Dedicated! I love it!
That is just amazing!! Can’t say I would have handled it quite that well but it gives me something to aspire to. What a wonderful story and a beautiful couple.
oh my gaw! you guys are outta control amazing. I am SO glad you’re alive and you guys did a fantastic job in crazy circumstances! Rock on!!
xo,
Molly
BEST entry ever! Your talent is extraordinary no matter the situation-rain, snow or tornado!
Bobbi & Mike, you guys are FRIGGIN SUPERHEROS. I want to be you when I grow up, man. What an amazing story, and how blessed were these two to have you as the team documenting it all? <3
I love your work and have followed it for a while but never comment because I’m always reading the blog from my iphone which I hate typing on. Long story short, I got on the computer to post a comment on this because it was SO touching! You and Mike are amazing for how you handled the situation and what an incredible couple! I bet they are so blessed by your efforts to make their day special despite the awful and very scary weather! I am so glad everyone is safe, I had tears in my eyes the entire second half of the post!
Oh mY goodness!!! i am SO flying you over to NZ for my wedding…better get hunting for a man!!! wink wink!!!
you guys go above and beyond….but YAH for it all working best as poss considering ALL those circumstances!!!!
Wow. Just wow. You guys always rock it but this goes ABOVE & BEYOND. I bow down to you. Glad you are safe and sound! 🙂
What an amazing blog. The couple and all their friends and family are inspirational. Just goes to show that life is purely what you make of it! Your photos are stunning and a perfect tribute to an astonishing day. Even though you were clearly terrified (as i would certainly have been too!) you’ve really captured the event so well. I’m positive they will NEVER forget their special day!
What a fantastic story and a priceless collection of images!! You really excelled.
Special work indeed!
Fantastic story and pretty amazing photos given the circumstances!
Well done guys ! you did everything to make their day work – despite the weather – over and above what anyone could have expected !
I don’t usually make it to the end of blog posts, or read every word! That changed with this one!
Incredible Job!
High fives back!
Simply the best blog post I’ve ever seen. Jaw-dropping. You did an AMAZING job. I’m in awe. So glad everyone stayed safe.
Bobbi and Mike! This just sealed the deal. When I get married someday I will have no other wedding photographer besides the two of you! You are absolutely positively awesome.
Bonjour,
Je suis française et je profite de ce post, que j’ai lu en entier ;), pour vous dire que j’adore votre travail!!! Vos photos sont sublimes et votre état d’esprit est merveilleux!!!! Je rêve que vous soyez mes photographes de mariage mais je parle peu anglais, mon homme ne sait dire que hello, de plus géographiquement ca risque d’être difficile!!! Tout ça pour vous dire continuez je vous adore!!!!!
Floriane
Bonjour,
Je suis française et je profite de ce post, que j’ai lu en entier ;), pour vous dire que j’adore votre travail!!! Vos photos sont sublimes et votre état d’esprit est merveilleux!!!! Je rêve que vous soyez mes photographes de mariage mais je parle peu anglais, mon homme ne sait dire que hello, de plus géographiquement ca risque d’être difficile!!! Tout ça pour vous dire continuez je vous adore!!!!!
Floriane
WOW…….you guys just rock ! to keep on shooting when the World is caving in around you…to salvage what looked to be a beautiful Wedding and …..what an amazing Bride and Groom …just amazing
i’m seriously speechless. wow. wow. wow. sooooo glad everyone is ok and that Mike is a genious… 🙂
make that GENIUS! 😉
wow girl 😉 how incredible and amazing story to share! i adore your pictures. can you fly out to chicago for my wedding 😉
WOW that is quite the day!! Glad everyone was ok! Beautiful photos!
seriously amazing!!!
Omg, absolutely stunning photos ever with. The chaos and that is one memorable wedding! Your skills were well appreciated on this day I’m sure and a wedding dress with pockets WHAT? def want that for my wedding day
WOW! I am seriously amazed at this entire story! Incredible! I am so happy to know you are all safe – and you guys captured their day SO well!
