One Moment in Time: Why Every Moment of Your Wedding Day is Worthy of Being Documented.

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MARIA CARPENTER

 

Whether you have been dreaming about your wedding since you were little or the excitement began once you got engaged, it is one of the greatest days of your life to enter the sacrament of marriage with your soulmate. 

You’ve probably been told to enjoy your wedding day as much as you can because “it goes by so fast.”

Why then has the wedding industry normalized giving couples the choice of cramming their day into a 6 or 8-hour window or having their photographer miss important wedding day moments?

We have all been there. You begin the search for your wedding photographer, find some that you love, and then your heart sinks when you see on the investment page that you can only afford the shortest amount of time.

You start to wonder:  Well maybe they don’t need to capture everything. Maybe we can just shorten the day so that they can be there for all of the big moments. Before you know it, you are making compromises to change a day that you have spent countless hours planning and investing a lot of money in to make it perfect.

As photographers, we believe that all-day coverage is the best  way to capture a wedding  day as authentically as possible. In order to stay true to that belief, we always include all-day coverage for our couples.

It allows you to have a more peaceful and relaxing day, and will help you remember all of the special moments from it–big and small–for the rest of your life. 

All-day coverage offers a more flexible wedding day timeline, allowing for some extra wiggle room in case something happens to throw off the schedule. It also gives you a chance to mentally and emotionally prepare before the ceremony. If you wanted to have that downtime but was hiring a photographer for a shorter number of hours, then you would feel like you were “wasting an hour” to not have them photographing some of the posed group photos since you have them there for less time.

Limited hours often lead couples to choose between the “getting ready” photos or most of their reception photos, but those are the two best  times to have captured. 

So many of our brides have told us that their favorite pictures of them and their mom or other close female figures are the “getting ready” photos. 

Yes, the pretty posed pictures outdoors are beautiful and important, but there is something so sentimental about documenting the woman who put your first dress on you now helping you into your wedding dress. That is when the emotions of the day start to flood in and become a reality; you aren’t trying your dress on at the bridal store, alteration shop, or your home, this is when you are finally preparing to meet your beloved.  

If you choose to have the photographer there for those important getting ready moments but then leave early before the reception is over, then you are missing out on some of the most fun candid shots of the day. 

There are the heartwarming moments like the first dance, family dances, and toasts but there are also all the fun pictures once the dance floor opens that totally exude marital bliss. 

All your favorite people in one room, singing and dancing to celebrate their love for you two as a couple, which is why they tend to be some of the favorite and most shared pictures for our couples. 

We have photographed the bride giving the maid of honor a piggyback ride, a groom and his groomsmen serenading the bride with an acappella song, a group of sisters recreating their childhood dance to their favorite song, and so many more incredible moments during the celebration. 

The reception is when the  stress and expectations for the day are over and couples are free to act like their truest selves. They have such a carefree spirit about them and the joy they radiate as they leave their reception to begin the rest of their married lives together cannot be posed or prompted.

Wedding photography certainly is not “one size fits all,” but when considering the best fit for you, make sure you are not compromising and shortening the happiest day of your life to fit the time frame of an average workday. 

You have been preparing your whole life to marry the person that God made for you, and you should cherish every moment of the day that you become one in spirit.

About the Authors: Maria and ayton are the faces behind Fenix Photography, Design, and Events. They both have pursued numerous creative outlets but fell in love with photography: they loved that they could bring the best emotive moments out of couples, and then edit them in a vibrant and colorful way. The motto of Fenix Photography, Design, and Events is "God writes the story... we just document it." As photographers, Maria and Dayton believe their job is to capture the deepest form of love that God can bestow on two people. They desire to build friendships with their clients through the wedding planning process and help them fully enjoy their special day. 

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Spoken Bride Vendors | Spotlight, Vol. 9

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We are proud to serve you through the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, the first online resource for distinctively Catholic wedding vendors: hand-selected professionals from around the U.S. with not only an abundance of talent, but a reverence and passion for the sacrament of marriage that brings a uniquely personal, prayerful dimension to their client experiences.

With a range of stories, hobbies, and devotions, it’s our privilege to share who our vendors are and connect them with their ideal clients--you, faithful Catholic couples who are energized by working with like-minded, prayerful individuals. Each month, we’ll be introducing, or re-introducing, you to members of Spoken Bride’s vendor community. We encourage you to learn more through their full vendor listings and reach out!

Our featured vendors this month (click to jump):

 

Emmaus Films

Wedding videography; serving Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Kevin Lohrmann grew up with a love for camera work, but after graduating from Franciscan University, he chose to pursue a career in web development instead. The following year, as freelance videography opportunities with Catholic organizations coincided with changes at his company, Kevin took his side hobby full time. Emmaus Films launched in 2018. 

