Day 46 (t-minus 4 days!)

Hubby told me last night that if I keep it up, I'll run out Christmas-themed things to shoot before Christmas gets here. I told him that I only have 5 (now 4) shots to take yet before I'm done with my challenge and, with the weather being so frightful and cold and wonderful, I haven't been getting out of the house much. So I have to be creative with what I have. Not that I mind the cold so much. I just mind getting G all bundled up and making sure he stays warm. Much easier just to stay inside and let him play his little heart out.

Teasers of Sarah & Nelson's Wedding

This past weekend was my sister's wedding and I had the pleasure of shooting it! They had a casual, rustic, and western affair that was absolutely gorgeous! The weather cooperated and they were blessed with an almost-cloudless sky and wonderful sunshine.

This was actually the first wedding I have shot almost by myself (more on that later) and while I'm pleased with the way the pictures turned out, it somewhat shook my confidence. I have definitely learned some lessons for the next time.

The wedding was scheduled for 5 p.m., with the ceremony site out in a hayfield on my parents' farm. I arrived at 11:30 a.m., after driving over 21 hours and getting less than 3 hours of sleep (sitting up, with no way to lay down or get comfortable) during the trip. Yeah, not a good way to start things off! Especially if the bride wants you to get lots of setting up and decorating shots! So I hit the ground running as soon as we got there and was busy all afternoon.

The bride and coordinator had planned for bridal party pictures to begin at 2:00 p.m., with family and server photos to follow. They wanted to have all the group shots done and the bridal party hid away in the house by 4:00 p.m., when they figured most of the guests would start to show up. That's right- 2 HOURS to get ALL the group shots! It might have been possible if we'd actually had the full 2 hours, but, alas, the bridal party pictures did not get underway until after 2:30. And people started showing up BEFORE that. So, *sniff, sniff*, I did not get to take any of the cool, fun bridal party shots that I had planned out. Instead, it was bang, bang, bang- relatively boring, line-'em-up arrangements. Oh well. Next time I will be more firm in sitting down and discussing a decent timeline with the bride. My sister is more the I-don't-care-what-we-do-let's-just-get-it-done type. She doesn't have much patience for things like, say, pictures.

But anyways, onto the photos! Who wants to read my ramblings?! So here's the eye candy- excuse the randomness.

Some of her beautiful dress details.

A cool shot I was able to capture after the ceremony.

Before the ceremony

One of the stunning wildflower centerpieces

Her bouquet

I don't really have many reception shots because, well, you remember that 21 hour drive and the sleep I didn't get? Yeah, well, by the time the ceremony was over and the reception started I. was. completely. worn. out. Thank goodness they had some photography-loving friends (one of which also shoots weddings) there- both of whom came to me before the ceremony and offered their services. THANK GOD! I wasn't going to take them up on it, but since the one girl had experience with weddings, I went up to her at the end of the ceremony and sheepishly asked if she would mind shooting the reception. She said she would be glad to.

So this has been my first (almost) solo wedding experience and my first set of teasers! Hope you enjoyed them!