The Byrd's wedding was very laid back, and a relaxed day! We always love when things go to plan for our bride and groom, and they have the chance to sit back and enjoy the day. We arrived and said our hellos to Chris and Amanda, and we knew that the day was going to be full of laughter and great memories!
Number One Tip for Future Phocus Brides to Consider:
"Leading up to your big day, put in the extra effort to make a list of the pictures you want. Phocus was amazing and took our ideas and blew them out of the water. Have fun, relax, and let the professionals do the rest!"-Amanda
While we have our own tricks up our sleeves, we ALWAYS love to hear your ideas and run with it! Never be afraid to tell us what you would like, because ultimately the day is about you and your spouse! We are always down to try new things, and bring out the adventure on your wedding day!
What moment were you most looking forward to seeing in the photos?
"I was looking forward to Phocus capturing the emotions. The love, the happiness, and my smoking hot wife!"-Chris
You can clearly see the love that these two share for one another, and their kids! We were honored to capture all the little moments through the day!
What moment were you most looking forward to seeing in the photos?
"I love to be able to relive the day through the amazing photos that were captured! Smiling at moments that I never knew happened, seeing the emotions on friends and family’s faces."-Amanda
Amanda and Chris were surrounded by so many people that loves them so much! Weddings are very important to the couple not only because they are marrying their best friend, but also because it's a time and place that all the family and friends come together as one to celebrate the newlyweds! The Byrd's family and friends definitely knew how to party and have a great time!
How did you two meet?
"Amanda and I met at work. At the time, we both worked on the ambulance, but were on opposite rotations. I remember seeing her for the first time, and thinking that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. However; it took months for me to get the courage to speak to her. When I finally did, we clicked, became best friends, and the rest is history!"-Chris
We are all so glad that Chris finally worked up the nerve to talk to Amanda, because here we are now! If he didn't "shoot his shot" as some would say, many lives would be very different right now. The boys would have missed out on all the memories they have created together as a family, and their babygirl would have missed out on having two amazing parents!
Tell us about THE dress!
"The Bridal Loft was amazing. When I walked in the door I made it very clear that I was looking for something simple but yet elegant. I told Brandi that I as a pageant girl my entire life I did not want anything flashy. My wedding dress was the first dress I tried on that day! I knew immediately that it was THE ONE but they talked me into trying on several more. I, along with my family, kept going back to the Eddy K dress in between all of the other ones. From the very first moment, I knew it was the one and no one or nothing was changing my mind!"-Amanda
We absolutely ADOREDDDDD Amanda's dress! We loved how simple and elegant her dress was. It fit her personality to the tee, and she could have not picked a more PERFECT dress to rock on her wedding day!
Tell Us About Your First Dance!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DANCE SONG?: Keeper of the stars
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT SONG?:
"Chris played that song for me at home one night, and we danced in the living room. We both held each other, and cried because it felt like the lyrics were written just for us. Amanda and I both decided that it would only be appropriate to share our first dance together to this song. "-Amanda & Chris
UGHHH! The first dance Amanda and Chris shared was so beautiful!! They were honestly in their own world. There were moments where they had reality hit them both, and their emotions came flooding in, and then Chris started singing to Amanda and it hit us all in the heart!!
Describe the BRIDE on your wedding day!
"She absolutely took my breathe away. In my eyes Amanda is absolutely gorgeous everyday. She was spot on with her dress, hair, makeup, and all the other details."-Chris
Chris is NOT wrong! Saying Amanda was a literal queen does not do enough justice!! Every little detail about Amanda was perfection!
Describe the GROOM on your wedding day!
"When I saw Chris standing at the altar I immediately had chills take over my body. He looked so handsome standing there in his suite. He always gives me butterflies, but something about our wedding day was different. The smile he gave me and the emotion all over his face as I walked towards him was just something I can not describe."-Amanda
There was so much suspense built all day for these two loveBYRDs! ;) In a sense, they kind of teased each other by doing the "first NOT look" before the ceremony! They were able to speak and touch, but no peeking at all! So after all the suspense, and Chris and Amanda made eye contact from down the aisle, it was all waterworks from there or as Chris would say "the gnats were really bad, and getting in my eyes!";)
What was the most EMOTIONAL part of the day and WHY?
" Much to my surprise Amanda had a picture of my father added to my boutonnière. I lost my father to brain cancer 12 years ago so having a part of him there with me on the most important day of my life was special. "-Chris
This moment was one of the most memorable ones for us from the day! Chris had no idea about the surprise Amanda had for him, and he had to take a moment to compose himself after realizing his dad was so close to his heart. Even though his dad was not able to be there in flesh, he was absolutely there in spirit!
What was the most EMOTIONAL part of the day and WHY?
"The most emotional part of our day for me would have to be seeing Chris, and our "first not look”. Reading our letters to each other , and hearing the emotion in his voice really sent off the waterworks. I have known for years that Chris was madly in love with me, but being able to experience all of that just solidified the love he has for me."-Amanda
We love those "first not looks" because it is your final moments as each other's fiancé. You get to have one more moment to share, and embrace before all the craziness of the day comes flooding in. