Amanda & John – K Star Ranch Wedding Photos – St Jude Catholic Church Mansfield
Rain, Rain, Go Away. Saturday, March 10th brought several inches of slow, soaking rain to North Texas. Rain creates so many more challenges if it happens to come on your wedding day! Mentally, you have to come to grips with the fact that you are going to have to make a few adjustments to your plan. Things take longer, people move slower, extra precautions have to be made so nothing gets soaked. Luckily, Amanda & John were getting married inside of the beautiful St. Jude Catholic Church in Mansfield. Their reception was held at the K-Star Ranch in Mansfield, and although the rain kept the photography opportunities limited, it didn’t completely drive us away. We worked under porches, inside the church, on the patio at the Ranch, and even under an umbrella for a quick portrait session. Despite the rain, Amanda & John had their dream day and it went as smoothly as can be expected. Here are some of our favorite images.
Detail
The Dress
Amanda making last minute adjustments
The Groom
The Groom v.2
The Boys
St. Jude Catholic Church
Candle Ceremony
The Kiss
The Cross
Just Married
At the altar
The lovely ladies
More with the girls
The girls having a laugh
The first dance
The daddy-daughter dance (By the way, VERY entertaining. The Irish know how to get DOWN!)
The Cake Table
The Toasts brought tears and laughs
Amanda and her adorable sisters
Sweet moment alone
A moment in the rain
A great reaction from Amanda, with a little surprise from John
Real Weddings: TJ & Jessica – Ft Worth Joe T Garcia’s
Real Weddings is a new feature on the Ivey Photography blog where we share answers to questions from our past couples. We hope the information is insightful and helps you with your wedding day decision making.
Jessica's Favorite Image: The First Look
Your Names Jessica and Thomas Grant
Your Wedding Date 11-11-2011
Your ceremony venue First Baptist Church Midlothian, TX
Your reception venue Joe T. Garica’s Fort Worth
What was your favorite memory of your wedding? First look. Getting to see each other for the first time alone after the stress of the past week was great. The pictures turned out especially good for this part also. Perfect time of day and weather.
Why did you choose Ivey Photography to capture your big day? They were local photographers. They worked with our budget, traveled to different venues on different days. Examples of the work they had done helped making a decision too. I wanted to have great pictures, one thing I was willing to pay more for.
If you could give one piece of advice to our future bride and grooms, what would it be? Plan ahead. Hire a planner to help organize and get started, so youre not alone in this. Things that are most important are worth the extra money (I.e. photographers). Find quiet time during planning to relax and catch up with each other.
What would you have done differently? Something to help other brides plan on or plan differently. Hire a planner. Plan further ahead. Assign jobs to people rather than doing it all alone. Check up on RSVPs.
What was the most important thing to you when planning your wedding? (Example: photography, flowers, venue, food, etc.) Was there a vendor that you would like to recommend to another couple? Photography: Ivey Photography
Venue/Food: Joe T. Garcia’s
Cake: The Cake Guys
What did you love best about working with Ivey Photography? Friendly people with great ideas, very flexible, and available whe we had questions or needed help.
Do you have a favorite photograph that you would like to share with other couples? YES
Why is that photograph your favorite? Because it was genuine. During my favorite part, “First Look”. We are happy, sunset is perfect, and photograph is perfect.
Real Weddings: Pamela & Wesley – Dallas Orion Ballroom
Real Weddings is a new feature on the Ivey Photography blog where we share answers to questions from our past couples. We hope the information is insightful and helps you with your wedding day decision making.
Pamela's Favorite Photo: The Dallas Skyline Portrait
Couples’ Names
Wesley & Pamela Johnson
Wedding Date
May 14, 2011
Your ceremony venue
Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ
Your reception venue
The Orion Ballroom
What was your favorite memory of your wedding?
Favorite memories included the teasing that went on between the bried and groom as we stood before the minister and the father/daughter dance at the reception when my dad almost lost his pants.
Why did you choose Ivey Photography to capture your big day?
