Sara & Adam are Married!

Yesterday Sara and Adam got married in a beautiful ceremony at The Piazza in Colleyville. Here's a peek at their amazing day :)

 Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jinkens.

 I love taking photos at The Piazza, the chandeliers just make it perfectly elegant.

 Love this moment just before the first kiss.

 A few photos in the Chapel.

and a few outside.

 First dance.

Rose petal exit.

 Finally they were married on Flag day and they went to this cute little bed and breakfast called Azalea Plantation right after the wedding so I followed them there to take a few more photos of just them. It was an absolutely perfect day.

Congrats Sara and Adam and I'll have the rest of your photos edited soon :)

Jamie's Bat Mitzvah

Jamie's Bat Mitzvah was amazing. Really, really amazing. The Rabbi said during the service that a lot of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are about the Bar or the Bat but Jamie's was really about the Mitzvah. The Mitzvah refers to an act of human kindness. Instead of a party Jamie, her family and friends put on a carnival for the kids at Vogel Alcove in Dallas. Vogel Alcove is an Early Childhood Education Center of Homeless kids. Several of the girls I have shot Bat Mitzvah's for volunteer at the center and they were there and they were all great with the kids. I absolutely loved seeing Jamie and her friends give of themselves to put smiles on the faces of the kids at the carnival.

So Jamie and her family started the day with a Bat Mitzvah service at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas.

A few family portraits in the garden at the hotel...

...and a few of the beautiful Jamie in the lobby.

Then, since the service wasn't at the Temple on the Sabbath I was able to take photos. Yay! It was such a wonderful service. First the Torah made it's way down the center aisle with Jamie and her family following.

 Then Jamie began reading from the Torah with her Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents around her for one of the Aliyahs.

Jamie reads an Aliyah with her parents next to her.

I love, love, LOVE this moment.

After the last Aliyah everyone threw candy. Such a fun tradition.

 After the service the girls and two awesome guys loaded this cool bus to go set up the carnival.

When they first got to Vogel Alcove they has some magical entertainment from Bo Gerard.

 Ross ended up part of the show. I photographed his Bar Mitzvah a few months ago. What a great kid and a good sport. Bo made him a "punching bag" balloon and he tried it out!

 The girls loved the show.

Jamie got called up agian to help with a magic trick where he cut the jacket with a sharp knife...or did he ;)

 After the magic shot all these amazing kids went outside and held a carnival for the kids at Vogel Alcove. THey had face painting, spin art, a DJ, bowling, beanbag toss, a petting zoo and snowcones. At the end of the day they had dinner for the kids and their parents. These kids inspire me. Today was an amazing day. Thank you Jamie for showing me that teenagers can do incredible things in their community.

Hayley & Daniel are Married!

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing Hayley and Daniel's gorgeous wedding at The Slate in Richardson. Here's a peek at their beautiful day.

Hayley and Daniel were all smiles all day.

 The rings on the Ketubah.

 They did a first touch and read letters that they had written to each other. I love when couples leave time to do this, it's such a nice ay to connect on your wedding day.

 Then they did a first look in their ceremony room.

 Since they did a first look we had lots of time to take bride and groom photos before the wedding. It was raining so we took advantage of the simplicity of their ceremony space to do their photos. It's good luck if it rains of your wedding day, but I don't think Hayley and Daniel need luck...they are truly in love.

A few portraits showing off a few Jewish traditions. They were married wrapped in Hayley's grandfather's Tallit and during the ceremony they put the rings on each others index fingers in the Jewish tradition that the index finger is a direct line to the heart.

 Then we had some time for wedding party photos. The girls were simply fabulous.

 ...and the guys...super fun. When I asked them to "show their socks I expects a few inches...I got this little bit of hilarity. So. Much. Fun.

 The whole gorgeous wedding party.

 Ceremony time. The Slate is a "blank slate" and Hayley's mom Wendy who is an event planner turned it into an indoor sunset under the Chuppah.

 The ring exchange.

 The kiss. I love Hayley's reaction.

 A few portraits on the reception side of the venue.

 First dance.

Hora.

 Last dance.

Congratulations Hayley and Daniel. Your wedding was simply amazing. I'll have the rest of your photos edited soon!

Rhonda & Ricardo's amazing wedding.

A few weeks ago Rhonda and Ricardo got married in the sweetest ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas. I loved every minute of their celebration. Richard form A Very Special Day and Jenna at the Four Season were fantastic to work with and made some amazing happen flawlessly. Here's a peek at their day.

 The Rings

 Her gorgeous dress, shows, earrings and headband.

 His tux, shoes, tie and cufflinks.

 Put it all together and you have these two fabulous people. Rhonda and Ricardo are one of my favorite couples ever. They got ready in separate villas on opposite sides of the resort and met on the golf course for a sweet first look.

The first look...they are so happy to be together and it shows.

 Then Rhonda wnated to do it over again with overacted reactions and we ended up with s few cute moments full of laughter and smiles.

I love that the first look gives us extra time to take pretty pictures of the bride and groom together.

 This is my favorite.

 We even asked a golfer if we could borrow a club and he was nice enough to let us for a quick photo.

 Their ceremony was in a little court yard at the front of the hotel and the flowers were amazing. Sonia from Gardenia Event Design transformed that courtyard into a fairy tale.

 The entrance.

Ricardo was so emotional. As Rhonda made her way to the end of the aisle he wiped a few tears away.

 Then...and I absolutely love this moment. A deep breath and his best man/son looks on smiling.

Vows.

Smiles.

Happy tears.

Rings.

A beautiful sand ceremony with Ricardo's son and daughter.

The kiss...

 The minister asks Ricardo what day it is and after he answers, reminds him to never forget this date.

Love  this high-five on the way out.

 The whole family.

 Some alone time around the hotel.

 Just before sunset.

 The reception was in Byron's just off the golf course. My last two weddings have had the Japanese Lanterns...gorgeous!

 Reception details in Tiffany Blue.

The entrance.

The First Dance.

The Cake Cutting.

The Toasts.

 The Newlywed Game.

 So fun.

 Dancing the night away with family and friends. Ricardo even did the Macarena with his mom.

The "Ring Security" boys were super cute.

One danced the night away and the other...all tuckered out.

Air guitar.

 Everyone was having a great time.

 Last Dance.

 and a sparkling exit to end their perfect day.

Congratulations Rhonda and Ricardo! I wish you a lifetime of happiness :)