L & J – It was such a joy capturing your beautiful day. The love you both share for one another is so evident and sweet. Thank you for the honor of documenting that love. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek! :)

You can never go wrong with a beautiful dress in a beautiful tree. Word.

I could have shot in the Andela’s living room my whole life looong! So much character!Perhaps a new favorite ring shot?Dear Lisa, even when you’re out of focus, you’re drop dead gorgeous.Love, love, LOVE this moment between Lisa and her aunt, with mini-Lisa capturing it from a different angle.Wildflowers = Bomb.Dear grooms of the future, bow-ties done right are saaa-weet!! Do it up!Meet Jonathan. His face says it all. “There she is..”And BAM. Married. :)Lisa and Jonathan were a dream come true when it came to their wedding day timeline. Not only did the 2.5 hours between the ceremony and reception leave me ample time to complete formals, wedding party, and B&G shots. But it also allowed time for my car to completely shut off while driving. See the backstory here. ;)The folks at Villa Isidoro were kind enough to let us shoot there for a bit.FAVORITE from the entire day. Beauty-LICIOUS.Work it, Jonathan! WORK IT. ;)Doesn’t this remind you of a cute little gingerbread house?I always love watching the way a groom holds his new bride on the dance floor. I think he loves her. :) Happy Thursday!

Pete and Niki’s wedding day was full of these little moments. On more than one occasion, they caused me to step back and reflect on what this day truly meant. “But Alyse, shouldn’t that be obvious to you by now?” Perhaps.. But shooting was different for me this time around. It was different because for the first time, I knew what it felt like. The anticipation. The joy. The “YES! He’s ALL mine!” So consider this a shout out to my husband. For marrying me and thereby making me a better photographer. ;)

As for Pete and Niki – Thank you! I cannot say enough how honored I am to have documented such a sweet and important day in your lives. Thank you for your trust, your fabulous taste in every wedding detail imaginable, and for being so gosh darn beautiful together. XOXO!!

Fun little fact: I almost wore this J.Crew dress for my own wedding. :)

Niki’s aunt totally rocked OUT her hair.
Lipgloss ad, anyone? Meet Brooke Fraser‘s twin sister, Dana. Absolutely beautiful in every way.

And the sweetest flower girl ever, Miss Sadie. Niki, you are exquisite. Love this sequence of the groom and his future brother primping a bit before the ceremony. Every piece of this wedding was J.Crew. Hence, the vest and tie below. Stay classy, Pete. Niki’s bouquet was in-SANE. Special thanks to Rockcastle Florist.
Sweetest moment of the day. I sure remember what this feels like. :) When Niki and Pete stole a glance at each other during the opening prayer, my heart melted. The two also shared communion together. Sweet, sweet, sweet! Pete’s father performed the ceremony. Just look at him. I think he’s happy or something. :)  My favorite kind of exit. :) Details all around make me a happy girl. :)And black diamonds might just be a girl’s best friend. Thank da’ LORD for warm, buttery light in the middle of the forest. I’ve been staring at this picture for about 10 minutes, wracking my brain for synonyms of “beautiful,” “stunning,” “ow owww.” But alas, I cannot think of any. LOVE this diptych. This? Or this? I call it, “Best Friends.” Caught this little one on the porch. Just precious, isn’t she? Pete’s older brother Joe gave one of the BEST best man speeches I’ve ever heard. And believe you me, I’ve been to a wedding or two.  Niki and her dad, groovin’ to it! These moments are what make me love my job most. I can honestly understand the confusion in the picture on the left. Where, oh where are you supposed to cut a cake worth hundreds of dollars?? Conundrum, indeed. I leave you with Niki, tearing it up and looking fabulous. :)

Happy Thursday!

But on Ryan and Molly‘s wedding day, something else became so apparent. This day was so much less about a champagne colored dress, calla lilies, or tea lights. And so much more about Molly spending her life with her best friend.

