Canyonwood Ridge Classic Wedding - Chandler + Clint

Meet Chandler & Clint y’all! It has been such a blessing being able to get to know these two throughout their engagement & months leading up to their big day. We had a great time on their Engagement Session last year & it seems like just yesterday we were fine tuning their wedding day timeline & prepping for their wedding. Their special day was nothing short of perfect & the details that were thought of so well and made everything come together!

What do you get when you combine a couple who is madly & genuinely in love, dressed to the nines, put them on a perfect hill during golden hour, hand them perfect florals and a fun bridal party? A photographer’s dream, that’s what! It was such a blessing to be able to photograph Chandler & Clint’s wedding at Canyonwood Ridge - y’all, this venue is stunning & so easy to photograph - so many architectural aspects I truly loved & plenty of areas for great photographs. Let me just say that golden hour is perfect behind the venue on the hill!

It is always a pleasure working with Lola Beauty for their amazing hair & makeup abilities. Also, every time I work with Taylor Bible Weddings & Giselle Smith (Florist), I am always so grateful for how professional , organized & talented these ladies are. The work these ladies do together is extremely impressive & only make my job easy - you can be assured, whatever they set up will be photo-ready!

One thing I noticed throughout the entire wedding day is the amount of love both Chandler & Clint both have for the Lord. From the words that were exchanged between Chandler & Clint during their ceremony, to the women & bridesmaids laying hands on Chandler to pray over this next step in her life, this family has a way of making sure that their faith was evident. Guests & family members alike found it hard to contain their support of Chandler & Clint’s marriage with the dozens of smiles from ear to ear - overflowing joy that was a constant theme throughout the day.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE AMAZING VENDORS FOR

MAKING CHANDLER & CLINT’S WEDDING COME TO LIFE:

Venue: Canyonwood Ridge

Caterer: Pignetti’s

Cake: Morgan Pearl Cakes

Assorted Desserts: SureGood Sweets

Wedding Coordinator: Taylor Bible Weddings

Florist: Lovely Leaves Floral (Giselle)

Hair and Makeup: Lola Beauty

DJ-  Braylon Smither

Videographer- Say “I Do” Weddings (Drew)

Rentals: Confetti Rentals

Rentals: Whim Hospitality

Chandler & Clint,

I hope married life has been treating y’all well! I consider myself very blessed being able to be your Engagement & Wedding photographer. It was a joy getting to know both of you & I want you to know throughout the time you were Engaged (& after), it has been encouraging to me to see how much you lean on the Lord to guide you. Chandler, your bible verse postings on Instagram were a constant refreshment (& still are) in my life & I just want you to know that. Think, then, even more so, about how much you can influence each other with scripture. You two certainly have the love of Christ in you & it’s obvious - a trait I often find my mind & actions drifting away from at times. Might I add that it is quite refreshing to see a couple who truly loves the Lord & are moving forward together in their relationship with the goal of pleasing Him. I haven’t been married but two years now & I do not by any means have all the answers. I do however know the one who does have all the answers & when things get difficult, don’t forget that the Lord is already working out your future for your good - together!

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

both you & your family were extremely welcoming & I am grateful to have been your photographer for such an amazing time in your life. Don’t be strangers!

With Love,

Lyndsay

Fun in the Texas Sun- Front Yard Style

Let me just start by saying this little boy has my heart. If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, maybe you’ve caught this adorable little man being featured quite a few times now. If you haven’t yet, well, welcome to your official cuteness overload post of the day. This is my nephew, Carter. He is getting older by the day & I stopped by my sister’s house in San Antonio for an impromptu visit so I could hang out. Well, Summertime in Texas is hot y’all & so we decided to do an impromptu ‘Fun in the Sun’ session in the front yard with the hose & a sprinkler. I love being around Carter because he reminds me to take joy in the little things. His curiosity and fun spirit make him such a joy to be around & I am so grateful for my sweet nephew. I mean, seriously, could he be any cuter? Still trying to convince my sister to sign this little man up for toddler modeling :)

Megan + Trey Maternity Session

Megan and I met the first day of our Senior year in high school when her parents moved their family from Atlanta to San Antonio. We attended a small private school in North San Antonio. I'm talking less than 100 students per class small. So, when someone new came to our school, everyone noticed. I remember as that first day went on, I had been placed in a class with the 'new girl.' I vividly remember Megan being a bit shy, but also had a magnetic smile & a willingness to meet new people at our school. I remember making the transition myself from a public school to this small, close-knit private school where about 80% of the students had been peers going to this school since Pre-K. I remember feeling a bit odd just being added to this group of students even back in between my 4th & 5th grade year when I made my transitioned, However, I remember my first school year becoming easier as I was grateful for the friendships I made with girls that were kind to me and open to new girls being added to the school. Our Senior year of High school was one for the books & Megan was usually involved with the most fun stories with our group of friends. Although our friendship began that short Senior year in High School and despite almost always living in different states or cities, our friendship has grown in the past decade. Throughout the years, not only has Megan introduced me to the best Atlanta rap music and also to the calming practice of yoga, but she has also been quite an inspiration of mine for how well she handles and copes with Lyme disease & different struggles she is so authentic in sharing. Her authenticity in her story has shown me her strength & courageousness many people our age shy away from.

