Shea & Jess | The First Look

I am putting the final touches on the photos from Shea & Jess' incredibly dreamy wedding day and I had to share this adorable moment! This is their First Look, the moment when they saw one another for the first time on their wedding day. I'd like to take a minute and chat about how awesome First Looks really are. I don't give them enough credit! I was a bride who was set on tradition and I did NOT want to see my groom before the walk down the aisle! I wanted that "moment," that reaction!

Well let me tell you how romantic my reaction was! I was a BALL of NERVES walking down the aisle! I literally shook (I don't even like to watch my wedding video because I still cringe. So embarrassing!) as I speed-walked (oops!) down the aisle. Now obviously I am not saying that all brides will have this super overwhelming peak of nervousness (and the truth is I haven't seen a single bride shake as she walked down the aisle... nope... that's just me!), BUT, I am saying that I wish I had gone with a First Look on my wedding day!

Why? Because all I dreamt about was that REACTION... that moment. And guess what? It didn't HAVE to be during a long walk down the aisle and I kind of wish it hadn't been. I wish we could have had a private moment together before the day really kicked off. A small reveal. A moment to twirl in my dress and hear him tell me immediately how beautiful I looked. A moment to get our thoughts out and to reflect on the importance of the ceremony ahead.

I understand not all brides need privacy for this but that's why a First Look is so awesome! It has SO many benefits!

  1. You have more TIME for pictures! Couples who decide to do a First Look receive up to 40% MORE portraits of them together! Between your first look, easing into portraits together, having additional time for bridal party and family portraits, then a few quick snaps AFTER the ceremony... you get a lot more pictures with a variety of settings!
  2. You actually get planned, intimate time with your groom on your wedding day! A time to reflect with one another and enjoy the anticipation and excitement of the day! Without a first look you are likely going to go from ceremony to pictures and straight to the reception... the end of the night will be here before you have had the chance to think about being alone!
  3. You have a chance to let the nerves slide away! Imagine how much more enjoyable your day will be if you both are able to relax and simply enjoy each other and the grandness of the day!
  4. With a first look you can have a large portion of pictures taken care of before your guests even begin to arrive to the ceremony! That way you will have a seamless transition from ceremony to reception, avoiding making your guests wait while you finish pictures and giving you more time to celebrate with the people who love and support you!

Jess & Shea decided to have a First Look before their ceremony primarily so they could have a few moments alone to reflect on the day AND knock out a large portion of wedding pictures before the ceremony began.

Imagine this... the nerves have built up and Jess taps Shea on the shoulder and he spins around... He can embrace her, hold her, cry with her! ENJOYing the moment... and she - the reaction! They share the moment together without onlookers. The nerves begin to diminish. Then we slowly start snapping a few pictures here and there and we ease into portraits. They are comfortable, happy, GLOWING. And there is NO pressure. No "15 more minutes!" from the coordinator. Just a bride and her groom having beautiful portraits taken as they enjoy one another on their wedding day.

Look how adorable they are!!

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I LOVE these moments!! This is what fuels my fire for shooting weddings...!!

snow! | west manor photographer

So old man winter finally pulled through and we got a beautiful dusting of snow earlier this week! I was excited to have a reason to get out and shoot in the snow and had a great time capturing the property of West Manor Estate with its beautiful white blanket of snow. Below are a few of my favorite shots. It was such a beautiful morning!!

Thanks to Stephanie for capturing that last shot of us on the beautiful snow day! :)

jared & lisa | lynchburg wedding photographer

By the time Jared and Lisa's wedding came around, they had spent so many hours at coffee shops around town that they ended up meeting and booking a lot of their wedding vendors from those very tables. I loved that their wedding was so very "them," with a casual atmosphere featuring coffee and s'mores on the grounds of West Manor. The details were beautiful and the ease of the day spoke to Lisa and Jared's laid back attitudes.

After the wedding, they both got word that they passed the L-SATS and are now living the dream in NYC! Congratulations on everything, guys! I am so happy for you! :)

Ceremony & reception location: West Manor

Florist: Petal Flower Company

Hair stylist: Fusion Salon

Catering: Father's Table Catering

Coffee bar: The Muse Coffee Company

Cake: The Cupcake Guy

Dress: Alfred Angelo

Videographer: Jacob Lamont, friend

jared & lisa | west manor engagement session

I call these two my coffee shop couple. I met Jared and Lisa while they were both in law school, spending every waking non-academic hour at a local coffee shop studying for classes and then later for L-SATS. They spent so many hours at coffee shops around town that it was only natural for Jared to propose to Lisa in a coffee shop, with a full cup of coffee. And of COURSE we would shoot part of their engagement session in a coffee shop!

We stepped outside of the coffee shop for a few minutes to utilize the adorable patio for a few equally adorable pictures:

Then we hopped over to West Manor, the location of their wedding, and had a good time walking the grounds there. West Manor is such a beautiful location. They are under new ownership now and are in the process of renovating a lot of the property for the 2012 wedding season. I can't wait to see it all completed and with a fresh, new look!

Stay tuned for their wedding post later this week! I am on a blogging roll and can't wait to share all of the beautiful couples I had the opportunity to work with in 2011!

anna & michael | richmond wedding photographer

Ohhh, such a classic, DIY wedding with bits of timelessness and character.

Anna and Michael did a wonderful job putting together the details of their wedding day and making it so perfectly them. Their intimate ceremony was held at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in downtown Richmond on a Friday evening. Anna handmade so many of the details you see in the photos below. Enjoy a taste of their beautiful, late-summer wedding!