She sent me an email in 2009. Lanier explained she worked on Capitol Hill in DC–but her real passion was photography–and she came across my blog after her cousin was a groomsman in a wedding I photographed that year. She was originally from North Carolina and had received news her sister was just proposed to. To help with the planning process, Lanier reached out for my information.

Unfortunately, I was already booked on the wedding date.

Three years later, Lanier–after a valiant fight against cancer–received an engagement ring of her own. She had given up the dream of getting married, but Lanier found Scott, an incredible man who stole her heart on their first date.

Last May I flew to Blowing Rock, North Carolina to document one of the most amazing weddings. Ever. I'm thrilled to say the editors at The Knot Magazine agreed, too. Lanier and Scott's wedding was featured in the national issue, on newsstands now.

When Lanier was diagnosed with cancer, she moved to her family's mountain home in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. She needed to recover from a recent surgery and as she healed, Lanier would often watch sunset at the nearby Crestwood Resort. A year later, she met Scott and shared a sunset with him at Crestwood as well. After receiving a proposal, Lanier knew there was no better place to marry…

Many thanks to Ivy Robinson Events for transforming a patch of grass into one of the prettiest tented weddings I've had the blessing of photographing…

Happy Monday!