First Look Weddings, Weddings by Corine

St. Louis Cathedral Jaxson Wedding Photographer | Katie & Bryce

  • Married:June 2, 2018
  • Bridal Prep Location:Windsor Court Hotel
  • Ceremony:St. Louis Cathedral
  • Reception:The Jaxson
  • Entertainment:Music Source media
  • Videography:Tim Mcaskill
  • Florist:Bella Blooms
  • Bakery:Haydel
  • Hair:Ali Vasquez Hair
  • Makeup:Dazzle Dolls
  • The Bride Wore:Narin Moda
  • Bridal Boutique:Something New Bridal Boutique
  • 2nd Line Band:Dr. Jazz and the New Orleans Sounds
  • Live Painter:Heirloom Live Event Painting
  • Stationery:Carlson Craft

How did you meet?
I always love to see the looks on people’s faces whenever we meet new friends. As we mention we’re engaged, they immediately ask where we are both from and how we met. I was born and raised in the city of New Orleans and Bryce from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We met our Sophmore year of college at the University of Southern Mississippi. It started off as a friendly study session for Geology and quickly grew into so much more. Before I knew it, he was gone for the summer and we FaceTimed every night before bed. I missed him so much that I actually flew to Cedar Rapids, someplace I never thought i would have the slightest interest in visiting, to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend.
Throughout Junior and Senior year we became best friends, and part of each other’s families, attending numerous family vacays and just weekend/holiday visits. When I graduated in the Spring of 2015, Bryce had a few summer classes to finish up online so we moved in with my mom and step dad for about six months. I began my professional career at Ferguson while Bryce spent night and day working in the “cottage” in the backyard, which needed major renovations to say the least lol.
In October, we both attended Southern Miss’ Career Fair. I worked the Ferguson booth while he was an attendee searching for his dream job in construction. Bam the next day he had an interview with Hensel Phelps whom was recruiting Field Engineers in the Orlando area. As soon as he told me how excited he was for this interview it made me nervous for what our future held. He assured me that he didn’t think he was nearly qualified for the job, but was at least going to interview for it. Two weeks later they flew him to Orlando, and a few days later he was offered the job. He texted me while I was at work with so much excitement and I immediately broke down into tears, not knowing what to do. I went back and forth for two weeks contemplating whether or not to stay home or go with him, because I knew how much I would miss my family and had just recently started my first job. Finally, I realized that he was my everything and it was time to take the next step..

Include a little bit about yourselves. What do you do?
We now live in Fort Lauderdale FL and try our best to hit the beaches or any other outdoor activities with our pups baron and Lola as much as possible!

What is your favorite thing about each other? Share a personal story.
I love bryces ambition- he always reminds me that he wants to be head of the household and be the sole provider of our family. Also, he is a bit opposite of me, I tend to sweat over the small stuff and he does a great job reminding me that a lot of the time it’s not worth the stress and to take a breather.

I love how Katie is very responsible. She always thinks things through (sometimes over thinks haha) and makes the right decisions. Sometimes I can get carried away with things and she sets me straight and at first I may be a little mad but then 9/10 times I thank later for making the right decision. She’s a very goal oriented and that’s why I can always count on her.

