It was a beautiful THURSDAY evening for Desiree and Jalen’s chic wedding at the Mansion on Main Street. We were so happy to be with these two and their nearest and dearest as they said “I do”. Just wait until you see Desiree’s dress!
Getting Ready
Desiree, her mom, and her bridesmaids were having a wonderful time finishing hair and makeup when we arrived to begin capturing her final transformation to bride. Her gorgeous bracelet and earrings were the perfect complement to her perfect waves. Her show stopper dress remained hidden for now – she would don it later at the venue – and her bridesmaids were anxious to see it! They all slipped into their dresses and Desiree had a few final dabs of gloss, then it was time to head over to the Mansion on Main Street!
Meanwhile, Jalen and his groomsmen were enjoying a laid back afternoon together. In fact, Jalen was in the shower when we arrived. But hey, it meant he was totally fresh for his wedding! His personalized cufflinks and absolutely awesome Gucci loafers foreshadowed the debonair figure he would cut when he got fully dressed. Debonair indeed. His white tuxedo jacket completed the look and he was ready to go!
The Ceremony at Mansion on Main Street
The stage was set, but there was wardrobe malfunction! A crucial element to Desiree’s dress had been left at the hotel. Fortunately, a wedding can’t start without the bride and one of her friends ran back to retrieve it. Ceremony started a little late, but it didn’t matter. Desiree was more than worth the wait. Her stunning dress wowed everyone, especially Jalen. When she appeared at the top of the aisle, he buried his face in his best man’s shoulder, weeping for sheer joy.
Their joy reached a new height as they clasped hands at the altar and stared deeply into each other’s eyes. It was like no one else existed. They listened as their pastor brought a marriage message and led them through their vows. They exchanged a set of beautiful rings and brought the crowd to their feet with their first kiss.
Portraits & Reception at Mansion on Main Street
The grounds of the Mansion on Main Street were a beautiful place for portraits of Jalen and Desiree and their wedding party. There were plenty of laughs and lots of joy as we worked as quickly as possible to get through pictures so the night could go on. Jalen and Desiree are stunning inside and out, and Desiree knows how to work it! They made our job so easy as we captured their newly married portraits before heading inside for the reception.
Introductions were a blast as the wedding party made their way into the elegant ballroom. They definitely got the crowd warmed up for the guests of honor. The new Mr and Mrs Armstead brought some major fire as they danced their way into their reception. The wedding party joined them and they previewed some dance moves for the rest of the guests. Then the floor cleared and Desiree and Jalen shared their first dance. A fog machine began to roll and they were floating on a cloud together. Parent dances followed, then dinner.
After some beautiful toasts, they cut their cake. As we were getting ready to leave, Desiree’s dad approached her at the sweetheart table. He handed her a letter and she stood reading it. As she got further and further into the letter, her eyes welled up and tears began to fall. Her dad was doing his best, but his own eyes had begun to leak as well. They shared a warm embrace and we knew that Desiree would remember that moment for the rest of her life. Congratulations to the Armsteads! Your wedding at the Mansion on Main Street was truly special!
