We Start Today: Me and My Girls

Once I was finally able to break free from the bridal suite it was time take some photos with my favorite girls in the world!

All Photos by Palos Studio

 So happy to finally be outside!

 This photo is such perfection. The girls' orange dresses really pop against the greenery.

 I love this picture even though MOH N's eyes are closed...

 When you tell a group of girls who majored in theater to look at each other and laugh you know they will deliver.

 Then tell them to strike a pose and this is what you get

 Notice Bridesmaid L on the left peeking through her flowers....

 In this photo she is trying to hide all but one eye.

 Apparently when we were looking at bridesmaid dresses at David's Bridal there was a girl doing this in one of the catalogues. Bridesmaid L thought it must be the "thing" now. 

 Then I was encouraged to do my "thing." I can close one eye fully while keeping the other eye completely open. Mr. Castle calls it my broken doll look, or my owl eye. It usually comes out when I'm annoyed. It's what I do instead of rolling my eyes. 

 Close up of my owl eye look. Being able to do this makes putting on eye makeup a breeze!

Next I took some individual photos with each of my girls starting with MOH N. They told us to look at each other and we both immediately started tearing up. This amazing women and I met when we were ten. I was her Maid of Honor eight years earlier and here we were on my wedding day. It didn't take much for us to get emotional.

After we looked at each other for like a second I laughed and said, "Yeah not a good idea." You can see MOH N in the final photo fighting back tears. I had to keep it together because I still had to take photos with all my other ladies.

After each gal took a photo with me they moved over a bit and good some individual shots.

Look at these beautiful ladies! Each girl wore their own unique necklace and accessories. They were complemented on their choices all day!

My gorgeous MOH looking totally flawless after her emotion moment. Can you believe this women has three children??? 

Before we went back into hiding the bridal suite I needed to get a shoe picture! I let the ladies work out what they wanted to wear shoe wise. I didn't really care if they matched or not. MOH N rocked the leopard shoes. It was a nice way for her to stand out a bit. The other ladies decided to go with a neutral tone. I loved all their choices of accessories and foot wear.

Did you chose your Bridesmaids accessories or did you let them do their own thing?

Miss a recap? Check it out below!

We start at the end with a surprise wedding video!

We rehearse

Our rehearsal luncheon

We start the day with singing, dancing, and an earthquake

I get my hair and makeup done

We arrive at our venue and Mr. Castle asks for some makeup

With the help of my Mom and bridesmaids I get into my dress!

I take some solo shots of me as a bride

My handsome groom and his men 

Some family shots and first look regret

We Start Today: Family Shots And A Little Regret

I shouldn't say I have any wedding regrets because really it was a perfect day in every way. But there is one thing I wish I would have thought more about and possibly persuaded Mr. Castle to re-think. People sometimes ask, if there was one thing you could go back and change what would it be? For me it would be our choice not to have a first look.

I've shared that I am not superstitious in any way and I think the whole not seeing the Bride before the wedding tradition is unnecessary. But Mr. Castle wanted his first time seeing me to be my walk down the aisle so I didn't push it. The reason I now really wish we would have done the first look is this: pictures. Not pictures of Mr C and I because we got some amazing shots that I can't wait to show you... I mean pictures of my side of the family. Since we chose not to see each other before the ceremony, I was locked up in the bridal room until Mr. Castle went inside. Once he was hidden I could come out and take pictures. Now this was in NO WAY our photographers fault, just wanted to preface with that, the thing was Mr. Castle wouldn't get his butt inside! He had to run to the car, then he was chatting with people, then he had to run a sound check with the musicians... By the time I finally came out of hidding we only had enough time to take photos with my Bridesmaids, my Mom and one of my Grandmothers who happened to arrive as we were out front taking pictures.

I did get to take some family photos after the ceremony, but that time is so rushed I don't have that many. Some examples, I only have one photo with my brothers and no photos of me with one of my grandmothers because she disappeared into cocktail hour. I really wish I would have had more time for my family before the ceremony. They were all there I just didn't see them because I was locked up. I didn't even see my Dad until right before we walked down the aisle.

Once again not our photographers fault at all. They tried their best to get as many shots done before the wedding as possible. They were amazing and our pictures are better than anything I could have ever hoped for. I just get a little jealous when I see all the photos Mr. Castle got to take with his family. I really think if we had done a first look it would have solved this problem. We could have taken all the family formals and bridal party shots before the wedding and saved the newly married couple shots for the cocktail hour.