Awesome……a marriage that can”weather any storm” from the very beginning! Incredible pictures from a day that will never be forgotten! =)
Wow, this wedding was intense! I can’t say I would have handled it as well as that couple. Gorgeous pictures and I’m glad you got what you could!
Fantastic story, and your capture of the precious moments is superb.
Absolutely amazing!!! What an experience and you did such an amazing job keeping it together and keeping it moving. I found myself holding my breath as I read! I am so glad everyone made it through safely and I LOVE that you photographed the firemen:)
completely inspiring. I love it.
Oh.my! I could not even imagine being in your shoes. Not even for a second. That’s horrible and yay for Mike saving the day haha! I’m glad everyone is safe.
I’ve always thought y’all were amazing but after seeing this, I’m in awe!
Seriously you guys. Amazing. This is definitely the most emotional wedding blog post I’ve ever read. Thank God everyone is safe, and thank God for talented wedding photographers who are committed to their job even during a dangerous storm.
I read the entire entry and…WOW all around!!!!!!
I love this wedding, and this couple. What troopers! You guys were amazing, and a real example of how a photographer can make or break an event. Thanks for making this one fantastic. I was in tears at the end.
WOW!!! Im getting married next week..I gues this is what my man was trying to tell me when he said..” Enjoy the moment and be happy no matter what hapends at the wedding”..because you never know what can happen in a wedding..I love how the couple stayed calm and happy all trough the wedding..Now if anything bad happends at my wedding..I will think of these guys.
WOW. Amazing!
You guys are incredible for making what could have been a horrible day into a beautiful memorable experience. Absolutely inspiring!
O.M.Y… Ok. I take back all my complaints about the drizzle, and/or too much sun during my sessions… You guys are incredible and inspirational professionals!
I’m so glad everyone made it through without so much as a scratch! You two are so dedicated to your craft and everyone involved, a lesser person would’ve bailed. Tornadoes are serious business, yet you all remained so cool and collected. Thanks to your cool heads, you both saved a lot of lives! I’m terrified of such storms; growing up in Kansas City and outlying suburbs, have given me my fair share of tornado close calls. Then again, it gives you what you need to be ready, when nature throws down! Kansas City tough, woot woot! You both should be commended for your actions on this day. 🙂
Wow! I’d say both the couple and the photographers handled everything really, really well! Bet everyone was glad for Mike’s weather-bugness!! Glad everyone is safe and that they had such an amazing sense of humor about everything!
I realize there are already 200+ comments on this post, but I have literally been thinking about this post since I read it yesterday. So I thought you should know that. Simply amazing. Like your husband. Kudos to him and his mad skills.
This was such an incredible post — I read the entire thing and it didn’t even seem that long! I love how Emily and Matt seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the chaos. Now THAT’S love! Also, I’ve heard that having rain on your wedding day is a sign of a great marriage, so having a tornado on their wedding day must mean those two crazy kids must REALLY have an awesome future ahead of them, am I right? 😉 The photographs are absolutely gorgeous!
You guys are true class and total professionals. You make this industry proud.
As for the couple and their family, kudos for handling the situation with grace, humor, and calm. Amazing, all around!
WoW! What a day of Amazing Grace! I have the pleasure of being a part of this wonderful extended family because I am the breeder of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that Margaret will be sharing with family and friends. She was kind enough to send the link and share this sacred event. I laughed so hard at some of the commentary during this wedding…great images! Everyone involved in making this a special day showed grace under pressure. I definitely think Apple would be interested in this story and how their iphone & car speakers added to the memories of this wedding.
Patricia Powers PRATT Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Beaufort, SC
Praise God that everyone is okay! I’m amazed how professional you two remained throughout. Okay I’m not amazed, but it’s YOU GUYS. But it’s truly amazing how well you handled it.
