Shellby + Holly at Diamond Oak Events
Shellby and Holly were my first same-sex wedding clients, and I got ridiculously lucky because they were also two of my favorite people.
They were easygoing, funny, completely comfortable together, and very obviously in love. It made the entire day feel relaxed in the best possible way.
Diamond Oak Events
Their wedding took place at Diamond Oak Events, just North of the Mason City and Clear Lake area in North Iowa. I’ve photographed several weddings there over the years, and it’s a great fit for couples who want an outdoor ceremony, barns, open prairie, and plenty of room for everyone to spread out and enjoy the day.
Getting Ready and The First Look
I arrived early to photograph Shellby and Holly getting ready. Both of them were in great spirits and ready to get the day started, and the wedding party was equally easygoing.
Diamond Oak Events has the main barn for the ceremony (if not outdoors) and reception, along with a separate building for getting ready. The bridesmaids’ room is bright, comfortable, and thoughtfully set up with plenty of mirrors and outlets for hair and makeup.
The other getting-ready room looked suspiciously like a kitchen and storage area. It reminded me of when my son was born and the “dad area” at the hospital had boxes of paper towels and a mop bucket in it. Not complaining. Just noticing.
Once everyone was ready, we headed outside for the first look near the ceremony space.
It’s one of the things Diamond Oak does especially well. Large mature trees surround the area, rows of church pews create the seating, and the altar feels like it belongs there rather than being dropped into the landscape. It’s a beautiful, relaxed setting for an outdoor wedding.
The Wedding Ceremony
What I remember most about Shellby and Holly’s wedding was how little it felt constrained by traditional wedding rules. Bridesmaids and groomsmen weren’t neatly divided into predictable sides. The wedding party was simply made up of the people who mattered to them. The reception was loose, loud, and genuinely fun.
That freedom carried into the photographs too.
Some weddings are beautiful because everything is perfectly arranged. Others are beautiful because the people involved are completely themselves. This one was the latter.
After The Ceremony - Before The Reception
After the ceremony and a little time for everyone to mingle, we boarded the Diamond Oak trolley and headed out for wedding-party photos.
Shots were poured, beers were opened, and the whole thing turned into a pretty good rolling party.
The trolley is one of my favorite parts of a wedding at Diamond Oak. It has a vintage look, gets everyone around easily, and works really well as a backdrop when we stop for photos along the way.
The Reception
The reception was one of my favorite parts of the day to photograph. Diamond Oak creates a little bit of its own magic once the lights come on. Between the warm lighting, the decor, and everyone finally relaxing, it gets pretty hard to take a bad photo in there.
One of my favorite things about weddings is the reception. I always end up clapping during the speeches and smiling like an idiot.
I am also taking photos. I am not just standing around clapping and smiling.
There’s something about having all of your favorite people in one place, celebrating together. By then the ceremony is over, everyone can relax, and the day starts to loosen up.
That’s usually when some of my favorite photographs happen.
Sunset Photos
At some point during the reception, I like to steal the couple away for a few sunset photos out on the Diamond Oak prairie.
I love those photographs. As dusk settles in, the light softens and the sky starts to pick up beautiful color.
Depending on the time of year, the prairie can be full of flowers and tall grass, which gives us a lot to work with for portraits.
I do have a mild fear of spiders — long, frightening story — and I’m not exactly enthusiastic about snakes either. That said, I will absolutely walk into tall grass for a good photograph.
I may clap my hands and make a little noise first.
And I may come out much faster than I went in.
But for the love of photographs, and the love of love, onward I march.
