There are certain moments in your photography journey that you know you'll never forget.
For me, one of those moments was photographing my very first wedding.
When I think back on that day, I remember the excitement, the nerves, the beautiful waterfront setting, the rain, the family photos, the reception, and eventually—one of my favorite surprises of all—a rainbow.
But more than anything, I remember walking away from that wedding thinking:
I can actually do this.
My First Wedding Day
There is something completely different about photographing a wedding.
It isn't just another photoshoot.
There are so many moving pieces happening at once. There are timelines, family members, details, emotions, weather, portraits, ceremony moments, reception photos, and hundreds of little things happening around you that you have to be ready to capture.
And knowing that this was my first wedding definitely came with some pressure.
I wanted to do a good job.
I wanted my couple to be happy.
And, honestly, I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of taking on something this big.
Looking back, I'm so proud of myself for trusting my instincts and getting through the day with confidence.
Learning to Trust Myself
One of the biggest things this wedding taught me was that I am a capable photographer.
There were moments where I could have let the nerves take over, but instead, I trusted my eye.
I trusted what I was seeing.
I trusted the work I had already put into learning photography.
And I did it.
That realization meant so much to me because this wasn't just about photographing a wedding.
It was a milestone in my own journey.
The Family Photos Were Not as Scary as I Thought
Before the wedding, one thing I was especially nervous about was the formal family and group photos.
There are a lot of people.
A lot of combinations.
And a lot of moving parts.
But once we got started, I realized I actually loved directing everyone and keeping things moving.
I learned that I could be organized without making things feel stiff, and I could keep the energy light while still making sure we got the photos we needed.
That gave me a huge confidence boost.
Then Came the Rain
Of course, no wedding day would be complete without something not going exactly according to plan.
On this day, things were running a little behind, and the rain wasn't exactly cooperating with us.
I could feel the stress starting to creep in.
But instead of rushing my couple through their portraits just because the timeline said we should be taking them, I decided to let them breathe.
I reminded them:
“They can't start without you!”
And honestly, that little reminder changed the energy.
We didn't need to panic.
We just needed to let the day happen.
So we waited.
And eventually, the rain passed.
When we were finally able to step outside, we were greeted with something I couldn't have planned if I tried.
A rainbow stretched across the sky.
And suddenly, all that waiting was worth it.
We captured some of the most beautiful portraits of the entire day underneath that rainbow.
It felt like one of those little moments where you realize everything happened exactly when it was supposed to.
What This Wedding Taught Me
My first wedding taught me so much—not just about photography, but about myself.
It taught me that preparation matters.
It taught me that communication with your couple matters.
It taught me that timelines are important, but they aren't everything.
And most importantly, it taught me to trust myself.
A wedding day isn't about making everything perfectly follow a schedule.
It's about being present enough to recognize the moments that are happening right in front of you.
Sometimes the best photos happen when the timeline changes.
Sometimes the rain becomes part of the story.
And sometimes you just have to take a breath and trust that everything will work out.
Looking Back
When I look at the photos from my first wedding, I don't just see a wedding gallery.
I see the beginning of a new chapter in my photography journey.
I see the photographer I was becoming.
And I see the moment I realized that I really could do this.
To my first-ever wedding couple:
Thank you for trusting me with your memories, your laughter, your love, and your rainy-day rainbow.
I will always be grateful that you trusted me with such an important day.
This wedding will forever hold a special place in my heart.
And I'm so excited to see where this photography journey takes me next. 🤍📸
The Dream Team
A huge thank you to the incredible vendors who helped make this beautiful waterfront wedding possible:
Venue: Merrill's on the Waterfront
Entertainment/DJ: One Love Entertainment
Decorator & Florals: CS Party Express
Bakery: Officially The Baking Bean
Photography: Marissa Jade Media
