Such is the moment here from Kristen and Mike’s Wedding in the Stephen F Austin Hotel:

Kristen wrote to me about this photo:  We love the one that is featured on your website in our reception.  This picture captures the pure joy and elation Mike and I felt that after 5 years of dating, we were finally married and ready to celebrate!!!

We feel the same way.  Love, love, love it!

One of the things that I always focused on is the relationships between family and generations.  Kristen is getting her veil on and I noticed her mom is seated in the exact same position as Kristen, along with another bridesmaid in the back.  I love the symmetricity and the meaning it has.

What do Michael Jackson, Speechmaking class, a daring flower color combo (hint hint – dark/purple flowers, supposed to be the new trend in 2010), and the University of Texas have in common?

It’s Kristen and Mike’s wedding day!

I met Kristen, her sister Kathryn and her mom Erin a few months back after the referral of a  sister of a couple of mine from 2007, Melinda (who is a bridesmaid at Kristen’s wedding as well), so I didn’t meet Mike until the rehearsal.  One of the interesting things (and also proven by research) in life is when a couple stays together longer, they tend to look increasing similar in both how they look and how they interact.  When Hazel met them on the wedding day she told me the exact same thing as well.

Hence, U.T.    Here’s Kristen’s official story about how they have met each other:

“Kristen and Mike met when Kristen was a Freshmen and Mike was a Sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin in a class called Speechmaking and Society. Everyday Kristen would notice that Mike was sitting one seat closer until finally he was sitting with her everyday during class. On the last day of class Mike made the bold move of walking Kristen to her next class instead of walking directly home. While they were crossing Dean Keeton, deeply engrossed in conversation, they didn’t even notice that they had walked into traffic! Thankfully Mike was able to lead Kristen across the street out of the way, but after that incident Kristen’s interests in Mike were piqued. After a summer apart (and much persistence by Mike) Kristen and Mike began dating the following Fall and have been together ever since!”

We love that “one seat closer” part!   Kristen is a member of the Chi Omega sorority and Mike is a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity while in school.   Kristen is now a 6th grade school teacher and Mike is pursuing his law degree at SMU in Dallas, TX.

I like attending rehearsals and if it’s a saturday wedding in Austin, especially a church wedding (due to church rules), I usually try to attend it – it gives me an idea of what their wedding would be like particularly in the reception.  I noticed the groomsmen were goofy, which is always, a good sign.  Fun groomsmen usually meant the wedding reception would be an exciting one.   (Not to mention they booked one of Austin’s best (wedding) bands,  Dysfunshun Junkshun Band too…)

Here are images from their wedding day:

Rainy day and listening to Pretty Young Thing from Michael Jackson when she gets ready… you know the party will be good when Michael Jackson is played 9 hours before the end of reception….

Kristen’s sister Kathryn is a having  hard time opening that bottle of champagne…

This is one of my favorite images of the year – i like symmetrical images as well as generational images and this one has both.  Kristen and her mom Erin sitting in the exact position, with two bridesmaids Kate and Christine behind them.  When I look this image I always thought about that one day Kristen will be sitting in her mom’s chair and watching her daughter get married.

Goofing around in formals time

Meanwhile the girls are dancing in the room – photo taken by Hazel.  Synchronized dancing?

Love how her dad Tony looked at her right before the time…

Another one by Hazel…

Her florist,  Flora Fetish, did a great job on the arrangements.

Her cake vendor is Simon Lee Bakery

I like the veil on the strawberry

Mike’s dad Rick…

Kristen’s mom Erin….

You know the party is going to be great when the parents dance so early!

Her sorority sisters serenaded to Kristen.

Too bad Mike didn’t get serenaded from his fraternity brothers..

UT alumni’s…  definitely beats the numbers of Aggies in this wedding..

I like symmetrical images

Two thumbs up!

Mike’s mom Donna…

Bridesmaids Anne and Kate  were doing some sort of  wavy dance, while Melinda sings with the bride and groom…

In the bouquet catch, as in basketball, height matters…

Kristen’s mom and aunts…

My favorite image of the evening…

Congratulations Kristen and Mike!!!   What a fun wedding and reception!!

Austin wedding photography by Ku Photography LLC