On Saturday, May 4, 2013, my wedding season officially began with the wedding of Don & Monique at Statler City in downtown Buffalo. I met them that morning at the Hyatt Regency for pictures while they got dressed & ready. I was joined for the first time by Mary Beth Flatau Photography as my second photographer, and Don & Monique hired 17 Video Production to provide videography for the day.

No, you don’t need to adjust your monitor – Monique chose a pale blue wedding dress!

We arranged a “first look” in the mezzanine of the hotel so Monique & Don could see each other for the first time that day before we left to take wedding party photos.

I love this shot of them smiling before riding the elevator down to the lobby. I think I just love how happy Monique looks!

First we drove to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. It was my first time ever having to wear a “photography permit” badge!

After leaving the gardens, we drove to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. The girls were not adventurous (fool-hardy?) enough to get up amongst the columns like the guys – I think that was for the best.

Our final outdoor stop was Niagara Square, conveniently adjacent to Statler City. Everyone had definitely loosened up by this point!

We went to Statler City to meet Don & Monique’s families for formal photos, then the wedding party went to hide & relax before the ceremony started. The ceremony was filled with laughs from both Monique & Don – I loved seeing them smile so much, so happy to be marrying their best friend!

During the cocktail hour I took the opportunity to get a lot of shots of the details and the food – Monique loves paisley and worked it into her cake, her table numbers, and even the pattern on the ice sculpture!

After dinner, Don & Monique shared a dance before the dancefloor opened to all of the guests, who enjoyed the band and also a DJ for the evening!

This is my first attempt in a long time at a dragged-shutter exposure – it’s not perfect, but I still like the effect it gave of Don & Monique dancing slowly as their friends danced in a circle around them.

Congratulations to you both and to your families – what a GORGEOUS day you had and I thank you so much for hiring me to do your photography! I am honored and wish you guys years and years of those same smiles you had on Saturday!!

As an avid scrapbooker, Monique asked me to take lots of detail shots around the inside of the tea house, of the decorations and all the things on display.

Monique’s cousins made this handmade paper teapot to hold these tie-dye roses (available at Wegmans!).

There were quite a variety of hats & fascinators!

Soup, salad, scones, treats & sandwiches!

If you look closely, you may see that this handmade card from Monique’s sisters features a Bigelow tea tag – her fiance’s last name is Bigelow!

Don stopped by at the end to bring Monique a bouquet of her favorite roses – tie-dye!

As I left, the sky had brightened up so much that I had to take another shot of the front of the tea house with the big puffy clouds floating by!

Thanks Monique – I’m really looking forward to your wedding in just a few short weeks!

Email me asap if you’d like to make one – I’ll be designing albums for couples in my winter off-season through the end of April!

I had to laugh at how little formality there was. I have gotten used to photographing more “planned to a T” weddings. Erik & I were at the top of the steps as Katie came out in her dress. “The florist delivered the wrong flowers,” Erik said. “You look beautiful, by the way.” “What?” Katie said, sighing. “Yeah.” (The flowers were very pretty, but the pieces delivered were just not the size Katie was expecting.) There was no planned “first look” – it was just, “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s start!”

When it was time for the ceremony to start, Erik & the guests gathered while Katie & her dad waited for him to walk her down the aisle (up the stairs, in this case!).

I was only with them for two hours, they had no wedding party, and there was no dancing so there is not my usual range of images, but I hope that in a short time I captured what they wanted – a celebration of their love witnessed and shared by the people closest to them! Congratulations you two – enjoy your time in beautiful Costa Rica!!!!!!

I met Kasey & Andrea at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Forest Ave in Jamestown – the fresh blanket of snow everywhere was really quite pretty, and quite the change from being in Jamestown just 2 weeks earlier! Well, actually I met Kasey & Andrea at her sister Alicia’s wedding to Harrison last October!

Kasey & Andrea exchanged letters to each other in the minutes before the ceremony. “How many people are going to watch me read this?!” asked Kasey.

Almost ready for the ceremony to begin, we moved out to the sanctuary.

I love the smile between Andrea & her dad as they started to walk down the aisle.

It always makes me smile, watching little kids fidget their way through a ceremony.

When we did the family pictures, Kasey’s mom specially requested a picture of Kasey with his three sisters. This is what they did. I said, “Do you want to do a normal one too?” They said, “Oh, this is normal.”

We drove down to the bottom of the hill and gathered under the Washington Street bridge to try to stay out of the worst of the wind & snow. Thankfully Andrea & her girls bought matching sequined snowboots! Kasey & the guys were not so lucky, but they managed.

We walked over by the river to do a few more pictures – this is where things started loosening up! The guys requested this shot of the groomsmen feigning delight at the groom’s new wedding band, which I’ve seen on Pinterest (and I think I posted it on my facebook page a few months back too). They made me laugh.

With all the snow and the matron of honor being 8 months pregnant, the girls decided not to jump.

Celeron Lighthouse was our last stop. With the shallow water all frozen/snowed over, it didn’t look very lake-y, but the dock & lighthouse were still a nice backdrop.

From there, we drove downtown to the Crown Theater on Third Street. The rest of the guests didn’t have access to the actual theater, but we got up there for just a few quick wedding party shots.

I don’t know what was being said in this moment right before the toasts began, but it made me smile.