We met Chris and Shana at a Bridal Show and their personality and photos stood out. They were very perosonable and down to earth. The pictures were vivid and showed off the personality of the couples. We got the impression they’d be easy to work with and photos were wonderful and we knew they’d do a great job.
If you could give one piece of advice to our future bride and grooms, what would it be?
Take time to enjoy your fiance and do what makes you guys happy. You’ll never please everyone and in the end you two are all that matter.
What would you have done differently? Something to help other brides plan on or plan differently.
The only thing I would have done differently was start doing what I wanted sooner and not trying to please everyone else.
What was the most important thing to you when planning your wedding? (Example: photography, flowers, venue, food, etc.) Was there a vendor that you would like to recommend to another couple?
I was focusing primarily on the reception since that’s were everyone would spend most of their time.
What did you love best about working with Ivey Photography?
Chris and everyone were so friendly and patient. They are great to work with and they have great ideas.
Do you have a favorite photograph that you would like to share with other couples?
YES
Why is that photograph your favorite?
My favorite photograph is the one of my husband and myself during our quiet time just before the reception. In the photo we are sharing an embrace and you can see the Dallas Skyline in the background behind us.
Aristide Event & Conference Center Wedding Photography Partner
We are thrilled to announce a new photography partnership with Aristide Event & Conference Center in Mansfield, TX. We will be one of only a handful of partnership vendors recommended by Aristide Event & Conference Center. Patina May and her staff have completely transformed Aristide into one of the premier wedding venues in North Texas and we are proud to offer exclusive wedding photography collections to their clients. We invite you to schedule a consultation with them or visit them at one of their monthly open house events. You’ll find they only support the BEST vendors in DFW, and we are proud to have made the “cut” with them. We look forward to photographing many of their upcoming weddings this year, just as we did with Leah & Marvin last summer. Take a look at the wedding album design we’ve created as a show piece in the Aristide Lobby.
The front and back cover
Pages 1-2
Pages 3-4
Pages 5-6
Pages 7-8
Pages 9-10
Pages 11-12
Pages 13-14
Pages 15-16
Pages 17-18
Pages 19-20
Join us at the Star Telegram Bridal Show in Ft Worth
The Ft Worth Star Telegram Bridal Show is on Sunday January 15 at the Ft Worth Convention Center. We’ll be there, along with a few hundred of the other top wedding vendors in the area. Come by our booth #313 and see what we’re offering. Any couple who schedules a consultation with us by February 28 is eligible for a $500 Gift to add to their bridal or engagement session. You can book anytime after that, but give us 15-minutes of your time to see if we are the right photographer for your wedding. Hope to see you there.
Join us at the Ft Worth Star Telegram Bridal Show January 15 at the Ft Worth Convention Center
Bridal Portrait at The Joule Hotel, Dallas TX – Tara
Since Tara’s wedding on New Year’s Eve at The Joule Hotel in Dallas was on New Year’s Eve, we can prodly show some of the most beautiful, and fun, bridal portraits we’ve ever done. Tara has supermodel good looks, and the backdrop was fantastic. Thanks to Meredith at The Joule Hotel for allowing us the creative freedom with all of the great spaces at the venue. Tara wore a great mermaid style gown with lots of great beading and detail work. It fit perfectly, and she wasn’t afraid to show her personality in the photos. We finally just had to say “STOP – WE HAVE TOO MANY GOOD ONES!” . . . And here are a few of her favorites.
Tara in the Ballroom at The Joule
Beautiful Profile
Great smile
Beautiful window light
By The Poule at The Joule
Profile by The Poule
Ready to Celebrate
Great shape to her dress
Rooftop pool deck at The Joule
Something was funny . . .
