Emily and Zach's Wedding at the McKinney Cotton Mill

Emily and Zach's wedding at the McKinney Cotton Mill was fantastic. The details like the décor, cupcake cakes, and even the shades supplied for the bridal party all defined them very well. The wedding showed a playful mood, yet held serious and sentimental tones at the right times. Here is a collection of images from their special day:

Sarah, whom you may recognize from her wedding last year, was Emily's maid-of-honor. They got ready at a hotel not too far from the venue itself:

Zach and the guys got dressed at the Westin Stonebriar Resort in Frisco, where the newly weds stayed after the wedding:

While Rochelle stayed with the girls, I stayed with the guys, and we got our share of details:

The girls wait the lobby before heading out to the cotton mill:

Emily eagerly puts her dress into the truck:

At this point, the guys were nearly done at the hotel, and they try on the shades:

Zach gave each groomsman a personalized flask, which I thought was nice:

Emily and her helpers tend to the dress while getting ready at the cottonmill:

When both parties arrived, I spent the time taking speedy portraits, since I didn't want them exhausted before the start of the ceremony:

Boutonnières were pinned onto the men, and boy, too:

Here are some shots of the reception, which displays a quaint, western theme:

In the final moments before ceremony, the marriage license is signed by the officiant, Emily peeks at guests filing in and signing the guestbook, and Trevor fills in the background on keyboards:

Emily sheds a few tears and peeks around the corner before heading down the aisle:

At the front, Emily is given away, as Zach joins hands with his wife-to-be:

A shot of the nice, open sky backdrop on a Summer Saturday:

Prayers have been said, the verses read, and vows exchanged -- now comes the ring fitting and kiss:

Emily and Zach leave the ceremony as husband and wife:

The bridal party retreated to the office of the cottonmill to cool down and relax before taking some more photos:

We went back out to the ceremony site, which was cleared by now, and took the last bit of formals:

The bride stands out just a bit:

Emily and Zach make their entrance into their reception together, as one:

After guests have settled in and mingled for a bit, the formalities of the wedding called them to the cupcake table, where Zach smooched her with one:

Then re-located to a spot near the DJ, Melody Gualtiere (whom I must say was exceptional), as Cody and Sarah gave their heartwarming speeches:

It was time for Emily and Zach to open up the dance floor with their first dance, followed by their parents:

A few of the details we caught throughout the wedding:

While the dancing was well underway, a brief period was set aside for the planned-results of the bouquet and garter toss:

And then back to dancing (and singing), incited by Journey's "Don't Stop Believing":

All things must come to an end, and when it did, they had these three-feet-long sparklers make their pathway to the end:

Emily, Zach, and everyone involved, thank you all very much for helping, smiling, and doing everything in-between to make the day a memorable one. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson!

Rasy Ran Photography

Beth and Michael's Fort Worth Wedding

Beth and Michael's Fort Worth wedding was a special one. Hosting it at the YWCA filled with close friends and families made it all the better. She was one of my mentors at The Shorthorn, the college newspaper which influenced the journalistic style I shoot with presently, so I looked forward to their day almost as much as they did.

I started photographing Beth and her bridesmaids at ULTA in Ft. Worth at their studio setup in the back:

Denise, her maid-of-honor, gets make-up applied before heading to the YWCA:

A pair of heels Beth brought:

As dog treats were set out in front of the reception area for guests to take home, Beth snacked on the human kind:

Down the street at the Embassy Suites where the men are getting ready, Michael has to use the lobby computer to print out wedding vows - a minor emergency:

Beth gets some assistance with her hairdo:

Then adjusts in the final tweaking stages:

With time to spare, we made portraits of her, and the two together - still can't see each other just yet!:

By this time, the sun was shining immensely through the reception area, and I wanted to photograph their cake back-lit by it:

Friends and family await the descent of Beth and her father as the ceremony is set, as they wait atop the stairs:

Then make their walk together down the aisle:

For the ones who couldn't make it to their special day, a rose and card occupied a few seats up front:

The ceremony was simple, sweet, and short:

Post-ceremony, Beth embraces her brother, whom she said she thought wouldn't show, but did. A very touching moment:

The newly weds are announced in, and make their way into the reception area:

Many hugs and kisses were given:

Food was collected onto plates, and tacos were toasted with (a regular occurrence that happens between the Michael and Beth whenever they have them, I learned):

Beth's father gave the only speech, detailing them as a couple, their history, and how their personalities worked together:

After the speech, Michael and Beth whisked themselves away to the cake table, where it was time to make the cut:

Then back to the dance floor, to have Beth's story of the couple read by the DJ, and open it up with their first dance:

The DJ had all married couples early on the floor and played the game where each couple is increasingly called out by the length of their marriage, until one remains -- 36 years!:

There was lots, and lots of dancing:

Then paused a brief moment for the bouquet toss:

And resumed dancing the night away:

Beth, Michael, and everyone involved, I cannot thank y'all enough. It was a pleasure to meet old faces and greet new ones. I wish you guys the best, and enjoy the married life, Curries!

Rasy Ran Photography