"Adventure awaits..."
After almost two years of mentoring, shadowing, & second shooting I officially associated my first wedding. It was beautiful, nerve-racking, and easily my favorite wedding of the season.
What is associating in the wedding world you ask? It is when a photographer is hired by a client but unable to photograph the wedding themselves, so they hire another photographer to shoot the day of. So if I am hired by another photographer to associate for them, all I have to do is show up and shoot, they handle the communication beforehand and the editing after. It is a special experience, and one of my favorite ways to shoot a wedding. Knowing that I don't have the editing load to work on afterwards or a deadline gives me the chance to really immerse myself in the day and have a great time.
I was hired by the amazing Alder & Pine Photography for specific wedding. It was at a home address in Bellingham, Wa with a beautiful view of the ocean. The home had a big beautiful yard, with a garden that had obviously been tended by loving hands. The ceremony and reception were both being held here, and when I arrived the beginnings of set up had begun. My first impression of the couple was that they were kind and inviting, and I just knew it was going to be a special day.
The reception was being held under a huge white tent, with greenery and vines twisting up and around the poles to three beautiful chandeliers. The table decor & set up was simple, elegant, and intimate while the ceremony area was set up with rows of chairs facing the ocean and the most beautiful flowered arch at the front. Another lovely touch was a table at the entrance to the yard that had baskets of jars of jam- a special recipe handed down by a grandparent of the couple. Everything was very classy but intimate, and executed very well.
We started first with detail shots, a few candids of the couple having a quiet moment in their side yard and then family formals. Let me tell you, this family gave me ALL the feels! During the family formals they were laughing, crying, hugging, and just so engaged with each other. Calling them into different groups was so easy, and by the time we were done I felt like I had just made new friends!
The ceremony was lovely, each groom spoke at length about their love for the other and the crowd laughed and cried with them as they spoke. When they sealed it all with a kiss, the joy that erupted was contagious and it was truly like a party as the reception started.
The reception was full of toasts that made me tear up, the best choreographed couples dance I've ever seen, and delicious food. We did sunset portraits on the giant swing they had just built, and as the day came to a close I knew it was official- I loved weddings.
Keep scrolling to see my favorite photos from this day, and if you are looking to book a photographer for your wedding, reach out!
Cheers,
Kymber
