Al and Evan opted for a December wedding and while it was chilly, it wasn’t nearly as cold as it could have been!  It’s pretty awesome when it’s December and you can take some outdoor shots on the day of your wedding without immediately freezing!  

We started out the afternoon at the DeMenil Mansion with the gents and the ladies met us there a bit later.  I had never been inside of the DeMenil Mansion but always wondered what it was like.  Grand would be an understatement.  If by today’s standards we see this as a large home, I could only imagine what they were thinking back when it was built!

Al and Evan chose to do a “first look” on their wedding day.  The front balcony and gorgeous sky made for a perfect setting.  It can be SO great when a couple wants to do a First Look and see each other before the wedding especially when the wedding and reception are back to back with no time in between.  The First Look still allows the couple to have that special moment they would’ve had walking down the aisle.  The main difference is after the First Look, they immediately get to have some time just to themselves — to share a kiss, a dance, a laugh, some intimate moments just with each other (and the photographer from a distance) before the fast paced day picks up.

Once we were finished with all of the wedding party shots, we all went over to the church.  But this wasn’t just any old church.  This was The Shrine of St. Joseph.  Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic weddings over the years, I had become accustomed to what the inside of Catholic Churches can look like.  But this one was truly magnificent beyond measure.  From the architecture, to the paintings, to the statues, to the balconies, and so on, this church was magnificent!  There was no doubt in my mind as to why Al and Evan chose this church for their wedding — it’s truly one of a kind!

The reception was held immediately after at the Lodge at Grant’s Trail.  It is gorgeous inside and boasts some serious woodwork throughout.  It has a very woodsy feel to it and even has awesome features like a deer head on the wall, dear antlers as a chandelier, and so on. Not only that, but it was decked out for Christmas with a massive Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations.  

Despite some of the wedding party and family coming down with that awful stomach virus on the day of the wedding, the celebration continued into the night with dancing, friends, drinking, eating and laughter.  Congratulations, Al and Evan and thank you for allowing me to capture your wedding day!