It’s always an honor when I’m asked to document someone’s wedding day.  But for some reason, when there are only 10-12 people attending… it turns into a super honor.  That’s how I felt all day long at Leah & Jordan’s Lake Tyler Petroleum Club wedding.

I LOVE this next photo.  It may be my favorite of the day.

What if you could only have 12 people sit and watch you get married?
Could you do it?
Would you want to?

There are so many misconceptions about what having a small wedding or ceremony might mean for your day.  Leah & Jordan proved that if you decide to have a small ceremony…. you can still have just as much fun. :)

You can still get your toe nail painted as your something blue.

You can still get photos laughing with your bridesmaids.

You can still have La Tee Da Flowers CRUSH your bouquet & arrangements.

You can still have your grandfather perform the ceremony with his super old manuscript.

You can still get yummy and delicious cakes from Designs by D’Anne.

You still get to walk down the aisle.

You can still have your grandmother tell your grandfather “Take a picture! Take a picture!”

You can still have a pretty great ceremony that ends with man & wife.

You can still take photos of the two of you looking gorgeous.

You can still have awkward photos of you saying “I once caught a fish this big.”

You can still get a killer ring shot on the book your grandfather has used to perform wedding ceremonies for over 50 years.

Leah & Jordan didn’t choose a smaller ceremony because they didn’t have any friends.
(They just finished med school and residency. They actually have like a billion friends.)

They didn’t choose a smaller ceremony because they don’t like people.

They didn’t choose a smaller ceremony because they could not afford a bigger one.
(Remember, they are doctors.  Wait… They just FINISHED med school.  So yeah… never mind.  Still broke.)

They chose it because it was a good fit for them.

That is the takeaway.  Plan your wedding how YOU want your day to go.  If you want 500 people to watch you get married.  Fine.  Invite 800 guests.
IF you want 12, then invite 12.

Weddings have become a circus, and I don’t think they were ever intended to be that.

So my advice to you guys is this… The next time you get in an argument over a planning detail.  Don’t ask yourself “Do we really need 12 elephants or will 6 be enough?”

That’s not the question.  The question is…

Do we want any elephants at all?

Hey hey, the people have spoken and here are the winners for this years contests.

Engagement: Natelee & Josh. There is something super timeless and perfect about a couple hugging while the dude makes his girl giggle.

Rings: Melanie & Aaron used these drinks during their ceremony. I’m glad their ring photo was able to include them as well.

Brides: Liz braved the stupid hot afternoon June heat for her bridal session. It was worth it. (Right Liz?)

Random: I LOVE this shot of the bride’s sisters and mom documenting their day.

Mug Machine: Hair makes the best prop.

Wedding: Breelyn & Tyson had the most perfect outdoor wedding ever. It’s only fair that their perfect outdoor photo win.

Each year it’s so hard for me to narrow down the categories and pick only 10 photos per section. This year I’m giving you a little peek behind the curtain at some of my other favorites that were not able to make the cut in wedding related categories.

Lots and lots of eye candy below. Enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who voted and a HUGE thanks to all my 2015 couples. You guys are super generous to allow me into your lives on these intimate days. You are the best.

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2015. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Wedding

All the other stuff is great, but really, when you get to the bottom of it, weddings are all about two people getting married. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of photographing couples on theirday. Here are a few of my favorites form the past year.

1. Talia & Andrew (Stonegate Mansion)

2. Stephanie & Max (Lake Tyler Petroleum Club)

3. Breelyn & Tyson (Chapel Creek Manor)

4. Katie & Trevor (THE SPRINGS Event Venue)

5. Kallie & Chase (Pecan Springs Ranch)

6. Shelby & Damon (The Arbor)

7. Chelsea & Ryan (Stone Oak Ranch)

8. Melanie & Aaron (Le Beaux Chateau)

9. Chasity & Adam (The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception)

10. Heather & Austin (Castle on the Lake)

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2015. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Random

Sometimes it’s the unexpected moment that stand out the most to me from a wedding day. The things you don’t plan for, the tiny details that bubble up to the surface and make your day that much more unique. Here are a few of my favorites form this past year.

1. Decisions
EVERY bride makes odd faces on her wedding day. It’s just part of having 1 million decisions to make. Talia’s was my favorite. She’s such a strong decision maker and always knew what she wanted along the way, that this little moment just made my day.

2. Creeper
That super tender moment after you just were joined in holy matrimony when it’s just the two of you… and that creeper in the corner.

3. Ladies Man
Already killing it on the dance floor.

4. Change
Any bridesmaid who can change a diaper when he girl is wearing THAT should win an award.

5. Details
Kelsey’s father had overseen the construction of the new sanctuary. The completion came down to the day of her wedding. I love that everything was so new and last minute that they forgot to take the stickers of the windows.

6. Nap
Sometimes your brides run your bridesmaids ragged.

7. Savior
I had noticed the cake leaning earlier in the day. During the reception I was looking at it and actually saw it falling over. I ran 20 feet across the room, grabbed the ring bearer’s pillow along the way and caught it before it toppled over. Thus saving the wedding, their marriage, and all of humanity.

8. Ink
Best garter shot ever?

9. Faces
Getting married is a serious commitment. You’re still allowed to be silly though.

10. Selfie
Wedding selfies are great. Wedding selfies with your face full of food are even better.

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2015. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Bridal Sessions

Here’s what’s great about bridal sessions, you get to have all kinds of fun in your dress and we get photos that we probably could not get on the wedding day. Sometimes we pick a totally different location from where you’ll get married, sometimes we get to spend much more time on the photos, sometimes we get to fly in an airplane. (true story.)

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

1. Stephanie

2. Breelyn

3. Erin

4. Amanda

5. Aubrey

6.Liz

7. Ali

8. Chelsea

9. Chasity

10. Brooke