I’m still making my way through all of their beautiful images, but here are a few to start. I’m loving Christy’s expressions as she was waiting to see Manny during their first look!!

As I was browsing I knew I had to find something special for my smallest and newest niece. At 6 weeks old, she’s a bit too tiny for a tutu, so I settled on this sweet hooded towel that I was able to personalize with some mickey/minnie mouse ribbon and her name embroidered in the Walt Disney font. As Brooke’s mom is a big Disney fan, I’m pretty sure this one will be well-received.

And finally, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with these eco-friendly reusable sandwich and snack bags!!! I ordered a set for some friends who are like-minded and am excited to fill them with goodies to start them off.

Of course, as I was browsing Etsy, I couldn’t help but take a peek at all the fabulous things that could be used for a winter wedding!! I found so many beautiful decorations, favors, jewelry, etc. Winter weddings are truly beautiful! I got married in June. I chose that time of year so we could have an outdoor wedding and so I could have tulips everywhere (my favorite flower!); but I have to say, the possibilities for a winter wedding rival those of a spring or summer wedding! I just love their cozyness!

This boutonniere is fabulous!! I adore the use of the pinecone. It exudes a bit of manliness, doesn’t it? And the hair piece is flirty and classic! I’ve become a big fan of fun things, such as feathers and flowers, in the hair, so I think this is perfect!

Decorations at your wedding are oh-so-important as they not only help impart the mood of your event, but they speak of who YOU are as a person. Fancy, classic, elegant, whimsical, FUN, rustic, urban, country, etc. You get the idea! In my opinion, home-made decorations are ALWAYS the best because they will be more YOU than anything else! And you’d be surprised at how easy it can be to do. However, it can also be very time-consuming. So, when you need a little help, what better place to turn than etsy (if not just for ideas!). I really like these snowflake place cards. And these ornamental balls would add a very elegant touch! They remind me of mistletoe (perhaps this is why their creator calls them “kissing balls”), which is just perfect for a wedding!! Perhaps my favorite, and most simple, of the decorations I looked at are these perfectly romantic and simple mason jar lanterns. And these would be such an easy DIY project!!!

Finally, favors are another element to your wedding that you can use to carry out your theme. I thought these pillow boxes topped with Poinsettias would be a nice complement to a Christmas wedding theme. The splash of bold color will make them stand out nicely on white or cream colored table clothes.

So now you see what I’ve been doing with my time! Okay, I haven’t spent ALL of my time surfing etsy, but I sure could!!

Lucky for me, my busy schedule included Edna and Reid, one very classy and admirable couple. Their story is a special one, most certainly orchestrated by God. His hand in their union is apparent, and I’m excited to see where he takes them from here. I know these two aren’t going to settle into a suburban neighborhood with a two-car garage and white picket fence any time soon!!!

Edna and Reid, thank you for the honor of being a part of your wedding day!!!

One of my favorite images from the day was taken during the prayer Edna’s dad led right before the ceremony. Edna has five nephews, and true to the nature of little boys, they are….well…..boys.

This reception, held at the Midland, Texas Country Club, was quite the party! It seems like pretty much everyone there hit the dance floor at least once, some never left it, and everyone did it with style. It is always so much fun to photograph a group of people who know how to have a good time!!

Stephanie and Chris, thank you so very much for including me in your wedding day; it was an honor to be there. And now, I look forward to designing what is sure to be a fabulous wedding album!!

A few outtakes from the reception…

You will find that I backtracked a bit with these images. I simply couldn’t help myself! I HATED including so few in my last post. I was attempting to be a good steward of space, but it just felt sparse. So, I bring you a variety of more images from the early part of the day, as well as some cozy portraits of the new Mr. and Mrs. A final installment of images from the reception will be forthcoming. In the meantime, enjoy!!

OH! And a bit of trivia for you! The church where Stephanie and Chris were married, First United Methodist Church in Midland, is the same church former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush were married in back in 1977.

Okay, on with the pictures! I’m breaking this up into at least two posts so that it doesn’t get too big. It is always so hard to choose which images to blog!!! These are some of my favorites from the first part of the day:

I have been honored to be a part of SMP’s Little Black Book of the best wedding vendors since its inception. And it truly is an honor as they pick only three vendors in each vendor category for each city. In my case, I am one of only three photographers listed for Dallas (though I also shoot in Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio…..and everywhere else!). But they cover so much more than photographers! Looking for a great caterer? How about a florist? Or an event planner? Videographer? Maybe even a ceremony officiant??? Yup, Style Me Pretty has you covered!! They have done their research and recommend only the best of the best.

Perhaps you have all your vendors in place, but need some inspiration for the look of your wedding? Check out their thoughtful and beautiful inspiration boards and color palettes! Or perhaps you’re a DIY’er (that would be “do-it-yourself’er”). They share numerous DIY projects for things such as favors, bridesmaid’s gifts, decorations, activities for the kiddos…and more! If you’re at all crafty, you’ll be in heaven!

All I have left to say is, I sure do wish SMP was around when I was planning my own wedding. But then, I would have spent SO much time on their blog I never would have gotten anything done!

Give me a shout in the comments if you found my blog (or website) through Style Me Pretty! Pretty please? It would be entertaining for me.

And for those of you who have never been to the Style Me Pretty site….scoot!!!

