top 10 2018 | mug machine photos
top 10 2018 | mug machine photos

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2018. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am  tomorrow and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Mug Machine

I love me some Mug Machine. It’s such a great way to get more of your guests involved in your wedding reception. Everyone has a blast in this thing and really…. what better way to celebrate your wedding day by taking a few awkward photos of your friends?

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

1: Nuts

2: Whip

3: Beard

4: Balloons

5: Force

6: Saber

7: Maleficent

8: Strike

9: Hand

10: Hair

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Hannah & Rob
Hannah & Rob

Hannah & Rob had the most chill wedding day at Nantucket in Longview, TX.  So much of the day was put together by these two and their insane group of friends.  It truly felt like a wedding day straight out of a movie.

I walked in to Hannah giggling as one of her bridesmaids did her makeup.  Hannah’s brother is in the United States Army and could not make it.  His wife was kept company all day with a life-sized cut out.  Because of course they had a life-size cut out.

“If you walk around to the back of a house and hide behind the bushes while a girl is getting ready for the day, eventually, she will see you, laugh, and you will capture a magical photograph.” – AlexM

Hannah used her grandmother’s old jewelry box to hold the rings.
(More like her grandmother’s vintage, magical mystery-case of wonder, beauty, and joy.)

Baller Mother of the Bride.

Hannah gave Rob a sweet note and a flask.

Hannah’s mom was just a delight.  She was so present throughout the day.  I loved capturing her reactions.

Of course I’ll take the timeless photo of you putting on your earrings.
Just be aware that the timeless moment of you putting on deodorant will also be documented.

First Look goodness.

I looked down for a minute as I was swapping lenses and then Rob is suddenly checking twitter or something.  “What a douchebag,” I think to myself…. Oh wait… never mind, he’s totally reading Hannah a super sweet note he wrote for her about their day. (That was a close one.)

Remember that flask… Hannah is one of those brides who thinks of everything.
Including: “I might want a drink mid-way through my wedding day.”

These two were way too comfortable on this swing.  I made her stop before she fell off.

Hannah spent most of her wedding day smiling and giggling.  Being kissed by her husband also helped.

Her bridesmaids put this together.  True story.

When you look down during the bridesmaids portraits and see this…. You know the reception is going to be legit.

Family portrait time!

Right before the ceremony I look up to see Hannah’s grandfather doing this.  Eventually someone brought an umbrella out, but boy do I love this moment.

Of course the official opened with 2 minutes of Princess Bride styled, “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday.”

Why just walk into the reception when you can dance your way in?

This moment was everything.  It was when Hannah and her grandfather teared up about her grandmother not being there.  Hannah told him that she had attached a necklace of her’s to the bouquet that she carried all day. Which was sitting on the table in front of them.
All the feels.

I adore toasts.  I love when people say the things we often feel, but rarely tell each other.  This one was a doozy.  If you are wondering why it goes from evening to night time in these photos it’s because they had that much great stuff to say about them.

And then her brother called in from his super top secret location and talked about how much he loved Hannah and what an honorable man Rob was and how he could not be happier for the two of them.
Game over.

“Can we just cut the cake?  We don’t want to do that thing where we feed each other?” she said.
Of course you can!  It’s your wedding, do whatever you want to do.

Every sparkler exit should feel like the Battle of Helm’s Deep.

My favorite 10 Mug Machine images from the night.

Old man using them as as x-ray goggles. :)

This is what happens when your brother-in-law films your wedding.

Of COURSE Rob tore a hole in the crack of his pants.

Spit take.

Thank you for your service.

You guys had the perfect day.  Thank you for sharing it with me and trusting it to me.

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1 Million Friends
1 Million Friends

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I’ve been shooting weddings for 10 years now. One of the things that you quickly realize is that the day flies by. Most couples are bounced from person to person and moment to moment without even realizing it. That was not the case with Brooke & Justin. These two were so present on their day. It seemed like every time I turned around they were having a genuine conversation with someone new. I LOVED seeing their support group celebrate their day with them and I loved even more how much Justin and Brooke soaked up every second of it.

