Favorite Moments of Every Wedding

When I say I’ve been to nearly 1,000 weddings, I’m not exaggerating. For my first “real” job in high school, I worked as an assistant at a local florist shop and helped set up 2-3 weddings every weekend for multiple years. During college, nearly every friend I had got married and I either attended or was in the bridal party of, like 14 weddings (this was basically my life). After college, I became a full-time wedding photographer and have since witnessed many more people “tie the knot”. Some people assume that all this lovey-dovey-ness has made me numb to weddings. Well, they’re wrong! With every wedding I attend, I love them even more. Each ceremony and reception is so unique, each couple is so happy, and each flower girl so adorable. As much as I love weddings as a whole, I do have my favorite moments of every wedding that I especially love to witness and document!

 

1. The moment when she puts her dress on…

I love photographing this moment because it is literally so magical. Ever since we’re little girls, some of us dream of what our wedding day will look like and now the moment is finally here. It’s all real. You really feel like a bride and all the stress from the wedding planning process melts away. It really hits you that in just a few hours you’ll be marrying your one and only. Watching my clients look at themselves for the first time as a “bride” in the mirror always makes my heart squeeze.

 

2. The moment when they say “I do.”….

Regardless of the religion of the ceremony, how long the ceremony is, or how many people are present, there is always something electric in the air when they both say I do. To be honest, I’m usually crying every time. It’s like in an old timey movie or storybook when the credits start to roll and they live “happily ever after”. Call me nostalgic, but this moment gives me butterflies of happiness every time!

 

3. The moment when they have their first dance as Mr. + Mrs.

First dances are usually the moment that people either love or hate. Or, if you’re like my husband, you hate it but you pretend like you don’t, so you don’t have your first marital argument 20 minutes after the ceremony lol! Although dancing in front of everyone you know can be a little intimidating, this is one of my favorite moments of every wedding because it is one of the only times during the reception where everyone else disappears. In the middle of the dance floor, “your song” is on, and you just get to stare into each other’s eyes all mushy gushy. I love it. I equally love the daddy-daughter dance, but if you’re planning on playing “butterfly kisses” I will literally bawl my eyes out. Fair warning.

Honestly, it’s pretty dang lucky that I am such a sucker for weddings considering my job has me photographing them every weekend. I wouldn’t change that for the world. Getting to see my favorite moments of every wedding will never ever get old. Thank you so much to all of my past clients who have invited me into one of their most magical days. To all of my future clients, I cannot wait to see your uniquely and perfectly you wedding….and to cry when you say “I do.”

 

Liv