Jasen and Lauren met during their junior and senior years in high school. At the end of the year, close to prom season, Lauren asked Jasen to attend her prom with her and then he asked her out in April of 2011. They spent much of that first summer hanging out and getting to know each other more, bonding over their love of baseball and softball. Lauren played in tournaments through the summer and many nights were spent watching her play. After graduation, the pair spent the next several years apart, regularly driving back and forth from Minneapolis and Vermillion to see each other. Jasen could drive the route with his eyes closed.

Fast forward to 2017 and they planned a trip to the Pacific Northwest, including cities like Portland, Seattle and Vancouver (driving 23 hours just to kick off their trip)! Jasen insisted they make a stop at Scenic Beach State Park in Seabeck, Washington to enjoy the picturesque Hood Canal with the Mount Olympic National Park mountains. After spending a day camping and hiking, as the sun set over the mountains, he proposed to Lauren.

They attended the Seattle Mariners game in Seattle, met some wolves at the Predators of the Heart sanctuary in Anacortes, drove up the Sea to Sky Highway and rode a gondola up to the top of the mountains. It was the perfect way to end their 7-year boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, and start their countdown to forever as Mr. and Mrs., which they did the following summer on a beautiful day out in the country at Penny Tree Events. It was perfect… from their emotional first look, to their first dance (one of my favorites to date) to their final golden hour portraits at sunset.

Here’s a look into their day…

 Jasen and Lauren wrote letters to each other to read shortly before seeing one another for the first time on their wedding day.

 Lauren’s first look with her dad.

 (I’m not crying… you’re crying.)

 Showing off his fashion statement for the day (fox socks)!

Jasen and Lauren chose to water a small sapling in lieu of a unity candle… how awesome will it be to watch how it grows through the years they spend together?!

Took the pictures of these dances through bleary, tear-soaked eyes… but can you blame me?

Venue: Penny Tree Events  // Florist: Elaborations by Joyce Naber // Photographer: Emily Mitton Photography // Catering: Myers’ Elite Catering // Cake: Brandy’s Custom Cakery // Ceremony Piano: Michael Sorenson // DJ: Complete Weddings + Events Sioux Falls // Suit: Elegant Xpressions Jim’s Formal Wear Co. // Dress & Veil: Sandra Rose, LLC