Memories by Candace was thrilled to capture Ryan + Emily’s love story in a beautiful backyard wedding in Mesa, AZ.

Anthony Natale, owner and videographer of Natale Weddings, reached out to me for this couple’s wedding. Every now and then I get some awesome videographers or other vendors that refer me out or have a relationship with me to where we work together and just do our thing. With these relationships, sometimes we are able to even bundle our services together to make it better for the couple. And not to mention, we have tons of experience already working together. So that’s how it was for this wedding.

Emily and Ryan were so gracious with their time with us. So much that they even wanted to try a Champagne spray night photo with us. And being the team that we are, we were up for trying “new to us” things. Challenge accepted and challenge succeeded. I was so thrilled that with patience from Emily and Ryan, and a few bottles of Champagne, we got the photos and look that they wanted! It was so worth it. And as a photographer, I love it when couples let us have plenty of time for photos and even experimenting to get the right light! And that’s just what this couple did. I JUST LOVED THAT!

From their family and friends at the reception, I learned that Emily’s family was from Chicago and Ryan’s family was from Nebraska. I got a little chuckle because he has even acquired the nickname of “Nebraska” from Emily’s older brother. Ryan is a nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and even though both Emily and Ryan live in the Phoenix area, he still loves his Nebraska and Huskers, which he promised in his vows that he wouldn’t keep talking about on his wedding day.

During their reception, instead of a sparkler exit. They did a sparkler dance surrounded by friends and family. So that was a first for me and I loved it. I thought it was so special and different. I can see that becoming a wedding trend.

Ryan + Emily, it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of your wedding day. Emily, I can definitely see how much you make Ryan smile, as he was definitely all smiles the whole day. And when he wasn’t, he was crying happy tears. Ryan, I can also see how Emily would be so easy to love. Seeing her light up as a mother to Owen was so special. I’m sure it made you fall in love with her even more.

Here are some more highlights from their special day.