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I met Mandy when I was 13 years old. I was a braced-faced teen and she was the cool student teacher with dreadlocks down her back. She was then, and still is now, an undeniably magnetic personality. Everybody loves Mandy and every kid in my class flocked to her like a bee to honey. As I got older, Mandy moved with me teaching at the same high school I attended.
In the spring semester of my sophomore year she launched the first ever digital photography program at my school and pestered me non-stop to take her class. Knowing I was a creative to my core I’m sure she knew it wouldn’t be a hard sell, and it definitely wasn’t. I signed up for the first class and fell in love immediately.
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Mandy was the first person to awaken my love for the art of photography. She nurtured my skills, challenging me to grow along the way. Any success I have now in my career, I owe a great part to her – the woman who taught me to love making images in the first place.
Last fall things came full circle when Mandy asked me to shoot her wedding in downtown Anchorage. The day her and Phil planned was all sorts of special from their sky-high ceremony, to the fleet of vintage cars, and all the way to their feast of Moose’s Tooth and Wild Scoops. What’s more than all those beautifully executed details though was how special this wedding was for me. It was such an honor to make these photos for Mandy and Phil. My teacher now turned friend, both her and her man mean so much to me. I’m *very* excited to finally be sharing these photos, so without further ado, Mandy & Phil everybody ♥️
Recommended listen while you scroll.
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THEIR ROOFTOP CEREMONY
When Mandy told me she was getting married, she said it would be somewhere no one else had ever had a wedding before. True to her word, the renovated rooftop of the parking garage downtown was an unsuspecting but entirely perfect urban setting. It was perfectly Anchorage with buildings all around nestled in by a sweeping view of the mountains.
Mandy and Phil run a rental company for VW vans called Trickster Trips so it only made sense they would arrive in style to their wedding. The processional kicked off with a vintage Porsche and a ’67 Chevy that carried the mamas and the bridal party to the foot of the aisle. For the grand finale Mandy rolled up in a VW T2 to walk into her wedding. Beautiful, yes, and 100% dope.
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PORTRAITS AROUND DOWNTOWN
Mandy and Phil let me loose to take them around the city for their couple portraits. I’m in love with our town and all it’s quirky beauty. We had a ball tromping the streets to find pockets of color and flavor.
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THE RECEPTION
Their reception was *Anchorage* in every sense of the word. Only the best local cuisine (hello Moose’s Tooth & Hearth!), craft beer, fresh made ice cream (hey Wild Scoops!), and live music from everyone’s fav Hawaiian reggae band H3. I wish I could’ve been someone driving down 5th ave when the sky went dim and the party light kept shining from the rooftop.
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Check out the incredible team of vendors below who helped contribute to this amazing day! If you’re planning your downtown Anchorage wedding, I wanna be there like Jess wants to be with Rory at the end of season 4 (in case you missed it, that means A LOT). Get in touch here baby cause 2020 books are OPEN!
Mandy’s Dress:BHLDN
Makeup: Cor Cosmetics
Salads: Hearth
Pizza & Beer: Moose’s Tooth
Dessert: Wild Scoops
Band: H3
Venue by: Anchorage Downtown Partnership
Tents: Over the Top Tents
VW T2 & Porsche by: Culmination Motorsports
Three cheers to Mandy and Phil on the celebration of their first wedding anniversary! Thanks for stopping by er’body ♥️
Lots of love,
Lauren
Omg I am dying over these photos! They are so full of heart and artistry. So well done! Love love love!
Thank you so much Miha! That means a lot!
Spectacular!
Thanks mama!