joey + yuki

The main event of our California road trip was the wedding of our dear friends Joey and Yuki. Since I had the honor of being in the bridal party, these pictures were taken by Drew per my request. But he's not going to share them, so it is my duty to do so! :)

On the night before the sealing, we celebrated the couple at the beautiful Nelson home in Brea with tacos, ice cream, and a kickass dance party with music brought to you by Drew. If you need someone to make you a wedding mix that will consist of only the best, Drew is your guy! (jk, he is so sick of me volunteering him to do these for our friends-- he has done four weddings now-- so maybe ask him first lol)

 Mr. & Mrs. Nelson // May 20, 2017 // Los Angeles Temple

Story time! Yuki is one of my oldest and dearest friends. Her family moved to my hometown and home ward in Lancaster when I was 11 years old(? I think? I just remember being in senior primary and wishing I could be in Beehives with her. How CUTE is that?!) It didn't take long for us to become friends, and our families got along so well too. I was so sad when the Dorffs moved to Washington a few short years later, but we became loyal pen-pals. I didn't see her again until I flew out one summer to attend EFY together in Oregon when I was 15. To this day, we laugh about what a ridiculous and weird week that was, but it is still one of my fondest memories with Yuki. A few years later, she transferred to BYU Provo the same semester that I started my freshman year and we've been close ever since. Yuki is someone I know will be my friend for years to come, because it has never been hard for us to stay connected despite where our lives take us. I am STOKED that she married Joey. We love hanging out with them. Another fun fact! Drew and Joey have known each other since their freshman year at BYU eight years ago. So like, collectively, we have known this couple for a longgg time and can't wait for all the double dates in the future!

Bridesman, bridesmaids, bride, groom, groomsmen, groomswomen

Ethnically diverse bridal party? Check.

Photo courtesy of the groom himself! lol.

After the sealing we enjoyed an intimate and beautiful dinner in Topanga Canyon with family and friends of the bride and groom. The view, the venue, and the décor was all so dreamy. I cannot wait to see how their (also our ;)) wedding photographer extraordinaire, Moni, captured everything. But in the meantime, I'm pretty fond of the moments that Drew captured too :)

Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day! Big congrats and best wishes to the newly married joeynelson_official & yukinelson_official! I know you hate that joke by now, but I still love it. And I love you two! <3

chicago in film

Fun fact #1: I was born in Chicago! This was my first time back since I lived there for the first year of my life.

Fun fact #2: Two of our favorite people, Andy and Haylee, moved to Chicago a few months ago and we've missed them. They were the best hosts and convinced us multiple times that we should move there. But on one condition: you guys have to go to SoulCycle and eat cupcake pancakes with me every Saturday morning.

Fun fact #3: I genuinely want to learn how to photograph in film because I love film photography so so much. I am going to make it my/our goal to bring along Drew's Nikon FG as much as possible so I can mess around with it. Sometimes I forget he has a perfectly functioning camera that spends most of its life sitting on a shelf. Maybe one day we will get a nicer camera to support my burgeoning hobby, but for now, this lil guy provided us some awesome shots to commemorate our weekend in Chicago!

2.18.17. The cupcake pancakes in question were from Southport Grocery & Cafe (where yes, we did eat brunch after SoulCycling), and I am still thinking about them.

I loved the sense of community in this part of town because all the houses still had Fly the W posters and other Cubs memorabilia proudly displayed in their windows. Cubs fans are the real deal. Even though I think baseball is the most boring sport, I too was a die hard Cubs fan in that moment.

Mirror selfie @ Cloud Gate

Saturday afternoon spent at The Art Institute of Chicago <3

We had a Ferris + Sloane moment...

As well as a Cameron Frye moment.

Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room

2.19.17. On Sunday evening we took Andy's drone out to Promontory Point to capture the gorgeous skyline on Lake Michigan. I didn't know that a picture of a drone could be so beautiful??

We even met some members of the Chicago Yacht Club.

2.20.17. So Haylee goes to school at Hogwarts. Not really, but the University of Chicago is as close as we'll get here in America. It is one of the prettiest campuses I've ever toured. Wouldn't you be more motivated to attend class if it was held in a cathedral?

Glamour Shots by Drew. Haylee was in class.

Okay so the last four shots below were taken by me! Drew is nice for letting me post all of his work (if not me, then who?), so I need to let it be known that all the other shots from this point and above were by him. Is it bad that the ones I took might be my favorites?? Shhh don't tell him. I am pretty proud of myself for how they turned out! I can't wait to continue to learn more about shooting film in the future :)

The Sausage King of Chicago.

Thanks for the memories, Andy and Haylee! We will definitely be back to visit this pretty city real soon.

an east coast christmas

Did you know this past winter break was our first prolonged visit back to Lancaster in over a year?! Unacceptable. My time back at home was so so necessary. Not only because 2016 was a shitstorm that desperately needed to end, but it was also the first time my whole family was together in over two years! There truly is no place like home for the holidays.

Don't ever think it's impossible to attend a concert that starts four hours before your flight from SLC --> PHL departs. It can be done if you don't have a problem with appearing homeless and bringing your luggage into the coat check room :)

Cute front door and even cuter mommy 

Christmas morning: before

Christmas morning: after 

*please note that this was taken from my dad's digital camera :) :)*

 Drew's first time to our nation's capital featuring Ellie, monuments, Library of Congress, Capitol Hill books (not featured: Ted's Bulletin pop tarts, National Gallery of Art, sushi in Ellie's cute hometown of Bethesda).

I'm getting emotional looking through these D.C. pictures because I'm thinking about the fact that the world is ending and every day since Friday has gotten worse and look guys it hasn't even been a week yet :') :') :')

YOU GUYS I FINALLY MADE IT TO TERRAIN. I have been not so subtly hinting to Vanessa and Caroline to take me here for at least a year now. It was just as dreamy and Instagram-worthy as I imagined.

I'm at this point in my life where people from my hometown have forgotten about me so I don't really talk to anyone from high school anymore. These two babies (see above and below) are the exception to the rule and some of the only souls outside of my family I make a priority to see every time I'm in Lancaster <3

But like when will you visit me in Utah???

 Me and my twin doing what we do best ((forcing our husbands to take photos of us in the woods to win free leggings because they are tired of funding our love for Outdoor Voices. We didn't win the leggings.))