I usually don’t sleep well the night before a wedding because I’m anxious to get started, and then I don’t sleep well the night after because my brain is still spinning from the thrill of the day.

Caleb and Emily’s wedding was no exception. You may recognize them from Ethan and Korissa’s Wedding a few weeks back. They are all a part of a great group of friends. The kind of friends you keep forever. Caleb and Emily even wanted them to be a part of their first look, so they saw each other for the first time in the sanctuary with all of their close family and friends. It was such a special moment!

Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont is beautiful! The lighting they use is just perfect. Caleb surprised Emily with a limo to take them to the Beaumont Event Center where they had their reception. Another gorgeous set up with lots of memories, great music, and delicious cake!    🙂

 

I love the stone setting of Emily’s ring. We were able to find some really neat hues of light at Calvary Baptist in Beaumont, that really contrasted well with the gold and silver.  Emily and Caleb have a nice style and all of their details were excellent!

When shooting in different lighting situations, we are often asked if we would like to “turn more lights on” with the conventional wisdom being that more light is better. In many cases less is more. We want to make sure a subject is well lit, but not at the expense of interesting contrast and light that can be overblown and flat. Emily is so elegant and in the little room we were in, we had light soft enough to highlight her features. It was a touching moment with her mom as she prepared to walk down the aisle.

All of Emily and Caleb’s friends were present in the sanctuary at Calvary Beaumont to watch the couple see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Now, I love classic wedding traditions, but one exception is the first look. I adore the idea of a Bride and Groom seeing each other in a more intimate setting before the large ceremony. There is something special with the traditional way as well, but I am a bit biased towards a first look for many reasons. 

Aren’t these two just adorable? 

Another advantage of a couple doing a ‘first look’ is the ability to take some photos together before the ceremony because, let’s be honest, once the crowd arrives, there is barely a moment to slow down and the couple is swept away in the [good] chaos of the day. Allow me to be repetitive: Can you believe how gorgeous Emily is?? I mean wow!

Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, is a great modern sanctuary to have a wedding. The ceremony was intimate and meaningful. As many weddings as we have shot, I still can’t help but pause and get a little emotional during the vows. They are a set-apart and unique moment in a couple’s life. To be asked to photograph a wedding is always a privilege.

Although it has been around for a couple of years now, the Beaumont Event Center is still very new, and is one of our favorite wedding venues. The modern architecture leads to a great open space which is great for ceremonies and receptions alike, and the waterfront is a great addition to the downtown area. The Event Center has an open stage, great lighting and of course a great place to get down and dance!

Emily and her father had one of the sweetest dances we’ve seen at our weddings. You can see so much here, and I still get choked up when I look at these images. 

There is plenty of room at the Event Center for dancing! This was a fun night!

Ceremony Location: Calvary Baptist Church, Beaumont

Reception Location: The Event Center

Coordinator: Julia Bean – day of

Florist: Cathy Furlow

Rentals + Décor: For All Occasions

Hair: Jill Boykin

Bride’s Cake: Debbie’s Delights

Groom’s Cake: Debbie’s Delights

Catering: Cater 2 You

Videographer: Russ Furry

DJ: Jonathan Martin

Second Photographer: Emily

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What was your most favorite moment of the day?

I think both Caleb and I can agree our favorite part of the night was getting to talk and dance with our friends. That day was really a day to celebrate with people we love and who love us and we really felt that at the reception.

Any advice for future brides/grooms?

The most recurring advice we got from marrieds was to take in the day. Really take time to breathe and enjoy what’s happening in that moment. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I did that. I remember everything from the vows to actual conversations I had with guests at dinner. Those are priceless memories.  In the words of Jim and Pam from The Office: “take mental snapshots” of important moments to help you remember.   🙂

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We spent a week in California! A few days in LA and time in Santa Barbara. It was amazing and I’m so glad we chose the west coast. Great surf and sand and picturesque mountains and sunsets. The people watching there is A+. The food was amazing too. Can’t beat the wine either.  I’d recommend it to anyone.

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