When you are overcome with emotion, your throat gets tight, you swallow with a gulp – try to look at the ceiling and yet most of the time the tears still come. One by one – slowly at first they wind their way down your face and no matter who you are and how you process emotions – it is a release. A physical release of both air and water but also a release of a wall – the moment that the tears start to fall you are exposed. As a photographer – I love those moments – without restraint, without walls – they are the moments that I live for because I can see the real you. All the threads that make you who you are and show me what you care about come out in these moments. Laughter and tears are my fuel and as awful as that may sound just know that most times I am laughing and crying along with you. Victoria and Raymond – you wrote on my facebook page that you were “elated” to have me be a part of your day and I appreciated it but I cannot begin to express my “elation” at being a part of your day. There is no word big enough to express my thanks – you were vulnerable and raw and your wedding was full of so much of the emotion which I love to capture. There was so much love and laughter that I look back on these photos as some of my best work. I can’t take credit for that though – that was all you – you were completely open with me and it definitely shows in the photos.
On the morning of the wedding I like to ask a few questions to get some background and also add another layer to the story. I love hearing about how they came to their choices for their day and seeing Victoria’s dress I had to know about it. I pictured her Mom’s (hers and Rays) and her girlfriends going to somewhere like Kleinfelds and something as glamorous. I wasn’t prepared for her answer. Both Raymond and Victoria fathers weren’t able to be there – Victoria’s dad has passed away and Ray’s fathers health did not allow him to travel to the wedding. Ray’s father is very sick and Victoria has stayed with him in another state to help take care of him. She told me that she had seen the dress before but it was outside of the budget she had set for herself. Caring for someone you love in such a difficult time was weighing on her heavily but you do what you do for the ones you love and Victoria loves Raymond. Deciding to find a little bit of happy she went to a Bridal shop close by and decided to throw everything out the window and just try it on just to have a bit of fun. All by herself she looked at her reflection in the mirror and felt all the worry fall away – she saw herself there and pictured herself walking towards Ray and the look on his face and she knew that this had to be. The dress hung in the window as she told me the story and I could see why she fell in love with it – the perfect mix of romance and glamour – this dress screams Victoria and Raymond didn’t disappoint when he saw her. As Victoria walked down the aisle on the arm of her godfather she had a smile as bright as the sunshine outside, he reflected her smile and his tears began to fall.
These two are just the sweetest people – their day full of so much love and meaning it was a pleasure to capture their story. I’d love to tell you so much more but I picked WAY too many photos for teasers so I’ll let the photos do most of the talking with a few little stories in the middle.
This moment was so sweet – Victoria’s Mom kept getting messages from family members and she just couldn’t wait to share
Thank you to the lovely Morgan (Morgan Falk photography) for going out and capturing Ray getting ready while I was with the ladies. She did a great job of capturing the relaxed atmosphere.
Victoria’s Mom helped her at first but then Marissa jumped in and helped out
Loved this room at the Chateau – amazing lighting and art all around
This beautiful locket was from Victoria’s mother – the emotion between the two of them and the sentiment is beautiful
With a misting in my own eyes I asked Victoria to just take a moment for herself and her Dad – these moments are important to remember those that you love that aren’t with you anymore.
She really is stunning, amiright?
Victoria wanted some time before the ceremony to go out into the vineyards and have some solo portraits done – and this just proves that you can still get great photos at 1 in the afternoon in open sun!
Meet their lovely little flower girl – I wanted to get some lovely candids of her spinning around and being silly and she did not disappoint – I think she looks like a little ballerina!
This moment was so beautiful it was her birthday so just before Victoria was to walk down the aisle they spent a moment singing her happy birthday to make her feel special.
It’s the simple things that get me in a photo – the way her Godfather reached across to hold her hand as they got closer to the end of the aisle – just a little sign of love and support.
This photo is a perfect example of the photos from the night – an emotional speech by Marissa – tears flowing from Victoria, her Mom and Brother and probably one of the best lines of the night “People in heaven made this happen”
Ray’s Mom and Victoria’s Godfather surprised the newlyweds with a live performance. Beautiful song – and they were definitely surprised!
Love the show of support and love from everyone at this wedding. I think it’s important not just to capture the Bride and Grooms reactions but also the bridal party and guests. These people were invited for a reason and are very important to the couple.
Ok Im sorry but I had to post these – the speech you gave your Godfather Victoria was just so moving – if you could have took a photo of me at this moment you would have seen the tears in my eyes.
Fireworks to surprise their guests – LOVE that Chateau does this!
Ray loves bubble hockey apparently! They arranged to have this in the lobby for the guests to enjoy so we had to get a few photos with it! I won’t say who *cough* Ray *cough* won but it was fairly close.
A lovely night for two lovely people – thanks to you both for choosing me – thank you as well to my lovely assistant Renee – she was a rockstar and got some amazing photographs on her own!
Hope you love these as much as I do! Congrats again Ray and Victoria
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