My friend Steph sent me here via Facebook….loved the story that you perfectly captured. Glad everyone was safe.
i am in awe – from the amazing bride and groom to their family and friends and bbmk! can’t even imagine what that was like, but the photos you captured were still nothing short of amazing. and mike’s thoughtfulness! seriously brought tears to my eyes! you both are such a winning team, without a doubt.
i am in awe – from the amazing bride and groom to their family and friends and bbmk! can’t even imagine what that was like, but the photos you captured were still nothing short of amazing. and mike’s thoughtfulness! seriously brought tears to my eyes! you both are such a winning team, without a doubt.
Being someone that grew up in the Joplin area (my folk still live there) I can imagine what it must have felt like. SO happy you guys are all alright! And that bride’s dress is beyond gorgeous.
Such an amazing story and you captured it so beautifully!
Just ran across these wedding photos. I do not know either of them and have never visited your website before but I just have to say, I love the way you told their story. It made me cry. What a perfect, stormy, fun, wedding day. You captured it beautifully!
Holy AMAZING Story and INCREDIBLE photos.
Wow! You guys are my heroes! What an amazing wedding in the most unwanted way :-). Great job capturing such a memorable event!
Gorgeous photos. Wonderful story. Fabulous people. Thanks for sharing and taking such care with the reporting of the event,
Awesome. Wow. Kick ass. You guys are amazing people, great photographers, and are pretty friggin’ cool too – in a word, you rock.
Keep on being awesome!
-Brian
It’s the most gorgeous wedding- so sad to see their things destroyed. Looks like everyone handled it beautifully. I’m so impressed! Best wishes to the couple!
Wow, that’s amazing. I am particularly curious how the barn doors blew off, but the wreath was untouched! Glad you guys survived!
What an amazing story and I loved the way you told it. It really shows the true meaning of what the wedding day is all about and it also shows true photography at it’s best to be flexible and work under crazy conditions! Cheers to you! Cheers to the amazing and happy couple!
Oh my goodness!! This story amazes me. What a great team you are–able to capture the moment, whatever moment that might be. I just love and admire your work!
I’m actually in tears here. That photo of them just beaming through their first dance together put me right over the edge. There was something profoundly powerful in that image. All those images… what an amazing job you two did of capturing a nearly catastrophic day and a pair so clearly in love! 🙂 You two, and that adorable couple, rocked it!
Wow, wow, wow!!!
i am definitely in tears. what a beautiful wedding. and you guys are amazeballs!!
Wow. What can I say? Wow. How scary that must have been but you guys (as always) captured the day incredibly!
Seriously AMAZING!!! You guys are as awesome as they come! 🙂
Oh tears girl! tears!Scary, sweet, incredible, memorable. You guys are awesome and so was this family. Love to you all!
The BEST blog post I have ever read! You captured the chaos BEAUTIFULLY! Those two were lucky to have you. Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow, kudos to them for smiling throughout that incredible day and to you both for producing your creative and brilliant work to your usual reliable high standard on this crazy day!
P.S. Wish I had a weather man…… 😉
Just wow! They were incredibly lucky to have you as their photographers and that you stayed to document it all so perfectly. Bravo bravo!! You need to submit this to the newspaper or a magazine!
It was truly a beautiful wedding! It rained on our wedding too. Must be really good luck for you!!
To a beautiful marriage! Congrats!
Holy freaking wow! I am so glad that you will are unharmed. I don’t know what I would do without my Bobbi & Mike. So scary and incredible at the same time. Mike was pretty genius at the end with the toasts and dance. You guys are amazing! I can’t believe you kept your cool enough (besides your short period under the table) to continue to take pictures. You both are the bomb diggity!!
As a Joplin photographer, I can tell you that hiding under a table crying is an incredibly smart reaction. : ) Mike is a rock star for saving the day with his weather app! How awesome that you all were able to recover so incredibly well and document this day with such love and humor. This couple will absolutely cherish the moments you helped to create. That’s the test of a true professional!!!
I definitely stuck through that post TWICE! It was an incredible day for you two I can see and I found the entire post amazing! Thanks for sharing!