After college in Colorado, Megan moved to Dallas and that is where she met the love of her life and now husband, Trey. Want to know the crazy part of their story? He was a Junior at our small private school the year we graduated & when Megan went off to school in Colorado, they were only acquaintances. Fast forward to years afterwards and God crossed their paths again in Dallas. Now, several years later, they are married and expecting their first child. Sometimes I forget how important my job is. It's days like this when I can look back at the moments I am able to capture for each of my clients that truly reminds me of my 'WHY?'. My 'Why' is to love & serve my clients & being able to do this for such a deserving couple and close friends is truly is a reminder of why I do what I do.

Also, can you just go ahead and see why I think Megan radiates the term ‘Pregnancy Glow’ ? How adorable is this excited, happy & expecting momma? Seriously can’t wait to see y’all as parents!

Megan and Trey,

Zach & I really appreciate you coming up to visit us in Lago Vista. We couldn't be more excited for you both as you walk in to this next chapter of your lives together. We know you will both make great parents to your sweet girl & we both truly appreciate your friendship even after all these crazy years. I can't wait to meet your new bundle of joy in August!

Psalm 127:4-5 "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. "

With Love,

Lyndsay & Zach

Tesoro Mio - Lake Como Italian Summer Wedding - In the Heart of Texas

This blog post is different than most - I’ll explain this post a bit more, but you’ll have to read a bit. If you just want to take a look at the photos, I wouldn’t be mad either. Read this post however you’d like - skim or read every word - you are welcome to do either!

Once or twice a year, I take on project called a Styled Photo Shoot. If you are unfamiliar with what a Styled Photo Shoot is, here are 3 reasons I participate in Vendor-only planned photo shoots:

1. Relationships - Styled shoots are a great way to meet and work with other wedding vendors and by working on a combined project helps to develop truly meaningful business relationships for the future. Also, it’s nice to interact with each vendor on a day that is not someone’s wedding day. The joy in that simple fact leads my to my reason #2…

2. Creative Initiative - every vendor has ideas that are in line with the vision for the shoot, but in their particular craft. Each vendor brings to the table each piece of the aesthetic vision for the shoot & it’s rewarding to see everything come together! It’s exciting to see the ideas portrayed on the mood board brought to life. It allows a place and space for creatives to be creative without client requests to come first. It is a time where you and each participating vendor can 'flex their creative muscles' & pitch new ideas.  

3. Inspiration & Media Content - It is the heart of each vendor involved in a styled photo shoot to come up with fresh take on a specific color palette & theme. We all want to create inspiration for all engaged couples who would see these images and are planning their own wedding! Possibly, at least one couple could gather inspiration from the work we’ve done, I consider that a success! This shoot also benefits each vendor involved so they can showcase images of their craft/service on their website or social media pages. This will hopefully generate cross - business promotional traffic for one another.

To all participating vendors in this photo shoot,

Thank you! Thank you for your time preparing and planning. Thank you for coming together to create such a fun, fresh & Summer - themed Styled Photo Shoot! I appreciate each and every one of you. It was a blessing to photograph each of your specialties/crafts/rentals/services, etc. I am grateful for your dedication to your business & I want to encourage you that I am so proud to work alongside you in this wedding industry. Cheers to you, your hard work day in and day out, keeping your business alive & thriving! Cheers to all of our collective effort & hard work for this photo shoot! I hope you can enjoy & use these images for years to come & I hope to work with each of you again very soon!

With Love,

Lyndsay

If you’d like to know a bit more information regarding our inspiration for the photo shoot, keep reading.

