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Camping Engagement Portraits

Brent & Karlie’s Camping styled engagement session.

Brent & Karlie opted for a camping style engagement photo session. We met up at Kelly’s pond located inside the vast Sam Houston National Forest. Brent and Karlie had the perfect location picked out just a short hike into the woods. This was my first time taking camping engagement photos, and I loved it! The Spawn came along (because he had to) and he was OBSESSED with their hammock. So much so, that we had to buy one before our next family camping trip.

Check out Brent and Karlie’s camping engagement portraits below!

 

Nerdy Engagement with Swords

Christian & Aryn’s nerdy engagement photos at Meyer Park.

When you’re into things like medieval swords & helmets, you bring them to your engagement portraits! I had so much fun playing around with portrait ideas that involved the props Christian & Aryn brought. I had to bring my spawn along for the ride as well, and he enjoyed setting up a pose or two.

Check out the photos below!

 

Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Wedding in Houston

Kyle and Lauren’s Downtown Houston Texas wedding at the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice.

In February I had the pleasure of hanging out with the, now, Luong’s for nearly the entire weekend! I caught up with them at Kim Son’s Downtown for their epic rehearsal dinner. Kyle and Lauren honored Kyle’s heritage by wearing traditional outfits for their rehearsal as well as hiring some really awesome Lion Dancers!

The following day, I caught back up with the amazing couple at the Rice. Lauren and her bridesmaids got ready in the bridal suite there while Kyle got ready at a nearby hotel with his grooms men. I nearly forgot until I was posting photos, that Lauren stitched some love notes into Kyle’s tie and jacket. What a sweet idea.

The couple decided they wanted both a first touch and a first look. For the first touch, they read their vows to each other in private while holding hands and looking in opposite directions. I mean in near total privacy. All photography parties (including myself) hung out in a very loud room and took photos and video through the paned glass door like the paparazzi. We couldn’t hear a word they spoke to each other. After the first touch, we ushered Lauren and Kyle into different rooms and re-positioned them on the balcony for a gorgeous first look! It was one of the best first looks I’ve experienced. Kyle was in total awe of Lauren’s dress and had to take a look at every inch.

After Kyle & Lauren had their first look, Lauren had a first look with her father. Kyle decided he wanted to do a first look with the bridesmaids, so we lined them up for a first look on the balcony. After that, the grooms men wanted a first look with Lauren (which was one of the most adorable first looks). We then shot a couple of group photos on the balcony and on the streets of Downtown Houston before catching a chartered bus to the church for the ceremony.

Once back at the Crystal Ballroom, Kyle and Lauren were whisked to the bridal suite for a private dinner while their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour. This is probably one of the BEST things a couple can do for their reception. Once done eating, they got to take a private tour of their reception hall before their guests took their seats. During the night, the couple did a photo-dash, danced their hearts out and ate some amazing looking gluten-free cake (allergies are the best!…).

At the end of the night, the guests sent the happy couple off in a haze of bubbles.

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Twilight-esk Engagement Photos

Taylor & Charrie’s twilight like engagement photos at the William Goodrich Jones State Forest.

Early in the year I met up with Taylor and Charrie at the William Goodrich Jones State Forest to take their engagement photos.

The way the trees are so close together and almost uniform really drew me to this location. For Charrie, it reminded her of one of her favorite movies, Twilight. It was also a bit of a dreary day, which really added to the effect.

I loved Charrie and Taylor’s choice of outfits. They were fun and whimsical and perfect for their personalities. Check out their engagement photography here.

 

Wedding Photography at the Oxford

Brendan and Christina’s epic Oxford wedding in Montgomery, TX.

When two theater geeks get together, you know you’re going to have a good time! That’s just what happened when Brendan & Christina tied the knot in November last year. The decorations and all the little details had such special meaning to the couple. Their cake decorations were a representation of themselves. Christina had a stuffed racoon as a child that she brought around with her everywhere she went & foxes are special to Brendan.

Christina chose to have a first look with her father on the patio of the bridal suite at the Oxford. These moments between father and daughter never cease to choke me up.

The couple had a friend officiate their wedding, which I feel is the most intimate thing you can do. I’ve been to so many weddings here lately where the officiant is either a long time friend of both the couple or they are a family member who’s known both people a long time. The rings were given to the best man/Brendan’s twin in what almost felt like a carbonite cage (made of plastic and a material that conformed to the rings).

After the ceremony, the wedding party pulled out their swords and we took some photos with swords and had mini battles.