From the start, most of Emmaus’ clients have been Catholic ministries, churches, and individuals. Kevin brings his years of experience to a “personalized, reverent” approach with brides and grooms, striving always to highlight the gift of beauty: “beauty in the sacrament of marriage; beauty in the people's stories; beauty in God's creation.”

I root for...the Baltimore Ravens!

Favorite movie: A Beautiful Mind

Love means: The total self gift of one person to another, while expecting nothing in return. I've also heard it as "The willing of the good of the other, as other."

Learn more about Emmaus Films

 

Fenix Photography, Design, & Events

Wedding photography; based in Virginia and available for national and international travel.

 Maria W. and her fiancé Dayton have pursued a variety of creative hobbies since their childhoods. When they first learned photography and realized the emotive power of visual storytelling, they were hooked. “Photography is not point-and-click or copying Pinterest poses, it's about creating an environment where you can capture your client's best self, and creatively capturing authentic moments that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.”

 “Our business motto is "God writes the story... we just document it." because we believe that we are just the people who capture the deepest form of love that He can bestow on two people.  We do our best to help our couples keep perspective throughout the wedding planning that even though all of the wedding details are very important, ultimately the joining of them in marriage is the most important part of the day.”

Our coffee order: We prefer Arnold Palmers!

Favorite saint: Kateri Tekakwitha

The best part of working on weddings: Since we spend so much time together on the biggest day of their lives, we love building a relationship throughout [our] couples’ engagements so that by the time of the wedding we are not vendors, but friends. This relationship is what builds trust so that the only thing they need to worry about is being in the moment with their spouse. For us, there is no greater feeling or "rush" than having the honor to capture the exact moment that God joins two souls for the rest of their lives.   

 Learn more about Fenix Photography, Design, & Events | Read Maria and Dayton’s insights into preserving memories beyond social media

 

Handmaid Home

Custom wedding quilts and bridal party gifts; handmade in North Dakota and available for nationwide shipping.

Kathleen Causapin’s first sewing projects were handmade bags. Years later, she learned the art of quilting and fell in love.

 There’s something special about wedding gifts that don’t stay tucked away for special occasions, but that become a daily, visible part of a couple’s life together. On the couch or hung on a wall, a wedding quilt becomes just that. According to Kathleen, “I see a quilt as a tangible reminder of that special day, with the unique ability to travel with the couple as they enter into the day-to-day life of marriage.” Handmaid Home specializes in quilts and cosmetics bags--the small bags are an ideal bridesmaid gift--with custom colors, designs, and your wedding date.

Favorite prayer: I have a special devotion to the Miraculous Medal.  It was part of our uniform at my high school and we each received a gold Miraculous Medal at graduation, which I still wear and even tied to my wedding bouquet!  Visiting the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, where Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré, was an incredible spiritual experience. 

Best places I’ve traveled: Jordan is one of my favorites. There is so much history there and because it is relatively untouched, you really feel a part of it. It was incredible to look out from the top of Mt. Nebo and see the Promised Land that God showed Moses. I also studied abroad in Ireland and have been back several times, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.     

 Favorite book: I read Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather, two years ago and have been telling basically everyone I know to read it ever since! I think knowing that Cather wasn't Catholic, yet still wrote with such beauty about Catholicism, makes it even more powerful. 

Learn more about Handmaid Home

 

Prolific Services

NFP Instruction and Fertility Education; based in Texas, with online instruction available worldwide.

From the start of her first NFP class as a bride-to-be, Nia Husk knew she would one day teach it. Captivated by God’s design for the body and the scientific knowledge that illuminates it, Nia became a certified Creighton FertilityCare Practitioner and founded Prolific Services in 2015. 

She and her team offer NFP Instruction according to the Creighton Model, NaPro Technology consulting, and fertility awareness talks. Prolific Services specializes in online instruction, making their services and education available no matter its clients’ locations. Now several years into her business, Nia says, “I'm still loving this way of serving him and my sisters and brothers in Christ as they begin to build their own families.”

On my bucket list: Raise all my kids to be able to defend their faith beliefs, experience Alaska, and try American Ninja Warrior with my hubby. 

Favorite Saints: Edith Stein, JPII, Mama Teresa, Peter Claver, Agnes of Rome, and Padre Pío.

Love means: Willing the good of the beloved.

