Kristina & Nick’s wedding was so of the chain, it is going to take 2 blog posts to chain it back up.
(I clearly have no idea how to talk like the cool people.)

4 Easy steps to an incredible wedding.

Step 1: Be beautiful.

Step 2: Make sure one of your bridesmaids is rocking’ an iPod mini. (circa 1994)

Step 3: When you write your own vows, tell your groom you are not a very good cook.

Step 4: Dance with your dad.

Come back tomorrow for more Kristina & Nick goodness.

Quick Disclaimer: I think Elmwood Gardens in November may be my favorite place. The colors are amazing, the weather is perfect. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.

On to the wedding.



The cakes were done by Designs by D’Anne. They looked great and tasted better!

I really enjoyed the back of the brides’ cake. :)

These two had one of my favorite First Looks. I think they just stood in silence for about 15-30 seconds before saying anything. Cameron was totally into the moment and soaked it all in.

I typically like to get couples alone for their First Look, but this ladybug snuck along for the ride.

Cheryl McKay did a great job on Lilli’s make up. (903.509.6556)



I loved Lilli’s wedding colors. Amazing!

A few guests had arrived early so the bridesmaids made a “wall” as they moved Lilli back to her room.

Sherman with CMB Music Productions was there keeping everyone on the dance floor. This shot of Cameron and his father both dancing with their wives is one of my favorites.

Fun fact about Cameron. He actually went to school with a super talented videographer based out of Tyler. (Jeff Heimer of JMH Pro) Since they were friends I tried to work him into a few of the shots. I always encourage couples to get their wedding filmed and Jeff is definitely worth the phone call if you are looking for a videographer.

One final cool thing these two had at their wedding were Sky Lanterns.





A quick note about the Sky Lanterns… Conditions have to be just right to be able to release them. (wind, burn bans, location, etc.) Be sure and check with your venue to see if it will work out.

Finally, a big thank you to Hollie Wells of Chic Weddings for putting this whole day together.

I have been looking forward to Laura & Neil’s wedding since I did their engagement session. These two are a so much fun to hang around. They are relaxed and their chemistry makes my camera so happy every time it photographs them.

The other reason I have been eager for this wedding was it was my first chance to shoot a wedding at The Legacy Venue in Jacksonville. We did Laura’s bridal session there, but venues always seem to really come alive when they are decked out for a wedding. This place did not disappoint. You brides out there looking for a place to get hitched really should give them a call. On to the images….

Laura did ALL the flowers! Most brides can’t handle just sitting around getting ready for the day, much less getting flowers together but she pulled off this crazy fun yellow and black look and I loved it!

Laura had the following image enlarged as her portrait and it was on display. The flower girl came up to me and said. “I want a picture just like Laura in the window.” She hopped up and posed for it. :) I’m hoping to book that wedding in 2024. :)

More yellow goodness.

A bit of First Look fun! Neal thanked me 2 or 3 times during the day for encouraging them to do a first look. He just kept talking about how much “easier” it made the day.

Also big big props to Neil. During their First Look, out of the blue he said. “Let me see your shoes.” He, my blog reading friends, is what we like to call a “catch”.

The talented folks at Chez Bazan did the wedding cakes.

We even got to do some shots with their dog Duke.

This was Duke back at the end of May. He is now a large animal.

Thanks guys for a great afternoon. I can’t wait to get started on your album!

Ah “Formals” we all love them. They are EVERYONE’S favorite part of the wedding day. It’s so easy to get everyone dressed and ready on time. Everyone is ALWAYS in the right place and your step parents never make things awkward. :) OK, OK, enough with the sarcasm. You get it.

The thing is as much as photographers like to complain about formals I actually don’t mind them. They are usually pretty painless and I think getting those shots are very much a part of your day. These are the people you have grown up with. Everyone is dressed up and looking their best so capturing a few shots of them SHOULD be a part of your day. I think I have only posted formals like 2 or 3 times in the 4 years I have been blogging so enjoy these while you can. :) In fact, I think the questions moms ask me the most is… “Do you take formals?” Girls this is your chance. E-Mail this post to your mom and give her the proof she is looking for.

Here are 3 little tips to make this part of your day flow smoother.

1. Long Lists are for Losers.
I’m pretty sure every bridal magazine in the world tells you to come up with a list of poses you need. Bride w/mom Bride w/dad Bride w/mom & dad Bride w/sister Bride w/mom, dad, & sister Bride w/groom Bride w/hot dog Bride w/toothbrush Trust me. I get it. You want a picture with the important people in your life. I typically only ask for a list of out of the ordinary important people in you life. (Ex: If you are super close friends with your aunt and want a photo of ONLY you and her, let me know.) The best way to keep this part of the process enjoyable is by limiting just how many of these we take. This way everyone stays fresh and your day doesn’t turn into a 2 hour Olan Mills session.

2. Losen Up.
I mean it. These are just photos. If ever single thread of your dress is not in perfect place the world will not come to an end. I promise. Relax. Enjoy the process. These are some of the closest people in your lives. You share memories and stories and this is one more you are having together. If your dad always wears a cowboy hat. Let him. He’ll be happier and the photo will seam more genuine. Don’t try and be someone you are not. Embrace the craziness that is your family.

