Lauren & Isaiah's A.M. I Do's

Married In The Morning

Picture this: you want a big wedding, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg, and you love all things brunch related. Think you can't have it all? You'd be wrong, and Lauren and Isaiah's wedding is your proof! On October 22, 2023 at Davis & Grey Farms in Celeste, TX, they got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at 11:00 am surrounded by friends and family, and followed by a reception complete with a delicious breakfast buffet.

You may know most wedding venues offer discounts to couples getting married on Friday or Sunday, but did you know they also offer discounts if you have an earlier wedding? This is an ingenious way to not only save some money, but also gives you some time at the end of the day to spend with family, travel home, and decompress with your new spouse. Below is a peek inside the Tacketts' early morning wedding, what made it special, and how it may be the start of a new trend.

I, with my husband as my second shooter, arrived at Davis & Grey at 9:00 am to start capturing detail shots of the venue, ceremony and reception spaces, and the bride's day of essentials. Lauren went with a vibrant fall color palette of burnt orange, red, dusty rose, cream, and gold, and a clean, minimalistic look for her reception space full of candles, gorgeous tableware, and greenery. Other details included a table to honor family members, wooden hearts for guests to sign as the guestbook, and my favorite, glass mugs with coffee grounds for wedding favors.

Next, were getting ready shots, first of the ladies in the upstairs loft, featuring the Tease To Please hair and makeup team, then the guys in the detached groom suite next door. I love to get a combination of candid, behind the scenes photos of the process, and posed shots with the bride and groom with their family and bridal party, but my primary focus is capturing moments that the bride can't see and emotions they may not remember. As any post-wedding bride can tell you, your big day often feels like it goes by in a blur, so while these may not feel like the most important memories to recall, I think getting ready photos are a must. They not only document the time and energy you put into planning and preparing, but help you to remember the more intimate interactions you have with your closest friends, and the mindset you went into your wedding day with.

Breakfast, But Make It Bridal

Going all out on their brunch theme, our bride and groom provided a mimosa bar, donuts, a coffee cart delivered by Moliendo Coffee Co., and a breakfast buffet serving maple glazed bacon, parfaits, cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, pigs in a blanket, and fresh fruit. As breakfast enthusiasts ourselves, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and my husband gave the coffee cart his stamp of approval. Other popular breakfast menu items I've seen at weddings include: omelette bars, bagels, and my favorite, waffle bars.

Does The Early Bird Get The Ring?

While early morning weddings are definitely not for everyone, and might've challenged me as a night owl, it offered so many benefits, I can see this being normalized in the future! If you're considering it for yourself, here are my list of pros and cons as a wedding photographer:

Early or late, big or small, breakfast or dinner, ultimately, the best thing you can do when planning your wedding, is do what is best for you! You will always be able to find vendors who will accommodate and guests who will attend no matter the circumstances, so however normal or bizarre, follow your vision, because your big day is just that: yours!