A bride-to-be on Wedding Bee shared this and I had to post in on Facebook. I cried a little bit when I first read the post this morning and teared up again reading it tonight. You are amazing. The couple is amazing. I’m so glad everyone was safe and sound. Thank you so much for sharing!
This is the most amazing blog post I’ve ever read! It made me cry. You guys are just amazing! Br, Riika from Finland
Love love love. It couldn’t have been captured more perfectly. Well done friends 🙂
[…] I have to link to this blog post by the fabulous Bobbi + Mike HERE. This bride and groom had a TORNADO run through their wedding reception. A literal tornado. Not […]
Wow. WOW! What a story. I can picture a slew of people who’d have freaked out if this was their wedding day (or they were photographing it), but your couple & the two of you did an awesome job of rolling with the punches!
Bobbi, I’d have been huddling and crying, too. Tornadoes scare the bejeezus out of me! Awesome work, both of you.
OH MY GOODNESS. Wow! Well you guys sure rocked it! It was great that the party still went on 🙂 Congrats to the couple!
Holy cow! I am in tears. What an amazing wedding day for them. You are a AMAZING photog and weatherperson team!!
Wow!!! I cried and laughed reading through this. Kudos to everyone involved. Amazing images! much love,
xox
Benita
this entire post made me cry…you guys are awesome!
Amazing! Way to save the day!!
Wow, phenomenal! I will never complain about rain on a wedding day again!
This is the best. ever. in the whole wide world. you guys are CLEARLY super heroes. wow. excuse me while i continue to cry…. 🙂
I love… that despite the crazy and imperfections of that day… You guys captured it PERFECTLY… I know many people would have “called it quits” and you guys CAPTURED it instead! Talk about a truly memorable wedding… and had they had ANY other photographer… chances are..they’d only have memories to live by… instead of pictures… Bobbi and Mike… I adore you!
Amazing story of sticking through till the end! You guys are great, and I’m sure they’ll appreciate all of the damage photos when they go to tell the story of their wedding day!
BTW – I applaud Mike’s fast thinking too – what weather app does Mike recommend?
This is amazing and scary at the same time.
I really gotta give it up for these two, as most who know me know i live by, “give credit where credit is due”. As both a photographer and a storm chaser this blog entry really reaches out to me. I can honestly say that i have so much respect for bobbi & mike, you two are what so many of us could only dream of being. Amazing work as always and not to mention under severe pressure. You guys are amazing!!!
Much Respect!!
I am so proud of both of you. You have provided this happy couple with so much more than just the memory of this most exciting day. I have to say I believe the Good Lord had a hand in keeping everyone safe and sound (though maybe he could have planned the weather better). It certainly appears that this couple, as well as my favorite photographers, can weather any storm.
Love you both!
Aunt Karen
[…] *Absolutely STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY of a wedding that LITERALLY got interrupted by a tornado! […]
wow i have looked at these images so many times and am in complete awe of you and your team. You beautifully captured this day and told the unbelievable story of it with such emotion flowing from every image. Fantastic job. They were so lucky to have you as their photographer that day. What a treasure they have in those photos.
What absolutely beautiful photographs, and such a heart warming story.
Wow! just, wow!
What more can I say??
😉
Bobbi and Mike – THANKS! Thanks for taking the time to document this incredible event. Our company set up the tent in conjunction with Lori (Boldly Chic Events) and the incomparable Margaret (mother of the bride). I was on my way to Mooresville, IN that afternoon and was saying to all in our car that I was SOOO happy for this wonderful family that the weather was looking so good. Until my son-in-law (who also works for the company) said, except that there’s a RED cell looming over Kokomo! I told him he was a very funny guy … then he showed me his iphone. UGH!! I pray for all of our customers and WOW, did they need extra prayers more than I knew! I was at the tear down the following morning and saw Margaret as we were wrapping up. She was stunningly calm – until her voice cracked when she talked about going back to the tent to get the bouquet and saw that it had fallen right where the head table was. It was a scary thought. For all of us who were involved – thanks for memorializing the event. And I love creating words … the amazingness of it aptly describes it! You two do INCREDIBLE work! : )
What an awesome read and fantastic photos — great job handling everything that was thrown your way!
