The first wedding back after a break is always stressful to us. Yes, we shot a wedding in the Dominican Republic just a few weeks ago, but that was far from a traditional event… it was the bride & groom alone on the beach at sunrise, and the entire day of coverage took 3 hours. So as we drove to Kaitlyn & Cameron’s McKinney wedding last Friday, our first large wedding in 7 weeks, I admitted to Mack that I was pretty nervous.
He said, “Well yeah, you’re always more nervous when we love a couple this much.”
UGH. I hadn’t even THOUGHT about it that way yet. Great. He doubled my nerves. 🙂
But he was totally right. We have butterflies before every single event we shoot, but sometimes, our emotional connection to a couple just takes that anxiety over the top. We always want to do our best, but sometimes, we just NEED our best to be BETTER. It’s not that we necessarily work any differently for these couples… we always bring our A-game, after all. But when our clients become friends, we put extra pressure on ourselves to create something truly amazing for them.
And this time, when we got home at 2:30 a.m. exhausted & sore and bemoaning our bodies’ having fallen out of “wedding shape”, we looked at the images and we high-fived. Because we did what we set out to do. We started our Fall 2013 season… a couple of months that could very well be our most incredible season ever… in dynamite fashion.
Kaitlyn & Cameron’s wedding was held on Friday the 13th at the Cotton Mill in McKinney (which, coincidentally, is on Elm Street). We worked closely with the couple to make sure the schedule allowed us ample time to photograph everything that was a priority to them, and that partnership yielded some incredible images. Today, we’ll be sharing the first half of the day, with the First Sight, portrait loveliness, and ceremony.
Enjoy!!
Kaitlyn’s vision for a vibrant orange palette was perfectly executed by Petals Couture.
Both bride & groom were just itching to get to their First Sight. The best person to calm your nerves is the love of your life!
The Cotton Mill is just bursting with amazing locations for portraits. It’d be a perfect venue if it was air conditioned… maybe that just means it’s a perfect venue for winter weddings? 😉 The industrial roughness of this room was Kaitlyn’s favorite part!
It’s so nice to work with a couple that thinks we’re hilarious. I mean, WE obviously think we’re hilarious, but it takes a special sense of humor to agree with us so wholeheartedly. 😉
Every single member of this wedding party was fantastic. They were all so helpful, and just completely thrilled for their friends. Observant blogstalkers might recognize Hannah & Eric, one of our Fall 2012 couples, there in the line up!
After a little break to cool off and re-apply melty makeup, it was time for that long walk down the aisle!
Kaitlyn & Cameron’s son Owen was their ring bearer, and although he wasn’t entirely sure what all the fuss was about, he made sure to blow Mommy a kiss before he walked out the door ahead of her…
Man & Wife… finally!
Oh, so wonderful!!!
And that’s just half of the celebration… you do NOT want to forget to come back by tomorrow for a few more portraits and a super-fun dance party!
SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! lovvve it!
I am in LOVE with this location but even more is the color pallet! The combination of the dresses and flowers is amazing. Beautiful all around
I just LOVE all of these pictures!! I can’t stop smiling at work. There was so much love present there and you really can feel it! I also just realized I super miss my friends.. COME BACK FROM MEXICO!!!!!
Sometimes I wish there were check boxes beside the pictures so I could check my favorites, but I’d just check them all for this wedding. The couple picked great colors to compliment the location, the McGowan’s captured it beautifully and it all just looks fabulous!
I mean seriously this couple is gorgeous and the location just beautiful! McGowan’s… great job capturing them so wonerfully. I love the angles used throughout all of the pictures!
Major props to the bride and her planning entourage! LOVE the location and color palette! McG’s, amazing photos as usual, but I really like the way you guys used the building’s architecture for a couple of the full wedding party shots!
I ADORE the image of the wedding party outside of the Cotton Mill. All the levels and it’s just perfect! LOVE IT! It’s a perfect image for the bride and groom to blow up HUGE in their living room.
Beautiful work guys!!! Love the shots inside the cotton mill!
Oh my!!! Beautiful!!!! I am so happy for my baby sister and new brother-in-law. Awesome pictures!!!!
Another post from the mother of the bride: again, more tears as I looked at these. Amazing! Although I may be just a little bit partial… what a gorgeous bride and handsome groom. With their looks and the talent of the photographers… major magazine quality shots! And the best shot so far? My grandson Owen coming down the aisle. Love them all and can’t wait to see the rest!
Chels and Mack – I really don’t even know how to begin to maybe, possibly, halfway choose a favorite. We feel so fortunate that we were able to have you, not only shoot our wedding, but become our lifelong friends. It was all even better than we could have ever imagined and your photos make it that much better! They’re not photos, they are art and I can’t wait to display them all over our home!!! Our wedding day wouldn’t have been the same without you there by our sides!
Holy smokes! These pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I can’t even pick a favorite!! My best friend made the most beautiful bride!!!
Just so darn pretty!!! Great portraits!
#nailedit. that posted to insta too?
THE COLORS!!! They all go together so perfectly. What a great way to start off the fall season. These images are great.