The Wine Cellar
The Joule Hotel Lobby
Outdoor Park near the Hotel
New Year’s Eve Wedding at The Joule Hotel, Dallas – Tara & Chad
Tara & Chad held their wedding reception at The Joule Hotel, following their wedding in a Joule Property called The Gallery just 2 doors up Main Street in Dallas. Special thanks to Meredith Harrell at The Joule Hotel for making everything run so smoothly. Tara & Chad were married in Dallas on New Year’s Eve 2011. This was our first New Year’s Eve wedding, and to be honest, we can’t wait until the next one! The night was full of energy, the streets of Downtown Dallas were buzzing, and the reception was rockin’! Superstar DJ Glenn Roush was on point, as always, and the night couldn’t have gone better. This wedding was a break for us in terms of style. We are generally known for images that carry more romance and intimacy, but this night was all about the party, the energy, and the celebration. In order to capture that, we went with more of a photojournalist style, using less lighting than we normally do, and working with a gritty, artsy feel to the images. We love the results and we are proud to show them to you here. Again, if you are looking for a wedding photographer that is fashionable, affordable, and experienced, please contact us. We’d love to sit with you for a brief consultation and learn more about how we can make your wedding photography everything you’d hoped.
What did the bride think?
“Again, we can’t thank you and Shana enough for the amazing job y’all did! Everyone was extremely impressed with you two. I have had a ton of people say that y’all were the best photographers they have ever seen 
” – Tara D.
What did the venue think?
“The pictures are GORGEOUS!! Helps that the couple was easy on the eyes but wow!! Great job!” – Meredith, The Joule Hotel Weddings and Events Coordinator
What did they like so much?
The Shoes and Champagne
Shoe Detail
The Dress
Dress Detail
A quiet moment for the bride and her gals
A bridesmaid admires the moment she gets in the dress
Cool suite at the Joule for the Bride to prepare
The Groom with a last minute prep
Something to calm the nerves
The something hadn't kicked in, YET
Now he's feeling better
Main Street, Downtown Dallas
Mom and Dad walk Tara down the aisle
The Gallery
Lights Out
Beautiful Light, and her best friends looking on
Mr & Mrs
A Kiss in the Main Street Alley
Dancing in the Streets
Blocking Traffic
Lots of on-lookers during the walk back to the Reception at The Joule
The street was lit for the New Year's Eve bash
Headlights shining through for a kiss
Still admiring the lights
Time to PARTY !
DJ Glenn Roush sets the stage
The First Dance
The countdown to 2012
Happy New Year, sealed with a kiss
Happy New Year !
Sparklers are awesome lights !
A groomsman wanted in on the action
The rings and flowers detail
Green Oaks Wedding Chapel, Arlington TX – Bryce & Hailey
Bryce came to us as a young man back a few years ago for his Senior Portraits. The next time we saw him he was all grown up. Prepared to deploy to defend his Country as a United States Marine, he and Hailey were married at the Green Oaks Wedding Chapel in Arlington TX. Although they were on a budget, both for time and with their money, we were still able to capture the spirit and emotion of the day in a short window. Although you wouldn’t know it by looking at his tough exterior, Bryce became quite emotional at the thought of leaving Hailey on his deployment. We are so proud of him, and we were honored to photograph their wedding. Here are a few of our favorite images.
The Marine
The Bride
The Details
Together
A moment alone
The Happy Couple
The Exit
The State Fair of Texas Engagement Portrait Session { Amanda + John }
The State Fair of Texas is a Dallas tradition. We took time with Amanda and John to photograph their engagement portraits on the Fair Grounds. They are fun loving and we had a great time with them. We set them up to play a few games, ride a few rides, and just generally enjoy each other. We worked with a variety of lighting styles, and really got most of our best work done after sunset. We wanted to feature the lights and vibrant colors of the fair as our background when we could. I think the photos show our use of mixed lighting quite nicely, and we are very happy with the way the images turned out. By the way, Shana shot all of the images on the rides, because Chris gets motion sick . THAT’S why we have two photographers!
If you are reading this after the State Fair of Texas closes its doors, and you want to get a similar type session, consider booking us to photograph with you at Six Flags Over Texas, The Dallas World Aquarium, or even watch for those mini-carnival type scenes that pop up from time to time in the fall and spring. Enjoy Amanda and John’s photos.
John won the slide race, but his hair didn't blow back like Amanda's did....
The Carousel Ride never looks like its going this fast....
The view AFTER the carousel ride...
