This was my second Catholic wedding—and this time, I felt so much more prepared. Everything took place in Dalton, Georgia, and from start to finish, it was a day filled with love, laughter, and the most joyful kind of chaos that weddings always bring.
We met Alondra while she was getting ready, and even though we were running just a bit behind schedule, we were determined to keep up and capture every shot she wanted. When we arrived at the church, we quickly realized the ceremony was already starting—definitely not what we expected! But we rolled with it, grabbed a few quick portraits, and then the beautiful, traditional Catholic ceremony began.
The church itself was stunning, filled with soft light and intricate details. The ceremony included a coin exchange, communion, and other beautiful customs. It was entirely in Spanish, so while I couldn’t understand every word, you could feel the emotion and connection in the room. The priest had such an inviting presence—warm, kind, and full of energy.
After the ceremony, we jumped right into family portraits inside and outside the church, followed by some of my favorite photos of the entire day with Alondra, Felix, and their three children. They are such a gorgeous family and made capturing their love so easy.
Once portraits wrapped up, we had a short break before the reception, so Cody and I went on a mini food adventure and found a place called Birria Bros—and let me just say, 10/10. I wish we lived closer because those tacos were unreal.
When we arrived at the reception venue, not everything was quite ready yet, so we started taking detail photos and video while guests began to gather. Then, unexpectedly, we were asked if we were ready to eat. Normally, dinner happens after the couple’s grand entrance—but this time, the guests were served first, and we were too! The food was incredible, and while I couldn’t resist diving in, poor Cody was already so full that he had to fake it and “pretend” to eat just to be polite. It was one of those behind-the-scenes moments that we’ll laugh about forever.
Once Alondra and Felix arrived, we took a few portraits right outside the venue before their grand entrance. They made their way around the room, giving hugs to every family member and friend—it was such a sweet, personal touch that set the tone for the night.
Then came the games—and let me tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it! There was one where the bride and groom were lifted on chairs by their friends, and the goal seemed to be to “knock” the other down. Let’s just say the men won that round! When Felix fell, everyone carried him to the back, and moments later, he came out holding a baby, a broom, and being playfully chased by Alondra with a belt. The entire room was dying laughing—it must’ve been some kind of fun tradition, and it was absolutely hilarious.
They followed that up with a money dance (and walked away with quite the stack!) before cutting their cake and serving the most delicious choco flan—which, of course, I had to try.
Overall, it was such a beautiful, heartwarming day. Alondra and Felix are one of the most relaxed, easygoing couples I’ve had the honor of working with. The love they share and the family they’ve built are so special. Every part of their day felt full of life, laughter, and pure joy—and I’m so grateful I got to capture it all.
