Dude this place exits and its amazing! About 10 miles from Rapid City is this old railroad town called Johnson Siding – history lesson first today!

So the town was built along the Crouch Line of the Black Hills and Western Railroad, but in the 1890’s there was also a sawmill, Any guesses as to what it was called? Johnson Sawmill – but the siding, I actually had to google it. The term Siding” coming from a railroad term meaning a “low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through-route such as a mainline or branch line or spur.” This combined with the Johnson Sawmill created the town of roughly 600, named – tada! Johnson Siding.

I finally got to meet this freaking fantastic couple – and group their of friends and family – the day they got married, as it is most of the time with our destination weddings, but that didn’t stop the tears of laughter from the get go!

Get ready for Baby Shark, arm wrestling, classic cars, grandma and grandpa goals and an amazing wedding day for these two!

Britt and I were the dream team for Jamie and Chris’s wedding. He ran video and me on my double holster cameras 🙂 The day started perfect with J getting ready at one of the coolest Air B and B’s ever. Right along the river and these steep cliffsides, carved from old glaciers just towering over us. It’s my hearts mountain side heaven.

This was a first! I have never had a bride and groom arm wrestle on their wedding day, even better the bride won! I can’t share all the laughs from this bridal party, because I would be posting all of the images! But these people all know how to have a great time!

TIME FOR THE CEREMONY

The creek rolling through the back of double arches, some powerful sun rays and a blue shark running at me – began this kick ass ceremony!

One of the big reasons for having the wedding in Johnson Siding was due to Chris’s grandparents homestead being amongst this remote town and was the perfect spot to have the wedding and the reception at. But first a classic care ride across the street to the reception and some awesome pictures of the two couples!

The rest of the night went… well …

The reception itself was amazing, but it had been a long day for some and the party did end earlier than planned. But not before one amazing first dance by the couple.

After all the bustle of the day, this was one of the most beautiful locations I have ever had the honor of photographing a wedding at. The true beauty of the Black Hills is something that has to be experienced to appreciate.