We planned this shoot for over 3 months. extremely talented wedding vendors throughout the Austin area came together to present a dreamy Summer themed wedding Styled Shoot. Without further ado, I'd love to share our thoughts behind the magic:

Title of Shoot: Tesoro Mio - Lake Como Italian Summer Wedding - In the Heart of Texas

Our vision for this photo shoot all started by dreaming of what a summer wedding in Italy would be like with breathtaking views overlooking Lake Como. The phrase "Tesoro Mio" in Italian means "my darling" or "my treasure" when referring to the bond between someone special in our lives. We don't exactly have the same translation in English, but I found this phrase to be so unique, that I found myself drawn to the need to represent this particularly special bond through photos. This phrase only seemed proper to portray with the stunning backdrop views Vintage Villas has to offer overlooking Lake Travis, which is just outside of Austin. By tying in subtle Italian inspiration and fresh Summer vibes, our design goal was to combine our love for European travel with an appreciation of the sweeping Texas lake views nestled within the rolling Texas Hillcountry.

Our color palette for this shoot was a subdued sky blue, navy and touches of yellow with fresh lemons. We teamed up with the talented Lunita Calligraphy, to create white & light blue wedding invitations. Olive leaves, black eyed beauty anemones and blue sea holly's were our main source of inspiration for the bride's bouquet and dinner table inspiration. The gorgeous flowers for this shoot were designed by the ever-so-talented Lemon Leaf Florist. As guest gifts, we created a DIY honey jar to pay homage to the exquisite honey that is unique to the Lake Como region. Specific to the Northern part of Lake Como, the uniqueness of the honey of this area stems mainly from the variety of plant species available to the bees - more specifically, the Alto Lario area. Despite being located in the foothills of the Alpine, it is home to a  particularly rare varied flora, giving it a hint of Mediterranean notes & thanks to the mitigating presence of the lake.

My jaw dropped when I first saw the wedding gown on our model. We visited Blush Bridal’s new salon (cannot say enough about how cute this place is!) & when she tried on this gown, we knew it was the right one for our shoot! The intricate lace detail is extremely memorable and the sheer lace that reveals the bride's legs gives this Calla Blanche gown just the right amount of sensuality. Our idea for the cake, made by the amazing Simply Delicious Custom Cakes, was to capture the natural beauty of being married next to lake and the relaxing blue tones of each wave as they crash against the shoreline. The reflection of gold on the top layer of the cake was inspired by the rays of sunlight hitting the bride's jewelry in heat of the Summer. If I could give a bride any piece of advice, it would be to take at least 5 minutes just you and your new husband and reflect on the beauty of the day and your love for one another. Just for a brief moment in time, pause, breathe, give one last kiss just before the sun goes down to reflect on your love as your new title as husband and wife.

We teamed up with the extremely talented Valerie, from Lettered by Valerie, to create acrylic circular dinner menus for our table setting - not only did they perfectly fit, it added just the right touch to complete the table top scene. The wooden table, chairs, chargers, silverware and glassware were all provided by Monarch Event Rentals. If you have not been to their new showroom & warehouse, you have to go check it out! Also, we teamed up with Kendra Scott & selected several gold pieces that complimented the neckline of both our model & the wedding dress. As always, they did not disappoint! We went for an all gold look with the jewelry - we went with the naturally draping Kendra Scott Watson necklace & paired the necklace with the Calla Gold Cuff Bracelet , the Delphine Pinch Cuff Bracelet Set & the fabulous Martha statement earrings.

The other word that spurred me on to pursue this shoot was the word "Sprezzatura".  In Italian, this is more of a concept than a word and was created in the 16th century by Baldassare Castiglione in his work The Book of the Courtier. It means a kind of effortless elegance. To be truly "sprezzatura", you should make sure you are never trying too hard. I love this word & this is also a word I would love for each of my couples to embody on such a memorable and romantic day in their lives.

The groom’s suit was handmade by Tolo Clothier, a men’s ‘Made to Measure Clothing Company that offers desired GQ looks at a fraction of the price’. The attention to detail on the jacket of this suit was extremely impressive & intricate. What a great option for a special suit to be specifically made for him to wear while he says his vows to the love of his life! The hair & makeup for the bride, by Lola Beauty, was laid back elegance.

Venue/Planning: Vintage Villas

Photography/Design: Lyndsay Lyon Photography

Florist: Lemon Leaf Florist

Jewelry: Kendra Scott

Models (Bride+Groom): Jess + Leif

Rentals (Table, chairs & dishware): Monarch Event Rentals

Cake: Simply Delicious

Bridal Store: Blush Bridal Lounge

Hair & Makeup: LoLa Beauty

Menu Calligraphy: Lettered By Valerie

Invitation Design: Lunita Calligraphy

Wedding Dress: Calla Blanche

Groom's Attire: Tolo Clothier

Old World Romantic

At Villa Antonia with Lily & Andrew

Let me introduce you to one of the most amazing secrets hiding in the Texas hill country just Northwest of downtown Austin. The place I’m referring to is called Villa Antonia. If someone were to blindfolded me, take me on a plane for over 12 hours and somehow land back right here in Texas, drove me out 30 minutes to this treasure of a place & take my blindfold off and ask me where I think we are in the world, I would think it to be the hillsides of Spain. Sun rays draping across miles and miles of tree-covered countryside as far as the eye can see. Breathtaking is the word I would use to describe this venue, Villa Antonia. What a marvelous location for a love story to unfold if I do say so myself. Lily & Andrew were destined to be together and at one point, thousands of miles and separated the two from meeting again- but we all know fate has this way of sneaking in to our lives when we least expect it. This, my friends, is the story of Lily & Andrew.