This actually brought tears to my eyes…I can’t imagine this happening to me as a bride or photographer – and I believe this blog has brought hope to many readers, that nothing can bring down a wedding day!
I don’t think you have enough comments, so I thought I would add another. 😉
Epic wedding, love conquers all!
What an awesome post. Loved reading this an hearing how laid back the b&g was even as everything was falling apart. Loved it!
Incredible! This couple handled the situation so beautifully–as did you and Mike. I am so impressed and so happy that no one was injured. You did an amazing job documenting this insane day–and you got so many great shots! Loved this post. =)
you have officially succeeded in making me tear up! I’m very moved by the moments you have captured & the memories you’ve forever preserved for this beautiful couple! The grace & composure displayed by these two lovebirds, from start to finish, is just jaw dropping. What a story.
As for you & Mike…wow Bobbi – WOW. You are both such amazing, compassionate & empathetic people – and it has always been so evident to me that this photography business is hardly just a paycheck for you. Your passion and devotion to capturing these moments, even when you were fearing for your own life, is just remarkable. You are beautiful people, and you capture truly beautiful moments. I’m honored to have worked beside you. x0.
I have never heard a story like this before, wow! I have my own “Mike the weatherman” in my husband, but he doesn’t usually come with me on jobs, but now I feel like I need to bring him to be on weather watch! Beautiful job, what an amazing wedding these two have to remember!
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G you guys!!!! So thankful no one was hurt. Mike, you’re a rock star!!!
Amazing. Very well done for continuing with the job. So Professional!
I am getting married in a small ceremony on my front porch in less than two months. This story brought me to tears. Not because it scared me for my wedding day. But because it inspired me that on a wedding day, love really is all you need. From the wedding party to the photographers, so glad it all turned out safely.
AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING. I am blown away at this. What a perfect wedding day. Your friends and family are surrounding you and the world is falling apart but it doesn’t matter becuase it’s your day and your loved ones are there.
Agh! Speechless! Love this! Great job.
The reason you two are such AMAZING photographers? Not only are you funny, creative and inventive… You still made the most important moments happen in the worst situation possible. Absolutely remarkable.
Holy tornado batman!! What a story!! Wow to the bride + groom and their guests … sounds like they adjusted to the weather and took it all in stride. Glad everyone made it out of the storm safely. Amazing pictures 🙂
I was suppose to be getting dressed but decided to see what this post was about cause it looked interesting.As I was reading,my husband walked into the room, “why aren’t you getting dressed?” and with my finger i gesture, “one minute”…lol…I’m so glad I stopped to read it, best blog post I ever read! Thank You! I’d wish them happiness but it looks like they got a handle on it …lol..I’m happy to read no one was injured and to see that even with everything that happened it still ended with smiles :0)Lovely Story
HIGH FIVE TO YOU BOTH!!!!
that was an epic wedding and weather situation 😉
awesome job to the both of you.
INCREDIBLE!!!!
That was amazing……. no other words!
It’s amazing the stuff we go through for LOVE! I thought the photo’s were incredible. The bride and groom looked so very happy. I wish them all the luck and happiness in the future. Who were the people in the photo’s? How were they related? What state was this in?
you 2 are amazing. what a memorable day for all of you. they were very lucky to have had you as their photogs. many would have been gone as soon as they realized that there was even the potential for such storms. thank you for caring about people and your art so much. its truly inspiring.
Beautiful!! This had me crying. Not only is it a beautiful reminder that life is short, but I love the fact that this couple hired a photographer and were able to walk away from their wedding knowing their friends and family were safe from harm. Everything about this post screams out about your passion for what you do, and it’s inspiring!
