So if you have spent anytime on my blog you kinda know the formula…

Talk about how much I love the wedding location. (The Hilton Rockwall Lakefront was perfect.)

Maybe mention how smooth the guys were.

Perhaps a nod to how much I love tiny humans. (Especially if the flower girl is the groom’s daughter.)

And humor.  Jokes are always great, as in… True story, Linda anchored herself by holding on to her two pregnant bridesmaids… because you know… nothing says immovable object like two women great with child.

Yeah… that formula does not work here.  Because Linda & Joseph have a story that breaks the formula.

This is their second time getting married to each other.

Here they are back in the day when they were married for the first time.

BOOM!  I just broke your brain right?!

These two met as teenagers and were married a few years later.  He had enrolled in the Marines, and they started their life together on the base.  Soon after September 11th, he was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and more countries than most of us can name. When he returned, Joseph said he came back “a different person”. And rather than confiding in her, he felt like he couldn’t talk to her about any of it.

A short while later, they decided to get a divorce due to infidelity on his part.

Engaged at 18, married at 20, divorced at 25.

Now right then and there, these two have lived through enough heartache and struggles that would break most of us. But this is not where their story ends.

After the divorce, they went their separate ways and started dating other people.
Joseph met someone and they soon became pregnant with that adorable flower girl you saw earlier.

When Joseph talks about this time in his life, he is crystal clear on what the problem was–Him.
“I was not looking at relationships in a biblical sense. I was not saved, and I was just looking out for myself.”

Linda and Joseph had stayed in touch, and a mutual friend mentioned to him that maybe God was bringing them back together.  As improbable as this seemed, this is actually what started to happen.  Little by little, with a lot of work and intentionality on both their parts, “and through God’s grace,” Joseph added, they had restored their relationship and made the commitment to circle back around to marriage.  This time with God being at the center of it.

Back to 2018…

When you are in a room full of men praying for a marriage that is happening again despite war, isolation, adultery, and divorce…

You pause.
You breathe deeply.
You thank God for his grace.

When they went to take communion, they realized someone did not fill the cup. (I gave Joseph a hard time about this later.)
“Jesus knows we took communion in our heart,” he said. (Fair point.)

Of course they took time out to wash each other’s feet.  This is something I’ve had many couples do throughout the years.  The beautiful thing about these two doing this, is they KNOW how hard marriage can be.  They have seen the toll it can take.  They have experienced first hand the destruction selfishness can cause.  So for them, this was not an act of symbolism, but a tangible commitment to serve one another.

We had a little downtime before we headed to the reception, which always leads to great candids: chill bridesmaids, pack-mule groomsmen, Joseph offering another foot washing, and selfie fun.

“Having her through all the struggles and trials, it led me to know that’s God’s grace is perfect. Regardless of whatever sins you have in your life, God’s grace is sufficient.”

“We’ve come so far, and transformed into something so much better, because of Him.”

They hit the reception and were ready to go for the rest of the night.

My favorite part was when Linda’s father sang to his family, and then busted out an entire song to his own bride. #winning

I’m going to leave you with what is my favorite moment from their day.  The clearest picture of marriage I can give you. Service.

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2017. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 10:00am the next day and the winners will be announced Monday 22, 2018. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print. Today’s category: Engagement Sessions Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

1. Stairs:

2. Movie:

3. Car:

4. Books:

5. Weights:

6. Gaze:

7. Roar:

8. Wood:

9. Secret:

10. 3rd Wheel:

The past 5 years our family has gone on mission/humanitarian trips overseas. The thing with going to these places is that you always go intending to help someone and the reality is that you come back changed. Little by little, year by year, OUR hearts have changed. They have grown more and more open towards others and specifically towards those less fortunate.

One of the things we decided to do this year was not spend money heading “over there” but instead look for ways to help right from where we are. We’ve found ways to serve, give, and grow our hearts without having to take a plane ride. One of the ways we are doing that this year is by partnering with Charity Water.

Charity Water is an AMAZING organization that just celebrated 10 years. Every single dollar you give goes towards clean water. Not one penny goes towards payroll, paying rent, maintaining a website, or donuts for their break room.

To understand just how important water is watch either of these videos.

If you have 2 minutes, watch this one.

If you have 20 minutes and a box of kleenex watch this one.

So today is my birthday and I am turning 39. And here is what I’m asking you to do:

I’m asking you to give.

It’s that simple. I’m asking you to give a one time donation of 39 bucks. (That’s like buying two Blu-rays.)

39 bucks gives someone clean drinking water for 1 year.

39 bucks give a woman her dignity back.

39 bucks gives a young boy a chance to go to school.

39 bucks gives a young girl her future.

All of these things and so much more happen when people have access to clean water.

It literally takes less than a minute to go online and give.

I’m convinced every single person reading this has 39 bucks they can spare.

Maybe you wait another month on that grill you’ve been eyeing.

Maybe you don’t buy those “essential” oils.

Maybe you don’t go out to eat this week.

Maybe you dip into that wedding account.
(Trust me, you can’t buy anything wedding related for 39 bucks, you ain’t gonna miss it.)

