Sion & Niomi’s Winter Cross Key Acres wedding in Richmond, Texas

A few days before Christmas, Sion & Niome married under swaying oak trees at the Cross Key Acres wedding venue. The weather was a bit balmy and the sun refused to appear from behind it’s blanket of clouds, but spirits were high.

The music began and Niomi’s daughters walked the aisle with joyful tears in their eyes. After the 3 adorable flower girls walked the isle, came Niomi. Sion beamed at his bride. He looked like the happiest man in the world at that moment.

Sion & Niome had a hand washing ceremony, assisted by Niome’s daughter, then they said their vows and kissed under the oak trees.

Everyone was ready to party well into the night. There was dancing of all kinds, including a dollar dance with both the bride and the groom. Everyone got in on the fun and managed to get a dance with one or both of the happy couple.

The couple ended the night with a bubble exit and headed out to continue partying well into the night.

Vendors:


 

Venue: Cross Key Acres

Flowers: Made by the Bride

 

The End of a Decade

I can’t believe 2019 has already come and gone! It has been such a whirlwind year for me and my wedding photography business.

2019 marked the first full year of my rebrand. I was concerned about the slow pick up at the beginning of the year, but things quickly improved.

We shot a total of 5 weddings, 6 engagement portrait sessions a few random sessions and endless family portraits. There were a few bumps in the road, as there always is, but we managed through. This year was my first attempt at scheduling and shooting a styled shoot. I enjoyed it immensely. So much so that I am already scheduled to do another one next month and have 2 or 3 ideas to work out as well.

Tristan started Kindergarten this year. We learned a lot about where he lands on the bell curve for reading and math. Andy started a new job this year that he has really enjoyed and that has allowed him to go places he never would have imagined. This year, I started my creep toward becoming a full time photographer.

I can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring!

From my family to yours, have a fun, prosperous and most importantly happy 2020.

Pretty-n-Peach Wedding Style-Shoot

As we round out the end of 2019, I had the pleasure of organizing my very first styled shoot. 

A peach and berry color pallet for your wedding will have all of your guests mouths watering.

You’ve got the ring and maybe a date, now you can pull some inspiration from our richly warm and delicious color pallet and designs. This shoot embodies a warm, open bride who’s carefree and loves the little things in life. Don’t just stop to smell the roses, but the fruit as well. 

Vendors:

Venue: White oaks on the Bayou

Wedding Dress: The Princess Bridal

Wedding Flowers: Casa De Flower

Wedding Cake: Dolly’s Sweet Sensations

Wedding Linens & Design: W.E.L.L. Planned Events

Wedding Hair/Makeup: Aura Rosa Artistry

Invitations: J.Lorriane

Rhett & Rachel’s Historical George Ranch Wedding in Richmond, Texas

I was over the moon when first Sarah (Rachel’s twin) then Rachel reached out to me to have me photograph her wedding. I have known both Rachel and Sarah since middle school, when we played soccer together as well as attended several soccer and band camps together. It was like an amazing blast from the past, and fitting that the meeting would take place at a historical ranch.

The wedding day arrived and the weather was beautiful, thank God because it was pretty bad 2 days before. My Dad (The reason I’m a photographer) was given the honor of second wedding photographer shooter. He had an even more emotional reaction to hearing I was going to shoot Rachel’s wedding. My Dad was, after all, our soccer coach all of those years ago.

The music began, and the wedding party entered the historical wedding chapel. Once everyone was tucked into their places, the doors were closed as we waited on pins and needles for the bride and her father to enter. When the doors opened, we were greeted by Rachel and her father. A light I’ve never seen in Rachel’s eyes before shone so bright it lit the whole chapel.

The ceremony was filled with laughter and happy tears. Rhett and Rachel had a sweet little sand ceremony before they were announced Man and Wife. At the very end, before the happy couple made their grand exit, the bride’s Grandmother had the honor of ringing the church bell.

After the ceremony, there were so many interesting things to entertain guests. Half of the wedding party were LSU fans, so the bride and groom had a projector set up so the guests could watch the LSU/Alabama game. There was a man by an old wagon showing people how to brand wood, and a fake bull was set up so people could try their hand at roping. Guests also had the opportunity to jump on a hay-ride (sans the hay) around the property to look at all of the historical houses.


Vendors

Venue: The George Ranch Historical Park

Flowers: Tenacious Leaf

A few of our favorite things about being a wedding photographer

Tear drops on shoulders and dance moves that smolder– these are a few of my favorite things! (to the tune of “my favorite things”)

I LOVE my job. Getting to be a part of such a magical time in people’s lives makes me so happy. I love that I’m there to capture and save your precious moments to film (or a digital format).

These are a few of my most favorite things about being a wedding photographer

  • Tears! seriously, tears. I love capturing those raw moments when a bride is crying on her father’s shoulder because she’s so happy. When a groom can’t hold it together because he’s so happy in this moment as the love of his life walks down the isle toward him, my heart melts. (My heart of Ice, my husband says).
  • “Trust me, you can dance” says alcohol. Watching everyone at your wedding loosen up to dance is awesome to watch! I’ve seen grown men attempt to do the worm (after an 8-year old just showed him up). Seriously, those dance tunnels that occur almost organically at weddings are AMAZING! I find the end of the tunnel and just wait for the magic to happen.
  • All of the smiles and hugs that Andy and I get at the end of the night. We work hard to make sure that your wedding goes off with out a hitch (or as little of one as possible) we do out best to help answer questions, to fix trains and direct traffic, and of coarse we do out best to capture every precious moment. It makes us feel like we’ve truly exceeded your expectations and made your day amazing. All the warm fuzzies!

