I’m Renee, a South Louisiana wedding photographer striving to create blissful experiences and timeless images. As a former CPA, I live for organization, but my secret power is handling chaos with grace on wedding days. From rounding up rowdy wedding parties to bustling dresses, I’ve got your back - without missing a shot.
What do you do when you wake up on your wedding week and a hurricane is forecast to make landfall just hours before your big day – the big day that was supposed to happen 6 months ago, but was rescheduled due to COVID? You reschedule it again…to the day before!
I think we’re all to the point where nothing can surprise us anymore, especially here in South Louisiana this hurricane season, so having to split up their wedding day to a Thursday and Saturday (Hurricane Delta pause in between) really didn’t seem all that strange. I’m sure this time last year if you asked Sydney, or any other bride in the world, if they’d be happy to change their wedding date just 2 days before, they would say no way! But after the stress of rescheduling numerous times since the pandemic started, these two were beyond ready to tie the knot, no matter what. And honestly it couldn’t have worked out any better – they just got to celebrate for 2 days instead of 1!
We had beautiful weather all week, and of course Thursday had an 80% chance of rain with the hurricane looming. The entire time the girls got ready I kept nervously peeking outside to see if the downpour had started yet, fully prepared to take every single portrait we needed on the porch. (When I say prepared, I’d packed my rain jacket, ALL THE UMBRELLAS, even rubber boots.) But by the time hair and makeup was done, not only was it NOT raining yet, but the SUN had even peeked out for a few minutes!!! What! We rushed off to their first look, convinced we’d have just enough time for that but wouldn’t be able to squeeze in all the wedding party portraits too. We kept waiting for it, but the rain NEVER CAME. Somehow we were able to take all the photos we needed exactly where Sydney wanted to – in front of the barn on Garrett’s family property. I looked at the radar after and my jaw dropped…it showed rain in almost every direction around us.
My favorite moment of the day happened during this time. Every photographer will tell you that the benefit of a first look is more portrait time, but the best reason in my opinion: it totally helps your nerves! I can’t tell you how many couples lately have said how relieved they were after seeing each other, including Sydney and Garrett. What a gift to able to actually be able to enjoy most of your wedding day with each other! You’ll have to scroll down to see just how sweet Garrett’s reaction was.
Barely an hour later, on the way to church, it POURED. But before we could get there it stopped again! Another blessing so everyone could get into the ceremony without getting soaked. This time it held off until we were on the way home. I’ll forever be amazed at how well the entire day worked out with so many last minute changes! It really was perfect despite the circumstances.
Two days later, the celebration picked up right where it left off as the bus with the wedding party pulled up to the reception. It was almost like there wasn’t a 48 hour break and a major hurricane in between… except for one little issue: the electricity! The vast majority of the parish had lost power in the storm, and the reception was taking place in a barn. In a rural area…probably not a priority for the electric company. Again, yet another miracle happened: the lights were restored to the reception less than 30 minutes before it started! What a crazy eventful and memorable week for these two.
Syd and Garrett, you’re FINALLY husband and wife and I could not be happier for y’all! Your day (both of them 🙂 was absolutely stunning. Thanks for taking me on this wild wedding planning ride with you, it was certainly one for the books and I’m SO honored to have been a part of it!
How thoughtful is Sydney? She gave me this adorable outfit for my newest baby…on HER wedding day!
