SAMI + ZACH

Sami and Zach’s love story began in the halls of Carlinville High School, where they first met as teenagers. Their connection was undeniable, and they quickly became inseparable. After dating eight and a half years, Zach had known Sami was the one for a long time. But at their annual “Friendsmas” Christmas celebration, Zach planned the perfect surprise proposal. “We had just finished a big Christmas gift exchange, and were all sitting in a circle and Zach came over to me and stood in front of me and asked me to stand up, I was very confused.. but then he got on his knee and pulled out a ring! There were a few excited screams from my friends! It was so fun to celebrate our engagement with friends and then at family Christmases right after!”
Fun fact: No one there (out of maybe 20 people) had any idea of Zach’s plan.

After getting engaged at the end of December, the two didn’t start to get into planning mode until February. “We had been dating for a long time so decided we didn’t want to have a long engagement. Zach is a big duck hunter, so we needed to stay away from a wedding in duck hunting season. So August it was!”
As they planned, their main goal for their wedding was to have an unforgettable day and celebrate their love for one another with their family and friends.
And their day was more than they’d dreamed.
Enjoy a look at Sami & Zach’s wedding day!!

The colors for the day were white, blues, and hints of silver. “I loved my bouquet! Main Street made it more beautiful than I could imagine! The white roses were timeless and classic.”We had the joy of photographing Sami’s senior photos and we were so thankful she kept us in mind for her wedding day! Sami Sue – you are so beautiful inside and out. Zach you are one of our most favorite grooms we’ve photographed. (Shhh – don’t tell the others) We met Zach a little over a year ago when he was in another wedding we were photographing. Typically we sit alone at the reception, but out of all the places Zach could have chosen to eat – he sat with us. And he struck up conversation and we never forgot how he treated us like normal people vs the photographers who were old enough to be his parents lol. Roger always says if he and Zach were the same age they would have hung out together. Zach, if you’re looking for an older bff, Roger is your guy! lolThis is one of those photos that sum up “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Weddings are hard y’all.The two always imagined a church wedding. Even though their venue for their reception was The Rustic Venues – which is a wonderful place for ceremonies as well as receptions, they wanted the church wedding they’d dreamed of as well as their pastor, who has been at their church for several years, to be their officiant. Sami & Zach’s wedding was the first wedding in their church in about 10+ years!

Sami walked down the aisle to Video Games Lana Del Rey Instrumental.
“Walking down the aisle with my dad to Zach is something I will always remember. “Their readings were 1 John 4:7-9 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.The moment the two looked the most forward to? “Being able to walk out of the ceremony married!”Sami & Zach’s First Dance song was “Sun to me by Zach Bryan”.  “We both really love this song and how it is about bringing the light (good) out in each other.”
Father/Daughter Dance: Landslide Mother/Son Dance: Forever YoungI prayed for a beautiful sunset for Sami and Zach’s day. You see, this was the last official wedding of our career of 20 years. And all along our journey, our favorite part of the day was when we could grab the couple after all the formalities were complete and spend 15 minutes with them as the sun set – just the 4 of us. All the stress of the day is gone, we’re able to relax with them, and capture some beautiful images if the weather permits. And lucky enough for us, Mother Nature gave us our finale we dreamed of.

Wedding Day Professionals:
Flowers- Main Street Florist
Gown- Main Street Bridal
Tuxes- Main Street Bridal
Nixon Chicks decor rentals (Medora)
Cupcakes- Ginger Bean Bakery
Cake Tish Chism
Hair Morgan Byers
Makeup- Jensie Stults
Venue & food – The Rustic Venues by Fat Albert
Party Bus- Don Elliot Buses Jerseyville
DJ – Chad Burton

I have been working weddings since way back in the day  – probably about the time Sami and Zach were born lol. I started out assisting before the days of digital cameras. (Yes, I’m again dating myself here) I remember every single wedding like it was yesterday. We have had the absolute honor of using this blog to tell the love stories of hundreds of couples, and it feels surreal to be writing our last one.Throughout two decades of capturing weddings, Roger and I have often been approached with the same curious question: “How in the world do you two work together?” We often take it for granted, but I do think it is a testament to the unique bond we have, that together we can thrive even amid the whirlwind of wedding day chaos.

Certainly, we’ve had our moments—but those instances are rare gems, overshadowed by the fact that we are stronger together. And much like the enduring couples who are the last couple on the dance floor during the anniversary dance, sharing their wisdom, we too have gathered insights worth passing on.

So, here it is—our heartfelt advice to every couple embarking on their journey together: Let the love you felt on your wedding day be the moment you loved each other the least. Each day, strive for a love that grows, endures, and transforms into something more profoundly beautiful than you could have dreamed.

Remember your vows; they are not just words spoken in the heat of the moment. They are a promise you will live out through life’s tapestry. You will navigate through joy and sorrow, abundance and want, and the inevitable trials of sickness and health. Yet, just as read at Sami and Zach’s ceremony, love never fails.