One of the things that really makes weddings fun is getting to share your day with your closest friends and family.

One of the things that really makes wedding planning NOT fun is deciding who your closest friends and family are.

Time and time again, when I meet with couples and talk about how the planning is going, the thing that constantly brings the most stress is the guest list. Whether it’s the addresses, narrowing it down, or licking and stamping the envelopes, the guest process seems to be one of the more stressful parts.

Erika & Phil took a slightly different approach when it came to planning their wedding.  They only invited immediate family.  :)  Thats right, the 11 people you see in that photo are all that were there to witness their vows.

(Actually, myself and super cool wedding videographer Vanessa McKellar were also witnesses, but you get the point.)

Phil’s comment to me was he “didn’t want to be introduced to anyone on his wedding day”.  Not a bad way of looking at it.  Erika told me they wanted a smaller wedding, but as they started coming up with the guest list it kept getting bigger and bigger til they decided there was only one way of doing it.  Just family.  I have photographed weddings with hundreds of guests and a wedding with less than a dozen guests.  There is no right or wrong way to do it.  My advice to you is invite who you want.

It’s your wedding.

If you only want 50 people there, invite 50 people.

Trust me, your friends and acquaintances that do not get invited will not stop being your friends.  They may be confused at first.  But if they are truly your friends, then they will understand.  They want you to be happy.  If having 50 people at your wedding makes you happy, then they will support you.

Side Note: You may end up getting less gifts this way, but we’ll assume you’re OK with that.

If you want to see more images from Erika & Phil’s September 9, 2009 wedding click here.
I’ll give you one more shot to entice you click that link.

I LOVE my couples.

They are far and away the coolest people getting married week in and week out in East Texas. :)  Just a few days ago I got Christina & Josh’s final payment for their wedding in a few weeks and she included this little note.

Look for their Dallas wedding soon, and the little code at the top is a sneak peek at some of the fun we’ll be having at her wedding.

These two had a super laid back Sunday wedding at Elmwood Gardens.  Here are a few of my favorites starting with a shot of their Mini Cooper. :)

A couple of my favorites from their First Look.

These two met when they both worked for Apple, so this shot was a must have. :)

Angela & Spencer did something I wish more couples would try. The invited fewer guests to their wedding and had it in a backyard.  I LOVE when couples do this.  It makes the whole event less stressful and really makes it feel like something out of a movie.  If you need hundreds of people at your wedding, then there are plenty of great venues in the area.  If you think you might enjoy a smaller crowd, trust me, you won’t regret it.  On to the images…

Below are lots and lots of pretty photos.  You have been warned.

As you saw in their sneak peek, Angela has some hot shoes.  Spencer was not going to be out done.

This was a pretty musical wedding.  So I was giddy as a school girl when this idea popped into my head.

The cool thing about getting married in 2010 is that you can always just check YouTube on how to tie a tie.

Spencer was so nervous before their First Look, but once he saw Angela, the rest of the day was a breeze.

She greeted him with a little pinch on the bum.

I have no idea why he was making this face.

My “second shooter”. :)

Details, details, details.

Spencer helping Angela change into some “reception friendly” shoes. :)

You can tell Spencer is a Rock Star because women walk up to him while he is playing and try to make out with him.

Thank you guys for sharing your day with me.  I had an absolute blast.

(An extra special thanks to Stanley’s Bar-B-Que for the tasty dinner.)

Angela & Spencer got hitched a few days ago.  I’ll be giving their wedding much more blog love in the next couple of days, but for now, here are a few images to hold you over.

I LOVE Angela’s Dad sneaking a peek through the window at their First Look.

Spencer playing for the first time as a married man.
TONS more images to come soon.