Valerie and Austin’s wedding day was the perfect fit for who they are as a couple; down to earth, relaxed and fun. I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet couple’s engagement session earlier this year, and it was great getting to know them more, and working with them from behind my camera. It really allowed me to get a sense of how they are together with a camera pointed at them, prior to the wedding. Of course, they were complete naturals and were way more interested in each other than to worry about my camera. Ha!

We started the day at the hotel where Austin was getting ready and soon after we were headed to an Airbnb to meet Valerie and her bridal party. With some help from her mom, the bride slipped on her Calvin Klein wedding dress and finished placing her last details on. Finally, it was time to get married! We arrived at the cafe, and the excitement was building. Austin gleamed the widest smile when he finally saw Valerie, walking up the aisle with her dad. At last, standing before their closest friends and family, they shared their vows, exchanged their rings and kissed, officially becoming Mr. and Mrs. Kelly!

The wedding ceremony and reception were held at Garden Cafe in Dallas, TX. A whimsical restaurant hidden in a Dallas neighborhood, serving up good food in a lush garden atmosphere. Guests sat together at long community style tables on an outside patio, sipping their drinks and enjoying each other’s company, while narrowly avoiding the occasional rain drop or two. The string lights above the patio gave the reception a beautiful glow as the sun faded out to night.

Congrats again to you both! And have a happy Thanksgiving. 🙂

Jess