Q: Lily, How did you meet Andrew?

Andrew and I met initially through mutual friends at UT Austin at a Japanese Association event as we both loved and were learning Japanese. We lived our own lives for a while, graduated college, and both moved to Japan at different times. We again met during our time in Japan through mutual friends, however it wasn't until I moved back to Austin where he and I started to talk via messenger. That's when we spent a few months talking to each other nonstop and when he visited Austin for Christmas break from Japan, we met up for a third time and fireworks flew on New Years Eve night. Since then it was long distance for about 8 months before he packed his stuff up and moved back home to Texas to be together.

Q: Andrew, How did you propose to lily?

I had everything planned out for a picture perfect proposal under the cherry blossoms in a park in Tokyo, with her friends (who were also visiting Japan separately) to pop out at the end of it as a surprise! However, the weather was terrible, it was too cold for cherry blossoms, the day I planned for had a 100% chance of rain. So I scrapped that plan a day early, sent frantic text messages to all her friends, changed the location of the proposal twice as I was running around looking for a good last minute spot, and finally settled on a nice forest walk on the way to a Japanese shrine, under the guise of "taking a walk together with my friend I wanted her to meet". In the end, everything worked out great, I pulled her off the main road to a cute, secluded forest path, her friends hiding in plain sight (Lily had no idea), proposed, and her friends popped out with perfect timing. It was definitely an experience to remember.

Lily & Andrew,

It was an honor being your wedding photographer. I hope your marriage grows throughout the years in to something even more amazing from this day forward. I pray you lean on each other in hard times and share in laughter with one another in the good times. I pray that god will bless you both with health and many years together and enjoying each other’s company. It is such a blessing to be able to work with such amazing couples such as yourselves.

With Love,

Lyndsay

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Floral design: Currents Decor & Design • Venue: Villa Antonio • bride’s dress: BHLDN (BHLDN Houston) • Bridesmaids dresses: Azazie • Bride’s shoes: Besty Johnson - Bridal Line (Adley) • Cake: Kacey’s Cakes • Catering: Rosemary’s Catering • DJ: DJ Bryne Rock • Groom’s suit and groomsmens’ suits: HOLA HongKong • Beauty: Foundry Salon • Bride’s Perfume: Mimosa by Commodity • Photographer: Lyndsay Lyon Photography • Rentals: Olive & Bell •

Botanical Beauties

At the San Antonio Botanical Gardens & The Pearl with Jennifer + Brian

Let me just start by saying this blog post will be a bit difficult for me to write without a few happy tears landing on my keyboard as I type. Six years ago, I was studying to get my degree in Photography from Texas State University. During my years in college, I met hundreds and hundreds of people, on campus, through classes, organizations and mutual friends. However, only a handful of friends have truly stuck by my side throughout the years following college. Often, my dedication to making my business come to life has also come with a certain degree of sacrifice. For me, that sacrifice came in the form of little to no social life being that I was working a full time job on top of running my photography business.

“Friendship is not about who you’ve known the longest. It’s about who walked into your life and said “I’m here for you” and then proved it.”

There are some people in life that make you laugh a little louder, smile a little bigger and live just a little bit better. When Jennifer and I met, we immediately hit it off (Yes, Brian, I met her first, remember that!). During those years of me giving up much of my social life to pull ‘all nighters’ editing a client’s gallery during the work week, Jennifer stayed in touch with me. Even when we lived in different cities and it would be easy to forget about each other. She stayed in touch & I really appreciated knowing we would pick up just where we left off every time we were able to meet up in person.

We took a girl’s trip that summer down to the coast to celebrate 4th of July. I consider it such a blessing to have Jennifer as a true friend in my life and she’s seen my business grow throughout the years. She’s the kind of person you can just be honest with, & she will give it to you straight. She’s the friend everyone needs. She’s the kind of person you can sing at the top of your lungs with while driving along the coast with the windows down or have a late night belly laugh with because of how crazy life is. This gorgeous lady was a bridesmaid in my wedding just last year & gave a speech that brought me to tears in front of my closest friends and family. She’s the kind of person who would rent a UHAUL with me just to load it up with antique furniture for my wedding in San Antonio and drive up to Austin with me to help unload it!

