I often think people forget how important the moments just before a wedding ceremony are. These images are of a bride and groom who got ready at the bride's family home. She has 8 siblings and the most special family. The bride's mother made her earrings and veil! They spent all morning preparing for a wonderful day with the people that mean the most to them. Getting ready somewhere that is comfortable and beautiful is sometimes underestimated, but on this wedding day each and every image holds unique memories.

Silver Cup Artist Lauren Jolly had the opportunity to spend the day with the Rays. Nancy Ray, also photographer, was featured in The Homecoming Issue and we are overjoyed they are excepting a little one soon. Lauren had some thoughts to share with us along with her lovely photographs. Enjoy!

Eating dinner, on a dining room table, together, is for many couples no longer as ubiquitous as it might have been just a few decades ago. Faster living, mass-produced food that takes three minutes on high to cook and our slight dependency on media makes the couch or the desk in front of a screen a more desired setting for the evening meal. Staring into the blue light at people who we don't sincerely care about while the people who matter most sit along side us to make minimal eye contact and single line comments on the day's experience and what is on the screen before them.

She walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies; and all that’s best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes; thus mellowed to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies. - Lord Byron