But what are you gonna do, right? It is what it is and I'm not going to go into despair about it. I just wanted to mention it as a cautionary tale to all you brides out there. If you are considering doing a first look I say do it! Everything is so rushed and hectic after the wedding it'll be nice to just relax and take your must have family formals before. Ok I'm done with my rant. Even though I'm a little jealous of these pictures they're still great and I LOVE how happy Mr. Castle's parents look!

All Photos by Palos Studio

Mr. Castle's parents. So excited to see their baby boy getting married!

Mr. Castles family. But where's Mr. Castle???

There he is! Best photo bomb ever!

The whole family

This is one of my favorites of Mr. Castle and his Grandmother

Mr. Castle's parents and sister!

I really do love all these photos of Mr. Castle and his family. There are a lot more but I already made this post pretty long with my rant... Next up, I finally break free from the bridal suite and take some photos with my bridesmaids!

What about you hive? Will you have a first look? Are getting family photos a top priority for you?

Miss a recap? Check it out below!

We start at the end with a surprise wedding video!

We rehearse

Our rehearsal luncheon

We start the day with singing, dancing, and an earthquake

I get my hair and makeup done

We arrive at our venue and Mr. Castle asks for some makeup

With the help of my Mom and bridesmaids I get into my dress!

I take some solo shots of me as a bride

My handsome groom and his men 

We Start Today: The Groom and his Men

Since my last two posts were all about me, I'd like to stop being so vain and focus on my handsome groom! As you will see below, these guys were definitely having a good time. They began with pictures of the groomsmen and Mr. Castle's nephew.

All Photos by Palos Studio

Not ready to take a serious picture yet...

Next Mr. Castle took individual pictures with each of the groomsmen

Mr. C and his best man sharing a special moment

Next Mr. C got some shots with his nephew

Remember Singer J? I told you all about how he is a good friend of both Mr. C and I, and how we were so happy we got to "share" him. At this point Singer J was hanging out with the boys and stopped to take a couple photos with Mr. Castle. When I first was scrolling through these pictures I knew exactly where this was going...

Trying to steal a kiss... 

Now it was time for some solo shots! Mr. Castle will not look at these photos... talk about being hard on yourself. He really doesn't think he looks good but I think he looks amazing! And he shows such a wide range of emotions....

Happy Mr. Castle

Tough brooding Mr. Castle

Semi-surprised Mr. Castle. 

This is a face I see a lot so I'm assuming he's laughing at one of his groomsmen

 Handsome I'm getting married today Mr. Castle

Wait whats this?! I'm sneaky and brought a flask Mr. Castle!??? At least the bride didn't smell anything on his breath....

I feel better now having a post with no photos of me. I think we'll continue that way. Next up family shots with Mr. Castle and my ONLY wedding regret. 

Miss a recap? Check it out below!

We start at the end with a surprise wedding video!

We rehearse

Our rehearsal luncheon

We start the day with singing, dancing, and an earthquake

I get my hair and makeup done

We arrive at our venue and Mr. Castle asks for some makeup

With the help of my Mom and bridesmaids I get into my dress!

I take some solo shots of me as a bride

We Start Today: I'm ready for my close up

Once I was dressed and ready to go it was time for some solo shots of me as a bride. We started in the doorway of the bridal suite. I don't really have much to add so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Photography by the incredible Palos Studio

Some close ups of my sash, veil and hair comb

These next shots were taken in front of the venue after I took some photos with my bridesmaids. Even though it's a little out of order I figured it's best to include them in this post.

Laughing at my bridesmaids I'm sure

MOH N said my bow needed a little fixing

I love all the greenery in front of the venue

I also love that those flowers behind me are a peachy pink! 

Ok that's enough pictures of me. I feel like this is the most narcissistic post ever! Next up, let's take look at my handsome groom and his groomsmen!

Miss a recap? Check it out below!

We start at the end with a surprise wedding video!

We rehearse

Our rehearsal luncheon

We start the day with singing, dancing, and an earthquake

I get my hair and makeup done

We arrive at our venue and Mr. Castle asks for some makeup

With the help of my Mom and bridesmaids I get into my dress!