Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer

Not gonna lie.. The weeks leading up to our wedding were pure chaos. I went to bed every night with a knot in my stomach, and woke up just the same. There were seating assignments to be adjusted for the 17th time, last-minute hotel arrangements to be confirmed for out of town-ers, and bags to be packed for our move to Houston immediately afterwards. But on the morning of June 13th, before my phone’s terribly obnoxious alarm had a shot at blasting me awake, I opened my eyes and realized that for the first time in a while, I felt pure peace. The house was eerily silent, as everyone else was already prepping at the ceremony site. But it was a peaceful eerie. A beautiful eerie. Today was the day when leftover plans no longer mattered. I’d marry my favorite person in the world. And all my second-favorites would be there to celebrate with us…

It’s been 95 days since June 13th. AKA, about time I share the pictures that allow us to relive the most important day in our lives over and over again. Now, many of you may have already seen some of these on our photographer’s blog, but our sweet Mabyn has been kind enough to allow me to re-blog all of those moments and more. So, if you are a bride in the upstate/central NY area(s), let me give you 53 reasons to hire Mabyn Ludke as your photographer. Without further ado, our most favorite images! :)

I was SO in love with my Colibri dress by Cymbeline. A French girl’s gotta have a French dress. Oui, oui.

Love this diptych of all my sisters. :) I asked our dearest friend Lizzie Adams to pray with us right before the ceremony. Love this moment Mabyn captured! Sneaking up behind Dylan for our ‘First Look.’ (“I hope he likes my dress, I hope he likes my dress, I hope he likes my dress.”)
I guess he liked my dress after all. ;) Just had to include this one on the right. Double teeth check in full effect. Dad being all dramatic pre-ceremony. ;) Waiting to walk down the aisle… Hands down one of my most beloved shots of the day. Such a simple image, yet so encompassing of all the emotion and excitement of that exact moment. So many thanks to Brent Ridge and Josh Purcell for letting me get married at my dream “venue.” The Beekman Mansion. Fact: Brent, Josh and the Beekman star in their very own reality show on Planet Green. Check out “The Fabulous Beekman Boys” HERE. No words can properly express the love and appreciation we have for Dave and Diane Digges, our pre-marital counselors and friends. :) Communion posed a slight issue for me.. I ripped off a hunk of bread far larger than I could reasonably chew and swallow. Typical me.. This is after washing it down with the wine we surprisingly didn’t spill all over ourselves. We really do have the best parents. :) BAM. Married. Absolutely mind-blowing. One big happy family. All Morrissey’s here, ya’ll. Studliness abounds. This one makes me laugh every time. :) Behind us lay William Beekman himself. Kinda creepy. Kinda awesome. The Mansion had no lack of PERFECT shooting locations. How sweet are those chairs? And that chandelier? This might just be my favorite shot of all time, and I know I say that a lot, but really. Really, really. When Dylan’s sister saw this image, she made a very good point about why I love it so much. “Pretty much explains your relationship.” So true. Dylan’s an expert dress holder, purse holder, lens holder. You name it! ;)
Floral by Hannah Crosby. This girl is a MASTERMIND at her trade. Repeat after me, class: Mabyn as your photog. Hannah for your flowers. On a side note, a ginormous thanks goes out to all my buff uncles and cousins who transported countless pieces of furniture from our house to the Beekman so the crazy vision in my head could come to life! It pains me so that I never got to taste the scrumptiousness in the right image. Tell me, where they great? Details, details everywhere. :) Our hard work paid off, and here’s the proof! I’m pretty sure Dylan thinks I’m funny. My new brother Cal delivered the most hysterical best-man’s speech EV-AH. I can’t tell you how many people told me afterward, “He should give best-man speeches for a living…”
Way back when, I began a tradition of toasting to my brother Cam on whatever occasion presents itself. Christmas, Groundhog Day, even my half-birthday. For 8 months, I told Cam we’d be toasting to him at the wedding. He thought I was joking.. Until Lorae ended her speech with “To Cam!” Needless to say, guests were likely confused. :)
Sweetness, picturafied. Yes. I just went there.

And that is our wedding. :) Happy Thursday!