Seriously, I have officially hit the jackpot of friends with this woman. Years ago, when Jennifer first began telling me about this “amazing guy she met named Brian”, I was excited to meet him, but I also wondered if he had what it took to not only handle Jennifer’s bold & loving self, but I had questions. Did he deserve to call my dear friend his girlfriend? Would he treat her right? Was this the love that would make my friend light up for life?

I eventually met Brian & got to know a bit about his background, began to see his character and started to really enjoy his personality. Let me tell you, I’m a pretty strict “boyfriend-acceptor” for my friends, because I truly know how valuable each of my friends are and that they deserve to be treated with respect, support, comfort & a deep love no one can explain other than it being a '“God thing” that brings the two together.

Well, Brian, this is a bit overdue I assume, but I’ll go on and announce here publicly for the world to read - I wholeheartedly accept you as Jennifer’s other half. You may be reading this as a joke, but as I sit here typing about your amazing fiance and my friend Jennifer, I am holding back tears knowing that you have crossed paths for a reason & that your relationship is very much a blessing.

Let me tell you Brian, from behind the scenes, from my eyes and from what I have experienced as her friend, I have heard Jennifer share her hopes, dreams and feelings regarding her life with you. The smiles that radiate from her face when she speaks your name is a sure sign of how happy she is when she is around you & I have no doubt with love and hard work, you will live a very happy life together.

I am honored to know you both & it is my privilege and honor to be your wedding photographer during this chapter of your new life together as it unfolds.

Jennifer & Brian,

Wow. Y’all are going to be married! If I was with you now Jennifer, I’d jump up and down in excitement for you and how you found your Mr. Right (Insert: Brian rolling eyes in corner while sipping on a beer). In all honestly though, to both of you, never forget that the relationship you have will go through highs and lows, but above it all- it is a BLESSING. I pray the stresses of this world will not break the bond you have together and that you are always able to see the good in the other, especially when it is difficult. Those times will strengthen your relationship the most. I hope these last few months leading up to the wedding are a source of peace and a great time to bond with each other & you are able to go on a few last dates as an amazing engaged couple before you tie the knot. I am beyond words excited for the big day & Zach & I cannot wait to be there to capture all the wonderful emotions from your wedding in December! To my dear friends, I love you & wish you the very best. Can’t wait!

With Love,

Lyndsay

Interesting Facts:

- Brian absolutely LOVES botanical gardens & even has had memberships to different gardens in the past. For the record, San Antonio Botanical Gardens is gorgeous!

-Jennifer & Brian will be getting married in late December at the Randolph Air Force Base Chapel & have their reception at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio.

-Brian is an Air force pilot & so is my father. In fact, my dad was a flight instructor at Randolph AFB in San Antonio for several years & Brian often flies in to the same base sometimes, so it’s second nature to me being on base near the airplanes. Crossing my fingers for access to the airplanes on the day of the wedding! (A girl can dream, okay!)

-This will be my first wedding to be a bridesmaid & also the photographer & I am considering creating a post to show how to do this successfully. Let me know if you’d be interested in knowing how I’m planning on doing both jobs well!

Bride Swipes Mr. Right!

At Rustic Ranch in Wimberly, TX with Dylan + Ashley

In regards to the dating scene in the world right now, can I just be the first one to call out the elephant in the room? Finding true love these days seems to be awfully difficult & dating through an app often seems like a bit disconnected and impersonal, but also tends to be one of the only ways people like to initially connect in today’s busy world. I mean, let’s face it - a rather intimidating number of people on the internet don’t ever end up together forever, or even for more than a date or two. Online dating is notorious these days for terms like ‘catfishing’, ‘ghosting’ ‘sliding into the DM’ & even ‘submarining’ (I promise, they are all ‘a thing’, look them up!) With the app called Tinder, over 40 million people are trying to find love and It’s a popular culture that is now the norm in the dating arena. With the amount of people using the app, you’d think the success rate would be a bit higher for ‘matches’ ending up together, but often times, individuals will create a profile knowing full well they aren’t emotionally available for a relationship & are just looking to meet new attractive people. Let’s face it, Tinder has a bad wrap and is often known more for finding heartbreak than it is for finding your forever.

However, I am here to genuinely restore your faith in humanity and especially for everyone out there who needs to have their faith restored in the modern way of dating, through an app, that has become so prevalent. The universal desire that most people deep down are longing for - to find someone to spend their life with - it still exists. Right here, ladies and gentleman, I bring you a remarkable story of Ashley & Dylan. Anyone that knows these two knows the love they share and it is evident whenever they walk in to the room.

