Jenna Cole Photography-Chicago, IL » Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer

After a delicious dinner and a good night’s rest I made my way over to the salon to meet up with Dana while she got herself all prettified. I drooled all over her veil (figuratively) and whisked it away for some shots utilizing the gorgeous decor of the salon. I’m still not sure which thing I love more in this photo, the veil is to-die-for in a wedding-y way, but what I wouldn’t give to be blogging every day from the comfort of that gorgeous damask chair!

Taking pictures of dramatic and fresh eye makeup is my favorite part of the getting ready portion of the day.

Dayna is uber-crafty and the day was littered with personalized details such as these tank tops featuring her wedding date and the name of her bridesmaids.

Dayna and I drove home from the salon together and it was finally time for the best part of the day. The moment when a girl with pretty makeup and fabulous hair becomes a bride. Dayna’s hand reaching up through her mountain of a dress cracks me up every time I look at it.

This moment between moths and daughters was so touching. Blessings were given in Spanish, which meant I didn’t actually understand what was being said, but I felt the emotion in the room as it was happening. I consider myself lucky to be present for such moments.

Although it wasn’t all serious ooey-gooey stuff between these three. They’re super close and have a great time together.

My favorite shot of the bride that day.

Gift exchange!

And then it was finally time to head over to the chapel…

Not everyone looked quite ready for things to get underway though.

I love learning about and witnessing different cultural wedding traditions and the lasso used in this ceremony was particularly beautiful. It’s a tradition performed to show the love that will bind the couple together for the rest of their lives.

Did you know the first kiss in a Catholic ceremony occurs way before the recessional happens? Luckily I knew this so I was positioned to capture the big moment. Everyone in the room was beaming just like the priest you see behind them!

They made their way back down the aisle and the unavoidable receiving line began (maybe some couples like it, but I think most do it out of necessity). Future brides, would you like a quite tip? It might be a good idea to remove your veil if you are going to do a receiving line because hug after hug after hug will tug that thing right off your head!

Up next: The photographer’s favorite part of the day… the portraits!

I’m think both Dayna and I are equally excited to say that I’m done with all of her edits and ready to send off her disc. Because theirs was my first solo wedding I’ll be blogging in multiple parts because I just can’t bear to narrow things down any farther. Plus I would like to give each and every one of you who might be considering hiring me for your wedding in the future the chance to really see how I can capture your day. I hope you like what you see!

Daniel and Dayna flew me out to El Paso, TX for their spirited, beautiful wedding filled with lovely details and lots of smiles and laughter. I rode the tram up the mountain the day before the wedding and took the shot below. Isn’t El Paso gorgeous?

The details found at the rehearsal dinner had me excited to see the things Dayna had planned for the next day.

I was grateful for the chance to attend the rehearsal dinner and meet the happy couple in a low-stress situation with an air of nervous anticipation electrifying the air.

Their family welcomed me with open arms for the entire weekend (and fed me a delicious dinner that night!) and I enjoyed my time spent joking & laughing with them, and of course, taking a few (hundred) pictures in between.

Pt. II filled with Dayna getting prettified and a beautiful ceremony.

Little sister is married! Do all older siblings feel this incredulous at the thought that their younger kin are married off? Kelli Nicole, the main photographer for the day, was nice enough to let me shoot around her whenever I had the chance. Those chances didn’t come very often though because as both sister and MOHI was running around like crazy all day. I enjoyed playing “wedding coordinator” for the day, and remembered how much I love to plan things. I picked up my camera when I could, but otherwise I posed and yelled (yelled at people to get together for the photos) and re-applied my red lipstick.

They were married in the Columbia River temple in Kennewick e at 2:00 pm and then had a reception at Anthony’s in Richland. Consider this to be a little preview of the wedding day because I know that Kelli Nicole has much, much more to share! I recommend checking her blog daily until you see her teasers because I know they are going to be amazing.

