Rachael & Cory

A Formal Military Winter Inspired Blooms N Gardens, Paducah Kentucky Wedding

For an early December day, we really could have hoped for more beautiful weather than what we had this past Saturday in Paducah! I prayed for exactly that for Rachael & Cory because we all had such vision for their wedding and I think it lived up to the hype!

Neil and I arrived to the girl’s getting location – The Tribeca Guesthouse – to a bustling atmosphere filled with bridesmaids singing at the top of their lungs as they got ready and entertained Rachael, who was sitting in the makeup chair. They were in the middle of her makeup application and she already looked stunning and her hair wasn’t even done yet! While Neil continued to photograph the ladies, the videographer and I made ourselves comfortable capturing the bridal details and it felt like we were waited on hand and foot by Rachael’s bridesmaid. Everyone was so helpful and not just while they were getting ready, but the entire day! Rachael really knows how to choose her ladies! An excited, supportive, eager, and helpful bridal party can make or break your day!

Neil joined the men at The Downtown Riverfront Condo, where they’d just begun getting into their attire – most of them military and a few of them civilians. This when we learned that Cory also knows how to pick a great group! In Rachael & Cory’s gallery, there is no shortage of images of them helping Cory get dressed.

Rachael was a performer at the Market House Theatre so it was very important to her that some of their portraits be taken near the MHT – what better place for their first look? After their engagement session months ago, I was so ready for this part of the day… I love photographing couples in love and so very excited to be married – Rachael & Cory are SO that couple! The joyful, lovey, cuddly poses I tend to use are so natural for them, which means their portraits look and feel so real (because they are!!!) and comfortable (because they were!)!

Fast forward through the oh so fun and energetic bridal party portraits, finally it was time for the ceremony! It started with an intro from Rachael’s Navy father, read by the officiant, to Cory as a welcome into the family. It had everyone laughing! But nothing like Rachael & Cory’ vows they’d written and read them aloud to each other! So much personality in these two families! The ceremony ended with their first kiss as husband and wife and a cute twist on the traditional saber arch.

The rest of the evening was full of even more personality, fun, and laughter and by the end of the night, not only were my and Neil’s feet sore, our hearts were so full! It was such a joy and an honor to document Rachael & Cory’s amazing day!