In late September we were finally starting to have glimpses of cooler weather and luckily we had the perfect cool day for Sydney and Jeremy’s wedding at the Old Someplace Vineyard in Winston Salem. I met these two volunteering at Elevation Church where my husband and Jeremy both served on the worship team. Then we got to spend their engagement session exploring Latta Plantation which we followed up with crushing some giant burgers at a local restaurant. So come wedding day I knew they would be comfortable and a joy to capture.

What I didn’t expect was so many sweet tears! From the first look to the first dances and speeches I don’t think there was a dry eye by the end of the night. Jeremy is calm and easy going but he completely fell apart at the first look and it was the sweetest thing. Sydney hugged him and said “Oh my goodness, you’re shaking!” I took that as a cue to give them a few private moments to soak it all in and catch their breaths, and my second shooter grabbed the sweet moment of Sydney trying to help calm down Jeremy, while we hid in the barn.

Then it was time for her first look with her stepdad. As Jeremy wiped his eyes and stepdad stepped into place Jeremy said “Good luck.” knowing full well Sydney’s beauty was going to put tears in his eyes too. Little did I know, both Jeremy and Sydney’s mom were watching behind me and within seconds they were all crying. It was such a testament to how close they are and how much they all love each other so dearly.

I love first looks because it is an undistracted moment to be fully focused on your emotions and each other. It is also allows for a few minutes spent taking portraits together before the ceremony which gave them time to enjoy the anticipation of the day together and calm their jitters. They also were able to take that time to exchange letters and read them together. (cue more tears and laughter).

They were all smiles during there ceremony and Jeremy didn’t take his eyes off her once while his dad officiated. After when we headed to portraits, Sydney went barefoot and even climbed onto the tire swing for some fun pictures. Then they were finally ready to enter into the reception, full of joy, and begin their first dance together as husband and wife. They surprised everyone, including me, with a choreographed dance that they totally crushed! They were clearly having so much fun up there.

After dinner their friends and family gave speeches that brought more tears especially when her stepsister said “You made having a blended family easy and were the sister I always wanted.” I love that weddings create a space to say the heartfelt things that we may not say on a typical day to day basis. Clearly those words meant so much to Sydney’s mom and it was an honor to see. They finished out the evening on the dance floor with friends and family, having the time of their life.