I will seriously be your friend on Facebook just so I can look at your wedding photos.

Part of the reason I started this blog was so that I’d have an excuse to share my wedding photos, and I have thoroughly enjoyed doing so. (On a side note, I highly recommend Daniel Swanson Photography for anyone living in the Denver area.) I have spent long periods of time clicking through photos of people I hardly know and have probably come across as creepy due to hitting “like” so many times. Because I know nothing about photography, I am simply going to explore my emotions surrounding wedding photos and hopefully discover why, exactly, I love them so much.

With permission, I have chosen a few photos from the weddings of friends to illustrate what I love about wedding photos in general. If I didn’t choose yours, it’s not because I don’t love them. These were simply the first ones I thought of.

1. Light

Brides standing in front of windows, light streaming through their veils and the fabric of their dresses. Bridal parties standing under trees, light filtering through the leaves. Couples leaving receptions, their faces lit by a hundred sparklers. It seems to me that each wedding album has its own mood, and that mood comes across in the lighting.

2. Personalities

In my experience, people tend to be happy at weddings, and I really like photos of happy people. I love photos of dads getting choked up, bridesmaids dancing like dorks, or couples being totally adorable. Weddings are about people, and some of the best photos capture simple moments between people who love each other.

3. Details

Some brides are so doggone creative. I love the little touches that make a wedding unique. I have personally attended weddings that should dominate Pintrest.

4. Colors

Every once in a while I’ll see a wedding photo that pops, and it’s usually because of a bright color or contrast between colors. Again, I’m neither a photographer nor an artist; I just happen to love bright colors. Plus, I know that people tend to choose the colors they love most when they plan a wedding. Maybe displaying those colors in a photo helps show a piece of who they are.

5. Romance

I’m a little obsessed with kissing photos, as my photographer quickly discovered when I requested about ten different poses involving a kiss. I come from a long line of couples who love each other, as does my husband, and it makes me all gushy to see people who are genuinely in love.

In short, I love wedding photos because I love pretty things, and I love the feeling of joy accompanying this occasion. If you want to make me really happy, comment on this post by sharing a favorite wedding photo, and then tell me what you love about it. It can be from your own wedding or from a friend’s. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who walks down magazine aisles flipping through page after page of white dresses. Help me add to my list of reasons wedding photos are wonderful.

Love,

The Reluctant Bride