Over the past few years one of our favorite places to shoot weddings has gradually become Galveston island. The laid back atmosphere, the beautiful sunsets, and the continuous winds just create a vibe that sets the tone for a beautiful wedding, and Jimmy and Chancie’s proved to be spectacular.

The day started out a little hot, but with perfect weather and clear blue skies for such an occasion. The girls were getting ready at the wonderful Tremont House, with its large, windowed rooms and beautiful light. The mimosas were flowing and the laughter was continuous and infectious as we started shooting and enjoying the day right along side them. Plenty of dancing was occurring and a few happy tears were shed as Chancie dawned her gorgeous gown and lit up the room and the atmosphere around her.

The guys, after an early game of golf, were busy getting the finishing touches ready at the Trolley Station for the ceremony. Keeping cool and enjoying each others company, Jimmy wanted to make sure everything was perfect before his bride-to-be arrived for their epic moment.

Finally, the long awaited moment had arrived and family and friends stood around them as Chancie appeared on the aisle and Jimmy took in just how lucky he was. Smiles and tears filled the upstairs ballroom and everybody was on pins and needles waiting for the two to meet and join hands for the last time as individuals and commit themselves to each other for eternity. It was truly a beautiful ceremony and the little moments that made it special were everywhere, leading up to the moment these two said, “I do.” and embraced for the first time as man and wife. The clapping, smiles, and shouts of happiness followed the two down the aisle and into the party that awaited.

As the night wore on, the crowd continued to enjoy the magnificent moment and the love that filled the air. Friends reminisced about the past, got to know new people, make new friends, and create memories that would last a lifetime. And, in the true fashion that fit these two perfectly, they were whisked off into the night by shouts of love as they drove away in a classic car, putting a perfect finishing touch on a perfect evening.

Jimmy and Chancie, thank you so much for letting us be a part of this journey with you. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for the two of you and we count ourselves lucky to call you our friends. ~The Ruddocks.

Galveston always has its own unique feel and persona, and the island was the perfect setting for Jimmy + Chancie’s beautiful wedding this weekend. The setting was fantastic, but it was the people and the love that these two individuals have for one another that really mad the day one to remember though. It’s one we’ll never forget and we felt like we were there as friends as much as photographers and we can’t wait to share the images and memories with all of you soon! Until then, here’s a quick sneak peek and we’re working hard to finish the rest! Congratulations again to the new Mr. and Mrs. Hall!

To see more of this beautiful wedding, head on over to check out Jimmy + Chancie’s Wedding Photography Website to see some more sneak peek images and their lovely wedding day as soon as its up!

Last month we had the distinct pleasure of taking on a whole new adventure with our friends, John and Jen, and their closest friends and family to Costa Rica. Oh yeah, we were all there to celebrate their AWESOME WEDDING!

John and Jen are an amazing couple and we had such a wonderful time in Costa Rica with them at their dream destination wedding. It was a new experience for us getting to travel internationally to shoot a wedding, but it couldn’t have been a better first experience with a more amazing group of people. Their parents were extremely welcoming and their friends immediately enveloped us in open arms to help them celebrate this wonderful occasion in paradise.

There were plenty of great tales and adventures in the days leading up to the wedding, but none more important or magical than the one that John and Jen set off on together on a beautifully lit sunset beach in Costa Rica.

The day began as the other days, listening to the waves crash on the beach, enjoying the morning sun, and slowly getting ready for another exciting day on the Costa Rican coast. John was off enjoying some time with his family and the girls busied themselves with getting their hair and make-up perfect for the day ahead, enjoying their time together and laughing as reunited friends for a magical occasion. The anticipation in the air was spectacular and and Jen and John’s smiles were contagious to all of those around them. As the time approached, I don’t think you could read a trace of anxiety on either of their faces, only pure happiness and joy.

As sunset neared, we all made our way onto the beach where we were serenaded by a local group and led to the ceremony by a walkway of flower petals. As you came through the brush along the shoreline, you emerged into a beautiful view of the sunset peaking over the rocks to the right and a wonderful white alter ready to unite to individuals as one for the rest of their lives. All of those in attendance came together from their various activities to watch, enjoy, and experience the love that these two share as they said “I do” and were united as husband and wife.

After the teary eyes were wiped and the laughter set in, we all made our way up to the top level of the resort to party the night away and dance until they shut it down. After that, most of the guests were still so thrilled with the entire experience that the party turned to the pool and kept going into the perfect Spring evening.

The entire 4 day experience was an absolute joy from beginning to end with no part being more joyful than watching these two wonderful people be wed. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget and we are eternally grateful to John and Jen for thinking of us and giving us the opportunity to enjoy this experience with them.

John and Jen – We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for you two and what adventures God has in store. It was such a pleasure, privilege, and honor to get to know both of you, your friends, and your wonderful families better, and we look forward to continuing to watch the blessings rain down on both of you in the years to come. ~The Ruddocks

We had an absolute blast in Costa Rica with this amazing couple and their wonderful and inviting friends and family. The memories we have from the weekend go far beyond words and what we can only hope we captured in photos. The backdrop for this destination wedding couldn’t have been any more beautiful at Playa Flamingo and we can’t wait to share the rest of the images. Here’s a quick sneak peek and we’re already home and working hard to finish the rest!

To see more of this Costa Rican wedding, head on over to check out Jen + John’s Wedding Photography Website to see some more sneak peek images and their lovely wedding day as soon as its up!

