For every person and every couple, there are different aspects of their wedding that are particularly meaningful to them. For some, it’s getting married in their childhood church or by their closest friend. Or perhaps having their father walk them down the aisle or clasping hands with their soon-to-be-spouse as they take that walk. Everyone is different and it’s so important to know which traditions are important to you as they are and which ones you’d rather tweak to best fit who the two of you are as a couple. Justin and I walked down the aisle together because it was important to us to begin our life together…well, together, and to have a moment to quietly connect before we were swept into the busy chaos that is a wedding. And I have been moved beyond belief to watch a father and daughter share the last moments of her childhood as he lets go and accepts her adult choice to enter into a new stage of her life with the partner of her choosing. In my humble opinion, there is no “right” way to get married aside from the one that is meaningful to you and I love love LOVE it when couples take charge and consider each part of their wedding as it applies to who they are.
Melanie and Charles decided that they wanted to share a “First Look”and see each other privately before their ceremony. As a person, I recognize that this is a very personal choice for a couple to make. As a photographer, I want EVERYONE to make this choice!
It is just so so wonderful to be able to capture the moment up close and to have time to get great shots of the couple without feeling like we are taking time away from their guests. I was so ridiculously thrilled when Melanie told me that she and Charles were planning to see each other! We had so much fun!
I just love Melanie’s expressions!
It is so amazing to watch the range of emotions that everyone goes through!
Melanie pinned Charles’s boutonniere…love it!
We grabbed a few more traditional formal shots…
…before heading outside to have a little fun!!
How gorgeous are they!?!?!?!
I just adore how Charles is looking at Melanie in this first shot…
The wind and Melanie’s long veil…L-O-V-E it!!!!!
Seriously! How fun is that!?
Graham snagged this one…one of my favorites!! Yeah. He’s awesome.
Why do I love cut off head photos so much? I don’t know, but I really really do…
Another of my favorites of Graham’s!
That veil!!!!
Oh yeah…we managed all of that fabulousness before the ceremony even started!! If we’d waited, there is no way that Melanie and Charles would have all of those images of just the two of them! If you don’t have strong feelings about not seeing each other, you should seriously consider doing a first look! Seriously!!
Melanie & Charles’s ceremony is next!!
oooooh I LOVE the veil series… these are beautiful!