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This was a new tradition for me.. Marandah wrote her full maiden name on a piece of paper and presented it to her father before she walked down the aisle as a symbol of the last time she would write her single name.  It was a really special touch and something I think all brides should do for their daddies!

Ceremony Venue:  Chestnut Square
Reception Venue:  Heard Craig House
Coordinator: Kelly Simants of Sweet Pea Events
Florist:  DiFiori
Catering:  Bailey Catering
Bride & Bridesmaid Attire:  Bridal Designs
Cakes: Delicious Cakes

I was also really excited about their wedding venue – a gorgeous Italian themed event hall with statues, fountains, arches, and beautiful greenery everywhere.  I know Carrie was in love with the venue as well, so when she found out that they had gone bankrupt and had no money left to refund the deposits of the brides who had booked their weddings there, we were both devastated – and pretty angry, too!  Preston, on the other hand, wasn’t too torn up about it.. because their replacement venue was Minute Maid Park, home of his beloved Astros!  It all ended up for the best, the new venue was stunning and everyone had a fantastic night.  Here are a few of my favorite images:

Check out all of these bridesmaids.. Carrie has some hot friends!!  The really cool part about this wedding is that Stacy Bilnoski, another one of my brides, got married at the same church a couple of months later, and had most of the same bridesmaids, so I got to shoot all of these supermodels TWICE!  We had a little down time before the ceremony so I got some fun, sexy shots of each girl individually.
One of my favorite aspects of Carrie’s wedding were the flowers.. She knew she wanted white flowers, so she asked each girl what their favorite flower was, and got them each a bouquet of their choice.  It was so beautiful, and allowed the girls to get a bouquet they loved while still sticking to the wedding floral theme.  I definitely recommend this!







This was one of the more difficult weddings I have shot in terms of formal photos.  The wedding took place after sunset, and Carrie and Preston chose not to do a First Look, so we had to take most of the formal group photos at night.  It isn’t the way I usually work, but it was actually kind of nice to be forced out of my routine and have to do something completely outside of my comfort zone.  I adore this wedding party shot!



If you couldn’t tell from the size of their wedding party, Carrie and Preston’s wedding was a BIG affair, and Union Station at Minute Maid Park was perfect for them.  The room was large enough to feel comfortable and spacious, but not so big that it overwhelmed the wedding.  Carrie’s team did a wonderful job decorating it and making it feel cohesive and inviting.

Klockwork performed at the reception, and they were GREAT!  They kept the party going strong all night.

Their wedding was held at an amazing venue in North Richland Hills called White Chapel Estates. Don’t be fooled by the terrible website, it’s beautiful! It’s definitely suited better to small, intimate weddings, but the soaring white vaulted ceilings and the surrounding forest is great for photos! Here’s some proof:

Courtney’s mom helping her get dressed in the bridal suite

I just love this photo.. Every time a bride gets into her dress, it’s such an ordeal.. It seems that with every bride, her best friends gather around her and carefully hold up the edges of her skirt as her mother and mother-in-law-to-be tuck everything into the right place, ties all the ties, hook all the hooks, and zip all the zips. Then everyone steps back and just stares in awe at how this girl that they have seen countless times in PJs and a ponytail has transformed into a gorgeous, elegant woman. I see it on an almost weekly basis, and it never gets any less special for me.

Courtney and her lovely bridesmaids!

A few more dramatic portraits. Since Courtney is going to school in Iowa, we never got to do a bridal session for her, so I tried to get some extra images of her alone. These are my two favorites!

And then it was time for Marcus.. See what I mean about the beautiful environment around White Chapel?

Marcus specifically asked for a “Resevoir Dogs” photo.. They even brought the sunglasses and cigarettes!

And a bit happier :) We can’t be serious and GQ ALL the time!

Finally it was time to get these two hitched! One really cool thing about White Chapel is that the bride comes out onto this balcony overlooking the chapel, then down a gorgeous spiral staircase to meet her father, who walks her down the aisle. Here is Courtney’s grand entrance, and the smile that Marcus just couldn’t wipe off his face all day!

Married!!

Then is was time for some fun with the wedding party!

And I finally got the lovebirds alone :)

I have been wanting to do a photo like this FOREVER, but I could never find a good white wall.. I’m so glad that I finally got to do this shot with this couple!

Courtney and Marcus’ wedding was as unique as they are.. Instead of just being announced, they were led in by Courtney’s relatives playing the bongo drums and belly dancing!

The first dance was held outside in the gazebo, which I loved because everyone got to gather around and watch, but the couple still had a bit of privacy and intimacy to be able to enjoy this special moment.

Then we moved inside for the Father/Daughter dance, which is always an emotional moment.

I love love LOVE this shot! Sometimes the bride and groom plan out little surprises for the garter toss, but you can clearly see that Courtney did NOT see this coming!!

The DJ at this wedding played a lot of “dance” songs like the Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, Chicken Dance, Cotton-Eyed Joe, etc., which is usually a great thing because even though it may seem cheesy, it really gets guests out of their chairs and onto the dance floor. No matter how silly you feel doing it, you can’t help but have fun! However, he then proceeded to dust off an ancient classic.. The Macarena!! I think we all needed a little help remembering that one.. And possibly a little help forgetting it, too ;)

Unfortunately every party has to end, and these guys chose to leave in my favorite way – sparklers!

And last, but not least, my favorite part of any wedding.. The RINGS!!!