Just two days after Josh and Kate's lovely winter wonderland wedding on New Year's Eve I photographed another lovely wedding in Richmond, VA. The bride was a friend of a friend, but from the minute I showed up I felt like family. The wedding took place in the evening and it was bitterly cold outside, so I got the opportunity to flex some of my indoor shooting muscles. Trey and Sarah, you had a beautiful wedding. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it.

I loved the Southern flair of this wedding. The bride, Sarah, looked just like a Southern belle in her mother's wedding gown, cut apart and reworked to fit her style. I absolutely loved it. It fit her sweet as a peach personality to the T.

This next photo is different for me. Actually a lot of the photos in this post are. But, there's something about this one that I just absolutely love. Sarah's mom was helping Sarah put on her pearl necklace and, my word, she looks so elegant doesn't she?

Speaking of elegant...

I love me a little Christmas spirit in photos.

The girls were so brave and ran outside for exactly 1 minute and 3 seconds photos. It was sooo cold. I don't think I could have even made it 2 minutes.

And you bet I made the boys go outside too. They tried to get out of it, but um, no way. If the girls did it they could too.

Sometimes, as a wedding photographer, when people make direct eye contact with me during a wedding ceremony I worry that I might be doing something wrong. But, when Sarah looked at me here I wasn't worried at all. She was so ridiculously cute and happy and I remember smiling and feeling so happy for her.

And I leave you with a very fun New Orleans tradition called the "Second Line". Instead of throwing rice or blowing bubbles, the entire reception forms a line behind the bride and groom and escorts them out parade styyyle. I love all the different cultures and traditions I get to witness doing weddings. May I also take this opportunity to say every wedding should have traditional New Orleans cuisine at your wedding? Holy moly, it was delicious. The end. :)

Meet Josh and Kate. You may remember them from here

. Oh goodness, I get happy butterflies in my stomach just writing this post. That's because Kate is a very dear friend of mine. Kate is one of those people you don't have to know all your life to absolutely love and cherish. I met her when I was in high school and I can't imagine what the past few years would have been like without her. Kate's the closest anyone has come to being a big sister to me. She is happy and loud, but also the best listener and couch buddy while watching Lost.

Kate loves a lot of things but most of all she loves God and has spent the last few years on the University of Maryland campus as a missionary to the students there. I love that about her. She dropped everything and chose to pour her whole life into these students. This is where Kate got popular and I got jealous because she wasn't just a big sister to me any more. ;) But this was also when we started to hear whisperings of this guy named Josh. And when we whispered about him Kate would blush. That's when I knew Josh was something really special. And this is their wedding.

The ceremony was so emotional. At least for Josh...and me. Haha! I was a bundle of tears when she walked down the aisle and I turned around to see this. Too sweet.

Watching Kate with Josh makes me so happy. Josh loves her to death and I love hearing Kate's happy squeals when he hugs her super tight.

Kate's invitations had big snowflakes on them so it was just too perfect that it snowed a couple inches the night before. It was also New Years Eve. So, I'm not sure it could have looked or felt more romantic if it tried!

Inside the reception area there were some pretty sweet lights. And an antique shop which I just ate up. It was so cool!

Josh and Kate: I love you both so much! So happy you're married!