All week long we waited and watch anxiously to see if the rainy weather would subside the week of Lisa and Randy’s Spring wedding. Apparently the Houston weather just didn’t get the memo that these two lovebirds were planning a lovely outdoor wedding in the Royal Oaks area of downtown. The days counted down and finally the wedding day arrived with torrential downpours, a change of plans, and a bride and groom that became their own ray of sunshine on a rainy wedding day. Before you knew it, the rain that was causing flooding in parts of Houston had subsided and only a drizzle remained. Personally, we give all of the credit to these two, they never stopped smiling and I don’t think we’ve ever seen a more laid back and happy bride at an rainy outdoor wedding. It spoke multitudes to how much they love each other and it resounded in the hearts and memories of all of their friends and family as they joined them in a glass building to watch them wed.

Lisa and her girls started out the day avoiding the rain at the hotel getting ready and enjoying hot tea to stay warm and keep the energy up for the night to come. The closer they got to putting on the dress, the more the rain subsided until it was merely a drizzle by the time it was time to head over to venue and Lisa looked like a fairytale in her layered dress. Randy never had a chance at keeping those eyes dry!

Seriously, he never had a chance and he found out as he stood with Max (they’re awesome Boxer!) at the end of the aisle and awaited his beloved bride. There were few dry eyes in the entire house as they met, surrounded by family and friends, and pledged their love to one another.

After the wedding, the wet ground didn’t even lead to hesitation as the party enjoyed their dinner and immediately moved outside and inside to the dance floors to enjoy the night and dance the night away. It was a particularly uplifting experience for the bride and groom towards the end of the night as the guys carried them off in a true winner’s fashion before the entire party escorted the lovebirds to their limo to enjoy the end of their wedding night together.

The entire experience was a complete 180 from what it could have been and it was a dim day that was lit up with the love, laughter, and contagious smile that radiated from Lisa and Randy and we feel blessed to have been a part of it. Thank you both for inviting us on the start of this journey the two of you have set upon. We can’t wait to see what life brings you, and we know that no matter what it is, you two will continue to smile and love life together even on the rainiest of days. Congratulations again! ~ The Ruddocks

The Lord absolutely blessed us this past weekend in so many ways, and a few of those just happened to take place on beautiful Galveston island with a wonderful couple, Chancie + Jimmy. The skies were blue, the weather was gorgeous, and we had the island as a perfect backdrop for this beautiful couple.

We kicked things off down on The Strand finding some of the island’s cool walls and alleyways to set the stage for this fun-loving couple. We really wanted to make sure we captured their personality and it didn’t take much to get them talking, laughing, relaxing, and enjoying each other in front of the lens while they danced and strutted their stuff. The entire experience down in that area was a blast and we had to finish it off we a dip shot near the Stork Club on Post Office!

After The Strand, we calmed things down and let these two enjoy a warm, Spring sunset on East Beach. The dunes were glowing in the orange light and the calm breeze made it not just perfect for photos, but a breathtaking night to just enjoy what Galveston has to offer. Chance + Jimmy looked right at home on the island that both of them love and we couldn’t feel more pride for being included in this special season in their lives. We can’t wait to see what else their wedding has in store, and just a few hours with them and you can tell that they are a perfect compliment for each other.

Chancie + Jimmy – Thank y’all so much for letting us be a part of this. We can’t wait for the next few months and we feel blessed to call you both friends! ~ Sam + Payton

To see more of Chancie + Jimmy’s engagement photos and to follow along as they head off on their journey together, check out their Wedding Photography Website at JimmyandChancie.RuddockPhotography.com.

We are excited to be sharing Lisa’s bridals on the blog tonight! When Lisa shared an early sneak peek of her dress, we insistently said her bridal session needed to have a ‘whimsical’ feel. We started throwing out ideas on how to create this environment and then a light bulb went off, and the fog machine came out. The fairytale bridal session became perfect when the beautiful Lisa walked on the scene in her dress and flower crown!!

It may have rained all day, but these two lovebirds barely noticed as they only had eyes for each other! Every single moment of the wedding was filled with love and warmth, and the family and friends that surrounded Lisa made the day a bright spot among the Houston rain! As always, we’re already working hard to go through and edit their photos and we can’t wait to share more soon! In the mean time, here is a sneak peek for y’all to enjoy, and don’t forget to stop back soon to see more of Randy + Lisa’s wedding as soon as the photos are ready!

To see more of this endearing duo, don’t forget to check out Lisa + Randy’s Wedding Photography Website to see some more sneak peek images and their lovely wedding day as soon as its up!

With how big of an impact the one word resolution had on us in 2014, it was a no brainer for us to make a one word commitment for 2015. This year our word is ADVENTURE. We don’t know where it will take us but we are looking forward to what it brings. Be sure to keep tuned into the blog to see how it impacts us through 2015.

With sharing our experience on the one word resolution, we encourage you and your husband, finance, boyfriend, etc to consider developing one together.

2014 was truly a blessing for Ruddock Photography. It was filled with some of the amazing couples that set forth on an eternity of love and marriage. We were blessed to be part of the start of this and had fun as husband and wife photographing it as you can see below. Looking forward to 2015, we want to commit more to our couples and really develop our relationship with them and provide them the unparalleled ‘Ruddock Photography’ experience. To do this, we have decided to limit the number of weddings each month we take on. So, be sure to book your 2015 wedding as soon as possible because the dates are filling quickly!

In 2014, we were also committed to the development of our commercial photography, and many of you may have seen us expand Ruddock Visuals as we focus on the art of photography. For 2015 we have exciting things planned for Ruddock Visuals and are excited for the videos & photography projects we have planned!!