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if you ever have a question about a wedding, ask a photographer.

“breathe. let go. and remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”

we are the only vendor that is there from start to finish, from the salon to the dance. we see it all and when i say that, i mean every single word of that. from precious moments to near meltdowns, the photographer is the eyes of the day. we know how things should flow, when we are running behind schedule, and how to anticipate the next moment before it even happens. after every wedding, i go home and dream that i am still there, it is so impossible to begin to shut your mind off after spending a day thinking of where you need to be to catch that perfect moment. it is an aspect of my job that i absolutely love, i love being on my toes, in a million places at once and capturing exactly how the day unfolds.

anyone who has ever watched me shoot has seen: me blot my eyes for tears that always seem to come, sit and smile to take in moments so special i have to see them, laugh as though i am in the moment that the maid of honor is describing in her speech, and hug my couples so tightly at the end of the night because i just shared in one of the greatest days of their lives. so for this installment of FIVE, i want to share my five favorite moments that happen on the wedding day… some of these may surprise you. 

1.) the moment when the bridesmaids see their friend in her wedding dress for the first time: these are the ladies you shared your vision with, talked endlessly about accessories, and shopped with for “THE” dress. these are the ladies who grew up with you since you were three and who have supported you in some of the peaks and pits of your life. your bridesmaids are the ones who will love you through thick and thin, who you chose to stand by your side as you married the one you love… so in that moment when they see one of their best friends in a beautiful white dress, that moment gets me every time.

2.) the first look: everyone knows i am totally smitten with this idea. i am totally obsessed with them for so many reasons. now a days weddings are far from traditional, so why hold on to the tradition that the first time the groom will see you is down the aisle. it gives couples a chance to share the nerves and react in an uninhibited way. they get to share blissful moments without the eyes of hundreds of onlookers and get to share in some time saved just for the two of them. it gives you a chance to hug, twirl, laugh and kiss before the big “i do!” trust me: it does not ever take away from the moment when you walk down the aisle, absolutely nothing in this world could take away from that moment. 

3.) the moment when the father gives the bride away. call it traditional, even silly, that our dads must hand over the reins to the new man in your life. yes, yes, i love the grooms face when the bride walks down the aisle, but i believe the dad’s eyes tell a different story. regardless of if they are smiling from ear to ear, or teary eyed the emotions that a father must go through at that moment tell a story that i want to relive over and over again. a day they surely anticipated since the moment you were born is finally here and to look your future husband in the eye as you clutch on to your fathers arms as you have done since you were a baby girl leaves me misty eyed. a moment so full of pride, excitement, and nostalgia… 

4.) the speeches: i know i have talked about how special the speeches are to me, but i can’t express enough how important they are. they say a whole lot more than a bunch of words followed with a toast. they speak about the couple, share memories, personalities, and help to tell a love story that people might not fully comprehend. the speeches are given by those who know the couple best, so words said by those individuals always seem to give me a better understanding and appreciation for the love that i have witnessed throughout the day. from hilarious jokes to tear filled words, the speeches are such a special time in the day that i can’t help but love… even if it means i never get to eat a meal. 

5.) yes, i love the father daughter dance… but that mother son dance, c’mon people! i can’t imagine being a mother (let’s just let that cat out of the bag) so to even begin to embrace the fact that a mother has to look up into her boy’s eyes and realize that he is a grown (and married) man is something that leaves my heart in my throat. i can only imagine what is going through the mothers mind as she squeezes her child and relives a lifetimes of moments from the moment he was born to the moment they are in. she prays that she raised him well, that she set an example for him. i have seen mothers swing their sons around the dance floor and ones who can’t seem to look their “little boy” in the eye, ones who hold on for dear life, and others who are so eager to welcome a daughter into the family they can’t hide their enthusiasm. the love of a mother is something ridiculously special. who am i kidding? i adore all of the first dances…