Erika & Garrett | Mae’s Ridge Wedding | Destination Wedding Photographer

I’m going to come right out and say it… this post may be longer in both words and photos than most… and if you’ll keep reading you’ll find out why!! I’ve known Erika since she was a senior in high school ten(ish) years ago. I first photographed her for her senior portraits and over the years have continued to photographer her sweet family when I am back in Texas and it’s a family that has made me part of their family and I love them dearly. Oh man I told myself I wouldn’t cry writing this post but here I am crying. Over the last 10 + years Erika and I have developed a friendship and y’all this woman is amazing. Something about Erika… she is one of the most selfless people you’ll ever meet. She LOVES her family and friends crazy hard and I can only imagine her patients get the same kind of love every day she walks into the hospital. She puts her heart and soul into all she does and y’all it is an honor to call her my friend!!! So over the last 10 years we’ve kept up with one another and caught up when we’ve been able to. From a super far distance (her in Texas, me in SC) I got to watch her start loving a certain guy named Garrett!! Well Erika’s mom reached out to me a little over two years ago when Garrett decided to ask Erika to marry him. Unfortunately I wasn’t going to be in town but I was on pins and needles waiting for it to pop up everywhere because I was soo excited for them. Fast forward a few months and they set a date and I got a message from Erika & her mom seeing if I’d be willing to head back to Texas to photograph the wedding … (and just so you know, the answer to if I will travel to photograph a wedding is almost ALWAYS going to be YES!!) … so for almost 2 years I have gotten to be part of the finding the venue, setting the date, seeing all of Erika’s dresses she tried on, help with shoes, earrings, mother of the bride dresses, etc… and it has been the most fun to be part of so much of Erika & Garrett’s wedding day. To get the random texts about what I think about something has meant the world to me and even though I’m 1800 miles away at times it’s been like I was there with them.

So jump to November 2020 and I made the trip to Dripping Springs, Texas (outside of Austin) for Erika & Garrett’s wedding weekend. It is a week/weekend I will NEVER forget!! I met up with Erika and her parents at Mae’s Ridge a few days prior to the wedding to get a lay of the land and I immediately was smitten. Before they even got there I was walking around looking at where the light was best and where we were going to take pictures and then the three of them arrived and after attaching our masks to our faces gave each other super big hugs (Erika’s family is family and it was sooooo good to see them) and I got the low down for the wedding and just kept getting even more excited for the two of them. The next few days I spent with one of my best friends resting and exploring the area (we may have gone to a winery and it was beautiful!!) and it was a much needed break during a super amazing crazy fall season. On that Friday the whole family met me to do a few family photos prior to the rehearsal dinner which I photographed part of before I headed home to gear up for the next day!! OHHHHHH and I finally got to meet Garrett and y’all it was like I’ve known him just as long as I’ve known Erika. To see the way he loves her and looks at her and walks hand in hand with her is something special!!!

The next day I headed to Mae’s Ridge and y’all the weather couldn’t have been any nicer on an early November day in the hill country of Texas!!! Erika & Garrett were surrounded by their family and friends all day and both of them had friends/family in their wedding party that dotted on them and loved them and served them in a way that makes me smile thinking back to it. The way the guys supported Garrett all day and really were up for whatever. And the ladies (y’all being with the ladies was a treat because I have photographed almost half of them for their senior photos in college so it was soo much fun to see all of them!!!!) loved Erika like crazy and were just sooo sweet and caring and it was a joy to watch!!! After a few first looks for Erika (with her ladies, her dad, and her papa…. y’all I’m pretty sure I cried during all three) it was time to get her and Garrett married!!!

The spot they chose at Mae’s Ridge is a spot that Erika envisioned getting married since the day they first visited the venue and y’all it was beautiful. It was the first time they had done a ceremony in that spot and I have a feeling it won’t be the last!! Erika & Garrett’s ceremony was filled with smiles, tears, and LOTS of laughter!!! It was such an honor to photograph their ceremony and photograph the way these two look at one another and giggle with one another. I am so excited for them and can’t wait to see how God uses them and their marriage. After their super sweet ceremony we did some portraits and then they danced the night away before heading off as husband and wife!!! Erika & Garrett, THANK YOU soo soo much for wanting me to come to Texas and be there for your wedding day. It means so much to me and I am so excited for y’all!!! PLEASE come visit the east coast!!!! Here are a few of my favorite images from the day!!

To see more Weddings Click Here!!

Thank you so much for stopping by!! One of my favorite things to do is share my clients’ images!! It gives you a look at the kind of images you will receive if you hire me to be your photographer.  If you would like to see what a full session or wedding looks like, please feel free to ask!

If you are interested in having me as your Wedding or Portrait Photographer, please fill out this form and I will get back to you with all of my information.  For a quick glimpse of who I am click here.  Here is a glimpse of investment information.  If you’re ready to book your wedding or session go ahead and click on the contact button above or email me at kendramartinphotography@gmail.com.

I am currently booking  2021 & 2022 Weddings.  I take a limited number of weddings & sessions each year so that I can focus on giving my clients the best possible experience & so I can spend time with my sweet family.  I love what I do & I am looking forward to chatting with you!!

A HUGE shout out to those that I had the privilege of working alongside on this wedding day.

Wedding Dress | Belle Ãme Bridal

Dress Designer | Madi Lane

 Suits | The Black Tux

 Grooms Suit Jacket | Hockerty

Venue | Mae’s Ridge

Florist | Wild Bunches

Wedding Planner | Avenue Q Events

Hair & Makeup | Katy Reddell Beauty

Photographer | Kendra Martin Photography

Videographer | Photohouse Films

Catering | Royal Fig

DJ | Essen Entertainment

Transportation | Transportation Consultants

Invitations | The Olive Shoe

Cake | Bride’s Table