How did the proposal go? Who proposed to who, were you surprised?
December of 2016 we moved to the city of Orlando and started our “adult life”. We both worked our butts off and developed great friendships with the people we worked with. One day in June while my mom was in town, we went shopping and we walked past a jewelry store. Jokingly I told him we should go in and look at some engagement rings. He grabbed my hand and said “yeah let’s go”. I was shocked and my heart was pounding, thinking “wow this guy really wants to marry me”. I always pictured my proposal being completely caught off guard, not knowing what the ring would look like or when it was going to happen. However, I am glad we went shopping together because we have two different styles, and my long skinny fingers didn’t look good with the ones he was having me try on (even though they were beautiful!).
For a few months we randomly would stop in jewelry stores to look and get ideas. I would always joke with him and said to propose to me with a puppy. In November we discussed getting a pup and started looking at different breeds and fell in love with Shar Peis. As I walked down to Target one day I saw a guy walking his Shar Pei and asked him for the breeders info. That next weekend we drove to St. Augustine to pick one out. We fell in love with the chubbiest and only chocolate brown puppy, Baron. The next weekend we took him home and we were both sooooo in love with him and all of his wrinkles! At the beginning of December, we went ring shopping again and found THE RING.
Since my birthday is December 21st and Christmas is the 25th, I figured he would do it either before or on one of those days. I texted our friend Jenna who did our other friends engagement pictures and asked if she would take some photos of Bryce, Baron, and I the day after Christmas (hoping to use them as engagement photos lol). My birthday came and he told me he was taking us to Ruth’s Chris. I thought to myself “ok fancy restaurant, this is it.” I was wrong. Then Christmas Day came and I thought, “Ok he wants to do it in front of family, this is it.” I was wrong again, and was thinking “Did he change his mind? Do I even want to take these pictures tomorrow?”We met up with two of my best friends Christmas night for some drinks and Bryce was feeding me water the whole time because he didn’t want me to be hung over for the photos the next day.
December 26th comes, and I get ready sluggishly and my mom drives Baron, Bryce and I to the French Quarter to meet up with Jenna. We take a few photos in the streets and on a set of random steps (which happens to be the steps to our reception at the Jaxson). Then Jenna says, let me hold Baron and get you guys in front of the St. Louis Cathedral. She had me turn my back to Bryce to take a few shots, and then I felt him grab my hand. As I turned around he was down on one knee and I thought my legs were going to give out on me. He proposed to me in front of the church he planned on marrying me in, and had it planned all along with Jenna, I was so surprised! From there, we went to a rooftop over looking the city and the river where we took the rest of our engagement photos. I had butterflies the entire way home, with this beautiful ring on my finger and the most precious pup in his cute bowtie asleep on my lap. 🙂

Where was your ceremony held and why did you pick this site?
St. Louis cathedral- it’s where he proposed 🙂

Where was your Reception held and why did you pick this site?
The weekend of our engagement party we visited about five or six venues and as soon as we walked into the Jaxson we knew it was the one! The atmosphere is just so sophisticated and the views are to die for. Also, the location of the church was a great plus.

What unique or special things did you do at the reception? 
Love painter
2nd line
Memory table
Pics of our pups for the signature drinks and treat table

Pick one moment in the day that was your favorite thing?
Getting ready with all of our friends and family leading up to the first look

Did it really go by as quickly as everyone says?
ABSOLUTELY

What was the inspiration behind picking the color palette and decor that you picked?
We love the different color blue we chose and the blush pink- we were going for something a little different so I chose the dress with the metallic shimmer and added a belt to add a touch of something more. We really liked the romantic classic look with a hint of rustic.

From the Bride – When you first saw the groom, what were you thinking/feeling?
I can’t wait to see his face!

From the groom – When you first saw the bride, what were you thinking/feeling?
How amazing she looked on this special day

Who was your baker, what was the flavor of your cake? Was it delicious?!
Hayden’s- first layer was plain, second was chocolate, third was Irish cream
The little tastes we had off of each other’s fingers was delicious lll

Did you do a first look? If so how did you feel about it? If not, do you wish you had?
Yes, glad we did it!

Did you have a coordinator or did you plan everything yourself? If you didn’t have a coordinator any advice for brides planning their own wedding?
My mom did EVERYTHING and I’m so thankful! If your mom isn’t as awesome as mine, try to be super organized with everything or hire a planner lol

What was your first dance song? Why this song?
Turn the lights down low by maxx
Super sweet lyrics and he wrote the song to propose to his wife with

Band or DJ? Did they rock it?
DJ and he was great!

We want to hear YOUR advice for future brides.
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Everything will fall into place

Anything else you want to say?
Corine and Kacie rocked!!