Stefanie and Riley have known each other for many years.  They started dating in high school.  Just before prom, Stefanie had a softball game.  After her team won the game, she was called to home plate, where Riley’s voice was heard over the intercom.  He asked her to prom and the two have been together ever since.  (Fun fact: my sister played a small role in their prom date, but that’s another story.)  The two tied the knot on Friday and it was a joy to be their Pecan Springs Ranch wedding photographer!

Stefanie wore her mother’s wedding dress as her own wedding dress.  Her parents had been married since 1984 and it was the perfect way to honor their marriage.

Stefanie’s bridesmaids presented her with a scrapbook of memories of their lives together.  It was a sweet keepsake and fun surprise!

Whatever Riley wrote to his bride on their wedding day had her in tears.  After Stefanie read it, her sisters read it as well.  Tears were in abundance on this day! (And if Riley’s sister looks familiar, it’s because we photographed her wedding last year at The Milestone in Georgetown!)

I love that Stefanie’s bridesmaids were all in plaid!  It was perfect for their December wedding!  Their socks read: “If you can read this, please bring me wine!” HA!  It was such a fun bridal party!

Heaven is just a little too far away, so Stefanie’s dad was unable to attend her wedding day.  In his honor, she kept a piece of him close to her in the shape of this heart.

Once Stefanie’s mom put her daughter in her own wedding dress, Stefanie’s sisters had the first peek at the bride.

Once all the bridesmaids had seen Stefanie all dolled up on her wedding day, her sister, Stacey, said a prayer over the bride to be and her new marriage.  Yes, there were tears!

Stefanie and Riley opted for a first look. It’s a great chance to laugh with, hug, and kiss the one person you want to most on your wedding day: your future spouse!

After the first look, Stefanie and Riley were in the perfect mood for romantic portraits!  No one is doing a time check and guests aren’t waiting on you to start dinner.  It’s the best time to be yourself and just love on the person you’re about to vow forever with.  They’ll get over 200 portraits of just the two of them from this time together!

Stefanie is holding a bridal portrait of her mother, wearing the same wedding dress on her own wedding day in 1984.

All the groomsmen wore this special bracelet in honor of Stefanie’s father on her wedding day.

How cute are these two?!?!

After portraits with just the bride and groom, the bridal party was invited to take some photos.  By taking photos before the ceremony, the bridal party is free to enjoy the cocktail hour immediately after the ceremony.  I’d say they were pretty excited about that fact!

Stefanie and Riley have lost some loved ones that they would have enjoyed having celebrate their wedding day with them.  Each of those loved ones was represented by a lantern carried by a bridesmaid.  This way, the loved one could be a part of their day.

I love fun bridal parties and this one did not disappoint!  Although, I had high hopes considering this is the third time I’ve photographed Riley as a member of the bridal party.  The first two times were as groomsmen, so this group already knew portraits are meant to be fun!

As each groomsmen took their place at the ceremony site, they made sure to give Riley some “encouragement” by a slap on the rear!  It had most of the guests laughing.  Then, Stefanie walked down the aisle on the arm of her mother, whom Riley had asked for Stefanie’s hand in marriage from.  I love that Stefanie’s mom walked her daughter down the aisle in the same dress she wore on her wedding day. It was a special moment!

Riley was a bit tear-y eyed as he vowed forever to Stefanie with their friends and families in attendance.  With his tears came many, many tears from those witnessing their vows.  I love Stefanie’s little sister’s reaction on the left.

They’ve been dating since 2009 and are officially married! YAY!

After the ceremony, I’m not sure who was more proud: Riley or his dad.  Both were in tears as they hugged following the vows.

Guests were invited to a enjoy a winter wedding reception with cranberry and greenery accents.

After being announced into their wedding reception, Stefanie and Riley ran through a tunnel made by their bridal party!  It was so fun!

During speeches, Stefanie’s mom revealed that Stefanie’s name, along with her middle initial, were the exact same letters needed for her new last married name!  How cool is that?!

Stefanie’s sister, Stacey, was my sister’s best friend in high school.  It was so great seeing her, again, and hearing the funny stories she shared about Stefanie growing up.  My favorite, however, had to be that their father is represented, to them, by washers.  Stacey had prayed to find extra washers the week of Stefanie’s wedding.  Not only did she find some, she found 22 washers that represented their father’s blessing on the marriage of Stefanie and Riley.  Stacey presented Stefanie with those washers during her speech and I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Since Stefanie’s dad couldn’t make the first dance with his daughter on her wedding day, men that have played a significant role in Stefanie’s life danced with her in his honor.

To finish the dance, Stefanie’s grandfather, her dad’s dad, twirled her around the dance floor.  (I’m not crying – you’re crying!)

Before they officially opened the dance floor, Stefanie and Riley shared their first dance as husband and wife.

Stefanie and Riley – I honestly can’t put into words how much I enjoyed being y’alls’ Pecan Springs Ranch wedding photographer!  Y’all have been such a joy to work with and we loved being able to celebrate with both of y’all’s sweet families, again!  Thank you for inviting us to be a part of y’all’s special day and for making us feel like members of the family!  It was an absolute joy!

– Mylah Renae

Pecan Springs Ranch Wedding Photographer

Creative Team:
Austin Wedding Venue: Pecan Springs Ranch
Austin Wedding Coordinator: A Bunch of Weddings
Pecan Springs Ranch wedding photographer: Eureka Photography
Wedding DJ: Made From Skratch
Austin Wedding Florist:Hello Bloom Designs (Andrea Fisher)
Wedding Hair and Make-up: MUAH & Co (Themla)