As the famous Etta James sings…At last, My Love Has Come Along….
Such perfect words may actually have been sung years in advance for Nichol & Duke. For they have had a courtship for the ages…after 14 years of togetherness that included building one of Madison’s most successful spas, Kneaded Relief; raising their grandchild, and then in 2011 they celebrated the birth of their own adorable little person Amari (who just may be one of the most darling babies ever) … they finally decided to get married.
Now I have known Duke and Nichol (mostly Nichol) for nearly five years, we’re facebook friends, we’ve hung out, we wish each other happy birthday and we live less than a mile from each other, plus they are some of the most fun and grounded people I know. So I was incredibly excited for them when they got engaged… and then some how I talked them into hiring me and my brand new wedding planning company, and Lucky Me, they did!
Meet Nichol… yeah, she smiles and laughs all the time…
Here she is again, probably one of my most favorite getting ready shots of all time. She is so glamorous and those eyes…
Meet Duke… handsome, isn’t he?
Nichol and Duke planned a first look, which is always romantic. In the course of planning and talking, Duke had mentioned that he wished he could have Jagged Edge’s song Let’s Get Married at his wedding… well, it’s not really a “wedding” song. So in a moment of brilliance, I thought wouldn’t it be cool if we surprised him at their first look with his song he loved so much…
Now you have to understand that Duke is one of the Koolest Kats I know… and that might be what makes this picture so special.
yeah… he was a little teary… and that’s why Nichol loves a guy with so much swagger, because really he is a man with endless amounts of love, kindness, and mushy marshmallow insides.
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
and it’s time to get this party started!
One of my rowdiest wedding parties ever, best friends, sisters and sons make for a group full of laughter and silliness. The whole day with this group was brilliant and funny. Every joke was told, every moment was smiles, every cool dance was danced.
I now pronounce you Husband and Wife… you may dance your gorgeous wife down the aisle <3
See??? Always smiles!
With Nichol and Duke it always centers around family. Here’s theirs. Look at the cheeks on that baby!!!
Even cake is fun!
First Dance…
At Last!
And here they are… my gorgeous and COOL couple. Nichol and Duke, this is my thank you to you… Thank you for being friends, thank you for trusting me to be part of your wedding day, thank you for making me laugh constantly. Sure our day wasn’t without adventure was it? Broken vases & bloody hands for me, wrong colored napkins, your mom backed into a pole… but the weather was beautiful, the wedding was chic, fun and full of swagger (per Duke’s request), the cupcakes…oh the cupcakes, and the music and dancing was phenomenal…
In the end, for Duke and Nichol they wanted a wedding day full of joy, laughter and family and that is exactly what it was.
Cheers! ~ Jenny
Vendors:
Wedding Planning: Lavender Hill Event Design & Planning
Photography: Red Gecko Studio
Wedding Officiant: Bishop Linda Lee
Ceremony: Gates of Heaven
Reception: The Brink Lounge
Catering: Crandalls Catering
DJ: Midwest Sound featuring Jerald Donegan
Cupcakes: Cupcakes A Go Go