This is such a beautiful story and the pictures are amazing. So glad u are all safe
WOW!! This had me in tears. What an amazing wedding!
That is definitely a wedding to remember!
OH MAN! OH MAN! Oh my gosh! That’s all I kept saying while reading this! My hands both covering my mouth. I feel like I just watched a very thrilling movie! That was incredible, amazing, awesome…literally AWE-some. You two are my absolute idols
yes, mike is genius.. i totally teared up when you all made it possible for them to have their first dance 🙂 seriously… precious.
On the edge of my seat reading the entire thing. You guys are amazing! And I am so glad no one got hurt!
Oh what a wedding! And what a bride and groom!! And what cool as cucumber photographers! And on top of all that natural chaos, you got such an excellent record of a truly one off day!! Have really enjoyed reading!! xx
You guys are absolute ROCKSTARS ! well done to all involved, and hey, probably one of the most memorable weddings to go down in history. Emily & Matt, to have kept your beautiful smiles throughout, I applaud you and may your marriage be a blessed and rich one. Golly, that was pretty ‘teary’ …
I’ve been reading this blog in admiration for years and then the other day you guys were featured on Glamour magazine’s wedding blog! My blog-o-spheres collided! So cool! Amazing pictures as always.
Best wedding blog post ever. What an amazing story, the words and pictures. Kudos to the bride, groom & family for seeming to handle it all so well! I’d love to show this post to all the nervous brides out there … “Well, you probably won’t have a tornado tear through your reception!” Great job Bobbi + Mike.
[…] gushing rain, and a gloomy gray backdrop (which made for a pretty cool picture . . . nice shot bobbi+mike). From the looks of all the photos, the caterers were able to rush the food inside and the guests […]
i’ve always felt like you guys deserved a spot in the history books, but holy hannah, after such incredible circumstances and your reaction to it (including the under the table crying) the images were still incredible and told your bride and grooms story. ROCKSTARS, all the way. high fives to all involved. and heaven bless that weather radar app. =)
I have no idea why I started crying through this post…ok, well maybe I have SOME idea. I loved that you captured every single important moment of their day, no matter how messy, unconventional, scary, or wet!. And it wasn’t contrived. I love it for you and I love it for them! Thanks for the post and the wonderful photography.
Holy Moly! And we thought OUR wedding went bad! I’m so glad to see that the bride and groom kept perspective, and that everyone was safe. What a blessing! (p.s. wreath = miracle)
Craziest wedding story ever!!! Love the ending 😉
Love this story. so much.
Great job everyone!
Love this story. so much.
Great job everyone!
Oh Bobbi and Mike. i was impressed when you did my nephew’s wedding but seeing this…..well two thumbs up. Amazing pictures.
Omgosh…. I have become a fan.. I just love love love your work. Such an inspiring blog :)…and I am happy to see they still continued to have a great day. If they can get through a tornado…. Marriage is a cinch 😉
I loved this post. Amazing photos…and I am now a fan…love love your work you guys. Well if they can get through a tornado…Marriage is a cinch!
WOW! What a day. Thank you so much for sharing the experience and kudos to the bride & groom for keeping smiles on their faces in the mist of what could have been a tragic day for them. I’m now your newest blog fan! :o)
Amy
Okay, I lurk at your blog and now it’s time for me to post. If you could see me while I was reading your story I was smiling and felt sorry for the bride & groom at the same time. They say rain on wedding day is good luck, but what does a tornado get you? WHAT A GREAT STORY! You guys are fantastic and always entertaining! Good job on the wedding day despite the issues with the silly tornado. Thanks!
Amazing. your captures of the day, so memorable for the bride and groom. they are truely lucky to have you two as their wedding photographers for this amazing day. and all the photos are gorgeous!
WOW! Props to the bride and groom for not letting this ruin their special day. Props to you guys for helping them still make it special!!! That Mike of yours is a genius! I just love how much you guys love your clients and take care of them. Emily+Matt’s day wouldn’t have been the same if you guys weren’t there 🙂
Kudos to you! Amazing experience, the good and the bad, coming so close together – oh my! It felt like following a thriller scrolling down your blog!