True story: I NEVER get tired of photographing weddings at the Villa di Felicita. This place is amazing. They make my job easier and your day so much more amazing.

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CS Cutting Company out of Longview did some magic on hair & make up.
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A bit of First Look goodness.
(I also love when couples exchange little gifts during this time.)

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La Bella Blooms crushed it with the flowers. Ashley and her team are super nice. You should totally get in touch with them if you want pretty pretty at your wedding.
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These fools had a bridal party of 30 people. I’m not sure what is more amazing, that I was able to get a photo of all of them at once before the kids melted down, or that Brooke & Justin had meaningful interactions with each of them. ;)

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By the time we got back around to the guys, this little man was done. He wanted no part of the photos, but I was able to snag one of him as he bolted for an exit.

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Designs by D’Anne. Keeping brides happy and wedding photographers chubby for many many years. Yummy.

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(Also, if you like words on walls, floors, and other places, Tyler Uplights and CMB DJs are you jam.)

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Hey remember that little dude. Guess what? Once he got a sucker, he was good to go.

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Justin and Brooke both work for the SMU football program. He coaches and she recruits, so of course they had the film crew for the team film their wedding.

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You know what else is fun at weddings? The Mug Machine!

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Thank you for trusting me with your wedding. You two were such a joy to be around and anytime you want to get all of your friends together and dressed up again give me a call, I’ll be there.

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Eat, Drink, & Get Married
Eat, Drink, & Get Married

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If you don’t like having fun, you probably would not have enjoyed Melanie & Aaron’s wedding at Le Beaux Chateau in Flowermound, TX.  Seriously.  These two know how to have a great time and I think they only invited fun people to their wedding.

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I walk into the guys room and find this: grown men playing video games.  Yes, please.
(I think I can now convince my 12 year old son to assist me on future weddings.)

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The best thing is not that Aaron plays video games.  The best thing is that Melanie “gets it”.  Here are the cufflinks she gave him on their wedding day.

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Cake toppers are better when zombies are attacking.

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Every groom needs groomsmen who will pull out a knife and cut your shirt and pull out a comb and brush your stache.

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Sometimes First Looks are full of weeping and holding.

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The beautiful people.

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Sometimes the beautiful people turn into the pouty people.

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She was a bit bored with the whole thing.

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Unity candle? Nope.
Unity Sand? Nope.
Unity Beer? Yes please.

Of course they made a Black & Tan.

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With this ring, (and these bottle caps) I thee wed.

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Melanie & her dad CRUSHED a dance song mash up.  So, so many good moves.

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Speaking of crushed…. The bouquet toss went well. :)

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Of course their grandmother did the Nae Nae.

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Of course they preformed an impromptu “Shut Up & Dance With Me”.

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Last dances in an empty room are the best.

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You thought it was over?  Wrong.  Here are some of my favorites from the Mug Machine.
Featuring Melanie & Aaaron kissing poorly and the hair from that girl that got crushed trying to catch flowers.

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Thank you guys for an amazing day of fun, love, and laughter.
Also, I’m still kinda mad that after you got married, you got to go to Disney World, and I had to come home and edit these pictures.

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top 10 2014 | mug machine
top 10 2014 | mug machine

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2014. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till midnight and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Mug Machine

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

Everybody loves a good photo booth. And these photos are some of my favorites form the past year.

1. Olan: Let’s be honest. Every couple needs a great portrait. And no one rocked those better than the fine folks at Olan Mills.

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2. Wine: Because liquid is fun to photograph.

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3. Beard: I might be a bit jealous.

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4. Hair: One of the perks of being a bride is your friends will do whatever you ask them to do.

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5. Sip: Ladies are almost always so much smoother than dudes when it comes to The Mug Machine.

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6. Chest: Ain’t no swag like married swag.

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7. Disco: Disco balls are fun.

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8. Bump: Disco balls are more fun when you pretend they are your baby.

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9. Force: All wives have the ability to use the dark side of the force.

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10. Family: Every time The Mug Machine is rolling families try to nail that perfect shot. It’s almost impossible with more than 1 tiny human. Only the most talented families can pull it off.

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