A cute moment near the appropriately named ride "Love Bugs"
The iconic Texas Star Ferris Wheel
Wedding Tips for the Best Photography
Ivey Photography is a Dallas Wedding Photography Studio based in Midlothian, TX. After 10+ Years of Photographing Dallas Fort Worth Weddings, they are experts in capturing the stolen moments that tell the real story of your wedding. Contact: Chris Smith, Ivey Photography, 403 West Main Midlothian, TX 76065 972-723-2464 www.iveystudio.com
We are passionate about wedding photography. We want your wedding portraits to be more than you could imagine. With that said, we have some wedding day tips for you that will help you get the most from your wedding photographer. We assume after you read this, you’ll be booking us immediately . Not every wedding has perfect circumstances, but by using these tips, hopefully we will be able to deliver images that are beyond your imagination.
1. See each other before the wedding. The reason this tradition exists dates back to arranged marriages. It wasn’t bad luck to see each other, it was actually forbidden. We understand that you may still believe in the tradition, but at least hear us out before you completely rule it out.
Benefits
a. Pictures, pictures pictures. There will be more high quality images from your wedding day , period.
B. True Romance. Seeing each other before the ceremony allows us to arrange the moment for you and have it happen EXACTLY how you want. If you want the TRUE reaction from your spouse, the time to get it is when you are alone, not when you are standing in front of 200 people. It will be more romantic, more intimate, and more exciting than you can imagine. And the photographs will prove it.
C. No Rush. No matter how much time you plan for between your ceremony and reception, you cannot shake the feeling of having to RUSH to your guests. No matter how much you say “We will have time”, you NEVER have enough time alone. Every couple we photograph is “in a hurry” to get to the reception.
D. Time is Money. Take FULL advantage of our time and talents by arranging AMAZING sessions before the wedding guests arrive. Let’s meet at a favorite location, work the grounds of your church, or shoot in the best light. You are paying GOOD money for photography, and seeing each other before helps you maximize that opportunity.
E. PARTY on. Don’t spend time with us when you can be celebrating with your guests. Moving your photos to the pre-ceremony hours saves you time that should be spent with your family and friends.
2. If you ABSOLUTELY cannot see each other, PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
a. ARRIVE EARLY. The earlier we start, the less stressful the photos will be. Give us time to work with the Bridal Party and the Bride’s family, and THEN move over and work with the Groomsmen and the Groom’s Family.
b. Build a GAP. Instead of SQUISHING your wedding and reception one hour apart, build a 2-3 hour gap between. This is great if you are moving from your church to a reception site. Give your guests plenty of time to make the trip, and give us plenty of time to make the photos you want, without feeling the RUSH. Have an afternoon service, and an evening reception. Invite immediate family and close friends to both, and invite more guests to the reception only.
c. BE ON TIME. No matter what, be on time! The best planner in the world cannot stop the clock. Plan for extra traffic, extra phone calls, and budget your pre-wedding time wisely. You would be surprised how many sunset photos never happened because everyone was running 30 minutes behind.
3. Hire a certified Planner. As much as your budget will allow, we urge you to hire a planner to keep track of your time and keep all of your vendors accountable. More often than not, weddings that run off schedule tend to pinch your photography time first. A certified wedding or event planner will keep things moving, cater to your every need, and work closely with us to be sure we get the time we need with you to make the portraits you are paying for.
4. Relax. Above all, try to enjoy yourselves. So many couples are so caught up in the process and the details, they forget to slow down, look around, and enjoy their day. Your images will reflect your attitude completely. The more you can go with the flow, let professionals do what they do, and understand that everyone is on your team, the more you will enjoy your day.
We hope we can be there to photograph for you. Congratulations on your engagement.
Leah & Marvin – Wedding at The Aristide Event Center, Mansfield
Leah and Marvin were married in Mansfield at the Aristide Event & Conference Center. Their outdoor ceremony was set in perfect light, followed by a reception in the ballroom. Here are a few of our favorite images from their day. Keep in mind, it was 107 degrees at the start of their ceremony…..