WOW what a story! You guys saved the day, real life super-photo-hero stuff! Amazing memories for the bride and groom. 🙂
That might possibly be the BEST WEDDING STORY EVER! Of course, I really wouldn’t want it to happen to me. Just sayin!
[…] and the highlight of the party was hearing the story of this wedding straight from the birthday girl’s mouth. Go check it out and be the 306th person to comment. […]
Um, wow?!?! On a high note, that bride’s dress was PERFECT. And holy hell, is this your most-commented post of all time??
I posted this story and photo’s on my FB page for others to see. The photo’s are amazing……… and so is this family. LOVE LOVE LOVE their positive “just keep going” attitude.
Just beautiful! I love the blog comments…I felt like I was there with you. I wish I could get married again and have you photograph the festivities! Best of luck with your future endeavors.
Holy gosh. That was amazing. Amazing amazing.
I had goosebumps throughout the whole thing, and tears at “Amazing Grace”.
What a blessing you guys were for the couple, I’m sure.
Your storytelling is beautiful and the images are heartwarming and bone chilling at the same time.
Amazing.
Congratulations to Emily and Matt!
Mike? Bobbi? You guys can handle ANYTHING.
Great great story, and fabulous photos!
Wow! That will be a wedding that is talked about for a long time! Amazing photos!
Big applause to the two of you for sticking it out. You still captured their day beautifully, job well done!!!!
I found your site on Bloom blog and thought I would check you out. I loved the shots I saw there. Now that I am here and going through your blog, I am amazed. Your work is magnificent, but this story is amazing. You have a new fan!!! You captured the joy in their wedding day that they will always remember. You stayed when so many others would have hit the high road and look at the beauty you captured. You guys rock and I will be following you! Thanks for the inspiration!
This post brought tears to my eyes! I am so glad everyone made it out of there safely. Now that is one wedding no one will EVER forget!
It sounds like you guys definitely went above and beyond the call of duty this day. Way to go! Aside from your incredible talent, anyone would be lucky to have you two are their wedding photographers. And major kudos to Emily (and by extension, Matt) for not being Bridezilla and being angry or bitter. Sometimes you just can’t help what happens!
OH my goodness! I’ve never seen anything like this! you are one dedicated woman. At the word “tornado” I would have put the camera down and called it a day. That said, the pictures are gorgeous and the bride is stunning. What a GORGEOUS day, so well documented.
Wow! What a great story and so awesome that everyone made the best of it! In other news, at least the clouds helped eliminate all that harsh direct light that can come from the sun!
This story came to me through a link that Prime Time Party Rental had on Facebook…. Yes it was worth reading until the end. Choked me up and let me say this to you, you’re (and your photographers and etc.) Are simply amazing. My gosh! I hope one day my daughter marries…. we need you!
I never laughed so hard! Tears also. Not only are you a good photographer, but a great blogger too. That had to be a memory for life for you, Mike and the bride & groom. I’m going to share this with others. Thanks for the levity, and I was so touched by the photos!
Grace, amazingly.
Amazing! I love all of your commentary, and wonderful photos to go along with it! I’m so glad everyone was safe…and in the end…the happy coupe were married and those that they love were there with them <3
Wow! That is possibly the most amazing thing I’ve ever read. What an incredible day. What an incredible couple to get through it all with a smile on their face. And to you, for remaining professional through a life threatening situation. Amazing photos. Love your work xx.
E-P-I-C! So freaking amazing. Seriously.
Wow – what a day! Those are some special effects that you just can’t buy!
Gorgeous location, darling couple, beautiful pictures, great attitudes all around … congratulations to all. What a terrific story you have to tell.
