Mr. and Mrs. Morton - 6.7.25
Oh. Em. Gee.
There are not enough positive words in the English language to describe Josh and Lauren’s wedding, but I am going to give it my best.
Lauren’s parents live four houses down from me, so I’ve known her since she was in 8th grade. It’s been an exciting few weeks for them - Lauren not only gained the title of wife, but also the title of doctor! Her mom also wrapped up her final school year and is about to retire. Oh and did I mention our newlyweds just bought a house down in Madison so that Lauren can start her residency this week?! Talk about an overload of thrilling life milestones!
But let’s rewind back about five years… these lovebirds started dating in early 2020 despite our groom having a crush on her throughout high school. They ran in similar circles in their teen years (and even in pre-school!), but romance was not something that blossomed until a friend of theirs set them up on a date in college. Their early relationship stood the tests of the pandemic and Lauren moving 1,000 miles away.
Both Josh and Lauren told me that they knew from date #1 that this was forever. Lauren remembers how easy their conversation was and that they didn’t have any awkward moments. She even admitted to that little voice in her head telling her that very night that she’d marry Josh some day. Her favorite thing about her new husband is his work ethic. She loves that he never quits once he puts his mind to something and is thankful for all the extra work he did while she was working towards her medical degree. He also is able to take all of her home improvement visions and make them a reality.
I’ve always joked that Josh is a 12-year old boy trapped in a man’s body, but when it comes to Lauren, he is the hugest softie. As I mentioned, he had a crush on her for years, but was always afraid to go for it out of fear of being awkward or saying/doing the wrong thing. He reflected that the timing of them finally being set up by their friend was perfect because he had a few years after high school to mature and feel more confident. When reflecting on his favorite things about her, Josh mentioned how much he loves her soft blue eyes and how calming and peaceful they are for him. In terms of non-physical attributes, her determination tops his list. Her dreams of becoming a doctor go back to childhood and the fruits of her labors have consistently shown in being a class valedictorian in high school and making the deans list all throughout college. He joked that she accomplishes anything she sets her mind to even if it means “doing it behind [his] back and asking forgiveness instead of permission…”
These two were married at the gorgeous Mystic Ponds Estates surrounded by almost 200 family members and friends - including the two prettiest flower puppies I’ve ever seen! Prior to the ceremony, the two had decided to share some private vows because they (correctly) knew they would have a hard time making it through the words they wanted to share. They still wanted to wait to see one another until the ceremony so they opted to share these vows back to back rather than face to face.
Predictably, as Lauren walked down the aisle, Josh struggled to keep it together. I mean… can you blame him? She was absolutely stunning! The weight of the situation was lifted as Lauren’s dad handed her off to Josh saying “welcome to our crazy family,” and everyone immediately donned some goofy glasses. It was very cute!
Thankfully the rain held off until after we were done with the ceremony and group photos, and stopped by the time we wanted to head back out for some photos of just the two of them. We got some gorgeous shots on the trail around the pond and even got to take photos with this gorgeous vintage truck that belongs to a friend of theirs.
The dancing was kicked off with some spotlight dances. The biggest surprise was at the end of the Father/Daughter dance when the music switched into “Footloose”. At first Lauren and her dad pretended to be confused, but then busted into an adorable choreographed dance. It surprised everyone (including her mom!) and was so much fun to watch.
The rest of the night boasted one of liveliest dance floors I’ve ever photographed. Everyone was having so much fun, it was contagious… I found myself even dancing a bit in the sidelines as I took photos.
Lauren and Josh - it was a privilege to capture this day for you! We wish you nothing short of a beautiful, perfect life together!
