As we get into engagement season, I wanted to take a look back at a wedding that happened a couple of years ago. Why is it important? Because it answers the question:
Why should you hire a professional photographer?
Jason and Lauren’s wedding took place in the middle of hurricane season in Maryland. The night before the wedding, a large Derecho wind storm knocked out all of the power in the area of Severna Park – including Lauren’s home, where everyone was getting ready, as well as the church. It was a hot, humid summer day, of course, so the stress level was already running high for everyone. And to top it off the church had a black ceiling, dark brick walls and a dark floor and of course – NO WINDOWS in the sanctuary. None.
Thankfully, I always carry a set of wireless battery-powered lights with me. Having those lights and the experience of knowing were to set them up and how to configure the power settings with literally no time to do any light tests was the only thing that allowed me to get pictures of the ceremony even though it was so dark the guests couldn’t even read their programs. I cannot over stress the importance of hiring a professional photographer who has the experience to know what to do in challenging situations, because you never know when you’ll need it!
Lauren describes her day below.
What will you remember most about your wedding day?
The night before the wedding we had a major storm that knocked out power in most of our town. The power remained out on our wedding day too…including the church where we were married. It was also extremely hot that day. We got married in the heat and the dark by candle and lamplight. Luckily, the reception venue still had power. We were all very happy to get into the AC!
Another highlight was the photo booth that Robin set up at the reception. It was so much fun and my guests got a huge kick out of it. They loved taking cute and wacky photos, and they came out great!
Favorite wedding photo and why:
It’s hard to pick one because there were so many great shots. Robin did an amazing job of capturing the ceremony even though it was incredibly dark inside the church. I think my favorite church pic is the one of my Dad and me entering the church and walking down the isle.
What was the most stressful thing about planning your wedding?
I was lucky to have over a year to plan so it was pretty low-stress (until the day-of, that is)! If I had to pick one thing, I would say selecting the bridesmaid dresses. I wanted everyone to be happy and I didn’t want them to have to spend a ton. It was not an easy process.
And the most enjoyable part of planning?
In general, I like picking things out (I really enjoyed trying on wedding gowns)! And I was so pleased to have Robin as my photographer. Once I met her and saw her work, I knew she was the one! Our engagement photos were also gorgeous. Aside from our wedding day, I will always remember our engagement shoot day because it was truly a beautiful experience.
If you were able to do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
Yes, I would not allow my guests to make requests of the DJ. We hand-picked all of our music and missed out on hearing some of our favorite songs because some guests were choosing really weird music to be played.
Any words of wisdom for brides who are currently planning their day?
I know everyone says this, but it goes by in a flash. It’s easy now to say “try not to stress” but really, I wish I could have been more relaxed on the big day. The power-outage didn’t help because it caused things not to be “perfect” as we planned. However, we have a great story because of it, and none of our family or friends will forget our wedding. Things will go wrong…just focus on the amazing and most important moment you are experiencing, and cherish being surrounded by everyone who loves you.
Wedding location:
Ceremony: St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park
Reception: Marriott Annapolis Waterfront
Bridal Shop: Annapolis Formal and Tuxedos (note from the bride: “They are awesome”)
Dress Designer: Paloma Blanca
Hair Stylist: Image Creators Severna Park
Invitations & Stationery: The Paper Trousseau
Flowers: Severna Flowers and Gifts
Cake: Annette’s Cakery
Honeymoon: Valentin Imperial Maya, Riviera Maya, Mexico
