cindy cieluch photography . blog

Nearly a year after their beeeeeautiful Wyoming wedding, Kendell + Bobby now have a baby girl.  Her name is Tana (an homage to Montana) and she’s just too cute for words.

Matt and I smiled from ear-to-ear when we met her yesterday.  Tana pounced around, barked with all of her might and slipped around on the wood floors.  She’s all fluff and energy and just plain’ ol squeezable.  Plus, I think she wants to be a photographer when she grows up…

The Lion King pose! 

Congrats you guys!  Duncan + Boerne are counting down the days until their play date.

Matt insisted that we bring 2 cameras on our anniversary trip.  To be honest, I didn’t want to lug all of it around.  I’m glad he didn’t listen to me.

My view…

Matt’s view…

More photos (mostly from Matt!) on the way…

…exactly 9 years ago.

It was a hot Friday night in San Antonio.  My girlfriends Jenn and Kristi practically forced me to meet up with them at the Officer’s Club on Randolph Air Force Base.  You see…as an Air Force brat, that’s honestly the last place I wanted to mingle.  A bunch of single, on-the-prowl, military men???  Nope, not for me.  But after non-stop phone calls from my verrrry convincing girlfriends, I caved in and thought, “Why not?”

A few hours and pool games later, I had my fill of pushing through a crowd of drinking guys and giggling girls.  But once again, my friends informed me that I wasn’t going anywhere.  So, I walked upstairs to the quiet lobby to let my sister Jessica know about my plans to stay.  As soon as I hung up my cell, I heard the friendliest yet most obnoxious, “HEEEEEEY LAAADIES!” Jenn and I whipped our heads around and that’s when I got my first look at Matt…followed by a huge crowd of rowdy pilots walking through the double doors.  In my typical smart aleck fashion, I responded, “HEEEEEEY FELLLLLAS!”

And that was it.  Matt liked my sassy attitude.  I liked his sexy flight suit.  We were instant friends and quickly fell in love.

Then five years ago, we returned to Randolph Air Force Base for our ceremony.  And, of course, to that fateful bar for our wedding reception.

Our wedding is a day I vividly remember: Listening to Matt’s family’s beautiful voices echo through the chapel as they sang before the ceremony began.  Staring at our adorable little nieces’ faces so much that I didn’t notice they didn’t have flowers in their baskets.  My girlfriends pampering me with prayers, hugs, lip gloss and too much body glitter.  The emotions I felt as my two dads walked me down the aisle.  The expression on Matt’s face when I walked down the aisle.  Our first kiss, which was so long that my dad (Appa) actually shouted out, “GET A ROOM!”  The toasts given by my family + friends: some sweet, some hilarious, some downright embarrassing.  My dad (Al) hugging me so hard during the father-daughter dance that I thought my dress was going to fall down.  The DJ randomly busting out some cheesy slow song on the microphone.  My mom getting sandwiched by high school friends getting down n’ dirty on the dance floor.  Matt smashing cake up my nose.  Making a grand exit through a sea of bubbles…only to return 5 minutes later to keep dancing.

We met in a bar.  And today, we are celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary with Matt’s parents who will soon be celebrating 50 years.  I can’t think of a more meaningful way to look back at the last 5 years and look forward to the next 5…10…50.

Happy anniversary, Matt.  Since it’s cliché that we met in a bar, I’ll continue the cliché theme: I fall in love with you more every day.  For better, for worse.  I do.

6 . 18 . 2005

Ceremony: Chapel One . Randolph Air Force Base, Texas

Reception: Officer’s Club

Photography: Rick Hunter

Matt’s dad was all teary-eyed right after the ceremony.  This is one of my absolute faves.

I still remember looking at Matt and saying, “Here we go…”

After we went under the sabers, the pilot on the right slapped my butt super hard.

He’s lucky he didn’t cut my dress! 

These lil’ stinkers are Kalyn and Shaylee, our cutie pie nieces.

The bouquet was designed by my best friend April’s mom, Lynn.  I loved the simplicity of it!

