Lauren & Dylan
Lauren and I meet in July of 2020 and we instantly connected, we both are intentional with a lot of ways we live our lifes. Lauren originally had planned on an elopement in Italy, however Covid had other plans. Lauren and Dylan decided to have their wedding state side at the Cloister at Sea Island. The Cloister provided a dreamy backdrop for their romantic and timeless wedding. From the Louboutin shoes that Lauren gifted Dylan, to the bagpiper that lead the wedding party and guests to the cocktail hour, their day was nothing short of perfect.
Lauren searched endlessly for a Wedding dress that matched her dream. She was able to build a custom Pnina dress, and Dylan surprised her with the custom veil. I love being able to capture bride and grooms open gifts. There is a raw sense of emotion that you are able to capture.
Lauren really wanted to make sure that her mother and Gammy were pictured throughout the day. Both of these women were extremely important in Lauren’s development into the person she is today. Just like in first dances, I find so much joy in being able to capture the emotions from different family members. I will never forget how excited Gammy was to see Lauren in her wedding dress. When we took Lauren’s Bridals just a couple months before, she was able to show off her dress to Gammy and her grandfather (who was unable to attend due to some health concerns). Even though Gammy had seen Lauren in her dress before this moment, you can see how proud she is of Lauren and the love that the two of them share.
Would you believe me if I told you that Dylan used to be a model? Well he was. I quickly realized this when I photographed the couple’s shower earlier in the year. Dylan had an early teenage modeling career, which you can obviously tell by his poses. Rich was my second shooter for Lauren and Dylan’s wedding, and I Rich really enjoys getting to become friends with the groom and groomsmen. I love being able to trust Rich to run off and grab some candid shots of the groom and wedding party. Rich has a very creative side, and I love being able to see that part of him, especially when I am going through the photos he takes. This sunroom at the Cloister was the perfect space to grab photos of Dylan before the ceremony.
Pretty much all moments of Lauren and Dylan’s wedding were spectacular. They had the most unbelievable dinner. Rich and I still talk about it to this day. One of the highlights of their big day was being lead into their cocktail hour with bagpipes. This was a traditional tribute to Dylan’s heritage. Most people know how much I love tradition and tributes, so of course I freaked out when I saw the bagpipe player and the first note being played. The sound of the bagpipe, an amazing newly wed couple, and the backdrop of Sea Island was a moment that I will never forget. I was overwhelmed by happiness for Lauren and Dylan during this moment.
Traditions are huge for me. I am a very traditional person. If you even come into my home, you can see a lot of my larger pieces of furniture are traditional pieces, but with modern and contemporary elements. Lauren was very adamant on wanting the first time for Dylan to see her was when she walked down the aisle. As a photographer, I understand the importance of a first look and love to capture those sweet and intimate moments, but I also get the bride that wants to have that moment while she is walking down the aisle. I was that bride. The first time that Rich saw me walking down the aisle was the first time he had seen me that day and in a wedding dress. A moment that I will always cherish. Always, Lauren had a secret. Her Pnina dress had a removable skirt, and she wanted to show Dylan during their portraits after the ceremony! Rich quickly distracted Dylan as we slipped Lauren out of the skirt, and set Dylan up for the “first look”. He was so surprised to see Lauren standing there in what looked like a totally different dress. Just because you do not want a first look and you want the more traditional route, doesn’t mean that you have to settle for something that isn’t fun or different.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you Lauren & Dylan for having Rich and I photograph your wedding. The two of you have become such great friends of ours, and we cannot wait to photography all your big events in life to come.