Their story all started by swiping right. Both Dylan & Ashley had Tinder profiles to possibly find a date with someone they would be interested in & after not having any luck, they were both about go delete the app. Just before ditching the app, they both stumbled on each other’s profiles & swiped RIGHT.

They talked briefly on the app and Ashley messaged Dylan back one last time & told him she would be deleting the app & if he wanted to talk to her, he could text her and go from there. Well, Dylan also deleted the app & because he thought she was absolutely stunning, he pursued her request to text her instead. Their first date was actually to a bonfire with Dylan’s friends & they hit it off flawlessly. As time went on, there were several more dates they enjoyed together and before they knew it, they were committed to each other and truly in love.

After hundreds of dates and two and a half years later, Dylan just knew Ashley was going to be his wife. Dylan saved up and bought a ring and actually ended up proposing on their second year of being official & even had Ashley’s mom hold the ring for him for three months so she wouldn’t find out. His plan to propose he wanted to be a surprise & that is exactly what it was! Ashley & Dylan went on a family vacation with Ashley’s family & in front of everyone (including Dylan’s mother via FaceTime), he got down on one knee & asked Ashley to be his wife. She was thrilled he had asked & immediately said YES! Looking back on that day, when Ashley swiped right, little did they know, she was really swiping Mr. RIGHT!

When Ashley and I met at the Bridal Extravaganza last Summer, we talked for quite a while. We hit it off immediately as she told me the details of what she had in mind for her and Dylan’s wedding. She explained the venue was Kevin Fowler's venue in the beautiful Texas hill country & she was overjoyed to tell me each detail. I loved talking with her that day & I just knew we would be a good fit. They rocked their Engagement Session & it was such a pleasure to get to know these two!

Ashley & Dylan,

It was such a blessing being your wedding photographer! I really enjoyed our time together & your wedding was absolutely perfect! For the record, Ashley, you looked gorgeous in your wedding dress & I hope you both had the most amazing day. I’m so in awe of how you two met & it really gives me faith in the modern dating world. I truly consider you both as a blessing in my life & I hope you can enjoy your photographs that captured your big day for generations to come! If you two ever get in to an argument, just look back & remember this day and how much love you share together. Remember to brush off the small stuff & choose to love on days when it’s hard. I believe the Lord will bless you two in your years to come! Don’t be strangers & be sure to keep in touch!

With Love,

Lyndsay

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”

— Proverbs 18:22

Special thanks to the following vendors who made this day possible:

Venue: Rustic Ranch

Photographer: Lyndsay Lyon Photography

Flowers, Catering & Decor: Dream Events

Hair & Make-Up: Adore Makeup Boutique & Salon

Cake: Classic Cakes By Lori

DJ: Toast Entertainment

Rentals: Amelia's Weddings

Bride's Dress Brand: Morilee

Bridal Salon: Debi’s Bridal Salon

Bride's Wedding Boots: Corral (Style:Martina White)

Bride's Perfume name & brand: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream

Bridesmaids' Dress brand: Lulu’s

Groom & Groomsmen Suit Brand: Men's Wearhouse

Bride’s Ring: Stone Creek Jeweler

Groom’s Ring: Staghead Designs

Groom’s Belt: Slades Saddle Shop

Sunny Rays

At Texas Old Town in Kyle, TX with Ryan + Monica

I'm not quite sure where I picked this up along my path, but one of my favorite quotes is this:

“If two hearts are meant to be Together,
no matter how long it takes, how far they go, how tough
it seems, fate will bring them Together to share their love forever.”

Meet Monica and Ryan y'all! I am still so blown away by their crazy twist of fate. The very first time they 'met' was actually in Pre-School! Yes, this couple technically met when they were only 4 years old and now they are husband and wife! Well, soon after they met all those years ago, Ryan's family ended up moving away to a different state entirely and a crazy twist of fate many years later would bring the two again together. There is something so special about how and when love decides to introduce itself and its timing is always perfect. I fully believe in the power that brings two people together and their story is too good not to share.

All those years later, Monica explains a bit more about the first time she actually remembers meeting the man that would later become her husband:

“Of course, neither of us remember meeting each other at that age. What we do remember? Ryan was visiting Austin one weekend with a friend while taking classes that summer in Beaumont. Monica was taking summer classes at UT and was only really expecting her friend Kristin to stay for the weekend. After hopping in the backseat of Kristin’s car to grab dinner, behold! There was Ryan Jones. The rest is history.”

