Leading up to the day, the chances of Emily’s dream winter wonderland wedding were looking good. She was hoping for “nice weather with a light quiet snowfall right at 5:05pm.” The chances of snow were 60%, but the closer the wedding day got, the colder the temperatures crept. Saturday arrived with bitter winds, a barely double digit temperature, and, swirling, whirling snow flakes!

Summer weddings—particularly in August—are challenging in that I have to work incredibly fast while taking photos so that no one gets heat stroke. The humidity is brutal. Winter weddings provide the exact same challenge with the opposite effects; instead of heat stroke, we are fighting against frost bite. With only a 20 minute window before frost bite sets in (and a 2-minute window before miserable cold sets in), I had the choice of either working completely inside or strategically and quickly capturing some of the magic of the snow fall.

I knew Emily & Derek would be game since the day we took their engagement photos last winter was nearly as cold as their wedding day and not even as pretty (i.e. no falling snow). So with safety as our first priority, we took about 5 minutes of quick photos outside the hotel before heating back up inside and then gathering the bridal party for photos on top of a nearby parking garage. (Yes, a parking garage! It was absolutely perfect!) Thankfully, the DoubleTree connects to a parking garage via a skywalk. The parking garage also has indoor stairs & elevators so we could gather inside while I took the bridesmaids out, then back in, the groomsmen out, then back in, the whole bridal party out and back in. The key to photographing in either extreme cold or extreme heat is to direct efficiently and shoot quickly. Working with a great wedding party makes it all so much easier and I have to give so much love to Emily & Derek’s group of friends for braving it all for me and, ultimately, for them. The memories they all created together are going to be more special as time goes on.

Emily & Derek, your dream winter wonderland wedding was perfect. I’m so excited to show these images to you and how they give you the best memories of the most magical day.

Their first look was so sweet and beautiful.

Look at all that falling snow! It was crazy outside!! And so so so beautiful!

They don’t even look cold. How awesome is this crew for braving the freezing outdoors?!

The couple’s kids were in the wedding as ring bearer and snowflake girl. Ainsley thought the wedding was hers–naturally–and was so thrilled to wear her beautiful wedding dress.

Emily’s dream of a winter wonderland (not Christmas) reception was beautifully put together with sparkles, candles, and lots of contrasting blues and whites. It was beautiful.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Photography: Emily Crall Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Abby Dean

Videography: Diamond Label Films

Florals: Toni Horning

Cake Artist: Classic Cakes by Design

DJ: DJ NYJ

Makeup: Lindsey Coblentz

Hair: Groovy Katz

Paper Suite: ClearyLane

Bridal Gown: Essence of Australia from I Do Bridal

Maids’ Gowns: Jasmine B2 and Belsoie from I Do Bridal

Suits: I Do Bridal

Venue & Catering: The DoubleTree by Hilton