Mr. & Mrs. McClain
I’ve known Lindsey and Jackson for a long time. So when I saw they got engaged…I waited. Hopeful that I might get the honor of capturing their wedding day.
When I got the text - I was over the moon! Especially because they were planning something so rare.
Lindsey and her bridal party got ready at The Proctor House. With a ceremony starting at 9 PM, their day started later then my usual weddings.
They arrived around 12 PM. So I was able to spend most of the afternoon getting tons of detail shots!
After a few drinks and lots of tears, it was finally time for Lindsey to get into her dress.
She opted to do a first look with her bridesmaids.
I asked her mother and maid of honor to stay. Then I asked everyone else to leave so that she could do a big reveal!
She was breathtaking…
…and her bridal party thought so, too!
Always remember ladies-
Lean over so your tears fall straight to the ground, saving your make up!
I snapped a few more group pictures before heading out to meet Jackson at the farm.
The girls would follow soon behind, giving me my first challenge of the day.
Jackson always dreamed of the moment he gets to see Lindsey walking down the aisle. That moment where everyone else disappears and its just her.
So no first look. No peeking. Not even a glimpse!
Which meant this family photos portion turned into a carefully choreographed game of hide-and-seek. Each taking turns hiding behind the barn.
There were bridesmaids and groomsmen checking around corners, protecting that moment for Jackson.
We started off with a first look with Lindsey’s dad and brother, before taking turns for photos with their respective families.
Jackson hadn’t gotten to see her all day and it was killing him. He was quiet, off beat and jittery. Everyone was talking about how beautiful Lindsey was.
As we were setting up for the first touch I asked him:
“Are you doing okay?”
He looked at me wide eyed and said,
“I’m just nervous, I can’t believe she’s marrying me.”
It was a kind of moment that I’ll never forget.
Because this is what it’s all about.
Love.
I wanted Lindsey and Jackson to have a big group photo. So we walked Lindsey up and stood her back to back with Jackson. Making sure he couldn’t see her…
I think it worked out perfectly!
Before long, it was time for the ceremony.
Jackson really wanted it to be as late as possible so the lights would be in full effect.
You could feel the excitement in the air as everyone waited for night fall.
At 9:00 PM, the ceremony began.
In the photography world, we call this “blue hour”. Where the sun has set but it’s not quite dark out yet.
It was finally time for the big moment.
Lindsey walked towards Jackson with tears in her eyes.
And when he finally saw her, I watched all his nerves melt away.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
Surrounded by 40 of their closest friends and family, Lindsey and Jackson shed tears and shared vows in a commitment to forever.
It was beautiful to capture around hundreds of twinkling lights.
Blue hour doesn’t last long and I hadn’t gotten to take any couple’s photos yet!
So right after the ceremony, I snatched away the new Mr. & Mrs. for some portraits.
These photos were taken around 9:40 PM.
I posted a before and after to show how dark it truly was…and as a reminder to all photographers to always shoot in RAW!
The celebration didn’t stop there, it just shifted.
The nerves were gone. The spotlight faded. In their place came laughter and a glow from a hundred string lights as they soaked in their first moments as husband and wife.
First up was the cake cutting. Jackson didn’t hold back and made sure to smash it in Lindsey’s face. But she returned the favor with a big kiss!
They swayed back and forth for their first dance before taking turns with their parents.
There wasn’t a dry eye in sight when Jackson’s dad joined in.
Lindsey and Jackson’s wedding was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. It was an honor to be there, not just as a photographer, but as someone who’s known this couple for years.
Cheers to a lifetime of late night dances and a love that keeps growing!