— Monica

Monica handed me her details to photograph as soon as I arrived to the venue and included in these items were two vintage printed photographs and a beautiful intricate golden cross necklace. Monica and her mother began to explain how special this cross necklace was to their family. Monica explained the necklace belonging to her great great great grandmother, Johannah Otto. It was a cross she had received while converting from being a Mennonite to Catholicism so she could marry her great great great Grandfather.  The precious piece had since been passed down to Monica after all those years and she explained the two photographs were of her great great great Grandmother, Johannah and her grandfather, abuelito Manuel. The legacy this necklace holds is irreplaceable in Monica's family & it was such an honor to be able to capture this piece of history for such a sweet bride. She tied the necklace to her bouquet of flowers as a reminder of her heritage and the legacy of love that has been passed down throughout her family line.  

As they spent their time getting to know each other, they slowly began to fall in love and 6 years later, Ryan knew Monica was meant to be his wife.  He decided it was time to propose. The proposal in Monica's words:

“With a pick-your-own-adventure style of planning, he spent the day doing whatever I wanted to do. Since I was on-call and the phone could ring at any second (thank goodness it didn’t!) we stayed in, he brought me flowers, got pupusas from a hole-in-the-wall nearby, and played some board games. After demolishing Ryan Jones in the board game and coming out victorious, he gave me a card. It was adorable and sweet. I loved it. Predictably, the first thing I did was go to put it on the refrigerator. When I turned around he was waiting for me on one knee.”

— Monica

Okay, Ryan, you have the moves! A day to do whatever she wanted? Talk about a girl's dream! Oh, and I'm sorry for your loss due to Monica's amazing board game skills.  

Let me tell you, If you are lucky enough to know this sweet couple, consider yourself blessed. When you are around the two, you immediately understand the love they have for one another and how magnetic their connection truly is. During their Engagement Session at McKinney Falls last year, I noticed how calm Ryan was with Monica as she was walking (very bravely) in her high wedges. He offered a hand to pick her up from sitting down and also offered his shoulder for her to grab on to as she took her shoes off and back on, all with a smile. Monica was overflowing with joy on their wedding day and she explained how excited she was to marry Ryan.

Like I've said before, I am by no means a marriage expert, but I do know this: bringing both patience and joy in to a marriage will greatly help during some of life's challenges and even on the most mundane of days. These two have a way of making each other smile just with one look and this alone is evidence of their genuine love for one another.  

Monica & Ryan, 

 It was such a blessing being able to photograph your big day! The love you share between each other is one of a kind and I truly wish you each the best future together. Remember the patience and joy you have for one another. I hope that when you look back at all your photographs from your wedding, you immediately think of the genuine bond you have between the two of you. Fate has truly dealt you each cards that made you not only meet back up all those years later after going to Pre-School together as children, but also as combining your two paths together as one forever. Remember always - you are stronger unified as one. May you always remember how you felt on your wedding day and treat each other as a priority. It was such an honor to be able to witness and capture the amazing commitment you made to one another and I sincerely hope you stay adventurous together as you enjoy this new journey in your lives together!  

With Love,

Lyndsay

Special thanks to the following vendors who made this day possible:

Venue: Texas Old Town

Caterer: Catering by Mopsie

Flowers: Jordan's Flowers and Events

Hair & Make-Up: Katy Reddell Beauty

Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory

DJ: Hype Rhythm DJ

Rentals: Amelia's Weddings

Bride's Dress Brand: Mori Lee

Bridal Salon: Baley's Bridal

Bride's Shoe Brand: Betsey Johnson

Bride's Perfume name & brand: Wisteria Blue by Nest

Bridesmaids' Dress brand: Bill Levkoff

Groom & Groomsmen Suit Brand: Men's Wearhouse

“Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”

— Ephesians 4:2-3

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

— Ecclesiastes 4:12

Guadalupe Goodness

At Hideout on the Horseshoe in Canyon Lake, TX with Zach + Amber

Amber reached out to me last year wondering if I was still available to photograph her wedding on March 17th, and I was overjoyed being able to tell her I was in fact still available.  For the record, Amber & Zach's wedding date hits a bit closer to my heart in particular because my husband and I have our anniversary on 3.18.17, so their wedding was exactly one day before our one year anniversary. She explained, this particular Saturday landed on St. Patrick's Day, they would have green beer to drink and their wedding ceremony was going to be along the Guadalupe River.

As she explained what she had envisioned, with greenery draping the alter, wooden tables for guests and green and ivory as her accent colors, I began to light up. There is something special about hearing about the details that a bride has been dreaming of in her head for several months or sometimes even many years. 

 Let me tell you, the details on her wedding day came together so perfectly and all the planning and organizing was well worth the hard work because it all came down to one day. I consider this day one part luck of the Irish & one part gift from God. Let me explain...