 

Southwest Houston Bridal Shower

Saturday I was invited to photograph a bridal shower. I’ve never shot a bridal shower before. It was interesting taking a wedding approach to a bridal shower party.

The decorations were amazing. Estefani’s sister did an amazing job hosting the party. She had so many fun games for people to play. Drama Queen Drinks & Things was there with several custom margaritas including a chamoy margarita. The food. OhMyGod the food was amazing!

There was a part of the house that had giant flowers in Estefani’s wedding colors (except for the pink) with her wedding date. We chose to take portraits in front of that wall. It was also conveniently located steps away from the margaritas!

What are the Urban’s up to?

Ugh, It’s been a busy several weeks. I wish I’d thought ahead and written a ton of blogs to schedule… alas I hate blogging, so I didn’t.

Today, I just wanted to catch you up on what’s going on in the Urban household.

Tristan started kindergarten around the end of August. It’s been a little stressful for me trying to figure out our new routine, but he LOVES it! He was happy to find a friend in his class from his old daycare. He also is constantly telling me about several different girls, one set of twins and another girl in his class. I’m concerned about his love for the ladies… Andy and I are going to have to keep both eyes on him when he gets older.

Andy started a new job around the middle of the summer setting up networking for rigs. It’s an exciting job for him with some travel and a chance to get more cyber security experience. I would say he is getting an exciting opportunity to travel on the companies dime, however he sometimes is a little anxious about it. Shortly, he’ll be making a trip to Israel. I hope he gets to do some sight seeing, but I don’t think he will. The furthest he has ever traveled outside the US was to Antigua for our honeymoon.

As for myself, I’m easing into a life as a full time photographer. I’ve spent the last several weeks meeting with stunning wedding venues around the greater Houston and surrounding area. I’m working with a wedding coordinator at A Splendid Event to develop a styled wedding shoot that I’ve been thinking about for a long time now. Lori has been amazing. I am so blessed to have met her. Hopefully, we’ll be able to work on many other projects together.

This fall is going to be so exciting. I have a couple of amazing weddings I am ecstatic to be photographing, and several engagement portraits. Andy and I just met a fun couple last weekend who booked us for their 2020 wedding. They have a really interesting idea for their engagement portraits that I can’t wait for.

That’s all for now.

Steph & Jess’s Wedding Celebration at White Oaks on the Bayou in Simonton Texas

Jess & Steph had an intimate wedding in December of 2018, but decided to celebrate their marriage with friends and family this August.

The party was a good ol’ country get together at White Oaks on the Bayou with BBQ, boots and a country band. The Cody Ray Henry Band played a wide variety of music from country to 70’s rock music. People were two steppin’ line dancin’ and all around bogeying (yeah I went there…).

Close to the end of the night, all of the Aggie’s in the room (which was more than half of the room) circled around the dance floor for the Aggie War hymn.

 


Vendors

Venue: White Oaks on the Bayou
Cake: Sassy Apron
Hair: Jenny Arellano @ Bellus Salon
Makeup: Bespoken Beauty
DJ: Cody Ray Henry Band
Linens: Well Planned Events
Catering: Swinging Door

Danny & Mimi’s Magical Houston Arboretum Wedding Photography

Oh man has it ever been HOT! August in Texas can be a bit unbearable, but a beautiful wedding ceremony like the one Danny & Mimi had make it worth weathering the heat.

Right before they were to get married, Danny & Mimi had an intimate moment where they held hands without seeing each other. There was laughter and a little bit of tears. Andy I like to hang back a bit while taking these photos to give the couple some actual privacy.

The Houston Arboretum was teaming with life and color as Mimi walked down the isle toward her beaming groom.

Mimi’s bridesmaids were resplendent in their soft yellow dresses, that reminded me of flower petals. The grooms men looked dapper in their blue tuxes with pale yellow touches.

At the end of the ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house… that could have been sweat, or it could have been because of how sweet the whole ceremony was.

This wedding was extra special to me because my parents got married at the same location over 35 years ago. It was surreal walking around where they stood years ago taking photos of someone else getting ready to start the same amazing journey. 

 

 

Take a look at their engagement photos – here

 


Vendors

Venue: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Cake: HEB
Grooms Cake: Cakes by Gina
Flowers: Lisa Seals
Hair & Makeup: Minette’s Amazing Hair
DJ: Events by Duke
Wedding Dress Design: Rebecca Ingram from Mayfair Bridal Inc.

 

Gabe & Katy’s Urban Richmond Engagement Portraits

It has been such a HOT few days. On Saturday, Andy and I photographed a wedding and on Sunday evening, I met Gabe & Katy out at old Richmond to take their engagement portraits.

Gabe, Katy and I plodded around the area taking engagement photos around the court house and by the train tracks as the sun set behind us. We found some amazing locations to take photos at. I love just wondering around an area and seeing what might work. Every time I go to old Richmond, I find a new and exciting location to take photos at.

About Gabe & Katy:

Gabe & Katy have known each other since they were 10-years old, swimming with their summer swim-team league. However, they didn’t really start to talk and flirt until they were older.

How did Gabe propose?

It was the end of mid-terms for college and Gabe told me that he wanted to take me to Galveston to decompress. We went to Stewart Beach, where we spent the day swimming and playing at the beach. At the end of the day, we went back to our hotel room to change, so Gabe could take me to dinner. When we left the restaurant, Gabe suggested we take a walk on the beach and as we were walking he was saying all these sweet things about how he wanted our life to be and how much he loved me and cared about me and when I turned around to give him a hug and a kiss, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him.

Welcome

I'm so glad you stopped by. I love sharing my experience and odd-ball imagination with my brides and groom.

 

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A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX
kelly@kellyurbanphotography.com
Kelly Urban Photography

A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX

A Houston wedding photographer

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