Now, this wedding of course holds an incredibly special place in my heart. I’ve known Alyssa since we were fifteen, when Ryan and I first started dating. She happens to be Ryan’s sister, and we’ve been calling each other sister for probably ten years now. When my sweet sister-in-law met Gus I could tell something was special between them. I remember exactly what I was doing when I got the text with a picture of her left hand wearing an engagement ring. I’m certain I squealed out loud.
The wedding was planned for just six months away, during the first weekend of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. Family came in from all over to celebrate Alyssa and Gus getting married and to watch the balloons float over the city by the hundreds. I agreed to be a bridesmaid AND the photographer. Because yes, I’m mildly crazy, but I wanted to be able to give them the gift of beautiful pictures to remember their day. And who better to capture it all but the sister-in-law who has known the bride for eleven going on twelve years? I brought the amazing Kama as my second shooter and had the best time both recording the day and enjoying it with family.
Alyssa wore the most beautiful handmade veil that stole the show, and a necklace that she made herself to match her opal engagement ring. (She happens to be a very talented jewelry designer with an Etsy shop, btw.) She also made single-pendant purple jewel necklaces for all the bridesmaids. The girls wore all different styled dresses in the same plum color, and the groom and groomsmen were decked out in gray suits. We had hair and makeup done by Hair by K-Liz. Everyone looked amazing.
The ceremony took place at the University of New Mexico Alumni Chapel in Albuquerque. Fun fact: this is where my parents got married too! The UNM campus is the perfect location for photos. As we exited the church the sun was just starting to dip down into the trees giving us the most beautiful golden glow. I made my way with the newlyweds to the iconic duck pond nearby for some of their portraits and, for lack of a better term, it was picture perfect.
Finally, we rushed over to the Championship Golf Course at UNM for the reception and caught some last-minute shots in front of the desert sunset. It was so perfectly New Mexico.
It’s been a while since I’ve been at a wedding reception where I’ve actually known the majority of the people present. I danced around with my camera and tried not to cry as the speeches were made. When we sent the happy couple off with sparklers I screamed the loudest, pretty sure.
Now Alyssa and Gus are preparing to move to Phoenix to really start life as newlyweds with a fresh look. I cannot wait to escape the Seattle rain to visit them. In the meantime, all my love from afar, you two!
xoxo
Now, this wedding of course holds an incredibly special place in my heart. I’ve known Alyssa since we were fifteen, when Ryan and I first started dating. She happens to be Ryan’s sister, and we’ve been calling each other sister for probably ten years now. When my sweet sister-in-law met Gus I could tell something was special between them. I remember exactly what I was doing when I got the text with a picture of her left hand wearing an engagement ring. I’m certain I squealed out loud.
The wedding was planned for just six months away, during the first weekend of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. Family came in from all over to celebrate Alyssa and Gus getting married and to watch the balloons float over the city by the hundreds. I agreed to be a bridesmaid AND the photographer. Because yes, I’m mildly crazy, but I wanted to be able to give them the gift of beautiful pictures to remember their day. And who better to capture it all but the sister-in-law who has known the bride for eleven going on twelve years? I brought the amazing Kama as my second shooter and had the best time both recording the day and enjoying it with family.
Alyssa wore the most beautiful handmade veil that stole the show, and a necklace that she made herself to match her opal engagement ring. (She happens to be a very talented jewelry designer with an Etsy shop, btw.) She also made single-pendant purple jewel necklaces for all the bridesmaids. The girls wore all different styled dresses in the same plum color, and the groom and groomsmen were decked out in gray suits. We had hair and makeup done by Hair by K-Liz. Everyone looked amazing.
The ceremony took place at the University of New Mexico Alumni Chapel in Albuquerque. Fun fact: this is where my parents got married too! The UNM campus is the perfect location for photos. As we exited the church the sun was just starting to dip down into the trees giving us the most beautiful golden glow. I made my way with the newlyweds to the iconic duck pond nearby for some of their portraits and, for lack of a better term, it was picture perfect.
Finally, we rushed over to the Championship Golf Course at UNM for the reception and caught some last-minute shots in front of the desert sunset. It was so perfectly New Mexico.
It’s been a while since I’ve been at a wedding reception where I’ve actually known the majority of the people present. I danced around with my camera and tried not to cry as the speeches were made. When we sent the happy couple off with sparklers I screamed the loudest, pretty sure.
Now Alyssa and Gus are preparing to move to Phoenix to really start life as newlyweds with a fresh look. I cannot wait to escape the Seattle rain to visit them. In the meantime, all my love from afar, you two!
xoxo