Ben and Kori

I had the pleasure of photographing the stunning wedding of Ben and Kori. When I first heard Kori tell me she was having a Star Wars themed wedding my jaw dropped and my heart raced! Their wedding theme was one of my favorite parts of human existence!

Star Wars just takes me back to childhood memories of my dad picking me up early from school to take me to watch the new Star Wars movie. I love all the characters. Yes, even Jar Jar Binks! It was then that I knew this wedding's details would be phenomenal and I wanted to capture every last detail that Kori and Ben had chosen to be a part of their wedding day.

I wasn't just in it for the Millennium Falcon guestbook and lightsaber duels. I incidentally knew Ben and Kori through two completely different avenues! Ben and I had a few classes together because we both wanted to be teachers. He is pursuing a secondary education degree and mine is elementary education. I know Kori because she is my hairdresser at Inspire Salon and she puts up with my cow licks. It took me forever to connect the dots and realize that they were getting married to each other. I know! For someone excited about the details it took me way too long to catch this one! So since I knew them both as individuals I wanted to get to know what they were like together. Is their love loud, quirky, gentle, or spontaneous? I can't keep all the good stories to myself so I want to share with you all the story of how Ben and Kori met!

Ben and Kori's story started in the most coincidental way. So much so, that I now don't believe in coincidences! Kori was new to town and in the process of still finding some local friends. She had a friend named Louis who invited her to hangout with his group of friends and play pool. She was invited to the house of her future husband, Ben.

"I met my future husband on his doorstep."

The moment Ben answered his front door changed his life and Kori's, because they found each other. Ben was suddenly self conscious of his study clothes. He was in awe of the girl with the short hair, soft smile and the strong handshake. They spent the night talking to each other and I'm sure it was one of those nights that you never want to end. But when it did Ben said:

"You don't have any friends in Albuquerque, right? I can be your friend if you want me to."

Kori still laughs when she remembers how smooth that was. They exchanged numbers and were inseparable ever since. Ben made their relationship official at an Isotopes baseball game, and three years later shared vows to let their love grow for their entire lives.

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Ben is a hurricane every time he walks in to a room, and I love him for that. He's loud, far from shy, and sweeter than anyone I've ever met. He deeply loves everyone he knows.

Kori has been my rock and I strive to be hers. She has turned me into a better person in so many ways that I often cannot describe.

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On their wedding day they each had an air of content. No jitters or fears, just pure peace knowing that they were each going to vow their life to their love that day. Their ceremony went by in the blink of an eye. They were surrounded by so many friends and family as they poured pink and blue paint onto a canvas to signify how together their life story is a work of art. Their reception was at the Luna Mansion and it was the perfect backdrop for the evening. My favorite part of the reception was when the bridal party crowded around the couple to hide the fact that their surprise ice cream truck had arrived. Seriously, where can I get friends who would do that for me?! Just kidding I'm lactose intolerant, but still! When Ben and Kori took their first dance everyone was in tears. The dancing, love, and laughter could have lasted all night. I can't thank Ben and Kori enough for letting me be a part of their wedding day!