Wellman’s: It was an absolute honor to photograph this most important day in your lives. No blog post could quite accurately express how joyful we are that you’re so happily promised to each other. We love you!!

Molly’s shoes were to DIE for.

This girl oozes beauty. Am I right?

Ryan’s face is always so expressive. It says: Pure. Joy.

As Molly walked herself down the aisle, Ryan met her halfway. For a second I was about to be all, “Ryan! That’s not how it goes!!” But when I realized what was happening, I cried. Duh. :)

Molly’s singer/songwriter sister performed the most beautifully raw and meaningful song. This is the couple’s reaction.

Again, Ryan with his face. :)

Making it Oh-FISH!!

Before the rains came, we were able to sweep Ryan and Molly away for some fun. As you can see, I mean FUN.

Synonyms of RAWR anyone?

Let me be blunt. Molly, you are STUNNING.

My absolute favorite from their day!

The first dance of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Wellman. I’m so thankful my friends are so happy. :)

Just about the only instance I was thankful for a guest’s camera flash. Ryan’s brother, tearin’ it up!

And the party continues!

To see a few more of the Wellman wedding, visit my second-shooter Stephanie Hart’s blog!

Mama’s missed you so!! You’ve been neglected for far, far too long. But I’ll be making it up to you in BIG ways these next couple of weeks. I’ve got two weddings, a honeymoon, and a new home to cover! And for today, a scrumptious little day-after session with none other than the Jause’s!

Day-after sessions are my FAVEEE-orite! Being the smartypantses that they are, Bekah and Jonny booked their session because they knew their wedding day timeline would be pretty tight. And fo’real? Who doesn’t like more pictures?! So on a Sunday just as loverly, Dylan and I spent three unrushed and fancy-free hours documenting the love and hottness that is Jonny and Bekah. And watch out world.. There IS hottness.

To our sweet friends: You are a joy to shoot, know and love! Thank you for letting us in on your life together! And thank you for the chocolate chip cookies. If my memory serves me correctly, they were gone by the time we got home. Which of course, shouldn’t be that hard to believe. :)

We all ventured back to the Hall of Springs for the afternoon. Seriously, how can you go wrong with Saratoga? Or Bekah and Jonny for that matter?

I just love seeing clients’ reactions to their photographer laying on the dirt, bug and whatever else-infested ground to get that one shot. This is after telling them they’d better look serious for this one! ;)

Bah’s glorious attempt to toss her train in the air so it would catch the wind. :) Couldn’t decide between these next two. You pick!

To the Jonny, Bekah, and yummy bokeh below. RAWR.

Bekah, you are beauty defined. I can’t get over you! Sorta like Jonny in that way. :)

“Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got. I’m still, I’m stillll..” Bekah from the block?

Bekah, Jonny.. You melt me.

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles! No?

Bam. Foot shot!

These two were such good sports! My favorite part of this photograph is the title of Jonny’s book, which you can’t really see, but is nonetheless fitting: So Brave, Young & Handsome. Just look at him workin’ it.

Dylan scouted out this location. When I saw it, I asked him to marry me and be my business partner. :) He said yes.

Oh how I absolutely LOVE love. ‘Tis written all over them.

Happy Thursday!

I am writing to tell you that the next time I post, I’ll be a married woman. Funny how the word “woman” irks me even more than “married.” I’m just a girl, really. :) Some crazy exciting things are coming soon after though! Three more weddings, a honeymoon in a not-yet-disclosed location, and a brand spankin’ new promo will be here sooner than you think, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, meet Ruth and Doug, who were married this past Sunday. :)

So for the final time as a French girl, Happy Tuesday!!

