The energy on a wedding day begins and ends with the bride. Bottom line. If the bride is stressed everyone around her feels it. If the bride is relaxed, its more likely the wedding party will be too. So what happens when the bride is straight up excited without a care in the world besides marrying the man she loves? Everyone has the BEST. DAY. EVER. And that is what happened last Friday at Kristen and John’s Lowndes Grove wedding. Because I swear, Kristen was the happiest person in all of Charleston that day, and it permeated throughout every second of the day. Take one look at her wide smile in these photos and I bet you’ll even feel it through the screen. This wedding was GORGEOUS to boot (shout out to Eden of Paraiso Events for knocking it OUT OF THE PARK), but it wasn’t gorgeous from the outside in, but rather the inside out.
I really didn’t expect anything else though. Earlier in the week when the forecast was calling for rain, and LOTS of it, most brides would be panicking. NOT Kristen. Instead she texted me a photo of a couple kissing under an umbrella, and told me how excited she was to get cute photographs like that. In that moment I honestly thought to myself, how do I attract more brides like Kristen? Because it felt like a dream. And while rain it did that morning, later in the early afternoon the sun peaked out from behind the clouds and the rain stopped, leaving the most beautiful spring day behind. I swear the weather was mimicking Kristen’s attitude. It wasn’t burying the Bourbon that helped reverse the weather forecast (although it did make for some fun photos). It was the shear positivity radiating through the day, and it all started with her.
It was clear to me that family means everything to these two. It was clear from the way that on the list they gave me for family shots Kristen’s family was nicknamed “The Francis 5.” It was clear from the way Kristen’s father reiterated that importance in his touching speech, and told the story of how John went out of his way to include them in his proposal to his daughter, bringing them all the way to Texas from Maryland to take part in it. It was clear to me when Kristen made it a point to surprise her younger sister Kimberly with cake because she was celebrating her 23rd birthday that night. But it was most clear to me right as they were about to cut the cake. In a moment that reminded me of the scene from “Father of the Bride” when Annie can’t find her dad as she and her new husband leave their reception for their honeymoon, I saw John look around and realize his mother wasn’t there. He went out of his way to find her and make sure she came to the front and got to see this moment. Because it was a moment that doesn’t get a do over. And he wanted his mom there.
Kristen, you are a straight up gem. And John, if my two little boys end up to follow in your brand of gentleman, than I’ll know I did something right. I don’t know how I got lucky enough that you ended up on my instagram all those months ago Kristen, but the fact that y’all were a #kdyecouple is not something I’ll ever forget. One day in the future when your little ones look at these photos they’ll see a mom who is filled with elegance and grace and beauty. And John while they’ll certainly see a dapper guy who can rock a tuxedo like nobodies business, but more than that they’ll see a man who looks at and treats his wife the way every woman deserves to be looked at and treated. And what can I say about your wedding day? I cried at your vows. I laughed and cheered when you went stage diving John. I smiled bigger than I have in a long time because of you Kristen. I basically felt ALL the feels. And from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this day. Thank you for being gracious and kind and accommodating and fun. But most of all thank you for loving in each other in a way that makes me feel lucky to do what I do.
PLANNER: PARAISO EVENT DESIGN VENUE: LOWNDES GROVE CATERING/BAR/CAKE: PATRICK PROPERTIES HOSPITALITY GROUP HAIR AND MAKEUP: SLATE HAIR AND MAKEUP FLORALS: JUNIPER AND JASMINE DESIGNS LIGHTING: LOWCOUNTRY ENTERTAINMENT DRAPING: THE SOCIAL SPOOL RENTALS: SNYDER EVENTS CEREMONY MUSIC: CLASSICAL CHARLESTON RECEPTION MUSIC: SHIMMER OF EAST COAST ENTERTAINMENT TRANSPORTATION: DREAM CLASSIC RENTALS DRESS: GARNISH BOUTIQUE
+ view the comments
