I remember when I first sat down to chat with Samantha and Ron, thinking to myself… she’s going to look absolutely amazing in her wedding dress. It’s a funny thing that I, and I think most photographers do. We look at a client, or potential client, and see them in our mind’s eye as they are going to look when we photograph them. They hadn’t booked me yet, at that point, but they were referred by Samantha’s friend Katelyn (who’s wedding we shot in June of 2009). I remember thinking “I REALLY want to shoot this wedding. This is going to be a really cool wedding, and I REALLY want it!” Fast forward months later. I was right, and still that picture in my mind’s eye paled in comparison.
The ceremony took place is a nice, brightly-lit church. It was actually very amusing watching these two up at the altar; there was much giggling, snickering, and quietly-said sideways commentary going on. And to tell you the truth, after shooting their engagement session, I expected no less. When we got to the church, I spied the stained glass above the doors, and I immediately knew how I wanted to shoot the grand exit! I always try and get this kind of image if it’s available (in other words if the stars align, and there is stained glass in the exit, and it’s a sunny day where the stained glass is lit by the sun shining through it, and that there is a grand exit…).
The reception was at RiverCrest Golf Club, which is a really cool place to have a party. When we got there, the ladies took a few minutes to make some dress adjustments… and off we went to have some fun with the new Mr. and Mrs.! There’s a great outdoor patio, which we used later in the evening, and some paved paths that lead you around the golf course. There are some nice views along those paths, but what I saw and really wanted to shoot was the big old oak tree that stands right by the club house. We took some shots in front of it during the cocktail hour photo session… but I think our best use of it came much later.
The actual ballroom at RiverCrest Golf Club is one of the nicer ones that I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. I’ve only shot there once so far, so I don’t know if this is their typical setup (although I think it is because it’s just logical that it would be done this way) but the guests are seated on either side of the dance floor. The bride and groom sit at the sweetheart table at the head of the dance floor, and behind them is a set of floor-to-ceiling windows. The place feels full and alive, but having all of your guests there still leaves the room feeling airy, and not claustrophobic at all. Also, thanks to Samantha and Ron, we were seated as guests at their reception… and I can report that the food tasted great!
Later in the evening, we got a chance to pull Samantha and Ron away for a bit of fun outside. Their videographer, and good friend of ours, Tom from TLJ Studios came along with us. We hit the patio for some evening shots at the fountain there, and then moved on to the same path we had walked down before. Now that the sun had set and it was getting dark rapidly, we got some really great night-time shots that we couldn’t have pulled off without Tom’s help! And I now officially want a video light for exactly this purpose. Ron ran inside for a few minutes, but we got to shoot Samantha by that old oak tree, which is up-lit at night! It was exactly the shots I was hoping to get! We met up with Ron again in the lobby for a couple more shots of the two of them together, and then back to the reception they went!
