Y’all all know Tiffany and Trevor. Rememberrrrr? How about now?
These two have been faithful supporters of Jillian Zamora Photography for almost a year now, and I couldn’t have been happier to document their beautiful, beautiful love on that lovely Friday in May.
Tiffany started her wedding day off at Soho Salon in Denton.
The wedding party got ready at the reception venue, The Milestone. This was my first wedding to shoot there, but I cannot rave enough about how great this venue was to shoot in — everything was so beautiful, the place let in an incredible amount of natural light, and gave plenty of variety in shooting locations. Not to mention that the staff was so on top of everything and great to work with.
 
One of Tiffany’s wedding presents to Trevor was this pocket-watch.
Not long after the dress was on, Trevor sent the boys to deliver a message from him to his bride-to-be.
If time allows, I typically take photos of the groom with each individual groomsmen (likewise with the bride and each bridesmaid) and I tell them that I want to take a photo that embodies their relationship with each other. I particularly enjoyed this series of Trevor with his brother Nathan. It was a thumb war and Nathan won both times . . . obviously . . .
. . . and THIS series of Tiffany’s older brother Ben “beating up” Trevor.
I’m fully convinced that all of these guys were pros. I mean, just look at them.
Trevor recently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps and will soon attend flight school. I was so glad that there was enough time allotted in the wedding day schedule to get some shots of Trevor in his marine blues.
Then it was the girls’ turn, and were they ready to work it out.
And, well, this was just really funny.
After we finished up with Tiffany and her lovely bridesmaids, Tiffany and Trevor did their “first look” that I blogged about in my last post. Because they did a first look we were able to move from that moment into time they had set aside for bride-groom portraits that would have otherwise been squeezed into the time between their ceremony and reception. I couldn’t be more pleased with the shots we got.
Tiffany. You could stop traffic. Like, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have before. You should seriously be careful with a face like that.
Y’all are just killing me. Killing me with those model faces.
And this next photo was an accident of sorts, believe it or not. I told them “at ease” while I gathered the rest of the wedding party and they leaned back on the couch to rest. I looked back, saw the light and told them “DON’T. MOVE.”
We even had time to take all the immediate family portraits at before heading over to First Baptist Denton to wait until time for the ceremony. I love this candid shot of Tiffany with her parents.
One last mother-daughter moment in the dressing room and then it was off to First Baptist Denton for the ceremony.
Because these two had allotted so much time to wedding day photos, I’m having to blog two separate posts to do the day justice. Look back on the blog soon for the second post of Tiffany and Trevor’s wedding day.
A “first look” is when a bride and groom opt to see each other on the wedding day before the bride walks down the aisle. The motive for brides and grooms choosing a first look varies from person to person — whether it be the idea of seeing each other for the first time in a more intimate setting than in front of every guest at the ceremony to more time for photos together  to not being willing to sacrifice even a moment of their reception to go take photos.
I’ve written about a first look before. But I can’t help but wonder if people don’t really take my vouching for it seriously or think that I have some ulterior motive (ruining wedding days for my own conniving photographic purposes) in suggesting them, when in reality I just want my couples to have the smoothest and most memorable wedding day experience possible, and I want them to know their options.
Tiffany and Trevor had decided at our initial consultation that they didn’t want anything to do with a first look. But a few weeks before their wedding I got a skype video call from both of them: “We’ve decided to do a first look.”
I asked them if they wouldn’t mind sharing on the blog what made them change their minds.
They aren’t paid actors.
They’re just a bride and a groom who volunteered to share their personal experiences with a first look on their wedding day.
Tiffany: “I’m the stereotypical girl who has been dreaming about her wedding day since the day she was born. There was never any question that Trevor and I would have a classic, traditional, Cinderella wedding.”
Trevor: “At first I really didn’t like the idea of a first look. It just seemed like it would ruin the moment for me. I was really excited about the moment when the doors opened and, standing at the alter, I would peer down the aisle and my bride’s smiling face.”
Tiffany: “Throughout the planning of our wedding, I pretty much pushed off the question of how we were going to fit all of our pictures into the allotted thirty minutes between the ceremony and reception. It wasn’t until the week of the wedding when Trevor mentioned a first look again. We talked about it together, talked to friends who had done it, and talked to Jillian. She told us how the tradition came from arranged marriages where if the groom saw the bride before the wedding, there might be a chance of him running away! Trevor and I both knew that wasn’t going to happen for us! Photography was really at the top of our priority list for our wedding. We wanted to get as many pictures as possible! A first look was really the best way for us to do that! ”
Trevor: “After months of flat out refusing to even entertain the idea of a first look, I came to my senses. We decided to go with the first look – and never regretted it for even a second.”
