This is going to be a big blog post with 50+ photographs! This was my final wedding for the season. I had photographed C.J. and Red’s engagements back in the Spring time and I photographed C.J.’s bridals a week before the wedding.
Wedding dress hangs in the window
The wedding was in the backyard of C.J.’s father’s home in Kaysville. It is one of those yards that I refer to as a Mr. Miyagi Yard due to the ornate landscaping in the original Karate Kid movie. I’m dating myself with these movie references but that is what it reminds me of. There is a creek that runs by and beautiful trees and they had added Christmas style lights to many of the trees.
Bride’s wedding shoes
I arrived early enough to get some detail photography and also to get some bride getting ready photos. I photographed her wedding dress in front of a bay window and photographed her shoes. In between I would go find the groom and the groomsmen. It takes men about 15 minutes to get ready so most of the time for the guys is spent photographing them doing shots or just hanging out.
Bride puts on her earrings
We had C.J. put on her veil in front of the mirror by the bay window. The interaction between her and the bridesmaids is all genuine and I didn’t fake anything. I try to be a fly on the wall.
Bride puts on her bridal veil
Groom and the groomsmen do shots before the wedding ceremony
I am sure to photograph the details of the wedding. They had a table for guests to sign a large print of the wedding couple. It is one of my favorite engagement photos I created of them.
The signing area decorated with photos of the new couple
The guests signing table
Wedding chairs decorated with lavender bows
And then we photographed the wedding ceremony. It was in the shade of the trees and beautiful. There was a inspirational moment shared by C.J.’s brother where he read lyrics from Method Man—very appropriate. They exchanged wedding rings and first kiss and then after the ceremony we did formal group photographs.
Father and the bride begin the procession
Groom watches the bride walk down the aisle
Father of the bride walks her down the aisle
Sun shines through the trees of the backyard wedding ceremony
Brother reads a message from Method Man
Groom looks at the bride
Exchanging wedding rings
The couple’s first kiss
Wedding floral arrangements
Bride and groom walk up the aisle after the ceremony
Wedding couple after the ceremony
Bride and groom after the ceremony
After the ceremony I did do a bit of detail photography of flowers, food, wedding rings, and more while the bride and groom greeted their guests. People were also rearranging the seats for the reception. I am including several versions of the wedding ring photos. I was really feeling the groove on different looks for the wedding rings. I even found a sleeping dragonfly to sit by the rings during some of the photography.
Purple or lilac wedding cake
Wedding rings hang on a branch of lavender
Wedding limo is decorated with balloons and just married sign
Wedding Rings on a sea of flowers
A view from DJ Lishus music booth
Bride’s bouquet
Flower girl basket and the bridesmaid’s bouquet
Wedding rings and a dragonfly
Cake pops for dessert
We didn’t have very much time for photos of just the bride and the groom. I’ll bug a bride and groom but ultimately the day is a celebration and party and photographs can be more candid. A photographer will use all the time you give us. We’ll make it work if we have 5 minutes or 2 hours for formals.
Bride and bridesmaid
For the formal group photos I typically like to get these done right after the ceremony. We did the groom’s side and then the bride’s side and then we did smaller groups and family groups. These are almost like family reunions where we can get family units who might normally be spread across the country or the globe.
Groom side of the family in the group photos
Formal group photos after the wedding
The wedding party with bride, groom, bridesmaids, and groomsmen
Going for the GQ look with the groomsmen
And I think the groomsmen all work out so they wanted to hold the groom. Not all wedding parties like this kind of shot. They can definitely be fun. But be safe!
Groomsmen hold the groom for a fun shot
Then we had the dancing with bride and her father, groom and his mother, and then the first dance. DJ Lishus was the DJ for the dance and I have photographed a number of events he DJs and he always plays a great selection of hits.
Father and daughter dance
DJ Lishus plays the music for the wedding reception
Bride and groom’s first dance
The first dance for the newly married couple
Bride and groom’s first dance
A view from DJ Lishus music booth
Near the bar we had an impromptu photo shoot with the groom and his new father-in-law. We had the groom holding the father-in-law and then the father-in-law put the groom in a headlock. Hooray for fake violence!
Groom holds the father of the bride
Bride’s father puts the groom in a headlock
Wedding cake at night with Christmas lights
And then we had a truly unique cake cutting. I haven’t seen a blindfold used before but that almost encouraged a huge cake smash from the groom. The kiss after the cake cutting was more of chase.
Bride and groom cut the cake
Groom smashes the wedding cake on the bride’s face
Groom kisses the bride after the cake cutting
We then had the tossing of the garter and the bouquet.
Groom removes the garter
Bride and groom pose with the people who caught the garter and wedding bouquet
Bride and groom kiss during a quite moment at the reception
Bride and groom share a kiss during a quiet moment during the reception
At the end of the evening we had two firsts for me as a wedding photographer. First, they actually threw real rice for the wedding couple. And secondly there were real tin cans attached to the limo. Most weddings have found something else besides rice because it can be a chore to clean up rice.
The couple race pass as people throw rice to celebrate
Inside the limo
Wedding tradition of pulling tin cans behind the limo
As the limo drove away the bride and groom release balloons into the sky and then kiss.
Wedding couple releases balloons from the limo
Wedding couple kiss as limo departs
Thank you, C.J. and Red for inviting me to be your wedding photographer. I had a great time.
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