The bride had an awful trial a few days before so she decided to do her own hair. She did it herself first, but it didn’t turn out the way she had hoped so a bridesmaid did it instead. It looked so classy.

I gifted her a green cloth-covered hanger for the “dress photos” because I’ve seen way too many beautiful dress shots ruined by an ugly plastic hanger.

Are you dying to know where she ordered this bouquet? Call 1-800-Jenna Cole’s Mom.

Quite possibly my favorite pair of bridal shoes ever!

Sister had Grandma crochet her a garter with a blue ribbon through it to act as her something blue. They didn’t do the garter removal during the reception but she still wore it as a surprise for the groom once they got to the hotel.

Haha, this is such a Shay face.

I adore this shot! Definitely a lucky grab. My mom worked so hard to give Shaylene the wedding of her dreams and I love the bond this photo shows.

Bridesmaid Tawnee (the one who did her hair!) holding the mirror just right so Mom can place Sister’s veil just so. Oh yeah, Mom made the veil as well!

I really recocmend bringing a full length mirror to the hotel on your wedding day! It allows the bride to sit out in the open in the light instead of cramming in the bathroom the whole time.

Shay posed for a few portraits before heading out for the first look.

Adding lipstick, powder (my powder which she accidentally took with her at the end of the night, might I add), advil and other necessities to her sparkly clutch.

LDS couples who choose to do so are married in a small room of the temple with about 40 guests, a building that does not allow photos or video of any kind, so the moment when the bride and groom emerge from the doors is full of emotion and excitement. Many of those waiting outside are getting the first glimpse of the couple as man and wife!

Their first public kiss. I was able to attend the ceremony in the temple where they kissed as well and it was incredibly sweet and touching.

The bridesmaids had birdcage veils and the flower girls had little mini ones. Are there any words for how cute this is?

Shay with the niece that considered her to be family long before the wedding ever hapened. This little girl loves Shay! When I walked up to her she toddled over to me saying “Shay? Shay?”

I hope that cake buffets take the wedding industry by storm soon. They blow sculpted fondant cakes with bows and flowers out of the water!

I just happened to be sitting in the perfect seat at the head table to grab a few of the cake cutting.

He fed her a little morsel and then kissed her. How sweet!

Then she turned around and shoved an enormous piece (as well as two of her fingers) all the way inside his mouth. It was quite funny.

As the MOH I gave myself the assignment of decorating the getaway car. We stuffed the inside with white ballons and covered the outside with oreos to give it a polka-dot look. I wanted something funny yet classy.

I did not write that, in case you were wondering. My handwriting is awful. Thanks to bridesmaid Ashley who did!

Some naughty groomsmen took things a little farther than I wanted to and sprayed shaving cream under the door handles. When my husband pulled the car around for their getaway we warned him and he ended up cleaning them out with paper towels before the couple had the chance to reach their fingers in and make a mess.

Thanks to my husband for this lovely portraits of my friend Kelli Nicole and I at the end of the night. It had been a very long day, but the couple were beaming as they left, and our bellies were full of cake, so we were happy. Beautiful wedding, happy couple, and even better, it’s all over!

Gorgeous photos from the (actual) photographer to come soon!

Jasher and my husband work together and were also roommates for a few months, so we know this couple very well. Jasher’s a great guy with a very forgiving personality. I know this because I accidentally dead bolted him out of his own apartment one night. He had to throw rocks at the window to wake me up so I could let him in. Hopefully he likes these pictures enough to call it even.

Lindsey has the best fashion sense of anyone I know (well, I might call it a tie between her and her “Irish twin” sister), and so I was very excited to see her customized Carolina Herrera dress. It started out strapless and she went through nine fittings to make it temple-ready. Nine! I barely made it through two. As I expected, her makeup, shoes, accessories, and dress were all perfection, but I think my favorite part of her look was the huge smile she displayed throughout the day.

