Bride Katie Canavan was inspired by her groom John Lynch’s profession for their October 20, 2018, wedding theme: aviation. But planning was a family affair. “My dad helped me plan the wedding from start to finish and was really my rock during the process,” Katie says. “I was more nervous for my first look with my dad than I was with John—growing up, Father of the Bride was one of my favorite movies and I think the movie has always stayed with me. I feel so fortunate to have a close relationship with my father.”

Photo by Lauren Lindley

Photographer Margot Landen captured this sweet ring bearer at Hayley Albrecht and Dalton Stogner’s ceremony. “Weddings can have a pretty chaotic schedule at times, and it’s easy to miss the in-between moments,” she says. “A good photographer once told me it’s important not to think too much and just feel—the moment always finds you. It just clicks.”

Photo by Margot Landen

Hayley Albrecht and Dalton Stogner opted out of a first look for their December 15, 2018, wedding and allowed the aisle to be the first place they saw each other. They shared a special, quiet moment together in Perkins Chapel following the ceremony. “I think [our photographer] Margot really captured how happy, calm, and in love we were in that moment, knowing that we were married and finally starting our life together as husband and wife,” says Hayley.

Photo by Margot Landen

Falen Margolin and Elliott Milton’s dog, Philippe, played an important part in their October 14, 2018, wedding day—he was responsible for the exchange of letters between bride and groom. Here, best man Paul is seen helping Philippe fulfill his mission. “I hadn’t seen Philippe all day, and I was a ball of nerves as I’m sure you can imagine,” says the bride. “Having Philippe be a part of this day by making him the ‘delivery boy’ for our letters to one another was such a fun concept and really let me just kind of relax for a minute and have a sense of calm among the chaos.”

Photo by Michael Bush Photography

Bride Kayla Johnson got her faithful sheltie, Jet, as an undergrad, and he’s been by her side ever since—through Teach for America, law school, and meeting her now-husband Victor Cristales (Jet was even present for the proposal). “I’m pretty sure [Victor] fell in love with Jet before he fell in love with me,” Kayla jokes. It was to be expected, then, that Jet would serve as a groomsman at their February 2, 2019, wedding, alternating his time between the bridal suite and the groomsmen’s room prior to the ceremony.

When Jet's doggie tux sleeves came in too long, Kayla decided to crop them into a “tuxedo tank,” complete with a little hemming from the mother of the bride. “The rest is history,” Kayla says.

Photo by Jennefer Wilson

Bride Lauren Butler and groom Sam Perkins knew they wanted their catering to be fun and different: They opted for two food trucks, a popsicle stand, and cupcakes instead of a traditional catered meal and wedding cake. The bride’s young cousin, who had flown in with his family from Maine just for the May 11, 2018, wedding, was especially pleased. “The guests loved getting to choose their own meal,” says Lauren.

Photo by Kartsie Photography

Groom Clint Chaffin’s 5-year-old niece, Annie, served as flower girl at his wedding to Hannah Ray on May 19, 2018. Says the bride: “Annie knew she had a very important role and I know she was super excited about walking down the aisle in her pretty dress.” In fact, Hannah even printed and framed the photo as a gift to Annie’s parents. “Annie might look back one day before she gets married and remember her important role in our wedding … sometimes it feels like in a blink of an eye, you are a flower girl and then one day celebrating a wedding of your own.”

Photo by Adrian Faubel Photography

There are many young children in Leslie Horn and Danny Peterson’s families, so it was natural that the bride’s nieces—Margaret, Emily, and Julia—served as flower girls for the September 30, 2017, wedding. “They took their jobs very seriously, and when we look back at photos, you can see their little budding personalities coming out,” says Leslie. “We couldn’t have imagined our wedding without it including the kids in our family—they’re just as much a part of our story as everything else.”

Photo by Menary Weddings Photography