Dove Ridge Vinyard Wedding Photography. Ft Worth, TX
I’ve started this blog a handful of times if I’m honest.
Trying to juggle sorting, culling, and curating a gallery out of the thousands of photos from Ashley + Matt’s wedding while managing other sessions and weddings, traveling around the country a few times since this big day, and knowing that eventually I was going to have to try and put all of this day into words has left me at a total loss more than once. If you know me, you’ll understand how rare that truly is. Nonetheless Ashley + Matt not only deserve an entire page dedicated to them and their special day, but these photos (and SURPRISE video) really do encompass some of the best of what this job has to offer to Jared and I and the friendships that come along with it so here I am desperately hoping that if I wax poetic for long enough the story will take shape.
Fort Worth is the edge of our world on wheels.
Most of our destination weddings we simply fly to except for the ones in Kansas City, Tulsa, Little Rock, and somehow every once in awhile Dallas. It’s that 5ish hour drive that always manages to take 7. It’s the drive you make and immediately wish you’d flown. When we came in fairly late on Friday night to Fort Worth for this wedding we had a few things on our minds. It was Jared’s daughter’s birthday, a busy school and work day, and the peek of the most creatively demanding wedding season we’ve ever shot together and this drive was something neither of us were looking forward to and then somehow - about 4 hours in I realized we’d both relaxed. The todo list was a few hundred miles behind us, the wedding a few hundred ahead of us, and we were just hanging out as buddies and catching up on life instead of work stuff for the first time in awhile.
The next morning we woke up and got ready for the familiar wedding day prep. Cards checked, gear cleaned, batteries charges, tuxedos on and before we knew it we were off to downtown Fort Worth for what would turn out to be a crazy day filled with laughter and love and fun not only for Ashley + Matt, but also - for us. From the moment I walked through the door I was met with so much joy. Ashley’s hug is iconic. She truly hugs with her entire body, smiles ear to ear, and couldn’t wait for us to meet and connect with her people. Though I had also shot her sister’s wedding years ago and already knew a few of the people in the room the energy was electric in the room and we were instantly absorbed right into it. Before long I was down saying hi to the dudes and coming back to get Ashley’s makeup photos in time to see Jared and Amanda Reed (who had brought her incredible team down to Texas from Northwest Arkansas to plan and design this whole day) finishing up detail shots in the bedroom of the suite near a huge window and checking my watch to see just how quickly the morning had flown by. We were in it, fully a part of the family and the party, fully plugged into the images already and it was time to head to Dove Ridge and finally get a chance to really see this winery that had absolutely captivated Ashley + Matt as the place they had to have for their wedding.
The top of a hill overlooking endless views, a small but beautiful winery terraced off the sides of the hill and a beautiful wedding venue sitting right on top. Dove Ridge may be the most beautiful place in Texas to watch a sunset and God had a special one planned that night for us for sure. Afternoon sun in Texas is nothing short of nuclear through the lens of a camera and with barely a cloud in the sky we were nervous that the images were going to be too punchy and too bright and yet somehow everything sort of delicately fell into place. These bridesmaids, these groomsmen, and this couple were absolutely consumed with the moment. Matt’s first look with Ashley was one of pure awe. He wasn’t lost in anything but was totally just struck with her, and the now, and the laughter just took over.
Two martini glasses filled with fireball later and we were off to the races.