The Bride
Finishing Touches
Leah & Her Mom share a laugh
Marvin gets last second advice from his dad
Leah & her Dad down the aisle
Overview of the ceremony
A moment alone
Beautiful light
Delicious Cakes
Marvin watches Leah dancing with her Dad
Marvin & the Guys
The Bridal Party
The Last Dance
Wes and Pamela’s Wedding: Marsailis Ave Church of Christ, The Orion Ballroom – Dallas
Pamela and Wesley have been one of our favorite couples to work with. They are fun-loving, playful, and have a love for each other like we’ve never seen. Wesley’s son Wes Jr. has been with us the whole way to cheer them along. They were married at the Marsailis Ave Church of Christ in Dallas, with a reception that followed at the Orion Ballroom. The view of Downtown Dallas was spectacular. Here are a few of our favorite images from the night.
Wes Jr, lookin' sharp before the wedding
The Groom
The Dress
The Ladies
The Bride
The Ceremony
The Exit
The Dallas Skyline Portrait
The Cake
The View after Dark
Location, Location, Location . . .
People often ask us, “Where are you located?”. And if you are coming to see our studio, that is a valid question, and you may need directions. We are located in Midlothian, TX at the corner of 6th and Main St. Our new studio is 1800 square feet and is the perfect place to view your images, learn more about us, or take a wide variety of portraits.
BUT, if you are considering Ivey Photography as your wedding partner, or need us to photograph a Bar Mitzvah or corporate event, you’ll be happy to know we work all over Dallas and Ft. Worth. In looking at our list of recent events, we have experience in many of DFW’s most popular event venues. I think sometimes it helps to know we’ve worked in these venues, and we have experience with the location, the staff, the lighting, and the layouts.
The Hilton Anetole, Dallas – Corporate Event
The NYLO Hotel, Las Colinas – Bar Mitzvah
The Flour Mill, McKinney – Wedding
Winfrey Point, Dallas – Wedding
The Gaylord Texan, Grapevine – Bridal Portrait
The Mansion on Turtle Creek – Bridal Portrait and Wedding
Perkins Chapel at SMU – Wedding
Highland Park United Methodist Church – Bridal Portrait
Belo Mansion, Dallas – Corporate Event
The Dallas Petroleum Club – Wedding
The W Hotel, Dallas – Wedding
The Magnolia Hotel, Dallas – Wedding
The Dallas World Aquarium – Wedding
Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas – Bar Mitzvah
…and the list goes on and on. When considering your next event photographer, remember, it isn’t the location of the studio that matters, its the experience out of the studio that gets you the shot you want.
Karen & Marshall’s Wedding – Prince of Peace, The Flour Mill
Karen & Marshall were married Saturday at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Plano, followed by a great reception at The Flour Mill in McKinney.
Karen & Marhsall – 04/02/2011
Ceremony – Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Plano
Reception – The Flour Mill, McKinney
Planner – Yvette Audrain, Premier Special Events
Catering – Pappas
Florist – Branching Out Events
DJ – Glenn Roush
Photographers – Chris Smith, Shana Woods
Walk down the aisle
Overall of the church
The kiss
Communion
Karen's Mom, tears of joy.
A moment alone
A little fun, during the moment alone
The first dance
Karen's Dad, probably wondering what the total bill $$ was...
A different view of the first dance
The Cake
Father-Daughter Dance
A different Father-Daughter Dance
Bubbles
Courtney & Brandon’s Wedding – Video by BEYOND
We photographed Courtney and Brandon’s amazing wedding back in July. This morning I received a video clip from Jennifer at BEYOND (formerly Lite Dallas). Beyond did all of the lighting and video production for Courtney and Brandon’s wedding.
American Gothic ?
Wren Highlight from Beyond on Vimeo.
Shawn & Regina: The Beaumont Ranch Wedding
Shawn & Regina were married Saturday at The Beaumont Ranch in Grandview. The setting was perfect for them, and the weather was great. We really enjoyed working in this location, complete with an old town saloon, a mechanical bull, and a perfect sunset. Here are some of our favorite photos from the day. If you’re wondering, the awesome groom’s cake is by The Cake Guys in Duncanville.
