Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer

Making friends with our brides and grooms is definitely one of my favorite perks of the job. We’ve known Michelle and J’Max for about a year now and can testify to their great taste in pizza, friends (clearly..) and each other. ;) Dylan and I were so grateful to be able to capture their long-awaited wedding day on New Year’s Eve and are pretty proud and excited about these images! M & J – We love you. No, really. We love you… And we THANK YOU for the opportunity to document your new beginning. We are pumped to see the life God has for you, together, to unfold. AND, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek!! XOXO!! :)

A little hint of New Year’s Eve decor, and the most gorgeous Vera Wang gown for the most gorgeous bride.

It was love at first sight for these Carlos Santana’s. Every girl loves her sparkle! Michelle… I hope you know how beautiful you are. (Shout out to the lovely ladies of Blush & Co.!) LOVE how simplistic the florals were. Simple makes for lovely. Thanks to FiftyFlowers.com and the bride herself!
Not going to lie.. I kinda want to make this picture on the left my OWN profile picture. ;) Such a sweet and fun group of girls. Thank you for everything, ladies!! The gentlemen were looking extra sharp that day. Also… I could have shot in this light foreverrr. J’Max is by far one of the most personable, friendly guys we know. And I think it shows on the bottom right. :) The groomsmen gifts were definitely befitting for a New Year’s Eve wedding. And waaay dapper. After first shooting the girls and then the guys, it was time for the first look! Michelle and J’Max were actually the couple I wrote about in THIS post on why I believe a first look is the BEST choice a bride and groom can make for their wedding. I’m glad I could convince them. Because it got me this sweet shot. :) Planning for a first look within M and J’s wedding day timeline allowed for the following series of portraits to be shot in natural light. With their ceremony starting at 7:30PM, it was definitely the way to go! Plus, I’m kinda’ giddy about them… I. Cannot. Take. The. Fierceness. AND! Many thanks goes out to POP Video, for being so easy to work with and capturing the fierceness right alongside us! We can’t WAIT to see your marvelous work!! J’Max sure knows how to turn on the GQ-smolder just like THAT. Have I mentioned that I love Crystal Springs? If one thing is true, we did not want for beautiful scenery. Give it up for the most punctual and well-dressed wedding party EVER! ALSO – do you SEE that adorable 2012 top-hat? Michelle went all out. ;) Upon arrival, guests were greeted by the most fabulous display of old clocks alongside M and J’s guestbook. Oh, and I swear I asked Dylan what time it was about three times before realizing I could look in ANY direction and find out for myself. ;) A ribbon backdrop for the altar, and one breath-taking Michelle, flashing us a smile.
The image on the right? I think J’Max was happy or something… ;) My favorite part about a wedding ceremony is right after the vows have been made. No one really celebrates until the pronouncement of “husband and wife” or the kiss… But after those vows? That’s it! You’re MARRIED!!! BAM. This setup… The tables, the chairs, the centerpieces with baby’s breath and clocks and gold-colored ornaments. It was all too perfect. Special thanks to All Star Catering as well. The food was DE-LISH. You know what they say.. Ranunculus are a girl’s best friend. Unless those aren’t ranunculus. :) Guests absolutely ate up these photo booth props. And I assure you, there was glitter everywheeere. Frost Bake Shoppe changed my life with these cupcakes. Tastes like MORE. Time for the first dance. These two spared no fancy-ness with their moves! Also, a big shout out to our DJ friends at Rock N’ Robin. It’s moments like these that validate why I do what I do. You can read the emotion so clearly. Just LOVE these two!!

Happy Friday!! Leave Michelle and J’Max some love and congratulations! :)

I feel like I’ve been holding onto this little gem for FOREVER. Sara and Robert’s December 10th wedding was held at the Giddings Stone Mansion in Brenham, TX – and I barely have words to describe its beauty. So, there are – well – a LOT of pictures. ;) This bride left no detail untouched. And the anticipation with which this day has been so long-awaited was so completely exciting and joyful and just plain fun. I was SO blessed to capture it. S & R – Thank you for trusting me with your wedding day images! I hope you love browsing through your sneak peek as much as I did prepping this post! :) XOXO!!

Sara’s Alvina Valenta gown was easily one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen.

The shoes! Oh, the shoes. These lovelies are by Badgley Mischka.

The glowing bride. Sara. You are breathtaking.

Love and thanks go to Misty with The Perfect Face! Writing a love letter to her future-husband. :) Missy Robinson of MooseFeathers Florist is brilliant beyond measure. Look at Sara’s fabulous bouquet!  These girls were such fun to work with! Robert, the dashing groom, prepping for the camera. ;) Sara and Robert and I worked out a wedding timeline that allowed for all portraits to be taken prior to the ceremony! This timeline included this most romantic first look. To read more about our timeline/first look suggestions, click HERE and HERE.  I loved how Sara snuck up on him in the picture on the left… Quite possibly one of my new favorite images ever. They look so… Happy. Oh, they made my job waaay too easy. By (1) being fabulous and (2) being themselves. Which I suppose are one in the same. I could have shot under this tree for the rest of my life. Totally stoked about this composition. And this beautiful wedding party. Two pretty little ballerina flower girls, and the ceremony site on the right. These hanging globes of awesomeness were handmade by Sara! Wedding time… (A major shout-out to the Brittan Pittman videography team, who was such a pleasure working with!)
Did I mention how absolutely perfect the light was that day? I was in photographer-heaven. Man and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer!!
Congratulatory hugs are some of my favorite moments to capture. :)
Inside the mansion were room after room of stunning place settings and florals. Many thanks to Judy Martin of Martin Farms Catering. The food was de-lish! Cuh-lassy. It’s all I can say about this entire day. Have you ever seen such a beautiful cake and dessert display? Haley Glasco Ogle of The Muffin Top did the most outstanding job! The toasts were also a hit. Sara’s sister Haley gave the biggest tear-inducing speech ever written. Clearly. :) One final thank you to the South Texas Jazz Band. If you’re researching music for YOUR wedding, seriously… Look no further!

Happy Thursday! Which image is your favorite?