Two weekends ago, Jeff and I spent three days in Houston for my brother Matt’s wedding.
Matt.
Emily. (With some negative scratches in her hair.)
Although we were not the wedding photographers, we both brought cameras. Of course. Jeff shot digital, which means his photos were up and ready the next day. I shot film, which means my photos are just now ready.
There’s a reason why I shot film, and particularly Tri-X 400 film. I’d grown up poring over photos shot by LIFE photographers. The black-and-white photos of JFK and Jackie’s wedding always struck me as wonderful wedding photography, and I wanted to capture a similar, candid look using black-and-white film.
In the bride’s dressing room an hour before the wedding, Emily reads a card sent up to her from Matt.
As a bridesmaid, I had special access to the bride’s dressing room at the Richmond House, where the wedding and reception were held. I knew the hired wedding photographer wasn’t scheduled to arrive until shortly before the ceremony, so I happily took it upon myself to capture some small moments among the girls.
Emily’s mother (center) and my mother (right) help fasten bridesmaid Leah (left) into her dress.
The bridesmaids’ and bride’s bouquets.
As bridesmaid Emily F (center) looks on, Matt’s best man Peter wishes Emily good luck after delivering to her a card from Matt.
Emily’s mother helps fasten pearls around Emily’s neck, as matron of honor Sarah (and Emily’s sister) watches.
From left to right: bridesmaid Leah, matron of honor Sarah, Emily’s mother, Emily and bridesmaid Emily F.
It was a lovely wedding.
Unfortunately, my roll of film — my only roll — was 24 exposures, not 36 like I’d thought. I had no intentions to take any photos during the actual ceremony (that would be an odd thing for a bridesmaid to do), but I had hoped to capture more candid moments of the first dance, the reception and more. As it is, my roll ran out right before the ceremony.
Oh well.
It was a lovely wedding, and running out of film early probably enabled me to enjoy it all the more.
You can view a few more photos here.
Words and Light 
Nice series of pics! Especially like your last shot. Congratulations to the Bride!
😎
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