My cousin Bethany got married on Sunday, May 29th at Deer Creek State Park. It wasn't only a big day because of her wedding, it was a big day for me, because I was the photographer. And I say 'photographer' loosely. More like the 'designated-picture-taker'.
I took Bethany and Gregg's engagement photos last July. After that photo shoot, Bethany asked me if I would take their wedding photos. I told her no. She asked again. I said no again. She asked a third time and I gave in. I don't mind taking engagement photos, or any other kind of photos that you could recreate if you HAD to (just in case the photos turned out to be that bad). But wedding photos, now those aren't the kind of photos you could recreate a week later.
I told Bethany I'd take her photos, but reminded her I wasn't a professional and didn't really have the equipment to pull it off. But I would give it my best shot. I had every intention of studying up and mastering the art of wedding photography before her wedding. But still, the week before her wedding, I found myself cramming in as much as I could like I was getting ready for a midterm. I hadn't mastered anything other than being a critic on other people's wedding photos. I knew the kind of photos I drooled over and the kind of photos that I wanted to take, but I am years (maybe a decade?) away from being that good.
In the end, I did give it my best shot. I choked on the indoor photos- some of the prewedding/getting ready photos didn't turn out that great and the reception photos look like they were taken by four different people (some had harsh flash, some had no flash, some weren't that crisp, some...well, you get the idea. You'll see for yourself on the reception pictures towards the end of this post).
Their wedding was outside at the gazebo at 4:30pm on a very sunny and toasty, 91 degree day. Just days before, the lake next to the gazebo was 12' above it's usual level and was about 6' from reaching the gazebo. With all of the rain we'd had the week before Bethany's wedding, they weren't even sure they could have the ceremony outside. But the sun came out for Memorial Day weekend and dried up enough water so the ceremony could go on as planned.
Bethany and Gregg had a small private ceremony with immediate family and then had a big reception that started an hour later.
I took about 500 photos and ended up with 336 edited photos.
Here's a sampling of their big day...
Bethany with Troy (my cousin Sara's (ADORABLE!) little boy; he's almost a year old here)...
The shoes and bouquet...
The dress..
The ceremony setting...
By the time we headed in to the reception, it was already hopping. So unfortunately I missed getting any shots of the table decor/details or the cocktail hour. Now I know why wedding photographers have a second shooter with them! There is A LOT going on at a wedding!
Baby Troy needed to get to that dance floor!
I needed to get there early that day for pictures (at 11am), so Jim brought Finley later that day in time for the reception (5:00pm). Finley started off doing OK, but I think the whole setting was just waaaaay too much for her. She started crying and would only let Jim or myself hold her. She even cried when my Mom was holding her and she never fusses with her. Jim ended up taking Finley to my uncle's room just to cool off and relax for a bit. Finley ended up having a MAJOR meltdown and cried so hard that she threw up. I didn't have my phone on me while Jim was with Finley, but when I did finally pick it up, I had missed four calls, two voice messages and three text messages from Jim. That was a pretty indicator that the shit hit the fan. I went to the room, but by that time, she had calmed down a little. I think Jim was still a little frazzled from the ordeal though. I stayed there with them for a little while and then we all went back to the reception. Finley did OK after that, but Jim or I had to hold her the entire night.
I wanted to get some decent pics of Finley all dressed up for the wedding, but by the time I even thought about having someone take our picture, Jim had changed her outfit and Jim and I were both looking a little weary for the day. This blurry picture of us pretty much sums it up...
Our little drama queen...
It was a long hot day, but overall it was a beautiful day. Congrats Bethany and Gregg! May you have a lifetime of love and happiness!
