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Category Archives: Real Wedding

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

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.

 

Matt & Cassandra’s Lakeside Wedding at Seven Coves

Wedding Photography from a Whimsical Lake Conroe Wedding.

At 8am on Saturday Andy and I ditched the kiddo with his Grammy and started our journey to the other side of town to photograph an afternoon wedding filled with joy, fun and the largest assortment of cupcakes I have ever seen at a wedding.

The sun was shining (miraculously) and the idea was for the couple to marry on the deck facing Lake Conroe, however, the wind was whipping around and the waves were splashing onto the deck with fervor. So, Matt & Cassandra made an executive decision to hold their wedding inside the Seven Coves clubhouse. The couple was already toying with the idea because the weather had been predicted to rain for their ceremony.

Matt & Cassandra’s ceremony was beautiful and intimate. It was held in a part of the building that was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. You couldn’t hear the birds and waves, but you could see them, and there was a very friendly resident squirrel who desperately wanted to partake in the festivity food. The venue was whimsically decorated in blue and yellow hanging lanterns, vases filled with babies breath and coordinating pinwheels.

The most important people in both Matt & Cassandra’s lives were in attendance. Matt and his two groomsmen lined up against the windows. Because of spacing issues, Matt was told to turn and face away while Cassandra and her bridesmaids and Jr. Bridesmaid made their way to the end of the isle. When Matt was finally able to turn to see his bride, you could see the sun shining from his eyes.

For all of the crazy weather we have had here in the past few days, I was pleased that the sun was shining and the temperature was in the mid 70’s. A perfect day for a white wedding!

**Side Note:  As a wedding photographer, pinwheel exits are my new favorite exit. The photos turned out so cute and colorful!

Vendors

Venue: Seven Coves
Cake: Tier One Cakes
Flowers: The Heartfield Florist

Cameron & Bethany’s Winter Houston Oaks Wedding Photography

Christmas day arrived and I was watching the weather for Cameron & Bethany’s wedding that Saturday. The forecast went from 30% chance of rain to 60 % chance of rain within a day. I got the call from Cameron & Bethany’s wedding coordinator, Alissa Faircloth, that they were moving the wedding to a covered pavilion within the property because of the forecast. I was biting my fingernails and praying to any and all gods (God, Gaia, Mother Earth, The wedding gods) for a dry wedding day. Finally, on the Friday before their wedding the forecast changed to a 20% chance of rain.

I stepped onto the chilly Houston Oaks Gun club property thankful for an overcast day instead of a rainy one. Bethany and her friends and family were in the cottage getting ready. Spirits were high and the cottage was full of laughter and anticipation.

Cameron and Bethany wanted to do a first look before their wedding, and it couldn’t have been more magical. Cameron waited by a lake as Bethany was carted via golf-cart to the location for the first look. Of coarse, there was an entourage of friends and family who hid in the background. Everyone wanted to see Cameron’s reaction. It was well worth the wait, because Cameron nearly melted as he turned to view his bride in her dress for the first time. After, the entire wedding party moved to the Houston Oaks main property to take group photos.

One Thousand years by the Piano Guys bloomed over the speakers as the blushing bride walked down the isle escorted by both her mother and father. The couple chose to make a unity braid at their ceremony to show their commitment to both God and each-other.

It was a beautiful ceremony which ended in laughter, tears and lots and lots of dancing. The entire wedding party wore holes in their shoes as they danced the night away, thanks to they DJ’s at PRP Entertainment.

 

Vendors

Venue: The Clubs at Houston Oaks
Wedding Coordinator: Alissa Faircloth
Flowers: HEB Blooms
DJ: PRP Entertainment

 

Dylan & Jennifer’s Disney Wonderland Wedding

A little over a year ago, Dylan and Jennifer said “I do,” under the Texas stars.

Their Disney themed wedding was full of colorful decorations, a mad hatter wedding cake and, of coarse, Disney songs.

Happy Anniversary!!