As the families started to arrive and the noise level started to raise just a little the reception was buzzing inside. A sound check from the band happening at the same time as flowers were finished and water glasses were filled. Tables were shifted and silver wear laid, bars stocked and ice filled and ready for the cocktail rush that would happen and tour busses bringing the dust from the long dirt road with them up the hill. Noise. The most challenging thing to juggle on a wedding day isn’t the pace, it’s the noise. A photographer who can create moments of quiet in that noise can find where the emotion sometimes hides the most but as people rustled and shifted, champagne bottles popped and stories were told the noise hit it’s peak just as the sun started to make it’s final push towards the hills in the distance and then…. Everybody stood from their seats… Silence…
Matt’s face. Ashley’s Mom’s face. Ashley’s dad’s smile. Matt’s mom watching him. An audible gasp gave way to silence. The wind stopped, the whispers stopped, the world just sort of quit spinning for the next 20 minutes with the only sound being a few short but beautiful promises said out loud. It was perfect. In what felt like forever and a bit of an instant at the same time it was over and Jared and I were off with just Ashley + Matt to really soak up this sunset from inside the vineyards as the sounds of guests and cocktail music took back over the air. “WE HAVE THE MEATS” was yelled at the top of his lungs from those rows of grapes sort of out of nowhere, though if you know Matt you know nothing is all that out of nowhere.. or perhaps everything is. He’s a bit random with a quirky charm, a fierce sense of humor, and a remarkable air of confidence and charisma. He’s magnetic and Ashley knows just how in his orbit she really is and yet, Matt absolutely got away with a robbery on this one. Ashley is brilliant too, beautiful, quieter than him but certainly not afraid to be the life of a party. These few moments were the only moments all day where they simply stood and breathed and relaxed into each other but it was more than enough to recharge completely because by the time we went back up to the top of the hill it was absolutely on.
The rest of the night was a beautiful blur.
Arby’s did in fact show up, a tip of the hat to Matt’s favorite fast food. It was supposed to be the big surprise of the night right up until the helicopter showed up to whisk them away at the end of the night. A surprise she’ll never forget and the official “I win” moment for Matt who had been trying to out surprise her all day. Between that first dance and the helicopter exit was just unabridged joy. Loads of it and two photographers holding on for dear life. We had been absorbed in, the way we ask to be every week, the way we want to be. These photos were first person, intentional, real and for every one of the thousands of images we took there were what felt like 500 steps. Tired legs, tired eyes, tired ears, tired arms and two absolutely humbled and happy photographers packed out and decided to drive 2 of the 6 or 7 hours back late that night so that we could grab a few short hours of sleep and be home just after breakfast for the families who were waiting for us on the other end.
Sharing this video again at the bottom of this post because - DUH - it deserves a second watch.
I’ll never forget this one, the memories made with a best buddy I get to do this with week after week, and the loads of new friends who invited us into the happiest day to celebrate two most deserving and beautiful people who finally said I do.
VENDOR LIST
● PLANNING + DESIGN: AMANDA REED WEDDINGS
● BRIDESMAIDS’ LUNCHEON VENUE: COLONIAL COUNTRY CLUB
● WELCOME PARTY VENUE: THE WORTHINGTON
● REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE: THE DROVER
● HOTEL: THE WORTHINGTON
● CEREMONY + RECEPTION VENUE: DOVE RIDGE VINEYARD
● HAIR ARTIST: FORT WORTH HAIR + CO.
● MAKEUP ARTIST: JONES BEAUTY+ CO
● PHOTOGRAPHY: MILES WITT BOYER
● VIDEOGRAPHY: JARED MARK FINCHER
● RENTALS: PERCH EVENT DECOR, POSH COUTURE RENTALS
● STAGE: MARQUEE EVENT RENTALS
● DANCE FLOOR: CENTER STAGE
● LINENS: NUAGE, BBJ/LA TAVOLA, OVER THE TOP
● LIGHTING: AUSTIN SMITH EVENTS
● FLORIST: BLUSHINGTON BLOOMS
● CAKE: CREME DE LA CREME
● CEREMONY MUSIC: BISHOP STRING QUARTET
● RECEPTION ENTERTAINMENT: MANHATTAN/JKMC
● CATERING: MAGDALENA’S
● BARTENDING: PROFESSIONAL BARTENDING OF GREATER DFW
● INVITATIONS + PAPER GOODS: SHINDIG
● GETAWAY CAR: MATT WON’T SPILL
● SHUTTLES: IGPORT LIMOS + TROLLEY BUS
● PHOTO BOOTH: IT’S YOUR NIGHT
● LIVE EVENT PAINTING: JANE DAVIDIAN
