A+Z’s backyard wedding
The wedding where I started creating GIFs.
A+Z found me on Instagram, and ultimately connected with me through Zola, about two months before their wedding date. Due to unforeseen circumstances their original photographer was unable to photograph their wedding, so they were scrambling. Despite having never photographed a wedding in Dallas before, my work popped up on her Instagram and she loved. We had a quick phone consultation and booked that same day.
Their wedding was taking place at a family home on a larger plot of land. The bride and groom both decided they did not want getting ready photos, but they did want a first look prior to their ceremony. Their first look was also my first time ever meeting them in person.
The anticipation. This was shot in an office door, with their wedding guests watching through the window behind them.
While the guests took their seats the two tried to calm the nerves. They kept staring directly at the camera and saying, “i don’t know how to act right now, should I be smiling?”. It took a while for them to feel comfortable around the camera. I kept having to remind them to act like I wasn’t there.
While I waited inside with the couple, my second shooter went outside to get some photos of the ceremony space. The land had been cleared of brush, offering a nicely manicured lawn adorned with a white aisle sprinkled with rose petals and rows of chairs draped in white linens. At the end of the aisle was a large wooden arch, appearing to be handmade, adorned with flowers and drapery. In front of the arch was a canvas painting, which the couple would be utilizing during their unity ceremony. In the front row sat a handmade sign for the bride’s father, who had passed prior to the wedding.
The couple chose to walk down the aisle together. Z held A’s dress as they walked across the grass, jokingly laughing that he was going to step on it as soon as he let go.
One last look before they walked down together.
She asked him “You sure you don’t want to run?”
The couple wrote their own vows to one another. It was revealed that they had met while working at Chik-Fil-A, so naturally their vows included not only a homage to the sacred chicken place, but also a “my pleasure” at the end. After the vows, each person painted one half of a circle on their canvas.
The kiss!
After the kiss the couple walked down the aisle where every member in attendance shot off confetti from those little confetti shooters you can buy at the party store. There were like thirty people in attendance so there was a TON of confetti.
After the ceremony we took a moment to do the traditional formal photos for the couple and their family. While the formal photos are one of my favorite parts of the evening, I understand some folks aren’t a big fan of them since its not their family. So they can be seen here in the full gallery,
Their reception was catered by Chik-Fil-A. honestly, I’m going to take a second and break professionalism here. If you’re having Chik-Fil-A cater your wedding, I think you’re the coolest person ever. I’m an absolute glutton for Chik-Fil-A, so much in fact there’s probably a Chik-Fil-A cup in my car right now.
The group opted not to dance during the reception. Instead, they had a pinata filled with lottery scratch off tickets and shooters, yard games, and made the evening into a fun family gathering.
We ended the evening with a cake cutting, before the couple changed into comfy clothes and called it quits for the night.
