Laura and Abe, Laura and Abe, oh how I loved photographing the love story of these two scientists 😉 Laura and Abe met while attending undergrad at Rice University in Houston, Texas. They connected over their shared engineering/science backgrounds and studying together. They also have a shared love of food, especially Mexican food. Laura is also an avid baker and concocts the most inventive cupcake recipes and combinations, the girl belongs on an episode of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars of something. Her friends and family members gushed over her talent.
When the three of us were first braining storming ideas for their Austin engagement session Laura told me, “we love nature and Mexican food.” HAHAHAHA. I loved the keywords she gave me to go off and I thought to one of my favorite places to enjoy an icy margarita and queso in Austin and let her know that we’d be starting the session at Licha’s on Austin’s quirky east side and then we were off to the boardwalk a short drive away to end at sunset. I loved their laid back and witty personalities from the moment I met them and I’m so honored to have captured their wedding day as well.
Laura and Abe said “I do” at the always lovely Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas. As soon as we arrived the reception space was adorned with flowers galore and show stopping place settings, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day. Laura and Abe opted to do a first look before their ceremony and I’m SO GLAD they did. From the moment they first saw each other (which btw was so emotional and heartfelt) I started to hear rumblings of thunder in the distance. I was a bit nervous knowing we had an hour and a half of portraits to take before the ceremony started in two hours. Then there was the ceremony and the beautiful ceremony space too, I didn’t want for them to have to resort to the plan B in case of rain. Thankfully we were all sorts of lucky on their big day. Not only did we get all portraits taken PLUS the outdoor ceremony but we also were able to get in all family photos outdoors post ceremony before the crazy thunderstorm hit. And boy did it hit, there were two distinct downpours that evening and the second one even concluded right before the couple did their exit complete with Mexican maracas.
But let’s get back to this wedding for a quick moment. Their ceremony was chalk full of references to their Jewish and Mexican cultures. The bride spoke in Spanish and the groom spoke in English for a bit of it and of course there was the stomping of the glass at the end while everyone cheered “Mazel Tov.” And boy oh boy did I love their reception, it was overall amazing but it had two standouts for me that made me die of pure wedding bliss. 1) I was finally able to photograph my first hora, an exhilarating and joyous Jewish tradition where the bride and groom are hoisted above everyone in chairs and paraded around the dance floor. Everyone who wasn’t helping to hold the chairs joined hand in hand to form a circle around them to dance in. It was WONDERFUL, I wish there was a picture of me (standing on a chair) photographing this. I had the goofiest smile permanently planted on my face for about 8 minutes. My cheeks hurt afterwards. 2) The FOOD. Remember I mentioned earlier that Laura and Abe share a joint love of delicious Mexican food? Well, Abe’s family members in Houston own a Mexican restaurant that catered the event and holy cow it was not your typical Mexican buffet wedding food. There was fall off the bone chicken mole, inventive cheese enchiladas that included things like charred greens and cotija and some of the freshest most flavorful guacamole I’ve had in a long time. They also had unlimited horchata (only my all time favorite beverage) and fresh tamales. And if all that wasn’t enough, their lemon cake from Sweetish Hill was the best wedding cake I’ve ever ever ever had at a wedding. I make it a point to have a slice of cake at every wedding, because obviously 😉 and that one took the cake, pun intended.
Dear Laura and Abe, thank you both from the bottom of my heart for including me in your beautiful wedding. I wish you both a world of happiness!
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