Laura & Carlos :: Lexington Wedding

Laura & Carlos 101: That's what I got when I arrived at the church to start taking pictures.  Laura, a Kentucky native (we actually grew up at the same church, went to the same schools and our brothers are the same age) and Carlos, who came to Kentucky from the Dominican Republic on a baseball scholarship met in grad school were in town a few weeks before their wedding for us to hash out all the details.  They spent pretty much every second of that weekend meeting up with all the vendors and getting alterations made.  Whew!  So little time for the pleasantries, but Carlos and I had some time to catch up before picture taking commenced.

As I mentioned, they met in grad school.  Then as life has it, the next chapter in Carlos' life took him to Missouri.  Laura, not willing to let such a gentleman slip through her fingers, faithfully followed him to the mid-west.  And the rest is history...

Their big day was full of celebration and tradition (both Catholic and Spanish)!  Many of Carlos' family and closest friends made the international trip to celebrate their 'forever.'  And any multi-cultural gathering wouldn't be complete without charades and interpreters. 

Their big day was also full of emotion, as most weddings are.  I couldn't even keep a dry eye during their 'first look.'  Seriously, I don't know what it is...is this what motherhood does to you?!  Maybe it was Carlos and his genuine love for his bride.  He actually asked myself and the other photographer what our best advice was on marriage.  How many grooms do you know ask that to two almost complete strangers?  Or maybe it was the spontaneous and passionate kisses he kept peppering his beautiful bride to be...which always caused a frenzy of Spanish phrases to be uttered from his fellow DR friends!  Whatever it was, it was quite obvious he was head over heels for his bride to be.  

The big day was not only full of tradition and emotion, but patience as well.  Due to the time of the nuptuals and Saturday evening mass, formals had to be taken at a separate location.  Lucky for us Waveland State Historic Site was just down the street and they didn't mind a bit that we took pictures there.  However, unlucky for us was the forecast.  Rain.  We consider ourselves VERY fortunate to have gotten the bride and grooms pictures done before the heavens opened up.  I had planned on Waveland since it also has large covered porches around the mansion...just incase rain thought it could scare us away!  What is more memorable than wedding pictures with rain umbrellas?!  

Enough of my blabbing....here are the images from Laura & Carlos' big day along with everyone who made this day special!

Church: Pax Christi Catholic Church

Reception: The Signature Club of Lansdowne

Wedding Coordinator: Cathy Scott

Flowers: Brook Grow with Fields in Bloom

Cake: The Sugar Forest

DJ: Mike Graves with Music by Mike G

Photographer's assistant: Lisa Hammond 

The bridesmaid's dresses had POCKETS!

A Spanish tradition is the coin ceremony.  Coins are handed down in the family from generations. 

Spanish tradition of the groom walking the mother down the aisle. 

The priest is the bride's uncle.  Hands down BEST homily or sermon I've heard at a wedding.  His message needs to be heard from everyone considering marriage and be incorporated in premarital classes/counseling!