houston wedding photography | emilykiel photography | Tag Archive

Someone once told me that you want at least one thing to go wrong on your wedding day so that you have a good story for the grandkids & that no one wants to hear about a perfect wedding. I’ve also heard that rain on your wedding day is lucky.

Well. Laura…Dan…you guys win. You will always have the best wedding day story. Like, ever.

About a month before their wedding, Laura & Dan came to me (thanks to the wonderful Erika Maddison over at Event Luxe & Co.) in frantic need of a photographer & I was happy to be a part of their big day. Their wedding was to be held at the Gardens of Bammel Lane & I was stoked. I love shooting in new places & this one looked delightful. Glass rooms, gazebos, flowers, & did I mention a glass ceiling? Yes, please.

While the girls were getting ready, I wandered around taking photos of all the amazing details, all the while throwing frantic looks over my shoulder at the sky. Please don’t rain. Please don’t rain. PLEASE DON’T RAIN. At one point while Laura was getting dressed, I glanced out the window, then looked over at one bridesmaid with huge eyes, “Don’t tell Laura that the sky just fell…”

We continued with high hopes & a Skype call to the grandparents who couldn’t make it.

By the time we were ready for photos & the girls carefully made their way to the conservatory, it was looking extremely doubtful that we could take outdoor photos.

But the flowers. Were. Beautiful.

This is hands down my most favorite bouquet I’ve ever photographed. I still can’t stop staring.

I kind of feared for our lives during these next few photos because, by this point, it was a full on thunderstorm. Have you ever been in a glass room while it was lighting? This was one of those “don’t try this at home” moments.

It was around this time that the decision was made to MOVE THE WEDDING. And, by “move”, I mean MOVE ACROSS TOWN. From this point on, it was all hands on deck. I still don’t know how, but a second venue was found that was a few miles away & available for us to use. Cell phones were pulled out, guests started getting notified, & the reception was stripped down in a matter of minutes.

Side note: It had rained so hard so fast, that my Juke (which is not a low-riding vehicle) almost flooded. I walked in knee-deep water to get it.

Villa Rinata graciously opened their doors to us & we were ever so grateful. By the time the ceremony started (only an hour & a half later than planned!) everyone was in a I-can’t-believe-this-happened-but-whatever-we’re-going-with-it state of mind which couldn’t have been more welcomed.

These handmade napkins were adorable & were folded like sailboats at every place setting. Cute!!

Laura & Dan surprised us with a choreographed first dance & they pulled it off wonderfully!

After the bouquet & garter toss, the DJ had 6 lovely ladies (his bride, mom, sister-in-law, brother, & a randomly selected girl & guy) kiss Dan on the forehead while he was blindfolded so he could pick out his bride. After narrowing it down to two (Laura & his brother), they had to kiss him at the same time (photo on the right). To our amusement, Dan picked his brother, & whether or not he did it on purpose, I enjoyed it.

This wedding just proves, that 1) something will go wrong on your wedding day, & 2) you can still enjoy it & end the day in smiles like these two. Laura & Dan, I had a blast with you guys & your wedding will definitely go down in the books.

I am so excited to share these photos with you! In my opinion (& I’m not bias or anything…), these photos turned out amazing! That is entirely due to the fact that the wedding was beautiful & the people at it were so fun. And everyone was so in love! It was wonderful.

They met at church growing up, but it wasn’t until Thanksgiving a few years ago that Michael really noticed Julie. He told his friends that by Christmas he was going to be dating her. And he was. Their first date was on Christmas Day, & on their two year anniversary, Michael proposed at church where they had first met. He prepared her favorite dessert which they ate on the porch, & even though Julie was freezing, he wouldn’t let her wear his jacket because the ring was in the pocket.

Julie & Michael have been super fun to work with & I am still upset with them for not introducing themselves to me at Britney & Jon’s wedding in January.

Can you see the resemblance??

I absolutely LOVE all of their dresses. Seriously great styles & color.

The guys being the studs that they are.

Julie & Michael decided to pass notes to each other before the ceremony. Such a precious moment & everybody was so giggly! At least on the girls’ side of the door.