hunter + michael // austin wildflower center wedding
Fall Garden Party Wedding // Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center // Austin, Texas
I have put off writing this blog post for a few days because I truly do not know where to start. When Hunter first reached out to me about being her wedding photographer, referred by my best friend Kendall (Kenny I love you), I couldn't have anticipated how much I would absolutely love shooting their wedding. We started their wedding weekend nearly strangers, having only met once before, but by the time their ceremony rolled around on Sunday I found myself crying behind the camera for these amazing new friends! I know I always say this, but this wedding was a perfect example of why I love this job. We started the weekend with a Zombie-themed party and a gorgeous, intimate rehearsal dinner so by the time we got to the wedding we felt like part of the family.
They got married at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, a beautiful hill country gem full of various gardens, hidden pathways and a gorgeous courtyard that served as a perfect place for the long wooden reception tables and glowy string lights. Hunter did an amazing job with all the little details and her creativity absolutely blew me away. Her crown was worn by her grandmother on her wedding day 65 years ago, but Hunter made it her own with some wire and a few gorgeous stones. Instead of a traditional guest book, they set up a couch inside of a teepee with a go-pro on a tripod and had everyone record a short video giving advice, saying congratulations, or just being goofy. It was such a wonderful idea and I'm sure they'll cherish that video for years to come! Their wedding was a perfect mix of tradition and making it their own. One of my favorite things was their ceremony - instead of having a traditional officiant, they had their two sets of parents officiate the wedding ceremony. Each parent had a roll (saying a prayer, leading them through their vows, etc) and they all got to be deeply involved with the ceremony. It was incredibly touching! They had an array of talented friends doing music during the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. One of my favorite moments during the reception was when Michael, the groom, and the father of the bride joined the band playing their own instruments (saxophone for Michael and trumpet for father of the bride!), everyone was blown away!
As we drove home that night, feet aching and shoulders sore, we reflected on how incredible it is to get to be present for such a sacred day in people's lives. We talked about how our job allows us to observe so many families and communities and see how different they can be. We talked about how Hunter, Michael, and their two incredible families are the real deal, they love eachother deeply and truly, and we got to witness that three days in a row. Hunter and Michael, you two are incredible people and we are so thankful to have been a part of your wedding. You are amazing for eachother and you've got a killer community behind you. We can't wait to see where marriage takes you!