Kyle Hepp

August 3, 2009

I have been having such a hard time choosing which of these photos to upload. Half of them I can’t tell if they’re actually good pictures, or if I just think they’re good pictures because I love Sarah and Tom so much! Oh well, for better or for worse, here are pictures of Sarah and Tom’s First Look and the ceremony.

Sarah and Tom are super traditional, so when Sarah told me that she wanted to do a First Look I fell off my couch — then when I recovered enough to speak again I cried tears of joy! I’ve been wanting to photograph one of these special moments since I started in wedding photography, although I’ve never suggested the idea to any of my brides just because I have no experience shooting one, so I wouldn’t want to push someone into something I know nothing about. However, after seeing how beautiful and touching Sarah and Tom’s First Look was, I will be at least making the suggestion to all of my couples. It sounds unconventional, but really, it makes a lot of sense.

In the old days, the only reason the groom didn’t see the bride before the ceremony was because they were arranged marriages, so they wanted to prevent him from seeing her in case he decided she was ugly, ran off and ruined the deal between the two families.

But, if you do a First Look, aside from the benefits of being able to get all your pictures done before the ceremony and the reception therefore eliminating a lot of stress and making time management easier on everyone, aside from all that…the first time the groom sees the bride is incredibly emotional and personal. A First Look allows them to have that moment in private, between just the two of them. For Sarah and Tom I also think it was a moment of calm that they had together before the rest of the chaotic day began, filled with family and friends. Tom cried, and Sarah wiped away his tears. He was able to look at his bride and really tell her just how amazingly beautiful she looked, they kissed and embraced and enjoyed that moment without a hundred people watching. Well, Seba and I were there photographing it all, but we had our long lenses on, so we stayed at a respectful distance After about 5 or 10 minutes of them alternating between crying and kissing on the altar, I decided to stop taking pictures for a minute and ask if they wanted a moment alone.

This was Sarah when she turned around laughing to tell me, no, they didn’t need a moment, they had completely forgotten we were there.

I really do think it’s such a great moment for the couple to be wrapped up in each other. If I could do it all over again I would 100% have done a First Look with Seba at my own wedding. I am now totally behind this new tradition!

So anyway, on to the photos.

Tom and Sarah wanted to do it in in the church, so she walked down the aisle to him, just with no spectators.

Here’s when she first walked up behind him.

Sarah can still make Tom cry like a baby. I’m glad some things will never change

Now on to the ceremony. Here is Laura’s reaction when she saw Sarah walking down the aisle.

When Sarah’s dad gave her away, I think that may have been the moment in which I was crying the hardest.

Tom’s grandpa prayed.

And Sarah and Tom took communion together as their first meal.

When Sarah decided to have us photograph her wedding, the first thing she said to me was, “I love the feet photos, please take feet photos of us!”

They walked out to release balloons. Tom wanted bubbles, but he got vetoed, LOL. Welcome to marriage my friend.

I love this shot of Sarah releasing the heart balloon while everyone else’s attention is focused on the crowd’s balloons.

More pictures of the bridal party at Windmill Island tomorrow!