Our families mean everything to us.

They traveled from all over the world: California, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Chicago…and Bahrain!

My bestest friends in the entire galaxy.

Two of my soul sisters, Mia + Stephanie.  They were simply radiant when they gave their toasts.

My best friend April + little sister Jessica.  Let’s just say that Jess was a little emotional.

Korean dancers entertained the crowd during dinner.

It was very important to us that we showcased my mom’s culture, as it was a huge part of my upbringing.

HELLO!!?!?!?  Hottie hubby alert. 

Matt’s mom was extremely P R O U D.  Matt is the baby of the family and once told his mom that he’d never get married.

Renée replied, “Oh, you just wait and see.”  I’m glad that moms are always right…

Another unforgettable (and unfortunate) moment.  I was so out-of-control excited about being married that I tripped my way out of the reception.

Matt swooped me up right before I bit it big time.  Even after 5 years, I guess some things never change. 

They put the bomb in bomb.com.

They put the fab in fabulous.

They put the awe in awesome.

The put the IN in incredible.

They put the…….ok, you get the point.

I meet new people just about every day and I can be 100% straight up when I say this couple made me smile from ear-to-ear.  They’re witty (actually hysterical), humble (cutely nervous about their first photo shoot together), genuine (kept asking questions about me) and great sports (they didn’t let a torrential downpour slow ‘em down).  Most importantly, they’re insanely IN LOVE.

Steph grew up in Great Falls, while Joby is an Ohio boy.  Their parents met 15 years years ago through work and became great friends.  But Steph + Joby didn’t meet for the first time until they were all grown up.  After their parents tried several times to set them up, it finally happened four years ago!  At last, the timing was right.  Well…everything was right.

They told me that they’re decorating their first home together in Washington D.C. with photos of old barns.  So, of course I wanted to do their shoot at a classic Montana barn!  I’m quite picky though.  Not any old barn would do.  After several twists, turns, door knocks and phone calls, we were led to this beauty…

After a quick outfit change, we went up to the loft.

While I snapped this one…

…Ali got this one.

Steph: you made my jaw drop.  HELLO!!!

And a second HELLLLLO!!!

The “serious look” lasts for about 1 second for these guys, so I LOVE this image that Ali captured.

I wish it would rain right before every session.  The sun was brilliant and the grass was soooooo green.  Oh, how I love you Montana.

After hanging out at the barn, we went to Steph’s house + THE EXACT SPOT where Joby proposed.  NICE WORK, Joby!

This is the tree she grew up climbing!

Mya is Steph’s family’s lovable, peppy chocolate lab.  Of course, all Mya wanted to do was run around and play fetch.  Every time I tried to get a picture of her, she’d take off!  I wasn’t worried about it though.  I knew she’d end up being in the right photo…

THANK YOU Steph + Joby + family for the fun conversations, the yummy cheeseburgers and the dry sweatpants.  See you at Big Sky in September!!!

Just a lil’ look at last night’s shoot!  This couple rocks the hizz-ouse and the images turned out BEEE-AHH-UUU-tiful.  Except for this one.  I never realized that I have cameras coming out of both ends.   ;-)  I’m prettttty sure Ali took this to get back at me for the “Poser” post below…

Anyways……I fell IN LOVE with Steph + Joby and I’m PUMPED to show you the photos.  Stay tuned!

First comes love…

*taken September 8, 2007*

…then comes baby Tayah.

*taken today*

Shout out to Ali for her mad posing skills.  She thinks it’s so I can test my lighting or practice poses.  Honestly, it’s simply for a good hearty belly laugh.  XOXOXO Ali!  The reason why you’re so *fantastic* is because you’re usually laughing harder than me!

“OK, act like you’re embracing the groom.”

“Show me gansta.”

“You’re a smokin’ hot bride glowing in the doorway.”

“Hello, Vanna White!”

“Work it, girlfriend.”

“Give me the Titanic pose.”

Yes, this really happened.  Yes, they laughed while my hair was standing straight up.

More coming soon to a blog near you…