Tiffany: “When it got down to the day of, I was a little nervous (as I’m sure most brides are before they see their groom). However, I truly believe that my nervousness was the buildup of excitement in preparation for Trevor. When I saw him standing at the bottom of the staircase waiting for me, I could not get down those stairs fast enough!”
Trevor: “We absolutely loved our first look!! For starters, we got AMAZING pictures! But there were other benefits that we never expected. The week of the wedding is so crazy, there is so much that had to get done for the wedding that we almost never saw each other. By the day of the wedding, I realized that I had seen my fiance less in the week immediately preceding our wedding than I had at any point in the year before. It was kind of sad!
The first look gave us the opportunity to slow down and enjoy each others company for a few minutes. It was like a little oasis of calm in the middle of what was otherwise a crazy, hectic day. ”
Trevor: “I am happy to report that the first look did nothing to take away from the moment that I so anxiously looked forward to. It was still more sweet and giddy and excited than I could have ever imagined! Â The time that Tiffany and I spent together during the first look make up some of my most cherished memories from our wedding day.”
Tiffany: “What is most important on your wedding day is being with the one you love, the one you are promising your love and life to. Whether that is during a first look or when the doors open to the church, this day is about you and the love of your life! Because pictures are what you get to keep for a lifetime and the day goes by so incredibly fast, I highly suggest a first look.  It was so nice to share a little time with Trevor just the two of us (and Jillian, of course) and enjoy each other’s company.
In the end, I am extremely happy we chose to do a first look! I love the memorable time we shared during the first look and the pictures that were taken! I also was extremely happy because Trevor still had a priceless look on his face when the doors to the church opened. ”
I would like to end this post by saying that I want all of my brides and grooms to be happy with their wedding day decisions. I write about first looks because in my personal experiences as a bride, that was what made me and my groom happiest. I want to share that experience with my clients so that they can make informed wedding day decisions, and I do this in hopes that they too will look back on their wedding day happy as little larks. Whether they’re happy that they chose a first look, or whether they’re happy that they decided to wait and see each other during the ceremony. I just want people to be happy.
Check back tomorrow for the full blog-post of Tiffany and Trevor’s Denton wedding — and a look at the great bride-groom portraits we got immediately following the first look!
Amy and Caleb were wed on an afternoon in late May. The day was humid and overcast, but that didn’t put any sort of damper on any of those celebrating the joining of this sweet, sweet couple. The entire day was filled with giddy smiles and genuine, joyous excitement.
Amy started off her wedding day at Facial, Inc  in Plano, where her long-time friend and hair stylist Ryan Wyatt worked his magic.
Then it was off to Scofield Memorial Church in Dallas to finish getting ready.
Amy and Caleb’s flowers were by Gwen Pitts of Jameel Designs. Amy had very meaningfully chosen the flowers in her bouquet to represent members of her family — the hydrangeas represented her maternal grandmother and great grandmother, who both grew hydrangeas in their gardens, and gardenias are Amy’s mother’s favorite flower.
Back in the bride’s room, the bridesmaids were in full-swing “get ready” mode.
The pearls Amy wore were given to her by her grandmother.
That dressing room was one big, endless dance party and sing-a-long.
Amy’s mother and sister/maid-of-honor helped her slip in to her stunning wedding dress.
Amy and Caleb opted to do a first look — which is where a bride and groom choose to see each other before the wedding ceremony in an intimate setting, usually it’s just the two of them present.
My heart is so happy looking at this next shot — Amy walked through the doors of the sanctuary, and one second she was standing and grinning in Caleb’s direction, and the next thing I knew she had taken off running down the aisle to meet Caleb at the end. That’s one of the beautiful things about a first look — you can react however  you feel like reacting at the sight of your soon-to-be husband or wife. It’s so special and intimate.
A first look is also designed to allow the photographer to better capture the bride and groom’s first reactions to seeing each other.
Another plus is that it also allows for plenty of time to devote to wedding photos before the ceremony — for this reason Amy and Caleb were free to leave after the ceremony and spend plenty of time with their guests at their reception.
After Caleb was able to properly admire his bride, we headed outside for some naturally-lit bride and groom portraits.
Look at Caleb, just soaking up the adoration of his bride.
Just beautiful.
I basically had to pry my own hands off the shutter-release button on my camera. I could have taken photos of those two lovebirds for, well, ever.