John & Heather’s Rustic Cross Key Acres Wedding

It was a stunning fall day in Richmond, TX. The perfect kind of day for a wedding photographer.

The sun was out, the birds were chirping, there were few clouds in the sky and the temperature was surprisingly pleasant. I entered the Cross Key Acres venue with White Wedding by Billy Idol stuck in my head (because it was a “nice day for a white wedding.”)

Heather and her immediate family and friends were readying themselves inside the bridal suite at the venue. They took their time enjoying the moment and reveling in what was soon to be a stunning wedding.

As Dan and Shay from the ground up started, John and his grooms men (his Grandfather and father) along with his ring bearer walked down the stairs from the venue to a romantic backyard setting. Long fingers of Spanish moss danced in the breeze behind the wooden door frame and ancient wooden table, set up as the alter.The arch of the door frame supported a large, exquisite arrangement of white roses, white hydrangeas and an assortment of other beautiful flowers.

Heather and John assembled a unity cross partly through the ceremony — with the help of Heather’s daughter (and made of honor), Lexi. What are families for, right?

The ceremony was short, but sweet. There were tears of joy and laughter from the happy couple as well as several guest. After taking some wedding portraits with the party and family, Heather and John took some time to themselves in the bridal suite. In a rare turn of events, a wedding I was at was ahead of schedule (by 30 minutes or more!)

The wedding party made their grand entrance to Celebration by Kool and the Gang, and Heather and John went right into their first dance. They moved about the floor as lovers to James Arthur say you wont let go. After, Heather danced with her stepdad, a tribute to her late father. Her mother joined in and made it a trio on the dance floor. Then John danced with his mother to I Hope you Dance by Lee Ann Womack.

As the night continued on, wedding guests wore holes in their shoes dancing the night away. Of the guests, the children owned the dance floor. They flossed, duggied and did whatever else silly dance they could come up with (to any song that was on, including slow songs). One kid even did the worm on several occasions. I was impressed.

The night wound to an end, as all great parties do. All of John & Heather’s guests gathered outside the barn with extra long sparklers for a grand exit the happy couple will always remember.

I am sure everyone will miss them as they make their journey from Texas to Oregon to start a new chapter in their lives.

 

Congratulations John & Heather!

 

 

Vendors

Venue: Cross Keys Acres

Dress: David’s Bridal

Tux: Men’s Warehouse

Flowers: Busy Bees Flowershop

Cake: SmallCakes

DJ: Incredevents

 

Ben & Jen’s Flawless Farm Wedding

A country wedding for the ages

Hours before Ben & Jen were scheduled to stay their vows, omonus clouds darkened the sky with streaks of lightning that danced across the sky and thunder that jarred the ground beneath my feet. What a way for an outdoor, country wedding to start.

As I arrived at the farm, the rain had softened to a constant drizzle, which was an improvement from the torrential downpour. A pasture filled with sheep and two donkeys greeted me as I entered the property. According to the owner, donkeys are the perfect animal to keep coyotes away (you learn something new every day).

The couple was supposed to get married under a tree on the property, but had to shift to a location under  a covered patio because of the rain. miraculously, the rain completely stopped and the sun shone through the clouds right as the wedding started.

Marry Me by Train started on the speakers as Jennifer walked down the aisle arm in arm with her father. Her dress was simple, yet so elegant. Also, it had pockets y’all. Pockets!!

Ben & Jen said their vows under a handmade arch on the first official day of fall. Though the leaves were not turning orange and yellow (and no one expects they ever will) and thanks to the recent rain storm, the temperature was a comfortable 80-ish, it was a stunning fall wedding.

This was both Ben & Jen’s second marriage. They each have 2 children from a previous marriage and a son together. Jennifer’s beautiful girls stood as bridesmaids, their dusty rose lace dresses looked perfect with their simple straight hair. Ben’s boys were such handsome groomsmen in their sky blue button up shirts and navy bow ties.

