Joel and Tifanie’s wedding kicked off my first armed forces marriage in style! Set in the beautiful chapel about 45 minutes north of Houston that is part of the Fellowship of the Woodlands’ huge campus, the ceremony had a great light and airy feel to it. I was able to use natural light for nearly all the shots before the reception, which I always prefer as natural light is the most flattering for people 99% of the time. The wedding went off without a hitch, and I have to say that as a photographer, I don’t think I’ve shot a Houston wedding in a technically better venue.
Joel and his groomsmen were dressed impeccably in their Marine, Army and Air Force uniforms, all starched and pressed. The details on each uniform were great, and I enjoyed pulling Joel aside to grab a few shots of his gold buttons and the medal pinned to his chest. It made the traditional suits and tuxedos look downright frumpy! Maybe there’s a potential market for renting military uniforms for weddings, haha.
I took advantage of the warm sunlight spilling into the church by using large apertures to softly blur background details, leaving subjects sharp and crisply removed from the rest of the image.
Immediately following the ceremony, there were a few minutes to shoot the bride and groom, which we promptly did outside in the afternoon sun. The shots came out great, reminding me of a LIFE magazine shoot with a soldier and his new wife. A tribute to what can be done in a perfect outdoor setting!
We then continued on to the reception, which was held at the Belle Rose Maison, which I’d shot Jacob and Laura’s reception last July.
As it was in July, the area was beautifully groomed and set up for the wedding. With it’s long white fences and manicured gardens to the tall ceilings and well lit reception area, it is a great place to shoot. The reception was a great time, with a live band who played very good jazz, complete with an upright bass.
The reception went on into the night until it was time for Joel and Tifanie’s exit. I set up my now traditional “Hollywood” exit lights and got them leaving in a flurry of bubbles. It was a great time from start to finish, and I hope the photos convey all of it!
Congrats to Joel and Tifanie!
