Sarah & Francis || Wedding Photography || Tempe Center for the Arts || Phoenix, Arizona

This is your warning in advance: prepare for an extra long and extended blog post ahead… and… you will absolutely LOVE this incredible couple. We had the pleasure last month to spend some time in Phoenix to photograph my (Eric's) cousin's wedding. My cousin Sarah is a cancer survivor by God's grace. She is also petite and white. Her groom, Francis, is from Uganda. He faced his own battles during childhood and survived by God's grace. He is not at all petite and not at all white. But these differences and similarities only make them a more beautiful and amazing couple. When you look at these two, you can't help but see the love and joy they have for each other (Oh, just wait. You'll see.) When people talk about finding the right one at the right time, Sarah and Francis are it. They would tell you that God kept them apart only to have them find each other at the perfect moment in life. We were so excited to be the ones to witness and capture their wedding day. 

There is one more personal note I'd like to share before the pictures take over. My grandmother, Dorothy, passed away one week after Sarah's wedding in Phoenix. Our pictures will be some of the last formal portraits of my grandmother that my family will have. What a privilege it is to take photographs of people at such an important event in their life. It is an honor, a terror, and an exhilarating challenge all at once. We have always and will always treat every wedding like it is our own family. We want your pictures to last forever and have the ability to always remind you of the most important thing on your wedding day... the people. Not just your dress, your cake, your flowers and the endless list of details that took months and even years to plan. We want people and relationships to stand in the forefront of what your day was about. The laughter of your bridesmaids while getting in your dress. The tears on your father's cheek as you dance your first dance as a married woman. The overwhelming joy you feel when you see your spouse for the first time on the wedding day. This is what your day is about. The people in your life and the emotion that springs from those relationships. This is what we capture. This is why we love our job. 

And now, onto one of our favorite weddings of the year. There were literally hundreds of photos we wanted to show, but we wrestled to narrow it down to these favorites...

When you can't find the angle, find a mirror...

Your dress was absolutely stunning on you Sarah...

We love when our couples choose to do first-looks because it gives us an extended period of time for portraits and gives the couple extra time to enjoy one another before the chaos of the wedding begins. And we must say, this first-look will be difficult to beat. Francis was so excited and completely stunned when he saw Sarah...

We spent an hour at the Tempe Center for the Arts which was amazing!!!

We were able to sneak a few photos in the gallery...

Sarah's sexy red shoes said "I DO" on the bottom...

Wow, Sarah. We were so honored to get these portraits of you. Love ya girl...

Like we said, don't you just love this couple!!!

We absolutely loved having the opportunity to photograph in Phoenix. This was our first desert wedding and we took full advantage of the gorgeous landscape during sunny 90 degree weather while our friends back in Ohio enjoyed the first snowfall of this winter. 

Before you ask, yes, the sky was that blue. This is Christy's view...

And my view...

And now for some beautiful ladies. Love the red shoes and charcoal dresses...

These are my grandparents Erv & Dorothy. Grandma Dort was a firecracker and always had such a big smile on her face. I love this picture of her next to her new grandson. 

Sarah & Francis's ceremony was so wild and fun. They had traditional African music that the bridal party danced to down the aisle while the children played instruments.

And the winner for best dance and most attitude goes to…

I started to tear up when I saw Jim look at Sarah through my camera...

Finally MARRIED! They danced all the way down the aisle again during their exit...

Then it was off to the party. You know we love our available light photography, but this was our darkest reception to date. We're talking dark here. Dark. My flash got some overtime use during the night but the darkness didn't stop Christy from snagging a few awesome shots like this...

Now that's how it's done...

This was the best fight we've ever had for the bouquet… (The bride's sister Jamie in the middle.)

One of the best groom dances...

And this was the best jump we've ever had for the garter… (That's my brother Isaac.)

We had SO MUCH fun with you guys! We were so honored to be there with you and share in the joy of your wedding. We can't wait for you to see the rest of your photos. We wish you guys all the best in the many years ahead. 

Like always, please share, pin and comment on the photos you love!

Gotta tell ya, my girl looks goooooood in this photo. One of my faves…

Love you, Sarah. :o)

Eric & Christy Photographers || Ohio Wedding & Portrait Photography

All photos © Eric & Christy 2013