Bonny Jo + Joshua: The EPIC Wedding – Bonham, Texas

There is so much to say about Bonny Jo and Joshua. Unless you know them, or meet them I don’t think you’ll understand just how perfect this wedding day was… AND if you follow my photography facebook, then you’ll remember that THIS is the wedding when it rained. During the ceremony. The OUTDOOR ceremony.

You may think I’ve lost my mind but the friends and family of this AMAZING couple will vouch for me. There is nothing ordinary about Bonny Jo and Joshua. From the first time I spoke with Joshua through email several months ago he’s summed this wedding up in one word… “epic.” Joshua was in film school. IN CANADA. Bonny was home, in Greenville. They were working together trying to get the wedding plans all in order. You can only imagine how hectic it must have been. When Joshua first contacted me, he let me know that I was booked on their wedding day. Long story short, they ended up changing their date and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. If they hadn’t I wouldn’t have gotten to meet this awesome couple. Bonny came to Paris one day so we could have lunch and talk about the wedding. Joshua was still in Canada and I actually didn’t even get to MEET him until their engagement session.

It had rained ALL morning on the day of the wedding. It had stopped for a little over an hour and it was perfect timing because it was time for the first look. We had already scouted out a perfect spot and as I was going to get Joshua to take him to the site, it started raining.. again. We ended up doing the first look on the porch. After they saw one another and had a few minutes to talk, hug, kiss.. (all that good stuff)- it STOPPED raining yet again. The ground was SO wet and we knew that Bonny Jo’s dress would be getting dirty  during the ceremony since everything was wet, but we didn’t want to get it dirty BEFORE so we stayed  in one area for their pictures. We knocked out their pictures, wedding party pictures AND family pictures. Everything was starting to go smoothly. The ceremony started… Joshua, the wedding party and  Bonny Jo.. all walked in to “We Will Rock You,” by Queen. It started to mist. The preacher spoke. It started to sprinkle. The preacher asked Joshua to recite his vows. The sprinkles turned into rain drops. Then the preacher asked Bonny Jo to recite her vows. The flood gate opened. I can’t remember the exact wording, because I was slightly distracted by still trying to photograph the ceremony while running from tree to tree to shield myself and my camera from as much rain as possible, but I believe an actual line in her vows was, “running in the rain together.” That’s when I started to realize that the rain has pretty much perfected their wedding. :) There is nothing “ordinary” about this couple… and Joshua wanted everything to remember this EPIC wedding.. well NOW they definiatley will. :) The preacher pronounced them man and wife… and Bonny Jo and Joshua walked back up the isle to “We are the Champions,” by Queen. If that doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. :) Bonny was worried that the guests would be upset or just plain miserable during the reception after getting soaked during the ceremony. It’s safe to say, they weren’t. Everything went amazing and everything had a BLAST!!!! It was perfect. EPIC!!! :)

I also got to work with their amazing videographer, Maclean Carlson, who Joshua went to film school with! I had a blast!!! He’s got a teaser up of the wedding and the should have the actual video up in a few weeks! :)

Bonny Jo and Joshua- thank you so much for changing your date so that I could be a part of your wedding. From start to finish, you have been the most amazing clients and I’m so blessed to have had the privilege of meeting and working with you!!! I can’t wait to be able to work with you more in the future. :)

The wedding invites. Joshua made this himself!!! How AWESOME are these!?!?!

The first look.

I actually think this was the groomsmens idea!! One of the funnest wedding parties EVER!

Post ceremony. ;)

Joshua did NOT do this on purpose. He walked in the room and his hair was like this. He had no idea. True story.

First dance. They started out swaying (8th grade dance style) then broke into a swing dance!! (They had been taking lessons.. no one knew!)

Joshua had been working on these movie poster for the wedding for several months!! Some of the images were actually from their engagement session! :) Each poster lists the names of the wedding party and even Maclean and I! :) I thought these were SOOO cool!!! :)

SO many images from the reception/party. Here are a couple of collages.

The last dance. Normally the DJ doesn’t allow anyone present during this time (even the photographer!) The guests were lining up for the “leave” and he started the song and leaves to give the bride and groom a special moment… but they requested that Maclean and I stay to capture it. :) While I was editing these… I started thinking that they reminded me a lot of the last scene in Twilight, where Edward and Bella are dancing in the gazebo with the twinkle lights! haha! Bonny Jo will appreciate that. ;)

Tara Swain is an internationally featured and published, award winning Wedding and Portrait Photographer based in Paris, Texas and specializing in child photography and elaboratle and whimcially styled sessions. She wokrs on location as well as offering a large, natural light studio right outside of Paris.

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