In case you missed the last blog post of this gorgeous couple’s rainy day wedding, be sure to check it out here. Because the clouds opened up and let out a complete downpour on Ashlei and Jesse’s wedding day I had no idea what we were going to do about bride-groom portraits. It was a fully outdoor venue and my flash equipment wasn’t going to hack it exposed to a rainstorm, plus the bride and groom were soaked to the bone. I thought about this mini-predicament throughout the entire reception because there was NO WAY a couple was going to go to the trouble of flying JZP all the way from Texas to Georgia and NOT end up with any bride-groom portraits. Then it hit me — perhaps it would be sunny again TOMORROW and perhaps Ashlei and Jesse would be game for waking up early for a day after photo session, and perhaps our ride back into Atlanta wouldn’t mind pushing back our scheduled departure time to accommodate such a plan.
Seeing as how God is good, Ashlei and Jesse are awesome, and our ride back to Atlanta just happened to be the bride’s super-sweet parents, everything came together and we were able to do bride-groom portraits in THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE the next morning at the wedding venue.
Are they not two of the most beautiful people you’ve EVER SEEN?
Happy/contented sigh. Love. Just love everything about the above image.
It’s just crazy how perfectly everything fell into place after what seemed like everything first falling out of place.
Ashlei and Jesse — I couldn’t have asked for better clients to work with. I’m convinced that you two and all of your family have GOT to be some of the nicest people in all of Georgia. On one of the most important weekends of your lives, you took the time to make me and James feel like family. And we’re so thankful to have been a part.
All weddings are a big deal. To me, to the couple getting married, I’m sure we’re all in consensus that a wedding  is an all-around big deal.
This particular wedding was a particularly big deal to me and James as it was our very first destination wedding to shoot. Leading up to the trip, it felt like this opportunity was too good to be true. Looking back on it, it still feels that way.
Ashlei and Jesse, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to fully express how much it meant to us for y’all to want so badly for JZP to document your day that you flew us out to Georgia to make it happen. But know it meant a lot. A lot, a lot.
Needless to say, I had the song “Georgia on my mind,” stuck in my head for weeks and weeks as I looked forward to Ashlei and Jesse’s wedding so you should probably click on the link and listen to it as you’re looking through this post.
Perry’s Landing was the stunning backdrop for the day, and I could not have asked for a better one.
After finishing up all wedding party photos something happened. The sky went dark with dense clouds over the entire venue. This was especially nerve-wracking as the ceremony was set to be in the garden.
And it wasn’t moving.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone thought the clouds would have enough gumption to rain down on Ashlei and Jesse’s ceremony.
It turns out, the clouds had plenty of gumption.
It started with a sprinkle.
Which soon turned into a steady stream of raindrops.
I could feel everyone wondering what the reaction from the bride and groom would be. I too was watching closely to see what it would be. Dismayed tears? A pause in the ceremony until the rain stopped? Â Angry huffs and puffs?
Nope. Not Ashlei and Jesse. They embraced the rain. This ceremony had started and it wasn’t going to end before they were man and wife.
That’s what I loved about these two — rain wasn’t about to ruin their day, it was going to make it all the more memorable.
And before we knew it, we were all sitting/standing in a full-on DOWNPOUR. And everyone take a moment to acknowledge the sweet family friend who gave his umbrella to the bride and groom — this man’s DEAR wife also came and held an umbrella over this photographer’s head so that my gear wouldn’t be completely soaked. I cannot thank her enough.
Immediately after the kiss everyone ran for cover under the porch and huddled together in a huge mass of energy and emotion.
 I mean it when I say this wedding day could not have been more beautiful. Everyone embraced the unexpected and reveled in the rain.
A photographer could not ask for me.
To see photos from Ashlei and Jesse’s sunny day after session click HERE!
Killer shoes.
Killer shoes can start a wedding day off right faster than the roadrunner can beep-beep.
You know what else helps? A couple as in love with each other as Jacklyn and Matt.
(And just so you know, I blame my mother for the roadrunner being the first fast thing I could reference just now.)
I love coming in on the wedding day from the very beginning, right as it begins to unfold.
I love seeing the nervous-giddy look in a bride’s eyes.
I love catching her remember from time to time, to herself, Today is my wedding day.
Jacklyn and Matt got  ready at their reception venue, the YWCA, which was right across the street from their ceremony site, The First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth.
One could tell that Jacklyn really poured herself into the reception details and decor, so I loved being able to integrate some of those pieces into various detail shots throughout the day.
In the next room, James documented the finishing prep stages of Matt and his groomsmen before we headed to the church for their first look.
Matt is a talented videographer and both he and Jacklyn highly valued photography as an essential part of their wedding day. A couple after my own heart.
They chose to do their first look in the courtyard of the FUMC and I could not have selected a better setting myself.
After they had soaked up their glorious first look moment we moved into some bride-groom portraits.
Jacklyn and Matt are the type of people who are equally sincere and kind as they are beautiful.
This basically equals a whole heckofalotta sincerity and kindness.
Love.
Did I mention the church was, oh, yeah, uhh-mazing?
Um, yeah, and did I mention yet that Matt and Jacklyn are  amazing?
Models, human beings, clients, all of the above.
We finished with plenty of time for family portraits and some moments of stillness before the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, Matt had surprised Jacklyn with a new ring! I was delighted to get to my hands and camera on the brand new bling for the ring portraits. Way. to. go. Matt.
This bouquet toss was one for the record books. Keep your eyes on the one with her arms stretched out in front of her. She had her eyes on the prize.
The night ended as perfectly as it began — birdseed, a yellow dune-buggy and a sweet, sweet couple driving off into the Fort Worth skyline all in love and married and stuff.
This day.
Oh, this day.
This was the day I could have sworn I saw a flower melt. At the Arboretum. Photographing the Pilling family.
This group braved the Texas-in-July-2011 heat for some one-year-old portraits of sweet Peyton. Here’s a glimpse at just a few of my favorites from this session.
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