A very big thank you to Philip Thomas for letting me act as guest/second shooter for the day. It was a little rough in the beginning, this being my first “wedding shoot” and with all of those mirrors in such a small space, but he was infinitely patient with me and more than willing to offer advice and pointers. If you’re looking for a discreet photojournalistic wedding photographer with a charming accent in southern Texas Philip is the way to go!

The day started at Lindsey’s childhood home, with the bride and her sister getting their makeup done in mom’s bathroom.

She’s pretty.

Lindsey’s baby, Coco, got a new dress just for the wedding morning. She was moping around a bit, and I think it was because she knew that her mama was going away for a few weeks. (To Aruba!)

At an LDS wedding the photos of the couple emerging from the doors married are as iconic and wonderful as the first kiss photos at other weddings. Photos aren’t allowed inside the temple so these are the very first documented moments as man and wife.

Beaming!

I know and love every single one of these girls. And freely admit to feeling a little bit dowdy when we all get together because they all look t his fantastic every single time they leave the house. Actually, I would bet they all look this fantastic while lounging around the house as well. And don’t even get me started on what their combined shoe collection would look like. Utopia.

Between the temple and the reception there was a nice break several hours long. We all snacked, laughed, and took a few quiet moments before the party began. Though the day was a little bit longer overall, I think the two of them really appreciated having a moment to breathe in the middle of their celebrating.

The Father of the Bride’s toast was hort. Like just a few sentences short. But I love this knowing look exchanged between sisters that says “Yeah, this is exactly what I thought would happen.”

THAT SHOT!

It’s grainy, I know, but look at the expression on her father’s face. This is his youngest daughter and it’s obvious he adores her.

And I also for some reason love the framing with the disco ball and the DJ in a tux and bowtie in the background.

“Throw your hands up and shout!”

“And also, throw your stuffed giraffe in the air.” What the?

Jasher and Lindsey, I love you guys. Thanks for inviting us down to San Antonio to spend the weekend with you. The river walk was lovely, the temple was perfect, and my back ached for days after all the dancing I did at your amazing reception. I’m looking forward to the many dinner parties and game nights I expect to have with you in the future!

Best,

Jenna

Fabulous. Stunning. Gorgeous. Inviting. Perfectly Executed. Between Michelle’s eye for detail and her coordinator Becky’s (of Stress Free Events) organization the event was flawless.

The couple floated into the reception on cloud nine.

They got started with the toasts while first and second course were served.

The Father of the Bride revealed a few secrets about the bride which were a surprise to everyone there, even the groom!

There were a few sweet tears to be seen as well.

Whenever the best man said “Hot Tub” in his toast, the bride did this. I have no idea.

Photobooth! Yeah, I visited no less than three times, twice all by myself. (Again future clients, I was a guest at this event, not the photographer. Don’t think I’ll be hogging your booth on your big day!)

The bride and her little sister.

I always love pictures of guests showing off their photobooth strips.

Michelle is a girl after my own heart, I always lick the knife after I cut the cake.

This was as close as they got to a cake-in-the-face smash.

Details, details, details!

THAT SHOT!

It’s the dress off the shoulder that does it for me.

Those flip-flops were getting in her way.

Once the first dance was done it was time to get down!

So many things happening in this photo. The bride on stage singing along with the band. The MOH in the left corner completely in the moment. Love.

Every time I look at this photo I laugh out loud. Look at the woman second from the left, she SOO wants that bouquet!

I’d faint over those gams too.

Compared to the enthuisasm seen in the bouquet toss shot the boys are sorely lacking. I had a secret crush on the Zac Efron look-a-like catching the garter on his toe.

And it was back to the dancing again!

All too soon it was the last dance, and the bride and groom gave it everything they had.

As they drove away at the end of the night Patrick pulled a “Look Ma, no hands!” move.

2nd favorite shot of the night. So glad you didn’t end up falling out Michelle, but a little bit of danger and fear made for a great shot for me.

Michelle and Patrick, thank you for letting me come down and enjoy your wedding. You were wonderful hosts and I had an absolute blast. I hope this isn’t the last we see of each other!

Best,

Jenna