I didn’t think photographing others’ weddings could get any more special until after Jake and I got married. After getting engaged, walking through the process of wedding planning, and walking down the aisle to see my soon-to-be husband – it makes each wedding I get to capture even sweeter. I feel the feelings all over again through my couples – the anticipation of getting married, planning each detail to make the day uniquely yours, the excitement of getting to see your person for the first time on the wedding day, walking down the aisle, and locking eyes, having all of your favorite people in ONE space, dancing your heart out, and making one of the most important commitments you will ever make. I tear up as I look through my camera as the groom cries, as the father-daughter dance is happening, and in all the sweet and oh, so special in-betweens!
Our Story and Proposal:
Jake and I are both from Fredericksburg and grew up together. We began dating on October 3, 2014, but the real magic happened on the dance floor of the Stonewall Peach Jamboree in June of the same year. Jake and I had known each other since fifth grade, although he initially believed I was mute since he never heard me speak. Our bond strengthened over the years, blossoming into high school sweethearts.
During our high school years, Jake and I experienced all the classic teenage “romance” milestones: being driven around by parents, countless lunch dates, proms, homecomings, and being crowned high school sweethearts. Our shared dream of attending Texas A&M University solidified our relationship, leading to five unforgettable years filled with growth, learning, and planning for the future.
Reflecting on the long-awaited proposal, I couldn’t help but feel the anticipation Jake had meticulously built up. He planned every detail, from the secretive trip to ask my father’s permission to discreet ring shopping. The proposal itself was a dream come true, set in one of my favorite spots to photograph along a river in the Texas Hill Country. He knew he was marrying a photographer, who loved pretty light and beautiful things! After all of the years, we were so eager to begin wedding planning.
Our Wedding Planning Process and Wedding Day:
We loved wedding planning – it was such a sweet season of preparation as we anticipated to get married. Since Fredericksburg was so special to the two of us, we knew that we wanted to get married there. We toured several wedding venues, and though, we loved all of them, we knew that Featherstone Ranch would accommodate our massive guest list and encapsulate our story and love for the Texas Hill Country. Jake’s only request throughout the process was for not everything to be“pink.” Details were so important to us, so we thought through everything from songs and timeline to table settings and specialty drinks. Jake enjoys doing leatherwork as a hobby, so he made leather coasters for each attendee and we worked at a peach stand in Fredericksburg together for a couple of years, so I named my signature drink after that experience. We had pretzels as an appetizer to tip our hat to our German town and heritage. During our reception, the clouds built up and a massive storm came through. It made for a stunning sunset and some epic lightning. We ended the night, dancing through the puddles outside. You can find my tips and tricks for creating a timeline here. Our wedding day was everything we could have imagined.
List of Vendors:
Photographer: Ashlen Sydney Photography
Videographer: Reverent Films
Florist: Everwild Florals
Suits: Black Tux Rentals
Life Now:
After we got married, we honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas and moved into an apartment for 30 days, before purchasing our first home, in San Antonio. We started our first jobs and our first anniversary came quicker than we could have imagined. Recently, Jake has moved jobs, allowing us to fulfill our dreams of moving back to the town where we met, fell in love, and grew up. We have now purchased a home in Fredericksburg and are so happy to call it home. Please come visit us!
