About a year ago, I got a call from a former bride of mine (from 10+ years ago!) – her sister was getting married! But Emily and Marty didn’t want a big, traditional formal wedding. Instead, they wanted to plan a party in the backyard, invite all of their friends and family, and then reveal to all that it was actually a surprise wedding! Would I be interested in photographing something like this? YES, PLEASE!
When I arrived that morning, the backyard was in full set-up mode – a tent, lighting, dance floor, catering, bar, the whole shebang! As guests arrived for the “engagement party,” Emily, her sister, and her mom hid inside the house getting hair and makeup done, slipping on fabulous dresses, and engaging in lots of giggling (and some happy crying). Emily dressed in the same room as her sister years earlier, and peeked out the window watching Marty (her groom!) circulate in jeans trying to misdirect the guests!
The ceremony happened and was beautiful.
Once the surprise wedding was finished and the couple was hitched, the party started – and it was awesome! It was relaxed and casual, and you could tell that everyone was just so happy to be there with their loved ones. By the end of the night, everyone was in PJs eating cold chicken nuggets in the kitchen, and some of my very favorite photos were taken in this moment.
