“What’s Your Favorite Part About Photographing Weddings?”
As a wedding photographer, you can imagine I get this question often. And I never mind; it’s one of my favorite ones to answer because the response always changes.
No two weddings are ever the same. Each has it’s own unique group of people and details which means I get to witness something different at every one. If I took the time to write my favorite part about each one, we’d be here for hours. Instead, I’ve categorized my list into this collection of broader bullet points — so without further ado, I present to you my favorite part about photographing weddings:
Childhood girlfriends stuffed in one room, doing their makeup together; the same way they used to do before middle school dances or proms. I find the getting ready process to be so intimate — something about this part always feels so sweet and nostalgic, a quintessential part of the girlhood experience.
On the same note, childhood friends finally coming together for a day they used to talk about as kids.
Couples who choose to get ready together.
Outfit details! There’s so much love and effort that goes into finding your dress or suit, and I love hearing about why people chose that specific one and what they love about it (especially if it’s a family heirloom.)
First looks (with partners, with parents, and with friends).
Catching the “they never cry!” people in a puddle of tears.
Parents who keep certain details from their weddings, and children who choose to incorporate those things into their own day.
Parents seeing their children get married.
Sweet moments between the couple and their new in-laws.
Getting to see the special ways people honor their loved ones who have passed.
Catching the signs their loved ones send from the other side.
Seeing the close bonds between the couple and the people they’ve chosen for their wedding party.
When the couple’s child gets to be a part of the big day.
Getting to see the special ways people honor their guests.
Seeing the couples’ reaction to seeing their venue space for the first time, finally seeing their vision come to life.
Learning about the personal traditions they’ve decided to incorporate into their day.
Catching couples in synchrony, doing the unique mannerisms they’ve adopted from one another.
Heirloom photos.
Finding the similarities between the couple and their parents, and catching the certain physical or personality traits they’ve adopted from the people who raised them.
The ten minutes of crying and hugging that come after the ceremony.
Cocktail hour, when everyone lets their hair down a little more.
The “in a room full of people, all I see is you” moment.
Catching soft smilers in full face laughs.
Making older folks feel beautiful.
Parents on their night off from taking care of their kids.
Adults letting their inner child out on the dance floor.
The chaotic, unhinged photos at the end of the night.
Jessica and Izak, revealing the stickers they got in their Botan candy box, something they’ve done dozens of times throughout their relationship.
Megan, snagging a pic of her groom down the aisle.
Megan and Gray, sitting on the lawn during their dinner, watching their friend perform.
Navajo, watching her parents put up some final wedding details.
Rae and Reid, getting dressed together before the ceremony.
Mitch, greeting his daughter at the end of the aisle.
Benny, grabbing a front row seat at his parents’ ceremony.
Harrison, seeing his bride for the first time.
Wyatt, and the facial expressions he so clearly takes after his dad.
Chase + his dad and groom, looking through his parents’ wedding album.
The “in a room full of people, all I see is you” moment.
Sydney, after seeing a sign from her late grandfather that he was there on her big day.
A red cardinal, her grandfather’s favorite bird.
Lexi, wearing the same dress worn by her mother and grandmother on their wedding days.
Julie and Michael with that post-ceremony glow.
A family group hug before the ceremony.
The sweetest sister moment.
Desiree, performing a special song for her groom.
Friends reading their personalized notes from the bride and groom.
Hunter and his grandmother.
Abby at her first look with her best friends.
Letting their inner child out on the dance floor.
Jessica and her mom, laughing and crying together.
Catching the “he never cries!” guy in a puddle of tears.
Rae and Reid, at 2:30am with the final four survivors of their group.
The chaotic and unhinged photos at the end of the night.