The Estate at Sunset Farm Wedding in Bellbrook, Ohio | Dayton Wedding Photographers

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The words seemed to hang in the air for just a second as time somehow stood still.

And in a flash, I could see a completely different wedding day.

It was almost twenty years ago, in our parents’ backyard. Elaina and I were little girls, dressed in pieces of our parents’ wedding clothes that absolutely swallowed us whole. Sleeves too long. Dresses dragging behind us. And somewhere in the middle of all of that fabric were two sisters pretending to get married.

As Elaina’s younger sister, playing with her was always my favorite thing to do. And playing wedding was one of our favorite games.

We would dream about the day when we would grow up, put on our own wedding dresses, and find our own Prince Charming.

And suddenly, twenty years later, there she was.

Except this time, the dress fit.

This time, the flowers were real.

And standing across from her at The Estate at Sunset Farm in Bellbrook, Ohio, was the man she had prayed for long before she ever knew his name.

Her best friend. The person who makes her smile so big you can’t help but smile with her. Her very own Prince Charming.

And just like that, I got to watch my big sister become Peter’s wife.

There are some moments that are almost impossible to put into words, and this was one of them.

Elaina was absolutely radiant that day, but the thing about Elaina is that her beauty has never been something you could simply see.

She has this beautiful strength in the Lord that you can’t miss. She has a way of making the people around her feel special. Seen. Loved. She is constantly looking out for others before herself, and she carries a confidence that comes from knowing exactly who she is in Jesus.

As her younger sister, I have looked up to her for as long as I can remember. She has modeled for me what it looks like to be a woman whose beauty and confidence are rooted in the Lord in a way the world cannot take away. She is strong, compassionate, joyful, and fiercely loyal to the people she loves.

And then Peter came along.

Peter is the kind of person who can light up a room the second he walks into it. He is joyful, positive, enthusiastic, and somehow manages to make even the ordinary things in life feel worth getting excited about.

And getting to watch the two of them fall in love gave me the chance to see my sister in a whole new way.

There was a new kind of joy in her. The kind that showed up whenever Peter walked into the room or someone simply mentioned his name. He loves her with such tenderness and care, and she absolutely lights up around him.

They make each other laugh. They encourage one another. They champion each other. And somehow, while they are both so fully themselves, they bring out an even more beautiful version of each other when they are together.

Sean and I have had a front-row seat to their love story from the very beginning. From watching their friendship turn into something more to photographing their Mt. Echo Park engagement session in Cincinnati, getting to watch their story lead all the way to this day was such a gift.

Their wedding day at The Estate at Sunset Farm was filled with so many of the people who have loved them, prayed for them, and watched their story unfold. There was so much joy woven throughout every part of the day, but what stood out most wasn’t simply how beautiful everything looked.

It was how happy Elaina and Peter were to finally be husband and wife.

For most of the day, I got to experience a wedding from a very different place than usual. Instead of standing beside Sean with a camera in my hands, I had the honor of standing beside my sister as her matron of honor while Sean and our team captured each beautiful moment.

But I did get to pick up my camera for one especially meaningful part of the day—their first look and bride and groom portraits.

Getting to photograph my sister looking at the man she was about to marry, knowing how many years of friendship, prayers, conversations, and memories had led them to that moment, is something I will always treasure.

And then, before we knew it, we were standing at the ceremony.

Elaina walked down the aisle toward her best friend.

They promised forever.

And the little girl I once stood beside in our parents’ backyard, pretending to be a bride, walked back down the aisle as Peter’s wife.

Elaina and Peter, we love you two more than you know.

Elaina, getting to grow up beside you has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. You were my first best friend, the big sister I wanted to be just like, and the person who showed me in so many ways what it looks like to be a woman who loves Jesus and loves people well. Getting to stand beside you on the day you became a wife was an honor I will never forget.

Peter, thank you for loving my sister so well. Thank you for making her laugh, caring for her so tenderly, cheering her on, and loving the woman we have been so incredibly blessed to love our whole lives.

And after nearly twenty years, I think it’s finally safe to admit something...

Peter, you make a much better Prince Charming than I ever did. :)

We couldn’t have prayed for a better man to stand across from her.

The pretend wedding dresses have been packed away for a long time, but the prayers of those two little girls weren’t forgotten.

And getting to watch the Lord answer them so beautifully is something we will treasure forever.



We love you both so much and couldn’t be happier for you, Mr. & Mrs. He!

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Venue: The Estate at Sunset Farm

Photography: Julia & Sean Photography

Bridal Gown: David's Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Florals: The Flowerman

Hair: Ciarra Palmer

Catering: LMR Catering

Cake: Angel’s Food Cakes | Sue Tickle

DJ: Stephen Strunk

Group Dance Instructor: Ben Mathews

Groom’s Ring: Brilliant Earth