Learn more about Prolific Services | Watch Nia’s Instagram takeover from Spoken Bride’s Vendor Week

Vendor Week 2020 | Embracing Moments More Than Social Media

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DAYTON & MARIA

 

Lights. Camera. Post. After a moment takes place, it can feel like a race to document it and post it on social media. 

What used to be experiences shared only by the people present has evolved into an event valued by the number of likes, comments, or shares it gets, not unlike a competition TV show where your peers are the judges and your followers are the audience voting from home. 

Don’t misunderstand me! We also posted when we got engaged, when we had engagement pictures taken, and we’re excited to share future wedding photos. With a balanced mindset, social media can be a great tool to share moments with a larger group. 

Photography: Fenix Photography, Design, & Events LLC

Photography: Fenix Photography, Design, & Events LLC

As a wedding photographer, though, what can be problematic is when choosing vendors  shifts from Who can capture my day authentically and with a style I like? to Who is trendy or has been reposted on featured accounts and will get a lot of likes?

Consider past generations’ experiences: no app to search wedding hashtags; destination elopements, lavish estate weddings, or rooftop receptions. The quality of a photographer’s work wasn’t based on followers and likes—all that mattered was if you and your fiancé “liked” it, not thousands of others. 

Today, so  many brides immediately feel overwhelmed by a cloud of comparison when they start the wedding planning process. Naturally it’s easy to lose sight of what is truly important about the day--entering the sacramental union of marriage.

As photographers, we absolutely understand and encourage prioritizing photography for their wedding, but we also encourage couples to focus more on finding someone that is the right fit for them and your  day—and less on whose pictures are the first search result on social media. 

Do we construct our couples’ wedding timelines to allow ample time to take beautiful portraits of the two of them, including extra time at sunset? Yes! Do we make sure to get “the shot” which shows both their emotions and the scenery in such a stunning way that it makes the perfect wall canvas? Absolutely! But during an authentic interaction, the best photographers will never be so focused on the most aesthetically pleasing shot that the attention shifts to taking the picture, rather than the moment itself. 

Of course, as photographers we’re constantly moving, climbing, and laying on the ground to get the best shots, but in doing so we’ll never compromise the moment. If we see your grandmother embracing you at the water station, for instance, we are going to take the best picture, with the best angle we can, at that time. Could we interrupt and ask you both to move over to the flower covered arch and re-create the hug again to make the shot “prettier”? Yes. But we never would.

When you look back at the image years from now, we want you to remember how your grandmother pulled you close, whispered wise words about love, and clutched your wedding dress that had pieces of her own sewn into it. Even though you’ll still have posed portraits with her from earlier in the day, the water station picture is the one you will show your children and say, This was your great-grandmother.

We tell all our brides, “your wedding day is an experience, not a glorified photoshoot.” We don’t want our brides to condense one of the biggest days of their lives into a certain short window, which is why our services include all-day coverage. If we really are putting the client’s investment where our mouth is, then in order to authentically capture the day we know we must allow time for those moments to naturally happen. 

As photographers, we frequently think of ourselves as directors. We’ve developed a sense for when it’s time to give direction and when it’s time to say action and then disappear into the background. For example, if a bride chooses to do a First Look, we will do our job to ensure  the location, angle, and lighting is the best for that spot, then step back and capture the entirety of the interaction until its natural end. 

We don’t have to coach you on how to hug, smile, or cry because the only reaction we want to photograph is the one that naturally happens--which is always the most beautiful. 

Have you noticed when wedding stories make the evening news or go viral online, they almost always revolve around an intensely emotional encounter? A bride is walked down the aisle by her ailing father; a handicapped groom surprises his bride by standing for part of their first dance; a letter titled “read this on your wedding day” is given to a bride that her mother wrote years ago before passing away. The meaning of these experiences walking, dancing, and reading can’t be rehearsed for the camera. 

The sooner you choose to let go of  “the perfect wedding day,” the fewer  distractions and greater focus on prayerful growth you’ll experience during your engagement. A wedding is one day, but marriage is eternal. Whether you have your reception in a small church hall, or at the most luxurious venue, you still are experiencing the day with the same people.

You can put a price tag on almost everything associated with your wedding day, except for the priceless interactions you have with your loved ones, whether that’s a dedicated handful or a loving army. 

The day you became one in spirit with your spouse is irreplaceable. That is why we believe in moments over social media.  

About the Authors: Dayton & Maria are an (almost) husband and wife documentary photography team based in Virginia and the owners of Fenix Photography, Design, & Events LLC. Their business motto: "God writes the story; we just document it." “Moments in life are fleeting,” they share, “so it's our job to capture the most joyous ones for you to remember for the rest of your life."

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