Ashley & Jason: Wedding Sneak Peek
Ashley & Jason were mairried overlooking Lake Lewisville on Saturday. The weather was spectacular, and we are very excited to share their photographs. Here are a few that stood out on the first look at the images.
Lacie: Nasher Sculpture Center Bridal Portrait
We had the chance to do a bridal session at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas with Lacie. We had a great time, and made some beautiful images. Meredith Strode, the Event Host at the Nasher, was gracious enough to host us after hours, so we had the whole place to ourselves! Here are a few of the images from Lacie’s bridal album.
Courtney: Bridal Portrait – Texas Discovery Garden, Dallas Fair Park
Now that Courtney and Brandon are married, we can finally share Courtney’s Bridal Portraits. We photographed at the Texas Discovery Gardens inside Fair Park in Dallas. We were there during the Butterfly Exhibit, so the atrium was filled with giant butterflies. Here are a few of our favorite images from the day.
Courtney & Brandon: First United Methodist Dallas and Fashion Industry Gallery Wedding-Sneak Peek
We photographed an amazing wedding on Saturday. So much love, and a great reception. Yvette Audrain of Premier Special Events and her team of vendors put on an out of this world show. We haven’t shown the photos to the bride and groom yet, so we don’t want to spill the beans too soon here. For now, here is a taste of what’s to come. I was about to ask Brandon and Courtney for a series of romantic poses, but when I turned around, Brandon was already in character . . . VERY cool, I think.
American Gothic ?
Elizabeth and Fletcher: Beautiful Savior Lutheran & K Star Ranch Wedding
Elizabeth and Fletcher were married recently at the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Mansfield. They made the quick drive over to The K Star Ranch for their reception. We were on hand to capture all of the moments. Here are a few images, and a sneak peek at some of their wedding album pages.
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The Boys
The Shoes
The Bride
The Groom
Together
The Bridal Party at K Star Ranch
The Ball and Chain
Honeymoon!
Tish & Brandon: Kessler Park & The Magnolia Hotel Wedding
The Kiss
The Bride
The Boys
The Groom
The Bridal Party
The Flower Girls
The Little One
The Something Old
Tish's Parents
The Shoes
Married !
The Cake
The Party !
The Bouquet Toss
Christy & Alfred | Old Red Museum Dallas Wedding Photography
Christy and Alfred were married on Saturday at the Old Red Museum in Dallas. The 4th floor has tons of great locations, and the ceremony was beautifully lit by huge banks of windows. Thanks to Tamara and Krista at Eventfully U for their attention to detail on the day-of planning. Christy herself, and her event planning company Swank Soiree planned the event for months, with outstanding results. The cake from Delicious Cakes was FABULOUS! Richmond Punch played a beautiful violin piece during the ceremony (pictured below). We really enjoyed working at the Old Red Museum. There are sooo many photo opportunities, we wished the day had been longer. It would be a fabulous location for a bridal or engagement session. Given the time constraints of a very tightly scheduled wedding, we are very happy with the images we created for Christy and Alfred.
Since the old red museum's 4th floor has a court room, we made good use of it with the guys.
Alfred thought he'd make a break for it, but the guys held him back!
Alfred opens the card from Christy that was in his gift.
One quiet moment for a prayer.
The cake. (YUMMY, by the way!)
Christy reacts as she opens a gift from Alfred
Christy and her dad make their way down the aisle.
Christy and her dad at the altar.
The Old Red Museum provided great light for the ceremony. Love this smile Christy gives.
Richmond Punch, violinist, as he waits to play during the ceremony.
The wedding party has some fun on the staircase at the Old Red Museum in Dallas.
Christy and Alfred during their first dance.
Christy and her dad during the Father-Daughter dance.
A quiet moment together while the guests finished dinner at the reception.
At Home Wedding: Tom & Kelly
Tom and Kelly were married at their Red Oak home on Friday. We were on hand to capture their ceremony and family reception. The weather was perfect and their north facing porch made a perfect outdoor studio. Here are a few favorites from their night.