The ceremony took place at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas. It is a beautiful parish and was the perfect setting for Catherine and Travis’ vows. Then we all headed over to a hotel in Addison (and for the life of me I can’t remember the name of it!!! Brandi…?) for the rockin’ reception. Let me tell you, Catherine isn’t just a pretty face! The girl knows how to dance and have a LOT of fun!! And Travis…..his hair is fantastic! Seriously loved his hair. Enough said.

Brandi, thank you for letting me come along and shoot with you! We really need to shoot together again soon! And Catherine and Travis, thank you for allowing someone you had never met before stand in your dressing rooms and take pictures while you dressed!! Okay, in all seriousness, it was an honor to be present at your wedding and I pray God’s richest blessings for you in the future.

Alright, here are a few of my favorites…..

A.  First Look

I always ask each couple if they are decidedly against seeing each other before the ceremony or open to forgoing tradition for the sweet moments of a First Look. About half of my brides and grooms want to stick with tradition, and that is definitely okay. But, for those who are willing to be a little UNtraditional, I believe a First Look is the best way to go for a few reasons.

1.    This day is a celebration of your love and lifetime commitment to each other. But weddings don’t actually allow much time for you to talk to each other (seriously!), let alone have a private moment together. It all goes so fast, and before you know it you hear the words “man and wife….”, you’re swept away in the festivities, and find yourself craning your head for a glance at your new spouse for the rest of the day. On your wedding day you should have a few moments to simply enjoy each other and soak it in. If you opt for a First Look, you won’t be limited to stealing glances at your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs. standing next to you during the ceremony, trying to contain all of the thoughts flying in and out of your head. Rather, you’ll see each other for the first time alone, with the freedom to react to each other, talk, cuddle etc. without hindrance. And often, the images I capture during this time will be among your favorites! These are sweet moments that simply don’t have opportunity to happen when your first glimpse of each other is from down the aisle. After you have a few moments drinking each other in, we’ll take some time to get a few relaxed, intimate portraits of the two of you while you are still fresh, the light is still beautiful, and you don’t have the pressure of knowing guests are waiting on you at the reception.

2.    A First Look can actually be a stress-reliever! There is always going to be something you’re worried about or obsessing over on your wedding day. But, once you see the reason you’re there standing in front of you, and you can hug, kiss, talk…. all of that stress just melts away. You begin to simply enjoy yourself, your soon-to-be-spouse, your day. That is what it’s all about.

3.    You can get ALL of your portraits done before the ceremony, and save some time doing it, if you choose to have a First Look. If you see each other before the ceremony, not only can we get portraits of the two of you done, but we can also get portraits of the whole wedding party AND your family done too! When attempting to get these portraits done after the ceremony, you often find yourself swarmed by family and friends who want to congratulate you, and it can be difficult to disentangle yourself. And without fail, an important member of the wedding party, or a family member you want in the pictures, disappears in the direction of the bar or hors d’oeuvres and a search party has to be dispatched. And then sometimes a back-up search party has to be dispatched for the original search party. You get the point. It can be chaotic. Getting all of your portraits done before the ceremony will free you up to head directly to the reception or cocktail hour to mingle with your guests!

*I request 30 minutes at minimum alone with the bride and groom for a first look, but I love having even more time if allowed! After all, you don’t want to rush what will likely be the most memorable moments of your wedding day!! After your “alone time” (with me!) we can move into getting some group portraits with family and/or bridal party done too!

**Even if you decide against a First Look, I do encourage you to consider doing group portraits that don’t require you to see your intended before the ceremony. These can include bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen, and any family portraits you may want with your families that don’t include your spouse.

B.  Getting Ready

Something else to consider as you map out your timeline is how much of your “getting ready” time you would like me to photograph. It is always a good idea to have me arrive while your hair and make-up are being done, and before you are dressed. This allows me time to get some shots of your last-minute beauty preparations, as well as shots of your dress, shoes, and jewelry before you put them on and while you’re putting them on. I recommend a minimum of 45 minutes for this. Also, keep in mind the fact that you need to leave plenty of time for yourself to get ready, regardless of when I arrive. This is your wedding day!! You will take longer than usual to get ready. Guaranteed. So, build in some extra time!

C.  Must Have Family Portraits

Finally, you need to plan your “Must Have” family portraits. I request a detailed list of must-haves from each couple. I prefer to start with the largest groups and work my way down so that as I finish with various people, they are free to move on. For example, a list might look something like this:

1. Bride and Groom with all of bride’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

2. B&G with bride’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

3. B&G with bride’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

4. B&G with bride’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

5. B&G with all of groom’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

6. B&G with groom’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

7. B&G with groom’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

8. B&G with groom’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

Of course, you are free to include anyone you like in your portraits! But as you plan your must-haves, keep in mind that the longer your list, the longer it will take to get through said list. Plan for about 3 minutes per group portrait. Some will take less time, but larger groups may take more time. Also, it is a good idea to hand out copies of a “portrait schedule” to everyone you want included in portraits. That way they know where to be and at what time to be there. I recommend handing this out at the rehearsal dinner.

Once you have made decisions concerning a First Look, time needed to get ready, and family portrait “must haves,” organizing them around your ceremony and reception start times will help you plan an adequate wedding day timeline.