When Suzanne visited the studio just a week before her wedding, she promised me that the reception would be one to remember. She was right… and I will also remember the ceremony, the visit to her house nearby, and even the trip over to the reception site.
When I arrived at her house, Suzanne wasn’t quite ready yet. But the two flower girls were happy to come down and play in the living room. Once the bride was ready, we took a few photos in the house, then moved outside for a few more. Suzanne was a little nervous, and was having a few tummy issues, but nothing that couldn’t be overcome with a little laughter and a nice back rub by one of her bridesmaids.
The funny thing was her insistence on having photos taken with one of the custom trucks that a family member does. I ended up getting her and the bridesmaids in front of one of them.
Arriving at the church gave me an opportunity to go between the lower floor where the bride was waiting and he church itself where the light was absolutely incredible. Since I was also using new equipment, I was being cautious about how things were going to go with capturing what I saw. At one point, when I first walked into the sanctuary, I saw a great beam of light striking the high altar. It took my breath away at first, but quickly taking camera in hand, I was even more in awe of the image I’d captured.
The ceremony which followed started off in a kind of awe of itself. After the usual procession of bridesmaids and flower girls, the bride rounded the corner with her mother and looked up into the sanctuary. I heard her take a deep gasp, trying to take in all the emotion of the moment. Forcing a smile on her face, she headed down the aisle toward Jeff.
The minister was very open and kept things light during the service. At one point, he even brought out a bit of laughter.
I was fortunate enough to learn this new church quickly, one I’d never photographed in before. One incredible feature was a “back hallway” behind the altar which permitted me to move from one side of the altar to the other without disrupting the service. I never used it, but my position near the groom’s side of the altar gave me an incredible view of what the ray of light had done at the altar.
Following the service, several people were comparing rings, including the wedding bands of the groom’s father and the groom. What ensued was a comparison of rings in general.
Getting outside after the ceremony was over and the guests were over at the reception site meant getting some great photos out near the bridge that lead up to the church. Here’s one of our favorites from the stream that flows under the bridge.
Once we finally arrived at the much awaited reception, I saw what they meant by a reception to remember. During introductions, each of the guests had a streamer popper. When the bride and groom came in, these poppers were going off all over the house.
The remainder of the night included lots of dancing, meeting of old friends and family, and plenty of special moments.
We want to wish Suzanne and Jeff a wonderful marriage. Based on what I saw, they’ll be together for a very long time.