Beautiful Ballroom Wedding at The Houstonian, Houston, TX

One of the interesting things about this job is I don’t always know what the end result is going to be like until the day-of. It’s common for there to be candles at the reception. It’s common for a couple to say they want it to feel “candle-lit.” It’s less common for there to be a sufficient amount of candles to actually do that, but Loriana and Stevie’s wedding did just that. It was a beautiful, luxurious event at the Houstonian Hotel, a venue I’ve worked at countless times over the years. But you know what? The beauty and luxury aren’t really what stands out to me about this wedding. At one point in the film you can hear my friend and photographer Nate say, “sounds like yall really love each other.” Have I mentioned how much I love capturing and telling real stories?

Loriana and Stevie are two genuinely lovely people that are a joy to be around. I often tell my couples that one of the keys to a great film is trust - you have to trust me enough to let me in and have glimpses of your unfiltered, raw and authentic selves. That’s really the only way to make something “authentic,” something more than a buzz word. Loriana and Stevie were both incredibly open and gracious and I think it really shows up in this film. Some of my absolute favorite moments in this film weren’t scripted, but off-the-cuff candid moments.

The ceremony was at St. George Orthodox Church in Houston, TX, which I have to say has always been incredibly accommodating and welcoming. There are some churches that are quite strict about what you can and can’t do - and while I always endeavor and strive to be respectful, sometimes the rules can create challenges (especially when you get stuck in a balcony only). Orthodox weddings, and St. George in particular, have always let me know not only where I can go but also encouraged me to capture all the best angles of the important moments within the ceremony.

Cocktails with Confetti planned and designed this event and completely knocked it out of the park. I think their work really speaks for itself - but this wedding was also featured in Weddings in Houston (see it here). Additionally I got to film alongside my long-time friend and colleague, Nate Messarra Photography.