3. Lie.
If you need people dressed and ready by 5:00, tell them 4:30. The worst thing that could happen is they have to sit around in a tux for a bit. It’s much better than having everyone else wait on them for 15 minutes to get ready. This also lowers the stress level of your day because everyone is there ready to go rather than calling your phone saying.. “we are about 20 minutes away and will get dressed as soon as we get there.” One final thing… I know I beat you over the head with the First Look thing a few weeks ago, but having one really really helps this part of your day go much smoother. Again, people are relaxed, we are not rushing to get to the reception and everyone can enjoy the process.

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )

As we finish up First Look week here on the blog I thought it would be great to get some feedback from some recently married guys and see what they thought about the whole First Look process.  First off, here they are, don’t they look good?  (You ladies who are married to these men should post a comment about how great your husbands are for filling out my little survey.)

An opinion from a man about a wedding? Really? Ladies, you should jump all over this.

OK, in all seriousness, when considering doing a First Look, the first person you should talk to about this is your fiance’. Not your mom, not your planner, not even your photographer. I know that often times guys will just give the standard “whatever” answer to some of your wedding questions. The fact is, we are sometimes pretty clueless. When you say wedding tulle, we grab a hammer. The last time we thought about flowers was when our mom made us get one for a high school homecoming game, and if you ask us about what time we want to do the getaway, we’ll say “as soon as humbly possible.” (you can probably figure that one out.)

However, this does not mean that we necessarily want to be absent from the planning process. Just because it’s confusing, does not mean we want to be left out. Certain guys will be more into specific decisions. Your groom may really care about what car you leave in, someone else might care about the color of the tuxes, but one thing EVERY groom wants is to not be stressed out and to spend time with his bride on the wedding day.

So, how can we make that happen? I’m so glad you asked. :)

The one thing I hear grooms say over and over is how glad they are they choose to see their bride before the ceremony. It calms everyones nerves, makes the photography process something they enjoy, rather than something they are exhausted for.  And, it gives you two quality time alone on a day when hundreds of people are pulling you in every direction.

Did you catch the theme there girls? He WANTS to see you on your wedding day! He wants to spend time with you, hold you, and he wants to do it in a “safe” environment; one without strangers, your mom, or even his groomsmen staring at him. If you have ever seen wedding photos where the groom looks scared to death, it’s because he is. He’s not scared of getting married. He’s scared of saying the wrong thing, stepping on your dress, or what his college roommate would yell if he leaned over to whisper something sweet in your ear.

Since this is about the guys, why don’t we use a football analogy. :) Think of your First Look as “halftime”. It’s super romantic, I know. Stay with me. The first half of your day is the first half of the game. You are each figuring out the day, the flow of the day / game, it’s basically a free for all. Having a First Look is like a time to stop, slow down, and catch your breath. Then you guys go out TOGETHER and take on the rest of the day. Suddenly everything is a bit easier. You have each other to help stay relaxed, you both know what’s happening and where to go. It’s almost like the wedding becomes “real” at that point.

Way back in 2002 when I was married, I WISH someone had told me about First Looks. I remember hanging out with my groomsmen, and I remember bits and pieces of the ceremony and reception, but as far as Danielle coming down the aisle or quiet moments together…. I don’t have any memories of those. The first time we were alone and I had a chance to talk with Danielle was as we were driving away. Now, our wedding and marriage has not been ruined because of that, but would I go back and change that aspect about our day? ABSOLUTELY!

Before we finish up, here a a few more thoughts from the guys.

What were you thinking as she walked down the aisle?:
“Holy bajeezes, our wedding day is finally here. We are totally getting married! SWEET!” – Brent

“Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. It’s game time.” – Jacob

“When is my forhead going to stop swetting and man my feet are getting tired of standing. (I need a Drink!!)” – Steven

“I could say all the “right” things like “how beautiful she looked” or ” how in love I was with her” and I was thinking those things; but a ton of my focus was on trying not to cry.” – Jonathan

If your First Look had cost you Monday Night Football for one season would you still do it?
“There is no way I would have traded that first look for anything, especially Monday Night Football. If it had been the Stanley Cup Finals though, I might have thought about it because lets face it, Hockey is a real mans sport.” – Brent

“For me, yes. Unless the Cowboys are playing every Monday night.” – Jacob

“I think either way I have DVR so I’ll still get all my favorite games on time so definitely would still do it.” – Tong

“Questionable but as long as I still get Duck season we might be ok.” – Steven

“Will Davi ever see these answers? j/k……..of course I would. It was honestly one of my favorite moments of that day.” – Jonathan

Like I said earlier in this series. Learn from others about how to make your wedding day the best it can be. Here is a bit of homework. Find 5 friends who were married without doing a First Look and ask them about the alone time they shared with their spouse at the wedding, then try it with a few First Look couples. I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to tell a difference.

Trust me when I say this, although weddings are often portrayed to a slow motion song with birds chirping quietly in the background, that sometimes is not the case. Sometimes they turn into hair appointments taking longer than expected, missing jackets that have to be picked up, and running from table to table to greet your anxious guests. Having a First Look ensures that no matter what your day is like the two of you will share some quiet moments together and soak in just how incredible your love story is.

( Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 )