I first met Taylor and Cameron in 2020 when they entered to win an engagement session. I am so glad they won! Taylor’s sweet, soft spoken personality and the way Cameron loves her so fiercely is the cutest. Unfortunately, I was already booked on their wedding day. We ended up really hitting it off, so after their engagement session, I decided to hire an associate photographer for their big day. Little did we know that the wedding originally scheduled for their day would move their date up, freeing me to serve them both!
On the morning of their wedding, I arrived to Effingham early to scout portrait locations. Before I headed out for the perfect spots, I stopped at the Comfort Inn to say hello to the girls. Taylor was right where I expected her…relaxing in a calm room with her bridesmaids. I got a glimpse of the jay blue dresses next to their flowers and knew it was going to be a pretty day! I made one last stop across the street at the Effingham Event Center to peek in on the reception space and found Cameron, happy as could be. Not nervous at all. He showed me where their ceremony would take place and I couldn’t believe how much the sky matched the bridesmaid dresses perfectly. It was SO blue!
When I got back from scouting locations, I started shooting her details. Taylor’s birth stone is opal and she wore the most stunning opal necklace gifted to her the night before by her groom. It is small details like that which set the day apart and make it personal. She also wore sparkly cowboy boots paired with her lace and pearl adorned gown. Goodness gracious Taylor, you were gorgeous!!
Taylor and Cameron opted to not see each other before the wedding, which gave me more time with the girls leading up to the ceremony. We had some fun taking portraits and then it was time to hide Taylor away before the ceremony. Something I really admired about Taylor that day was that she wasn’t shy to say, “I am going to my room by myself for a bit.” Wedding days are a lot of fun, but they are also incredibly busy and fast paced. Taking a few minutes once I was ready to just be is something I wish I would have done when I got married. So, future brides, take note! Yes, we create a timeline together, but it is your day and you can have as much time as you need for whatever you need.
Before we knew it, it was time to get Taylor and Cameron married!! I knew from the second I met them that their love was strong. Cameron’s reaction to Taylor walk down the aisle was so moving. The way he swept away the hair from her face during their ceremony? Okay, I’m officially in a Nicholas Sparks novel. That love was prevalent the whole day. As we got to the reception, I couldn’t help but notice just how loving all of their guests were to everyone. It only made sense for their love to reflect the love and support they receive from their friends and family.
Two memorable events happened at their reception that were a first for me and still make me giggle! When it was time to cut the cake, I told Cameron to take a bite. What I should have said was feed a bite to Taylor, but nonetheless, he took a bite and we all had a good laugh. They then shared a bite together, but I felt bad that I wasn’t more clear! haha. When it was time for the garter toss, the garter was no where to be found. At first I wondered if it fell off in my SUV when we were out taking pictures. It became obvious quickly that that wasn’t the case as Cameron has Taylor’s boot in his hand and has he tipped it over, the garter fell out!
Taylor and Cameron, your day was beautiful, your love is inspiring, and your future is bright. I love you both, and I am so thankful I was able to be there for you. I hope you enjoy these as you soak up all the Mexico sun on your honeymoon. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Miller!! <3
VENDOR TEAM:
Ceremony + Reception | Effingham Event Center
Dress | Chrislyn’s
Hair & Make Up | Lyndi Barnes
Florist | Stevens Floral
DJ |Ryan Ideus
Cake | Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery
Catering | Niemerg’s Steakhouse
Officiant | Matt Reed
Bridesmaids Dresses | Azazie
Groomsmen Attire | Roper