Small weddings just pull on the heart strings.

Zac and Lauren had a backyard wedding that did not disappoint. And when I say backyard, I mean literally their backyard in Emmett, Idaho. They have the cutest house sitting on some land with a chicken coop, their two dogs Piper and Hazel running around, and a beautiful view of Squaw Butte in the distance.

In a perfect world there would have been just a little snow sitting on Squaw Butte, but none the less it was beautiful and we still took full advantage of the views that Emmett offers.

Zac and Lauren set up a small ceremony space right in front of their barn. As the sun began to set, their closest family gathered together to watch. They kept their guest list intentionally small, just the most important people: siblings, parents, Grandma Ruth, and their officiant who was a close friend along with his wife Phyllis.

Lauren didn’t want Zac to see her before the ceremony, so she hid away in the bedroom while everyone scurried around finishing the last minute details. Even the smallest weddings take a lot of work and plenty of helping hands. From setting up chairs, arranging flowers, making sure the rings were ready for the dogs (yes, Piper and Hazel were the ring bearers), everyone pitched in to make the evening come together.

When it was finally time, Lauren was walked down to Zac. He didn’t look at her until she reached him. The moment he did, you could see the emotion on his face. Zac is sentimental, and it’s obvious how deeply he loves Lauren.

It’s hard to explain what I see behind the scenes at weddings. Every couple loves each other, of course. But sometimes there are couples who just click in a way that you can feel when you’re around them. They steal little moments just for themselves, whispering in each other’s ears, sneaking a kiss, holding eye contact a little longer than usual.

That’s Zac and Lauren.

Some of my favorite photos from the day were actually the quiet in-between moments. At one point Zac pulled Lauren in close and they just stood there together, taking everything in. It was one of those moments where I felt like a bit of a third wheel honestly, just them, soaking in the moment, a few tears being wiped away, realizing it had all finally happened. Those are the moments that remind me why I love photographing weddings.

Their ceremony was short but incredibly sweet, and there wasn’t a dry eye around. It’s special to share a wedding with a big crowd, but there’s also something incredibly meaningful about standing there with just your parents, siblings, and Grandma Ruth watching you promise forever.

After the ceremony we took family photos before Zac and Lauren shared their first dance together as husband and wife. That was followed by the father-daughter dance and the mother-son dance, both filled with emotion. You could see just how much love surrounds these two. Even though the families are newly connected, it was clear that Zac and Lauren are deeply loved by everyone there.

Now instead of a traditional dove release, they opted for something a little more backyard-appropriate.

A ceremonial chicken toss.

Yes, their white chickens made their big appearance and I can confidently say that was a first for me to photograph and honestly it was perfect for them.

We also took a few photos on a swing in their backyard that once belonged to Zac’s grandparents. That was a really special moment and such a meaningful part of their property.

Later everyone gathered inside where the newlyweds shared cake with their guests. And not just any cake,  a carrot cake made by Lauren herself. Every single person there raved about it.

Heartfelt toasts were shared using red solo cups, exactly how Lauren wanted it.

We snuck out one more time for sunset photos, and the views of Squaw Butte did not disappoint.

It was simple. It was emotional. It was perfectly Zac and Lauren.

And those are always my favorite kinds of weddings.