Every detail was set in place and ready for Amber & Zach to have their ceremony. Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, rain starting coming down, hitting the river and soaking all of the chairs that were ready for the couple's guests to be seated. Amber became a bit worried, but after tracking the rain on the Storm app, it showed it was going to pass in a few minutes, so the bridesmaids turned the music up and enjoyed their own dance party together. I sat back & observed as the girls all shared a fun experience together jamming out to a fun playlist together & simultaneously created a memory they will always remember.

Just as forecasted, the rain soon passed and dozens of volunteers from the group came to the rescue to dry each row of chairs. There was no stopping this wedding & as soon as the chairs were dried, the guests were escorted to their seats.

Just as the ceremony began, the sun broke through the clouds and shined down over the ceremony as if announcing "Don't worry, I am here!". They say rain often brings the sun and I can't help but think about how true this is in marriage.

I'm no pro when it comes to the subject of marriage and I've only been married for a little over a year now, but I can reflect on how true it has been in my experience that there is something to be learned from 'weathering the storms' so to speak. As the rain fell down just before their ceremony, it reminded me that even when we have our own 'vision' of how a specific day or event will unfold, life happens. It humbly reminded me that it is in only my control to react positively or negatively to whatever is thrown my way and more often then not, I feel as though difficult times in marriage are often followed up with very fulfilling and joyful times.

The weather on this wedding day reminded me of marriage - when the rain comes and you don't feel as close to the person you married, or thought you married, to accept the situation for what is is. After all, my husband is human and I can't expect perfection, just like he cannot expect perfection from me. You see, just like the rain, life randomly gives situations to work through that often times are very difficult to wrap your head around.

It is my decision to accept this and if I can positively react and enjoy the very moment I am given to be alive, It is often easier recognize again of the goodness in my husband. It's almost God's reminder for me to not plan so much and to just enjoy each other and the time we have with one another - through rain or shine! This amazing wedding was a testimony to Amber & Zach's love for one another - they will love each other regardless of what they will weather and they'll be strong by doing this together and on the same team!

Smelling the flowers, seeing Amber in her gorgeous gown and seeing Zach's eyes swell up with tears as he saw his new bride walk towards him brought such an emotional moment for everyone, including me.

As the sun shined down on the couple as they said their vows of commitment to one another, I couldn't help but have a few tears in my eyes as well behind my camera. The scene was absolutely breathtaking as the couple stood next to the calm waters of the river as the sun shined above the ceremony, but the most beautiful part of the entire day was the words they exchanged and the commitment they made to one another that reflected the goodness they each have inside and the love they share between one another. Joy filled the air as the couple sealed the deal with a sweet kiss.   

e Amber & Zach, 

It Zach & I consider it such a blessing being able to be your wedding photographers on your big day....and how special we (almost) will share an Anniversary each year! Don't forget that just like your wedding day, the 'rain' will come. Try your best not to fight it, but to embrace the challenges life will throw you and to use that time to grow your 'personal character muscles', specifically of hope and love. I encourage you both to use the difficult circumstances life sends you as a test to make you stronger and to love one another even more during those times - when it's hardest to love. Always keep in mind, rain brings the sun and it had proven very true time and time again in my marriage. Make it your personal goal to focus on the good in one another and uplift each other each and every day. Your words can either uplift or tear down, so be very aware of what you say to one another. Above all, I hope you always speak well of each other in anyone's company, choose each decision as a team and consider first your commitment to one another before reacting to hard times. Learn to say "we will get through this together" and make up your mind to do just that. Don't forget, you can always learn to dance together in the rain! Love develops our character and isn't always a fairy tale, but you can each make the best of any situations by radiating a joyful presence to uplift the other. It was such a blessing to witness in person you both saying your vows to one another and Zach & I were so grateful for you playing our First Dance song as your last song of the night so we could celebrate our One year Anniversary. Cheers to you both as you begin your life together and don't be a stranger.

Special Thanks to these amazing Vendors for making this beautiful day possible:

Venue: Hideout on the Horseshoe (Amber)

Photography: Lyndsay Lyon Photography  (Lyndsay & Zach)

Video: Lyndsay Lyon Photography (Drew)

Coordination: Clearly Classy Events (Krysta)

Cake: Sweet Dreams Bakery

Cookie Cake: Great American Cookie

Catering: San Marcos BBQ (Justin)

DJ: DJ for Hire (John)

Florist: Wild Bunches (Bay)

Hair & Make-up: Lola Beauty 

Drink Service: The Party Staff

Officiant: Friend of bride & groom, Donna

PhotoBooth: 5050 Photobooth (Garrett)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

— James 1:2-5