The maid of honor rapped her toast to the tune of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” with the backup of the rest of the wedding party.

I’ll end here with pictures of the first dance & the bride dancing with her father. There are plenty more dancing pictures, and some very funny ones, but this post has already gotten very long. It’s possible that I might add another couple pictures from the dancefloor, but I think I might just leave them to be discovered when the full gallery is released at the end of the month. Nice to save some of the surprise for later!

Kasey & Andrea – congratulations and best wishes on all the journeys of your life. I hope that military life treats you well and that you have as much happiness following you through life as you had surrounding you at your wedding!

Because they didn’t want an engagement session and never asked to meet, I had never met Evan, Kristin, or anyone in their families before I got to the church that day, but everyone was so kind, warm & welcoming that I never felt like a stranger. I also remembered the pastor from way back in my childhood when my family had attended the church, and it was nice to see him again after almost 20 years. I’m so glad for days like Saturday when everyone welcomes me like an old friend and lets me do what I do – snapping candid moments of emotion as the day unfolds. Sure, we do the posed pictures, but the little tears and smiles are so much fun for me!

Kristin’s sister took a few minutes to handwrite her toast for the evening.

Kristin wasn’t ready to put her dress on yet so I went over to the other side of the church where Evan & the guys were getting ready. Krissy sent her sister with a gift for Evan. Krissy’s dad gave Evan hunting socks with a tag that said “In case you get cold feet.” Krissy’s gift was a bowtie and an inscribed watch – I don’t know what it said, but it brought Evan to tears. It was really sweet.

Unfortunately Evan didn’t know how to tie a bowtie and figured 20 minutes before his wedding wasn’t the time to learn, so he stuck with the tie that came with his tux. His dad (who was also his best man) helped him get his tie & vest on, then his mom pinned his boutonniere.

On my way back to see Kristin finish getting ready, I stopped to take pictures of the grandmas as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Evan & Krissy still have all four of their grandmothers – don’t worry, Evan’s grandma, I didn’t forget you! You’re featured in the pictures from the dancefloor!

How many of my readers have chosen to paint their nails AFTER already putting their wedding dress on?! I’m guessing not many! I get the sense Kristin does things her own way.

Seeing Evan’s teary eyes as Kristin’s dad walked her down the aisle made me do a couple hard blinks myself. I’m not ashamed – I’m glad that the love of people I’ve never met before can still move me to tears after over 270 weddings!

After the ceremony, the pastor had the maid of honor and best man sign the marriage license. I got the impression that the groom’s dad (the best man) is also a minister but said he is not licensed to perform weddings. “I can bury ‘em, I just can’t marry ‘em!” he said.

A few photos inside the church, and a few outside – with no snow and above-freezing temperatures, we had to do at least a few outside!! We found this beautiful birch tree just outside the church and did a quick series before heading to the reception.

We drove just a minute down the road to La Scala Restaurant and all had a DELICIOUS dinner. I ordered the lasagna – seriously, I do 30 weddings a year at venues all across Western New York, and that was THE best lasagna I’ve ever had. Hats off to the restaurant staff! Evan & Kristin set up a DIY photo booth using a laptop and webcam program, and encouraged their guests to leave paper well-wishes on their hanging guestbook wall. Their card box was a vintage suitcase, and the cake topper was a pair of sweet little lovebirds!

Once dinner was over and the dancefloor opened, I saw all sorts of moves from Cotton-Eyed Joe to Gangnam Style! Very fun times. I hope some of the video I saw people recording on their phones will be shared with the other guests!

Evan & Kristin – thank you for hiring me and trusting someone you’d never met to take the pictures for the biggest day of your life so far. I loved your wedding and I wish you guys the best when you move in together in your new home and really start the rest of your lives together! Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

When I shot Eric & Kayla’s engagement session back in April, Eric kept saying he is terrible at smiling and he hates smiling in pictures because he “just can’t do it.” Well, apparently that doesn’t apply to the day he married Kayla – if that’s not a real smile, then there isn’t one in the world!

Okay, back to the beginning. I arrived at Kayla’s parents’ house to take pictures of her & her bridesmaids getting ready.

Kids never care as much about the formalities. LOL

Check out these fab platform pumps! Steve Madden, if anyone’s curious.

After leaving there, I drove over to the St. Mary’s in Batavia for the ceremony. Kayla had lots of DIY and Pinterest-inspired ideas!

When the ceremony started, I got to see something I do not see very often – a groom who reacts visibly when he sees his bride come down the aisle! Seeing true, real emotional reactions like this always make me tear up!

On the half-hour drive from Batavia to Varysburg, we stopped on the roadside to take pictures on a small dirt side road. It was chilly (around 50 degrees) but everyone was a good sport about it!

Eric’s grandfather passed away recently, and Eric wore his grandpa’s ring on his right hand.

The reception was at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg, which is a neat place if you’re looking for a more country, rustic reception site!

After doing as many pictures as we could outside, we headed inside for the reception. So much fun!!

Thanks guys! It was such a fun day. I could tell everyone really enjoyed themselves (might have had something to do with you guys providing shuttle service back to the hotel and not closing the bar during dinner, haha!!) and everyone wishes you SO much happiness. Thank you for hiring me and I wish you an amazing honeymoon and a wonderful life together!!!!!