I’m a little behind with my blog posting … but that’s because I’ve been working on my brand new blog! I’d been looking for a smarter, slicker design that will allow me to show nice big photos, and I finally found it. Anyway, back to last weekend. After Chris & Nicole’s wedding on Friday, I traveled down to Renton on Saturday for Tamara and Jai’s wedding.

I started the day taking photos with the girls at their hotel. It was a pretty small room, but we somehow managed to squeeze in one beautiful bride, seven bridesmaids, two makeup artists, one photographer, several parents and various visitors … it was so much fun! With a little creative positioning I still managed to get some great detail shots and getting ready photos.

That’s Tamara’s mom above – you can see where Tamara gets her uber-glamorous good looks. Such a handsome family! And below is the broom that her mom and dad made for them to jump over at the end of the ceremony.

The boys were, of course, ready long before the girls, but I did get a chance to take some fun shots of them getting their boutonnières pinned on.

I was hoping to take Tamara and Jai out to the park for their first look, but the weather was not cooperating at all so we staged it in the hotel lobby. It was really fun for everyone else – it’s usually a private moment between the bride and groom but they had the paparazzi recording their first moments together!

Our plans for outdoor formals were thwarted by the rain, so we took some group photos at the hotel, then continued at the church. I love the shot of Jai and his groomsmen jumping at the alter, although at the time I was so nervous we’d be kicked out of the church before the ceremony even began!

The ceremony at The Church of Grace was beautiful and emotional. Jai has known the pastor for years, and I loved hearing all the anecdotes during the service.

After the ceremony, we headed to Renton Community Center for the reception. They did such a fantastic job of decorating it – I’d visited a few hours before and it looked just like you’d imagine a community center to look – but it was completely transformed for the evening.

Just before their grand entrance, I grabbed Tamara and Jai for some cute couples portraits by a beautiful cherry tree that was still in bloom outside the center.

It was a crazy reception – fun speeches (with just a few shed tears), tasty food (I love jerk chicken!) and some crazy, crazy dancing. My assistant Kelly and I set up the photobooth in one of the doorways and had lots of fun taking snaps of all the guests.

One of the bridesmaids performed a special hula dance for Tamara and Jai – here she is in the photobooth, reenacting her dance:

We even had a mini babies & bellies session at the photobooth!

Congratulations, Jai and Tamara – and I’m excited to start designing your wedding album!