Come As You Are

How many times have you been told "Just Be Yourself!" or "Do What Makes You Happy!"?  Weddings should be no exception.  For many brides, the wedding day is celebrated with a physical transformation complete with wedding gown, jewelry, new shoes, hair, makeup and a bouquet.  It is almost as if they become a new person for the day.  In choosing what you will wear for your wedding, it is possible to maintain your person style and still look radiant.  The traditional white dress, although beautiful and symbolic, has become the "norm".  But it's not for everybody.  It is important, that your wedding day and ceremony are meaningful and reflect who you are as a person as well.

Shooting small weddings, I have had the great opportunity to meet a diverse group of people.  I was extremely excited to work with this bride who was recently married at the Golden Horseshoe Inn in Stanardsville, Virginia.  Her personality and style go uncompromised in her choices. 

I love the way this bride's tattoo is left uncovered by her choice of dress.  If your body art is prominent and can't be covered, you can try and find a way to accentuate or feature it.  

The shoulder tattoo appears to be a natural part of this beautiful black lace-up dress. 

You can enhance your look and compliment your arms by adding a pair of long bridal gloves.

Dangling earrings are an excellent choice of ornamentation for brides who choose not to wear a veil.

Wearing a multi-color bridal dress can really make your patterns stand out.  Here, you can see how the gloves and the dress compliment one another. 

As a composition, you can see from this photo of the bride looking out of the window how your personal style can really shine through the everyday wedding dress.

The hair clip and necklace complete the look for this strapless dress ornamenting the hair and neck for portrait photography.

 

 This bride's look and feel was very natural and relaxed. 

 A comfortable bride is a happy bride!

It is amazing how all of these colors and contrasts come together in this photograph.  Simply beautiful.

During the vows, you can see how the Bridal Gloves add a touch of elegance to the hands. 

As a Bride embarking in a new stage of your life, I challenge you to find a way to let your personality shine.  The best way to enjoy your day is to be yourself and come as you are.