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Emotional may be the best word to describe Caitlin and Tanner’s wedding day. In fact, we can’t really think of a time that one of them wasn’t happy crying.

The groom wiping his eyes while the bride smiles at him outdoors
We cannot really think of a time that one of them wasn't happy crying.

Misty-eyed tears started being shed while they struggled to read letters to us that they had written throughout their dating relationship. This soon accelerated into a weepy gift exchange, and culminated in heaving sobs as they saw each other for the first time. Surprisingly, they held it together pretty well for the ceremony, but when the toasts started they lost it all over again. The night ended with the two of them dancing in an empty reception hall, tears streaming down their faces.

The couple walking hand in hand through a golden field at sunset
Late light, tall grass, and the two of them finally getting a minute alone.

The Letters

The groom reading a letter, visibly emotional
The letters they had written to each other throughout their dating relationship.

Neither of them made it through. That is not a complaint.

The bride reading her letter, close on her face
Neither of them made it through, which is exactly what you want.

The First Look

Silhouette of the couple embracing in front of a bright window
The first look. This is the moment the whole day turns on.

This is the moment the whole day turns on, and it’s also the wedding I used to teach the technique. If you want to see exactly how we filmed this, here’s the behind the scenes on how to film a first look at a wedding, shot on this day with these two.

The Ceremony

The ceremony, with the groom's father officiating beside the couple
Tanner's dad officiated, and you could feel the anticipation in the room.

But we did say this wedding was emotional, and that word means far more than only happy tears. Laughter was present as Tanner vowed to Caitlin that he would “always have fun, be silly, and not take life too seriously.” A feeling of anticipation ran through the room as Tanner’s dad officiated the ceremony.

Silhouette of the couple kissing at night among tall pampas grass
Backlit in the pampas grass after dark.

The Reception

Guests dancing under coloured lights wearing glow sticks
Joy was seen in many creative ways on the dance floor.

And joy was seen in many creative ways by Caitlin and Tanner’s moves on the dance floor.

The couple leaving through a sparkler exit surrounded by guests
The sparkler exit at the end of the night.

How It Was Filmed

Here’s the camera and lenses this was filmed with, and it was graded with my LUTs.

We love emotional weddings and would love to film yours. Please get in touch.

If you’re a filmmaker rather than a couple: download my free quick tips guide to booking more wedding film clients, take a look at my wedding film editing course, or come join the Learn Wedding Filmmaking Facebook group.

The music licensing sites I recommend are Soundstripe (use the code WHOISMATT for 10% off a yearly or monthly subscription), Artlist (two extra months free), and Musicbed.

I’m required to state that I’m part of affiliate programs for Amazon, B&H, Soundstripe, Artlist, Musicbed, and Adobe, and that some of the links above are affiliate links.

Watch the trailer

I’m required to state that I’m a part of affiliate programs for Amazon, Musicbed, Artlist, Audiio, Epidemic Sound, B&H, Best Buy, Adorama, SoundStripe, Sweetwater, Filmmaker’s Academy, and Adobe and that some of the links above are affiliate links and YouTube may compensate me for using shopping tags in this video.

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