Is it weird that my best friend’s wedding was one of the happiest days of my life?

Jesie and Brandon’s wedding day was like a dream.  Jesie was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.  Their ceremony was the most precious and joyful ceremony I have ever attended.  The family and friends involved in making the day flawlessly unfold were some of the most loving, genuine, Christian people.  Everything was completely soaked in prayer.  It was so emotional for me.  Jesie is my best friend.  Best friend.  We attend weddings nearly every weekend.  We see bouquet after bouquet tossed. We see the same tuxedo patterns and dress patterns.  We hear the same first dance music.  We witness the same vows.  The schedule of the day is the same. The butterflies are not uncommon and have become the norm.  But Jesie’s wedding was completely different.  It felt NOTHING like the weddings we normally see.

On their warm August day, I was not a wedding photographer documenting a day who just happened to be a bridesmaid for a 30 minute ceremony.  I had the blessing to put down the camera in a sense and soak in the day and the true meaning behind our every action.  I had the blessing to bow my head with Jesie and the other women in her life and shower her and Brandon’s future with prayer.  I had the blessing to watch my best friend put on her mother’s revamped wedding dress that we’ve talked about for months. On their warm August day, I was a bridesmaid who just happened to have a camera on her hip.

Every weekend Jesie and I bet on the bride’s wedding gown: a-line or fitted?  Lace or no lace?  Straps or no straps?  White or ivory?  Hours before their ceremony, with the help of her sister and mother, Jesie slipped on her wedding gown.  Pulling the straps over her shoulders and with huge alligator tears, she looked up at me through her strands of dark brown hair and softly smiled.  As I gazed at my best friend, experiencing a moment she’s dreamed of since a child, she softly said to me through her tears and with the slightest laugh in her voice, “If you had to bet on this dress, what would you say?” Instantly, I choked up. Tears welled.  “I could never bet on you, Jes.”

Being a bridesmaid is not just being another face at the bridal shower.  It’s not about tequila shots.  It’s not about helping choose honeymoon clothes.  Being a bridesmaid is about being an ultimate accountability partner – when Brandon and Jesie hit bumps in their journey, a bridesmaid is there to pray and help and talk and remind.  Just being present and in the moment on their day was a completely different experience than photographing a wedding.  While I did photograph pieces of the day, I was there when her father saw her for the first time.  I could feel his nervousness before he laid eyes on Jesie.  I was there to pray and cry and hug in prayer.  I could feel Jesie shaking with butterflies.  In awe, I was there to look her in the eyes and tell her, “You’re incredible, Jes” and mean every syllable.  Sitting near her in her father’s white Toyota Four Runner, waiting for the guests to settle so we could enter the ceremony, I could feel her about to burst with excitement and anticipation.  As a bridesmaid, who just happened to love photography, I could feel this wedding.  And because I could feel, I captured some of the most unparalleled images of my career.

Being a photographer, I rarely get my photo taken.  And when I do, I know it’s being taken.  There aren’t many “real moments” of me.  But this one speaks volumes.  It was captured by one of my oldest and dearest friends, Cassie Connell of Connell Photography.  She helped shoot the day and shot the entire ceremony and reception. She’s extremely talented – please view her work.  I love this photograph because it captures the awe that I felt the entire day… the overwhelming amazement and thrill for my best friend.  I don’t know how often I stood in that spot and just took in all of Jesie’s special little details, but it was definitely more than once.  Each one of them, shoes, jewelry, garter, gloves, etc. all had a story attached to them.

Before Jesie began dressing for the day, her sister, AJ, hosted a special prayer time for all the ladies in Jesie’s life.  Cappy, a fun loving Southern-belle bridesmaid all the way from Birmingham, read some great scripture out of 2nd Peter.

We were all a crying mess as Jesie’s mom (far right) spoke about supporting Brandon in all his decisions and his leadership.

After the prayer time, I grabbed my gear and went to the boys’ house and shot with them while Cassie got the girls getting ready.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

These were captured as I walked in after shooting the boys and saw Jesie’s hair all done up. Cassie’s shots…

A great shot captured by Cassie of Cappy and Jesie’s mom helping her into her gown.

LOVED these shoes! Jesie’s theme was totally vintage, which included old borrowed shoes. :)

Leaning on my camera, in awe of Jesie as she just slipped on the dress that I had yet to see her in.  I believe this is when I said, “I could never bet on you, Jes.”

I know Jesie and I were meant to be friends becuase I’ve always wanted gloves on my wedding day too! I’ve yet to see this at any of our weddings.

LOVE this shot that Cassie captured of Cappy.

Time for some bridal portraits! These are all so awesome as they were captured around Jesie’s parents’ ranch where she was born and raised.

Ahh! Love it, love it, love it!

The wind was really workin’ for us!

Some of Brandon’s favorites:

Get ready for the longest “first sighting” post… This was the first time Jesie’s dad saw her. Jesie’s expression:

Cassie’s shot of Dad:

Another one of Cassie’s:

My angle:

An incredible shot by Cassie.  Jes and her dad were both a crying mess. :)

Part II is the best!!  Bridesmaids shots, ceremony, and bride and groom.  Don’t miss it… :)