P.S. For all those who’ve asked, while I am changing my legal name to Morrissey, the Alyse French Photography brand will indeed remain intact. :)

Call us prophetic.. Call us whatever you’d like. But three years later, our sweet friend Rebekah Adams became our sweet married friend, Rebekah Jause. Amy was there. And Pearl was there. Ashley and Sarah were bridesmaids. And me? Well, I took the pictures. :)

Bekah and Jonny, I could never properly blog how thrilled I am that you’ve made it this far. (Secretly, I’m most thrilled that we girls were right all along.) ;) And Jonny, thank you for loving Rebekah as much as her girls do. (Or maybe a little more.) You both radiate Jesus and the love, passion and endurance it takes to live out His perfect plan for you. I’m so excited for your journey!!

Bekah told me she had originally purchased different shoes but came to the conclusion that “They’d be no fun for Alyse to shoot.” (Man oh man, I love my brides!) She got these instead, and boy did she pick right! :)

Dear Bah, please give me your secret to epidermal perfection. Mmkay? K.

Jonny, will you LOOK at the wife you have?! Yowsa..

So in love with these next shots, it’s not even funny. I could eat this light like ice cream. (Chocolate chip cookie dough!)

Beeeeeeep. We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog viewing to bring you Bekah’s niece, Miss Renae Baby Sweetness. Yes, that is her full name. And she truly is the sweetness.

Some pre-ceremony bridals. Here I’m all, “Bah! You’re a bride! You’re getting married! OMG, I’mma cry!”

That’s one fiiiine bridal party if you ask me!

These two have class. And now meet Jonny. Wait for it. Wait for it…

Sweetest moment ever. Jonny seeing the one he’s waited for his entire life.

And this shot just does me in! Such fierce love.

Bekah and Jonny honored their parents with bouquets. Meet two Mrs. Jause’s!

Ahh yes.. The kiss. :)

After sealing the deal, we shot around Saratoga’s Hall of Springs for a bit prior to the reception.

Okay, can I just be blunt and say what everyone has been thinking this whole time? Bekah.. Jonny. Your kids are going to be DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUSSS. Wonder why..

Props to my sweet boy for setting up this shot. :)

Jonny and Bah set this one up themselves. Killer shot guys! ;)

How much more dapperly dapperness can one handle? Not much, I reckon.

The first dance. :)

I think this means Bekah really liked the best man’s speech.

And finally.. Tearin’ it UP. (Please note Kate Duffy busting a move in the background. Love you, girl!!)

Happy Thursday one. and. all. :)

I post this pre-sneak peek for fear that my eyes might explode if I keep this to myself any longer! Meet Jonny and Rebekah Jause, every photographer’s dream! More to come Thursday!

Happy Sunday!

(Needless to say, Melissa looked stunning, and I know she gets it often, but she is totally Natalie Portman‘s stunt double, I swear.)

As I spent the morning with Melissa, I watched her breathe. In and out. In and out. Eagerly anticipating that first glance of her soon-to-be husband. Dylan shot with Dan and the guys, so I can’t say I was able to gauge Dan’s excitement level. But I can say this: The look on Dan’s face when he first saw his bride, was ultimately priceless. It was a look of completeness. A look of “THIS is who I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

Okay, are you not instantly in love with this little girl?! Her name is Cadence. Just adorable!

Told ya.. Stunning!

Get ready for a few more shoe shots! Just love ‘em.

Oh please, like you didn’t want to see these amazing blue eyes a second time!

So about shoe shots – it is muy importante to play around with a bunch of different locations and placements of the shoes. It yields so much fun and creativity. I couldn’t pick which of Melissa’s shoe shots I liked most, which is why they are all here. :)

The face. Overjoyed.

Classic beauty, that Melissa.

Dylan and I could not get enough of this awesome ride!

FAVE.

Melissa and Dan took the birdseed like a champ!

To Dan and Melissa: Thank you SO much for including us in your big day! Your love for each other is so obvious. I’ve been waiting to post so I could include you guys in my new blog. I hope it was worth the wait!! Love to you both! XOXO.

Here’s a small taste of the day!! Enjoy!

Congratulations to Carly and Mark!!