Cathy
Event Planners Association
What an awesome couple and family! Favorite blog post of all time! Bobbi+Mike… you guys rock! =P
ive read this twice. You guys are incredible. What an unforgettable wedding. You did a fabulous job as photographers but it sounds like you did a fabulous job as people too. I heart you.
bethany
Wow. I am so glad you linked back to this – I am fairly new to your blog and didn’t see it the first go around. You guys are amazing, that couple and their entire group of guests are amazing, those photos take my breath away. Amazing work. Now I need to head off to the work bathroom to compose myself…
O.K. Me and my wife are blown away by your talent…..we wish we knew you guys 13 years ago when we got married…….LOVE IT!!
You are an amazing photographer!! I only wish I knew of you for my up coming wedding. Thanks for sharing 🙂
You 2 are full of awesome. This post made me cry. I would have been a wreck.
They say rain and wind on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck for a long and happy marriage. Mine was 29 years ago on a wet and windy July day but, this wedding will last forever……
I’ve read this post several times, and the fact you guys stuck it out AND kept capturing moments make you rock…HARD!
HOLY CRAP !!! amazing story.. you two are the best.. what a great story!!
What an amazing story! Tears are literally pouring down my face as I read how Mike saved the day getting them to finish those little special moments at the end. Your pictures are amazing!
This post is awesome! So glad that no one was hurt and that the wedding had a happy ending. 🙂 I love your pictures! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I have just found your blog and oh my!! I have just wiped tears off my face after reading your beautiful post of this amazing wedding! So emotional and beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing and for inspiring me with your writing!!
Looks like they never confirmed the tornado! http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110702_rpts.html
Tara, looks like I never did either. “I was only under the table as the funnel cloud passed over the barn…”
AMAZING! Beautiful, scary and fun all at the same time. Thanks for the intense, couldn’t take my eyes off the blog story 🙂
Read this months ago and gasped and cried and smiled then, but I guess I didn’t post; sorry. It’s amazing. You guys were rock stars and your bride and groom were truly awesome. Mike deserves some sort of medal or award for helping predict that everyone needed to get inside pronto. You guys rock my socks. *hugs*
I really love this post. I’m just now seeing it for the first time. Fantastic job, especially with the conditions. Inspiring stuff!
Wow! This is amazing! You did a great job caturing the day 🙂
[…] if you REALLY want to get your mind blown – check out this blog entry by the amazing Bobbi and Mike out of Indianapolis. They had an ACTUAL TORNADO go over the […]
What an amazing post. How blessed the bride and groom are to not only have such amazing pictures of their wedding day, but the day told so well through your writing. I wish someone would have documented my wedding day so well with words.
[…] if you REALLY want to get your mind blown – check out this blog entry by the amazing Bobbi and Mike out of Indianapolis. They had an ACTUAL TORNADO go over the […]
Way to tell their wedding story perfectly, you rock!
I work for Shoup’s catering but I was not at this particular event. Those who were, are still talking about it every time we have a wedding. It is wonderful to see the pictures that bring to the life the stories I’ve been hearing. Repeatedly, it never fails that someone will mention the amazing wedding couple and how they accepted what was happening and just went along with it all. Most couples, I believe, would have been falling apart, so this says alot about their character. They were married, safe and enjoying the day they will remember for the rest of their lives. God bless them!
What a fantastic story – really pleased everyone was safe
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I too LOVE that the bride was smiling the whole time. What an amazing story.
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[…] This photo was taken in a barn in the aftermath – actually, just go read the story here it’s worth […]
[…] of the most amazing wedding stories and images I have ever seen is from your ‘tornado wedding’ last year. Would you mind sharing a little of your thought process during that day and how you […]
[…] Fotos (e a versão da história pelos noivos e fotógrafos): Bobbi + Mike […]
WOW! BORN TO DO THIS!
Ha, incredible wedding day! You can only ever photograph what’s in front of you! Hope your cameras are ok!
[…] Fotos (e a versão da história pelos noivos e fotógrafos): Bobbi + Mike […]
Wow – What an amazing story and blog post – clearly you all had a tough day – but so so pleases the wedding went ahead – thanks for sharing
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