This beautiful couple's wedding was originally planned to take place at a church in Fredericksburg. It was already a small wedding with only a few friends and close family, but they had to make some last minute changes due to Covid-19. Many brides and grooms have had to make similar changes to their special day over the past several months. Luckily they found another church a little closer to home and were able to keep their date.
Aside from the ceremony's change of location, where the bride got ready in the morning changed as well. The couple booked rooms at the gorgeous Hotel Emma for the weekend of their wedding, so that's where I met the bride. On my arrival I had my temperature checked at the door, mask on, and headed upstairs. The Hotel doesn't allow photography, so we only snapped a few in the room and on her balcony. But its such an amazing hotel, the balcony alone was a perfect place to take a few bridal portraits before making our way to the church.
Getting Ready
Some of the most overlooked photos on a wedding day, in my experience, are the "getting ready" shots. Grooms rarely want them and brides may not think they're necessary. But they're some of my favorite images I take on a wedding day. I'm a pretty calm photographer so I never rush my couple as they have their hair and makeup done and enjoy the quieter moments where I stage their details like shoes and jewelry. I also love taking documentary style photos and enjoy being the fly on the wall as the bride is pampered and surrounded by friends or family.
It was just the bride, her sister, me and the stylists in that room. And it was very chill.
Also, isn't she stunning?
Some of my favorite details about her getting ready photos are of the stylists. The masks and gloves will forever be a reminder about what was going on in the world when these two decided to tie the knot. A reminder that a pandemic was not going to stop these two from marrying each other.
Ceremony
There's something special about black and white church ceremony photos. They make every image, every moment timeless. Black and white emphasizes the story an image tells. And these tell their story.
I don't usually post images of weddings guests and family since I do not have explicit permission from them, so I've only included images of their guests from a far or behind. But I did take several photos of their guests siting in the pews, spread out from one another, wearing their masks, because I think its important to document what made their wedding different and unique. It's their story.
Portraits at the McNay
After the ceremony and photos with family and friends, the couple and I made our way to the McNay Museum to take photos of just the two of them. What troopers these two are! It was noon; the sun was high and clouds were sparse; and it was nearing 100 degrees. I was sweating under my mask so I can only imagine how hot these two in their wedding attire.
We found shade where ever we could. We even waited until clouds blocked the sun so we could get a photo with the Love sculpture. All in all we had a great time together exploring the McNay Grounds and sweating a little while we did.
Details:
Dress: BHLDN
Bouquet: Made by a very talented cousin of the bride
Shoes: Amazon
Jewelry: Badgley Mischka
Hair & Make Up Stylists: Ashley Cherie Makeup Artistry & Gabriella Flores (www.personaltouchsalontx.com)