stonebridge manor arizona wedding | dallas + emily | first look
this wedding was the last wedding of 2015 for me + elizabethand it couldn't have been a more perfect, more epic ending in getting to photograph Dallas and Emily.from the moment we showed up to the beautiful Stonebridge Manor in Mesa, Arizonaour lenses were filled with insanely beautiful moments and details that theyand the incredible team around them showered them with!I've had an incredibly difficult time culling through their images to narrow downwhat I wanted to show you first for their prelude...such beauty + detail in each one of these frames!the three moments that stand out to me that I wanted to share with you for their prelude first started with Emily.it was said often in the many toasts that their loved ones gave that "there is just something about Emily"...she makes each and every person she speaks to feel like they are the most important in the room...and so loved and so appreciated.and it isn't artificial...it's simply who she is.in getting to photograph her, her in all her beauty and grace and happiness on her wedding day, was nothing short of incredible.the second moment that stands out the most to me was of Dallas and Gloria...Gloria. I always end up watching the mother-of-the-groom a little closer...I know that in too few short of years that will be me with my own son.she had just left the girls getting ready room looking for her boys and wanting to spend a few more minutes with them in the guys getting ready roomwhen she ran into Dallas who was waiting for his letter that Emily had written to him to be read before the ceremony.her eyes softened as she straightened his tie one last time and then Dallas' eyes really looked at her.he wrapped her in his arms tightly for a minute and simply said "I love you."one of my all-time favorite moments of the day. :)the last moment I'll tell you about for this prelude is of Emily and her dad.Mike is well known in the business/social world as being Mike Ravenhill, CEO to the David Foster Foundation...he plans and executes extravagant social events and incredible fundraiser's for thousands around the world in a seemingly effortless way.in helping his daughter and son-in-law plan out their special day, I can only imagine the difficulty in balancing being CEO mike and being simply Emily's dad.the day was nothing short of a testament to his incredible event coordination skills...and I have to say, his dad moments - the momentswhere he was simply Emily's dad and nothing else, were well-protected and overwhelmingly poignant and special to photograph.the first time he saw Emily...his little girl grown-up,she tapped his shoulder as he waited to see her before she walked with him to become Mrs. Whitlow,as he turned around - his breath caught,you could see the happy overwhelmed-ness as seeing his girl, his beautiful girl radiant as a bride asking sweetly "how do I look?"his hands went to his face in an effort to reign his emotions in, but then with tear-filled eyes he brought her in to his arms and whispered "My beautiful Emmy."Cassandra + Amanda were right behind him and in a group hug, they held hands and prayed to God offering up Dallas + Emily's marriage and the day to Him.it was such an incredible moment to witness...really, the entire day was...so absolutely incredible to get to witness and photograph.I canNOT wait to show you the rest, Dallas + Emily...SO, SO, SO many happy congratulations to you! :)kreatid photography | elizabeth ann photographyvenue | stonebridge manorbride's dress | wtoobride's shoes | vince camutogroom's attire | perry ellisjewelry | martin katzflorals | zuzu's petals + fresh view eventscake + desserts | caketinimake up artists | melissa defer + cassandra ravenhillhair stylist | ciera denleyvideography | MG filmsevent coordination | mike ravenhill + Rowan Pickering of Event Team, Inc.musicians | david foster, fraser walters, kelly levesque, william joseph, daniel schwartz + dora lim