The reception moved to the inside of the farm house where twinkle lights, votive’s and country chic decorations adjourned the tables and walls. The whole wedding was pulled together by “the village” friends and family decorated and cooked. One of Jennifer’s best friends did her makeup. Her other best friend supplied the stunning farm property and put her husband to work while she helped get Jennifer ready and Ben’s father officiated the wedding.

 

 

Vendors

Dress: David’s Bridal

Flowers: Elegant Occasions

Venue: Friend’s property

Cake: Sweet Tooth

 

Trey & Dallis’s DIY Enchanted Backyard Wedding

An enchanting backyard wedding in Damon, Texas

Trey & Dallas said “I do” at sunset in Dallis’s fathers backyard. The enchanting property was a stones throw from the Brazos Bend Park. Old gnarled oak branches with their long fingers of Spanish moss hugged the property. As the sun set, it peeked through the forest behind the property like something out of a fairy tale.

Dallis’s family made the alter out of old power-line poles and draped them in the same blush cloth from Dallis’s wedding dress and a garland of ivy and pink and blue flowers. There weren’t any ring-bearers or flower-girls, but there was a puppy. Trey & Dallis’s husky puppy, Mars walked the aisle with Dakota, Dallis’s brother before the blushing bride made her entrance.

The couple wrote their own vows, which they read during the ceremony. It was so sweet, there wasn’t a dry eye by the end of it.

The happy couple danced and partied with their friends and family under the Texas night sky. There was corn hole and a ring-toss game as well as great music and dancing. Everything at the wedding was made by the wedding party. It was a complete DIY wedding. Check out some wedding photography highlights. Don’t forget to leave a message! You can also click this link – here – to view Dallis’s bridal portraits.

 

 

 

Vendors

Dress: Homemade

Flowers: DIY silk flowers

Venue: Family’s property

Catering: Homemade

 

Hunter & Ariana’s Outdoor Wedding at White Oaks on the Bayou

A Summer Wedding at White Oaks on the Bayou

Last Friday, Andy and I traveled to Simonton to one of my favorite venues, White Oaks on the Bayou for Hunter and Ariana’s wedding. The venue is out in the country, secluded from the hustle and bustle of city life with a quaint stream that runs past.

Before the wedding started, Hunter donned a black sleep mask and was lead by Ariana’s father into a private part of the venue. The couple was able to have a sweet one on one where they could calm their nerves and just enjoy the moment alone… with me, the fly on the wall the wedding photographer.

Andy and I were hoping for a little bit cooler of an evening for Hunter & Ariana’s wedding, but because of all of the rain we got earlier in the week, it was both hot AND muggy. I defiantly had makeup drip into my eyes 5 minutes into the ceremony. The heat didn’t stop the drone, though. We were so excited that we were able to fly the drone and get some areal photos as well as video from the ceremony.

The part entered the ceremony to Turning Pages by Sleeping at Last, which is such a beautiful song. Look it up if you are thinking about romantic songs.

One of my favorite parts at a wedding is photographing the grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time. As Ariana glided down the aisle, Hunter teared up (it could have been sweat) His brother stood next to him and gave him several comforting shoulder squeezes. At one point, hunter pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. It was so sweet, and I am so happy I was able to capture that moment.

I absolutely loved the ring bearer’s sign which said “Too late to run, here she comes!” on one side and “Forever and ever… AMEN” on the other. He was so cute with it. You could tell he understood the huge responsibility he had been given and he was going to do his very best.

After announcing Hunter & Ariana man and wife, the wedding party had a dance-party exited to Let’s Groove by Earth Wind and Fire. Guests shot confetti into the air as the party passed.

The entire wedding was so much fun to be a part of. I am so happy that Andy and I were there to capture the precious moments.

 

Vendors

Dress: David’s Bridal

Flowers: The Floral Leaf

Venue: White Oaks on the Bayou

Hair & Makeup: Empire Faces

DJ: Sandra Moseby

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