It was a wedding day, but more importantly it was a day of family and friends getting together to celebrate a new family being brought together. Eyes sparkled when people came together, and their voices were filled with warmth. You saw it everywhere throughout the two families and all the guests. Kelly took time to kneel down and hug the young girls that brought the sacraments to the altar. Kevin picked them up and hugged them when guests were being greeted after the ceremony. It was a special day, and it gained its status from two people being in love and them sharing it with everyone around them. There were so many moments that spoke volumes about the couple getting married. Moments that made you smile and sometimes tear up.
One of Kelly’s grandmothers coming to find her while she was getting dressed.
Kelly’s dad was often found quietly watching Kelly while we went about their first meeting and the formals. While his exact thoughts were his it was plain to see his love for Kelly and how strongly the day was touching him. Eyes do say so much. In this image is their photo guestbook just below the roses. Dad was turning the pages and I think his face says so much more than words. (Image was captured by Tony)
St John Vianney has a glass wall in the lobby. All of the family and wedding party was in the lobby and could see Kevin waiting at the altar for Kelly for their first meeting together. Kelly’s grandpa is a sassy smart quipping young man, but when he saw Kelly he was almost speechless. It was fitting she stopped to greet him and give him a hug before her journey to Kevin. Studio D does not take a position for or against couples seeing each other before the ceremony. What we do share is how special it is when they do. It also allows us to get the portait session of formals done and over with so the rest of the day just flows freely as planned.
The families and the wedding party gathered at the back to watch through the glass. Kelly began her walk down the aisle. Kevin’s smile just kept getting bigger and bigger as he heard her footsteps approaching. It is always a magical moment.
Kevin held out his hand and asked me if he could hold my camera. Mostly the answer to that question is no. Something in his eyes and his voice …. I said yes. Kelly asked him what he was doing. His answer silenced us both. He personally wanted to take just one shot of his bride with the unity candle with their logo on it. What woman wouldn’t agree to posing for the man she loves when he makes a statement like that? Kevin…. you did great. This image is all yours forever.
Hugs are always special, but this one was super super super special from Karen. It was totally spontaneous driven by her love for Kelly. You cannot be around Karen without smiling. She is 200% adoreable! Karen was one of Kelly’s personal attendants. One of my favorite moments with her was when she came in the sanctuary with her camera to get a shot of their first meeting. We make a big deal of them being alone during this time. This didn’t stop Karen. She came in and got her shot of them and left. When I went to open the doors she told me that we both got the shot so she was sure “we had it covered”. This was delivered with a thumbs up and a tremendous ear to ear smile.
Kevin’s mom asked for a photo with her two sons. I put them on the floor and her up a step to reduce the vast difference in height. They were absolultly towering over her. She was sure for the first time they wouldn’t be taller. Sorry! They still are!
My absolute favorite moment. Everyone was eatting lunch, and I could hear this great jumbled up mix of voices in the bride’s dressing room. I cannot explain. You had to witness it. It was one of highlights of the day. Their sharing stories and catching up with each other over food made it special. The beauty isn’t in the physical characteristics of the image. The beauty is each one of them being able to tell you what that time meant to them if you asked.
The last two images are of them. They smiled anytime they were near each other all day.
So often people feel we are just there to photograph the day and leave. That isn’t the whole story. We are motivated all day long by what we hear and what we see. How do I tell anyone that I loved the intoxicating perfume of the stargazer lillies in Kelly’s bouquet? I noticed that time had been spent on the some of the vases etching their logo and the date into them. I saw that someone planned that the cupcake stand would be the right shade of red. I noticed how close the familes were to bride and groom, and how incredibly proud they were of their children and their siblings. As photographers we share the day. In fact what you plan, what you do, and what you say influences what we capture.
Thank you for including Studio D Photography in your wedding day. We were both touched and felt it an honor to be with you on your wedding day!
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