As the night progressed, there was dancing and singing & conga lines to “500 miles.” We played with sparklers and the couple had an illuminating grand exit. Check out the wedding photos below. If you think you’re seeing double, you are. Brendan and his twin are near identical.

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Ring bearer Alternatives

Little boys 5 and under in a tux is the cutest thing in the world, but sometimes it’s not feasible to have an adorable kid as your ring bearer at your wedding.

Here are 5 alternatives for a ring barer.

  1. Don’t have one. Just send the rings down with the best man or if the maid/matron of honor has pockets, she can hold them too!
  2. Have an older relative walk the rings down the aisle. If you’re really close to your grandpa and want him to take part in your wedding, now’s your chance! If you have a cousin or sibling that you want in your wedding but don’t have the room for them as a groomsman, they can be an extra enthusiastic ring bearer (with fanny-pack and all).
  3. Do you have a pet that’s special to you? Strap the rings to your pet and have someone walk them down the aisle.
  4. Use technology. Send an RC car or drone down the aisle with the ring. Bonus points if the drone can drop the rings into someone’s hand!
  5. Want to be extra? Hire a falconer to send your rings down the aisle with a falcon!

Do you have any creative ideas on getting your wedding rings down the aisle? I would love to hear them. Leave me a comment!

Flower man funny wedding photography

Galveston Engagement Portraits

It was a beautiful day in Galveston when I met up with Lukas & Tori for their engagement portraits.

We decided to start on the Strand first. We wondered the streets walked up stairs and found a cute alley to take engagement portraits.

Some of my favorite photos from the strand were reflected photos and photos on the old brick.

After the Strand, we headed to the beach to take a couple of photos as the sun set. We met up near the Pleasure pier and started under the pier of another property taking engagement photos with the pleasure pier in the background. The sky was weirdly foggy for a sunset, but it gave the photos this ethereal vibe.

 

Carnival Themed Wedding

I’ve spent the better part of 2 months helping my son’s school plan a Spring Carnival. As the carnival is nearing (and because I’ve had carnival on the brain) I thought it would be fun to share some carnival themed wedding ideas.

The most important thing to remember when theming your wedding, whether it’s Harry Potter themed or Starry Night themed, is subtlety. Take your theme and water it down. You can use hints of color to make your point or small elements. When you take a theme and water it down so it’s not so blatant, you create a more elegant wedding design.

The Entertainers: Hire some entertainers for your reception/cocktail hour. Any of the following entertainers would be a unique & fun experience for you and your guests:

  • Fire-eater
  • Contortionist
  • Balloon animal artist
  • Petting Zoo
  • Trapeze artist
  • Clown (though they can be scary for children & adults alike)
  • Have some carnival games for guests

The Decoration: Decorations can make or brake a wedding design. As I stated above, you would want to take your theme and water it down a little. That means, if you want red & white striped fabric (very carnival-esk) either have only one small area that’s red & white striped or have some red and some white in different places but never together.

  • Drape white fabric from the ceiling like the inside of a carnival tent. You can even pair it with twinkling lights for a more romantic tone.
  • Colorful balloon arrangements either hanging like chandeliers or in vases like flowers.
  • Gold silverware or miss matched plates and glasses.
  • Paint some toy animals gold and use them to decorate tables or even as a cake topper.
  • Rent a fog machine to fog the dance floor
  • Send your guests admission tickets with their invitation

The Food: You could have a lot of fun with food options.

  • Carnival Themed Food Trucks
  • Candy Apple’s & assorted candy in jars and Cotton Candy
  • Popcorn Bar
  • Funnel cake or any sort of fried treat
  • Peanut bags (be weary of allergies)
  • Meat on a stick!

Brookwood Community Wedding

In December of last year I had the honor of capturing Landon and Stephanie’s wedding at the Brookwood Community church.

This wedding held a special place in my heart, because Brookwood is special to me. Growing up, I had an uncle with special needs. He would have loved to be a part of the amazing community at Brookwood.

The wedding day was much rainier than I would have loved but thankfully everything was held indoors. Stephanie and Landon got ready inside the church then had a first look in the foyer. I absolutely loved how involved the family was with the wedding.

After the wedding ceremony, everyone headed to the Brookwood restaurant. One of the neatest parts of the reception was the station to take Polaroid photos under the mistletoe. Wedding guests partied and took photos throughout the evening. At the end of the night, the couple exited through colorful streamers.

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Venue: Brookwood Community

 

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

A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX

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

A Houston wedding photographer

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