Maybe you are a college kid and your parents gave you a credit card.
Use that bad boy without even asking!!!! (I’m looking at you Beckie.)

I’m daring you to give.

I’m daring you to change a life.

I’m daring you to do the one thing this week you can look back on and be absolutely sure it was the best thing you could have done with 39 bucks.

Go give. I dare you. https://donate.charitywater.org/alexm/best-birthday-ever

Oh yeah… about those mini sessions…

Anyone who donates $150 bucks or more gets a mini session. You can’t beat that.
(Once you donate, send me a copy of your receipt and you’ll be signed up.)
Donate here: https://donate.charitywater.org/alexm/best-birthday-ever

You get amazing photos of you and your people…

5 people get clean water because you decided to get your picture taken.

Mini Session locations & dates:
Austin: October 8th
Dallas: October 15th
Tyler: October 16th

One more thing…
My beautiful bride has a birthday coming up 2 days from now. All of you people who are always telling me how amazing and how wonderful she is… this is your chance to let her know that… by donating 74 dollars.

Nothing would fill her heart more to see this campaign reach our goal of $5,000 bucks.

Give 39 bucks. Change a life. It’s that simple.

Erin & Aaron are the most Dallasy couple I’ve had in a while. They are all about the city, the fun, and the Dallasness of Dallas.

Of course Klyde Warren Park is their jam.

The cool thing about photography is that you can make people look good at ping pong… even if they are not.

(Not that I’m saying that about these two.  Not at all.)

These two met while working at the same job. Early on, they noticed each other, but it took Aaron about 3 months to actually call her up because he was nervous about dating someone from work. (Apparently he’s moved on from that fear.)

One of my favorite moments from their dating story was when Aaron moved into an apartment in Erin’s complex.  She helped him move in and while he was returning the truck, she totally set up his place. Furniture, cleaning supplies, organization, etc. He came back to a totally prepped home. (Major girlfriend points scored.)

I TOLD you these people are Dallas. While shooting their session a car starts yelling at Erin. Of course it’s some person they know, randomly driving by. Why wouldn’t it be? There are only 1,281,047 people who live there.

So about a year after she had helped him move into his apartment, Erin had asked him to help her rearrange some furniture, but he told her he could not make it. (Major boyfriend points lost.)

Little did she know he was meeting with her parents to ask for her hand in marriage. (Like you do.) Erin got a bit huffy, but eventually got over not having a moving buddy that day.

The day AFTER he didn’t help her rearrange his apartment, he called Erin and said he needed some help moving stuff at his place. (True story.) When she got there, she found this.

That’s right.  The boy had fired up his old iPhone, printed out all their past text messages, and basically presented her with a novel proclaiming his love. (Major fiancé points scored.)

I had the best time with these two. Not just because of their perfect humor and personalities, but because it’s so evident how they compliment each other. Aaron talked about how much compassion Erin has for others and her willingness to do things for them without being asked. Erin went on and on about how tenderhearted he is and that his servant’s heart is what drew her to him.

I love these two and as excited I am for their July wedding, I’m more excited to see and follow their little love story over the next decade.

Such a perfect day.  I love when I leave a wedding and feel, “it would be impossible for them to have had a better day.”  That’s exactly the feeling I had at the end of Hilary and Kirk’s wedding.

It kicked off at the Magnolia Hotel in Dallas.

This is Hilary and her sweet mother. Everything I have ever achieved or will achieve is due to the connections and opportunities this lady has given me.  Thank you. ;)

Last year, I photographed Hilary’s brother’s wedding and took the image on the left.  Fast forward to this wedding… As a bridesmaid was handing Hilary a bite of food, it’s like I was suddenly in the Matrix.  I could not believe it was happening again and that I was given the perfect photographic bookend.

On to the venue.  The Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, TX.

Kirk was on the phone, when someone came in to pin on his boutonniere.  He asked me if he needed to put his phone down.  I said no, then he proceeded to big shot all of us and started yelling “BUY BUY BUY!  SELL SELL SELL!”

Of course they had a First Look.

It’s always great when a bride chooses me to document their day.  It’s even greater when families have me back for another wedding.  Thank you so much Loyd’s for having two awesome kids, and letting me take photos of you and them, the day you handed them over to another.  That is an honor and a privilege.  Your kids ROCK and that means that you guys are pretty swell parents. ;)

Here comes the bride.

Hilary and her father took dance lessons and came up with a choreographed father daughter dance.  I know I was supposed to be watching and shooting them, but I kept being drawn to her grandparents who just kept cheering and clapping during the whole dance. :)

I don’t even know why Bridesmaid # 1 is poking Bridesmaid # 2 in the mouth while #2 spills her drink as Groomsman #1 creeps in the background but I felt it was worth documenting.

Couples take note.  THIS is how you stand next to your wedding cakes.

Rings are fun.  Mother’s dancing is more fun.  Pouty flower girls  are fun to make fun of.  Half eaten wedding cake is the most fun.

To Hilary & Kirk:  Thanks for rocking my socks off.  You guys were amazing.