June Wedding Celebration Featuring First Kisses

The year 2013 has seen me shoot a few Winter and Spring weddings already, but now that June is upon us, things are really heating up.  Next week sees a double header wedding weekend with Todd and Krystyne on Friday at the Parish of St. Joseph in Homewood, Illinois and Mike and Kelly at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point.

To celebrate I thought I'd post a few first kisses wedding photos to get us all excited...

​First kiss at an outdoor ceremony in the Cancer Survivor's Garden inside Grant Park in Chicago

Shaun and Brittany had a gloriously sunny day for their Chicago wedding in Grant Park.​ You can tell by the warm tone of the photograph just how sunny it was that day.  I love this photograph, but the one I'm nuts about is this next one where our groom spontaneously lifts his bride into the air.  I'm always poised and ready for the first kiss, but also keenly aware that sometimes the best moments occur right after...

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​The newly married couple celebrates after becoming man and wife at an outdoor wedding in downtown Chicago.

Another similar candid moment occurred at ​Gary and Brandi's outdoor wedding at Deep River Park in Hobart, Indiana.  I love the spontaneous burst of laughter and joy in the the bride's face as well as the way she tenderly holds her new husband face with her hand.  A very loving moment...

​The bride erupts with laughter and joy during her outdoor wedding ceremony at Deep River Park in Hobart, Indiana.

​I've photographed a lot of Catholic ceremonies inside churches so I've learned anticipate the first kiss.  It doesn't always occur at the end of the ceremony in many cases.  Here is an image of Brandon and Jackie at St. Michael's Church in Schererville, Indiana.

​First kiss at a wedding ceremony St. Michael's Catholic Church in Schererville, Indiana.

The next image in our series of first kiss photographs usually can't happen at churches, but I was able to pull it off during an indoor wedding ceremony at Avalon Manor with David and Jessica.  I loved catching family and friends in the background as the bride and groom did their traditional first kiss.​

​First kiss at an indoor wedding ceremony at Avalon Manor in Hobart, Indiana.

​I don't really coach my clients on how to kiss, but I will give this bit of advice to the grooms - don't be shy!!  Don't just give her a quick peck, I swear her dad won't lecture you afterward!!  :)

I'm looking forward to all my June weddings.  If you are a planning a 2014 ​wedding, please contact me via the online form now.  June and September dates tend to fill up a year in advance.  I've already got June weddings for 2014 booked and I'm having consultations for another this coming week as well as a September couple.  If your day isn't available, I'd be glad to refer you to a qualified professional.  

Happy planning!!

​First kiss at an outdoor ceremony at the International Friendship Garden in Portage, Indiana.

Wedding at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Michigan City

When I entered St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Michigan City, Indiana to photograph the Catholic wedding of Natalie and Greg, I was immediately struck by the architecture and the unique green tinge in the stone walls.  It is truly a majestic buidling.

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I took my place inside the pews as Natalie and her Dad waited to walk down the aisle together...

The father and the bride were both overjoyed as they walked past family and friends toward the front of the church where Dad would give away his daughter to the groom.

This grand old Catholic church in the heart of downtown Michigan City is a wonder to see.  The balcony was quite a hike, but Catholic ceremonies tend to run at least an hour, giving me plenty of time to get some photographs from above as well as on ground level.

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Something about the tradition of this church led me to convert many photographs into vintage looking, sepia toned wedding photos from the days of old.  Here is one of the bride and groom in prayer..

One of my favorite moments was capturing this future bride peering into the aisle to get a better look...

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I love the groom's "hey, we did it" expression as the newly married couple retreats from the church...

Natalie booked me as her photograph while living in Washington D.C.  I met her and her Father when she was here on a break from school last year.  It was an honor to photograph her wedding and she did an incredible job planning it from such a long distance.

Natalie and Greg received their very own Mobile App with selections of photographs from their wedding day.  Fire up your mobile browser and click to the following link to add the Region Weddings sampler App to your iPhone, iPad or select Android device:

Download the free Region Weddings Mobile App:
http://moblalbum.com/124/gallery/1495  

 

Wedding Ceremony at St. John the Evangelist

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Stacey and Steve were recenty married at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Saint John, Indiana.  This vintage, old church on Route 41 has some amazing architecture.  The bride and groom's family and friends filled the pews as the excited bride walked down the aisle with her parents on each arm.

Catholic ceremonies tend to give me enough time to take shots from all vantage points, like this photo of the wedding party all lined up off of the altar taken from the balcony of the church.

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Although most Catholic churches have restrictions on where the photographer can shoot from and external lighting is prohibited, classic wedding photos can be obtained.  The area where the bride and groom were praying was cloaked in darkness, but by shooting a silhouette and then adding some toning and vignette in post production, I was able to produce one of my favorite ceremony picture below.

The same technique was applied to this image of the groom assisting his bride off of the pews and back to the altar.

The focus isn't always on the bride and groom as this selective color image of the bridesmaids illustrates.

The sleepy flower girl was too cute to pass up.  She and the groomsmen get the vintage treatment on this wedding photo.

The bride and groom smile as one of their readers says a few words at the podium...

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The bride and groom made a fake getaway in the limousine before coming back in for formal family photos inside the beautiful church.  Check back soon for images from the formals of Stacey and Steve's Spring time wedding.

For more wedding images on the go, fire up the mobile browser on your iPhone, iPad or Android device and download the free Region Wedding Mobile App:

Download the free Region Weddings Mobile App:
http://moblalbum.com/124/gallery/1495  

Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

As a wedding photographer who has photographed everything from solemn church weddings to candle lit ceremonies in small halls to large outdoor venues, I have heard many different types of wedding vows.

I personally suggest having vows that reflect the type of ceremony you are having.  If you are modeling your wedding after the royal wedding, then write your vows to reflect that.  A rock star wedding on the beach with a trash the dress session scheduled for the next day should adress that unique ceremony as well.

I'm of the belief that having "fun wedding vows" doesn't make you any less elegant, just as traditional vows do not make you any less fun.  These are all just my opinions as I'm just the photographer.  Please consult with your family and your officiator for best practices.

I would like to point you to a few sites and articles that may help you with your wedding vows. For many different styles (along with user ratings), check out My Wedding Vows.

  

For an in depth article, visit The Knot's 20 Tips For Writing Your Own Wedding Vows.

To find some really elegant vows, visit Elegant Vows.  This site has paid and free vows available for you to use.

For a lighthearted gesture of love to your spouse on your wedding day, check out the Wedding Vows Den.

As wedding season approaches (my first assignments are in April), I hope you find this post useful.  I look forward to hearing your vows - rock star or traditional - as I photograph your ceremony this year!!