A Nebraska Sandhills Wedding in Alliance
Shelby and Brady, I do not think anyone has hearts as big as yours. During your engagement session, I could already see how deeply you love one another. The way Brady looks at Shelby. The way she holds his arm in hers. A love that feels steady, true, and written in the stars.
Thank you for inviting me to document your wedding day in the Nebraska Sandhills near Alliance. Being welcomed into that landscape and community meant more than I can put into words.
A Day That Felt Like Home
August 1, 2020 holds two meaningful things for me. Your wedding day and my birthday. I cannot imagine a better way to have spent it.
Nebraska will always hold a special place in my heart. The prairie. The Sandhills. Cowboy life and everything that comes with it. There is something untouched and deeply grounding about Nebraska weddings. From the moment I arrived, I felt like family, and that kind of warmth stays with you.
The Moments That Made the Day
There were so many moments that stood out, the kind you carry with you long after the day is over.
Shelby trusting me to simply walk into her home, as if we had been friends for years.
The decorations. Oh wow. My daughter is now convinced that even though we no longer live in Nebraska, she is absolutely having a cowboy wedding one day.
The people. I know I already said it, but it deserves repeating. The kindest, most welcoming humans you will ever meet.
Sewing Shelby’s dress back together. Not once, but twice. Thank you, Mom, for teaching me how to sew when I was a kid.
The horse drawn wagon, which was truly everything. The Qualms are beautiful people, and it was so special to see some familiar faces again.
On the way back from wedding party photos, Shelby and Brady casually asked to stop and check the mail. Completely unexpected and hilarious. What was waiting inside was even better. An Antioch Variety Pack. Blackberry Brandy and Fireball duct taped together. It does not get more Nebraska than that.
Taking photos in the stink weeds. They may not smell great, but those purple flowers sure are beautiful.
Dancing, Laughter, and So Much Love
And then there was the dancing. All of it. I missed country dancing, and this wedding delivered in the best way possible.
More than anything, my favorite part of the day was watching the genuine love Shelby and Brady have for their family and friends. It radiated from them. This was not just a wedding. It was a celebration of community, history, and deep connection. One hell of a party.
Friends, I invite you to soak up their day by clicking play on the slideshow above. The song had me tearing up before I even paired it with the images. Grab some tissues. This is pure Western Nebraska love.
From Engagement to Wedding Day
Shelby and Brady’s wedding day felt like a natural continuation of their story, which began during their adventure engagement session in Cheyenne, Wyoming. That session set the tone for everything that followed. Grounded. Joyful. Full of intention.
Planning Your Own Prairie Wedding or Elopement
If you are looking for a wedding photographer who values connection and storytelling, I would love to work with you. I take on only a handful of weddings each year, especially those rooted in meaning, whether that looks like a prairie wedding, a private elopement, or something beautifully in between.
If cowboy hats are involved, even better.