We then brought out their super-fun (and super-large . . . in number) wedding party to join in the photographic fun. However, since I devoted so much of this blog post to lovely shots of Caleb and Amy, I’m only able to include two of my favorite wedding party shots — but just know the bridesmaids and groomsmen were all so great to work with and gave me lots of great shots of them too.
And yes, Amy did choose to have her brother as a guy-maid (?) . . . brides-guy (?) — she told Caleb she didn’t want to share her brother and wanted him to stand on her side.
Caleb said, “That’s fine. Then I get Nicole on my side.”
And thus the grooms-girl in the next picture.
Amy’s parents were both just. beaming.
Caleb’s dad officiated the ceremony, so it was full of sweet, fatherly insight. He spoke so highly of Amy and how excited he was for her to marry his son. I loved it.
And for these next two shots James was in the right spot at the right time and beautifully captured Caleb and Amy praying together — I was so proud.
I love this shot of Amy’s precious momma quickly making her way around the corner of the foyer to go hug her newly-married daughter.
After some formal family portraits we headed for the reception at Fairview Farms party barn in Plano.
Father-daugher and mother-son dances are especially lovely backed by twinkling string lights.
Their wedding cake was seriously the most delicious wedding cake I have ever consumed . . . and I’ve consumed quite a bit of wedding cake in my field of work. And it looks like I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed it . . .
I believe this next picture was snapped during a Justin Bieber song and BELIEVE me when I say that there is no judgement coming from me at how into the song Amy and her bridesmaid Whitney are getting.
Both the bouquet and garter tosses were particularly dramatic, so I thought I’d share.
Caleb and Amy, y’all are beautiful together. It was my absolute honor to be able to capture your lovely wedding day.
Best wishes in your marriage!
Kim started her wedding day with her mom and a few of her bridesmaids in a hotel room where they prepped for the big day.
One on the bridesmaids, Dani, perfected Kim’s makeup while Christmas music (Kim’s absolute favorite) played in the background.
I’m in love with Kim’s unique vintage ring.
After hair and makeup we headed to the lovely Ashton Gardens, a great new wedding venue in Corinth.
Can I just say that every single moment of this day was filled with laughs and smiles. Call it cheesy, but that is precisely why I love doing wedding photography — people are at their happiest.
After Kim slipped on her wedding dress, her dad came in for a peek at the bride.
As I mentioned in my earlier post of Kim and Vinnie’s first look, I was second shooting at this wedding for Stephanie Rose. This meant that at times that Stephanie was directing large groups of wedding party or family I would step back (or sometimes closer) and capture details and the in-between moments.
Now it’s time to finally meet the groom, Vinnie. He’s the one leading the pack of groomsmen.
Kim, you are absolutely stunning.
Because Kim and Vinnie did a first look (which you can see here) we were able to snag lots of shots of them together before finishing up the full wedding party and family shots before the ceremony. I would highly recommend a first look to couples to whom photography is an integral part of their wedding day.
Before the ceremony started I grabbed some details shots of the reception area.
These two are actually a combination before and during the ceremony. Kim and Vinnie used the tree as their guestbook for guests to  write notes on the paper ornaments before hanging them up on the tree.
I was greeted at the ceremony entrance by the sweet flower girls passing out programs.
Because the venue only had the middle aisle, I took shots from the balcony of the musicians and aerial shots of the ceremony while Stephanie took care of the shots on the lower level.
I love this wider shot of the entire aisle as Kim and her father near her groom.
Then it was on to the reception and I have never seen a bride and groom receive a warmer grand entrance than the guests gave Kim and Vinnie.
I believe the two young children in the photo below are the flower girls eagerly trying to capture the grand entrance on their pink iphones. I thought this was comical . . . I hope that’s ok.
It was when I saw the MASS of people swarm to take the newlyweds’ photo that I lol-ed behind my camera. But honestly, this is just a small picture of  how absolutely loved and adored Kim and Vinnie are by each and every single person around them.
Their dj, Intelligent Lights & Sound, was one of the best that I have had the opportunity to work with — great lighting and great music. Here he had the newlyweds play a quick, fun game on the dance floor before dinner was served.
Literally the second the floor was cleared after the mother-son and father-daughter dances a legitimate conga line was formed. This reception was such a vivacious celebration up until the very end.
This was the best reaction I have ever seen a groom have to taking his bride’s garter off. Hands down.
Gosh. Look at that face. It’s a face that would rather be right there. Holding that woman. More than anything else in the world.
Kim and Vinnie were sent off with bells rang by all their friends and family.
Kim and Vinnie, please know how completely and utterly supported y’all are. I saw it in every face at your wedding.
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