We had the privilege of being a part of Travis and Brittany’s wedding day at Cedar Ridge Winery. Cedar Ridge is my favorite place to shoot, and Travis and Brittany have been one of my favorite couples to partner with. It was bound to be a great day. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud looking through some of these photos, remembering the circumstances that surrounded them.
We started the day at the Hotel Kirkwood, where Brittany and her bridesmaids prepared for the big event. What set the tone for the day’s whimsy was Brittany’s choice of attire while getting her hair and makeup done—blue dragon onesie pajamas. Brittany’s mom also contributed to the laughter in the bridal suite of the morning with her attire. Decked out in a sparkly top, she found herself unable to escape a glittery trail wherever she went, much to everyone’s amusement. The sparkle pile she created and sat in served as a perfect icebreaker of sorts, and kept the mood light throughout the preparations (as if the dragon pajamas didn’t do it enough.
As things took a more ‘serious’ turn, Brittany got into her wedding dress, and shared a heartwarming first look with her dad. Mom could be seen in the corner, creating a new sparkle pile as she wiped tears from her eyes (and probably putting sparkles all over her face).
At that point, we were off to Cedar Ridge, so Travis and Brittany could share their first look together. The rolling vineyards and rustic charm of the winery provide such a perfect backdrop that it makes our job easy. They shared their first look together and I’m sure the reality of the day started to set in. Before they embarked on the rest of the day (and their marriage), they took a moment right then to ask for the Lord’s blessing on their marriage. I loved their intentionality in doing that.
After a few photos of the bride and groom, we brought in their ‘vibrant’ wedding party. They were a consistent source of laughter and joy throughout the day, and I’m sure Travis and Brittany enjoyed having them by their side. It’s clear that these two don’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s what made their wedding day so incredibly special. From hilarious mishaps to inside jokes, every moment was infused with their infectious spirit.
As the evening rolled around and the winery business hours had expired, it was time for the ceremony. The family and wedding party walked down the aisle, and finally it was Brittany’s turn to come down with her dad. If you were there, you know that didn’t happen immediately. Two of Brittany’s sisters were going to unroll a white runner for the bride to walk down. This didn’t exactly go according to plan, and it ended up taking a team of 4-5 people to get that thing pseudo in place. The hilarity of the moment and laughter of her entire family had some to the point of tears.
She did make it down the aisle, and a few emotional tears were spotted during the ceremony, along with much more laughter. As Travis and Brittany kissed to conclude their ceremony, they celebrated and walked back up the aisle, the white runner now in a twisted rope-like mess. 😂 The whole runner situation was fantastic, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
We took a few more photos into sunset before a brief shower passed during dinner. During toasts, Travis’ best man told stories of their adventures together, while Travis reenacted the sequence with miming hands. Hilarious! Travis and Brittany had their first dance together, which they laughed throughout. Then Brittany shared an emotional dance that brought out the waterworks from her whole family. Enthusiastic dancing (and singing) followed for the rest of the night, which we were happy to capture.
Travis and Brittany, thank you for choosing to have us be a part of your day! We wish you all the best for a lifetime of happiness, laughter and love together.
Hair & Makeup – Stephanie Mueller Hair/MUA
Nails – Sophia Nail and Spa
DJ – Erik Allen
Dress – David’s Bridal
Suits – Bauman & Co
Cake & Cupcakes – Candi’s Cake Creations
Photographers – Carter Photography
