Allie + Mac Wedding // First Baptist of Butler, AL
This summer I photographed the sweetest wedding in Butler, Al. The wedding and reception took place at First Baptist Church of Butler. If you'd like to learn more about my services you can check them out here, or you can contact me here. I cover weddings across the southeast and would love nothing more than to serve you.
On my initial consult call with the bride, the resounding theme she impressed on me was that pictures of their new family and all those that were gathered there that day were so important to her and that she really didn't think she needed more than 4 hours coverage. We instantly clicked on our first call and she booked within 24-hrs - which is such a honor. I was truly excited to get to be a small part of their special day.
Since this was only a 4 hour package, when I arrived I got RIGHT to work! The groom was tucked away to hide in the Choir room so we could move freely about the building. I immediately started photographing the dress so that the bride could have it back, then moved into the detail images. Allie had gathered everything wonderfully into a box. The best light was outside and it was a sweltering July day - so needless to say, I was sweating by the end of this.
Once I was done, the girls were all ready so we moved into some sweet images with Allie and the girls. This family unit has two daughters from the bride and two from the groom and the girls actually pushed for this union to be official. And these girls truly behave like sisters. Their love for one another was so genuinely sweet. Allie mentioned that when they got engaged that she actually had planned to elope but that the daughters really pushed for them to have a real wedding.
We flowed right into bridal portraits, portraits with the girls + the bride and portraits with the girls + the groom. The bride opted to wait until she walked down the aisle for the groom to see her so we did a good job keeping everyone hidden when needed so that no accidental sitings occurred. By the end of this portion of portraits, we were ALL sweltering. The head index / humidy was 105 degrees! So we knocked these out in record timing (I am always willing to stay out as long as the couple needs, but a wedding dress and a formal suit are not nearly as comfortable as my summer dress I wore - expediency was very important to them).
Literally this was the fastest 1.5 hours of my life I think. But I am so proud we managed to get it all done!
The ceremony was perfect. There were two aisles, one on each side, and no center aisle, therefore, the daughters that belonged to the respective parent walked down the aisle on their respective side. During the ceremony each family member poured unity sand into a frame - it all felt so symbolic. That these families entered the church as two separate families and left the church as one family. Also, Allie's music was a mix of sleep token, elvis and Wicked. All of which were thoughtfully chosen. I was trying not to tear up in parts of their ceremony (hazard of the job + being an emotional human being).
Afterwards the guests moved to the reception hall but we spent about 20 minutes getting portraits of the whole, united family and then some special ones of just the bride and groom. They were so easy to photograph. Couples like this make my job fun.
After the portraits, we had the guests line up for an entrance rather than have them wait for an exit after the reception. You wouldn't know the difference and the beauty of doing a photographed entrance is that you are going to have more guests in the shot. By the time the bride and groom usually want to do an exit, guests as left. This way ensures maximum participation.
The reception was held in the church gym but was so lovely. We capture some additional family portraits, cake cutting, and the couples first dance and mr. and mrs.
The love in this whole wedding day is tangible in these photos
The love in this whole wedding day is tangible in these photos. I still think back on this wedding day and how this couple was choosing what really mattered to them - they united their family, they did it on a budget, and they had a wonderful time. They didn't need a $10,000 venue, a DJ, or a get-away car - they really cared about each other and uniting their girls. Plus, they have the memories forever stamped in time through photography.
One learning I had from this wedding is that a 4-hour wedding day is way too stressful for me. I would consider under special circumstances, but using the learnings from this wedding and how crazy the morning was, I changed my minimum to 6-hours. (Just in case you too were looking at booking a 4-hour package).
If you, too, live in Butler, Alabama and are seeking wedding photography - I would be absolutely honored to capture your most precious of memories. I recently moved to Tuscaloosa, but have several close ties in Butler and would love nothing more than to document your special day. I may technically be a Tuscaloosa wedding photographer now, however I love serving couples across the southeast (plus Butler is inside my radius for a 9-hour package).
