Kristin + Matt’s Surprise Wedding – Part One
This wedding story is magical and one of a kind, from Kristin hand-calligraphing the jaw-dropping scroll for her alter, to hers and Matt’s engagement-party-turned-wedding, there’s just so much awe to this incredible day. So much so, that I had to break it up into two blog posts!
Kristin and Matt had been together for a while before they got engaged. They had seen many couples friends meet, get engaged, and get married, all in the span of their dating relationship. But while they had long awaited their turn to say the “I-do’s,” God took them on an incredible journey together (read their dating story that was shared here, when they got engaged!).
The bride and groom wanted to do something different for their wedding. They wanted every touch of detail to reflect their journey together; they wanted it to be intimate, God centered, and to feel not-so-typical “wedding.”
“We had been playing with this idea for a long time,” Kristin says. “The hardest part? definitely keeping it all a secret from some of our dearest loved ones.”
She started off her wedding morning at the cutest boutique hotel in Anaheim called Hotel Pepper Tree. When Emily (my second photographer) and I walked into the room, we felt peace from the start. Kristin chose not to have a bridal party (which helped with the surprise effect). Instead, her sister, mother, and grandmother spent the morning with her while they all got prettied up by Bree and Alyna.
“I lit a candle and played piano music while my family and I got our hair and makeup done. The makeup artist even said that it was the most peaceful session she’s ever done!”
“The dove pin was a gift from Matt while we were living in Israel. We were able to find three more for the men’s boutonnieres!”
After Kristin got ready, we left to meet with Matt for the first look. He was eagerly awaiting his bride in the beautiful ceremony room of their wedding venue The Fullerton Ballroom. They chose to have their first look take place in the same room that they would share their vows and become one.
Just as Kristin was arriving downstairs, Matt knelt down and closed his eyes to say a small prayer before his bride entered.
Matt and Kristin’s first look still brings tears to my eyes every time I go through their images. It was one of the most emotional first looks I have ever witnessed and easily one of the most beautiful.
After they shared a moment of quietness, we snuck outside for some pretty photos in downtown fullerton!
But we had to hurry back to get Kristin changed after this! She slipped into her pretty, white cocktail dress, and guests began arriving…
Be sure to catch Part 2 tomorrow, Kristin’s groom Matthew shares the elaborate and meaningful wedding story!
Vendor Love
Boutique Hotel (Bride’s Getting Ready Location): Hotel Pepper Tree – Anaheim
Officiant – Father of the Groom
Wedding Singers – The Sasis Family
Wedding Gown – Allure Bridals
the set came out solid Jenna! Nice work
Thank you, Ryan!
[…] you haven’t already caught part one of this incredible story, please be sure to see it here before reading any […]
[…] with the honor of photographing Stephanie and Brian’s wedding this past weekend (along with Kristin + Matt’s wedding in 2015 whom they also connected me to!!). I just love them and it was so good to see them […]