When we arrived at in the bride's room at Old Mill, her mom was already there, watching her get ready. She had a smile on her face and I knew she was happy, despite being nervous. I took a moment to admire the stunning natural light that filled the room, shining through the window in the far corner, and as my eyes settled on her, I couldn't help but take a candid photo of her.
The makeup artist was applying the final touches and the bridesmaids were chatting with each other, waiting for the bride to get dressed and put on her jewellery. They all looked like they were having such fun and it was obvious this was something special to all of them. I was honored to be a part of their special day and I felt lucky to have had the chance to capture this moment in their lives.
My second wedding photographer had set up his camera on a tripod and was taking pictures of the bride. I waited patiently to have a moment alone with her before he started shooting. As he finished, the photographer came over and said "You're a good friend, you know that?" and then I realized that I hadn't noticed the camera until now and he was snapping a picture of me as well.
We both laughed and he gave me a little pat on the back, which made me realize how much he was enjoying the moment, too. It was one of those moments when you don't know what to say and so you say nothing. I was grateful that he had taken the time to recognize my contribution to the occasion. I will cherish that moment forever.
As her dad approached me, I asked him to let his daughter be herself and he seemed to understand, nodding his head and saying "Yeah."
I had the bride and groom's father give the "okay" sign as we turned towards the photographer and then snapped the shot. As we said our goodbyes, she thanked me for being there. Her mom and the bridesmaids hugged us both and gave us a small gift bag containing a handmade card, a flower, and some chocolate.
