Pauling Wedding /// October.9.2021

“When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.”

– Arrigo Boito

Justin + Taylor

It was a warm and very windy day this past Saturday, October 9th in Breckenridge, TX.

This is my 2nd wedding within a month in my hometown and 3rd in the area and I love visiting West Texas to see my friends and family and then shooting a beautiful wedding.

Down Highway 183 South, I entered through a gate fence driving down a road and over a small little bridge that led me upon the beautiful and breathtaking venue that is Chandelier Ridge.

The owners, Mark & Trissie Dempsey are two of the nicest and most helpful people I've ever dealt with when it comes to a wedding venue. They go above and beyond to help not only the bride & groom but vendors and guests as well.

Speaking of the bride and groom - I was there to capture the marriage of Justin & Taylor, a couple who I shot their engagement photos back in June and we were all three completely drenched with sweat by the end of it, thanks to the "wonderful" Texas humidity.

About a year ago, Taylor was hospitalized with COVID-19 and it really took a toll on her. Ever since then, she has had to take it very easy when it comes to doing really anything. And that didn't change when it came to her wedding day.

We had everything planned out to a T when it came to any sort of activity we were doing. Whether we were doing detailed shots of the venue and centerpieces or if it was group photos before the wedding so it wouldn't be too much on Taylor afterward - and it went extremely smooth.

So when I say that this was a very chill and laidback wedding, I'm not kidding.

Their friend, Cole, was the official / unofficial wedding coordinator - and I gotta say, the dude rocked it. And he doesn't do this for a living, he just took charge (with his very well-organized wedding binder) and killed it. Thanks for all the help, Cole!

The ceremony took place outside under a beautiful pergola that had a chandelier hung above overlooking a gorgeous big wooden Cross and beyond that was gorgeous land for miles. The weather was a very windy, 94-degree day but had blue, clear skies as well.

The couple said their I Do's, had their first kiss and then turned to face the audience after Reverend Stefanie Spivey announced for the first time Mr. & Mrs. Pauling! Which was followed by a loud and whopping "WHOOO!" by Taylor (see photo below).

The couple had delicious and homemade barbeque from Justin’s stepdad and grandmother, Tom, and Ma, that consisted of brisket, sausage, coleslaw, beans, rice, potato salad, and barbeque sauce -- did I mention it was all homemade?!

The cake(s) and cupcakes contained a mixture of white chocolate raspberry brides cake, cherry Dr. Pepper grooms cake, champagne cake balls, and chocolate-covered strawberries - and it was AMAZING!!!

The rest of the evening continued on as Friends and Family joined in to chant the Texas A&M Aggie War Hymn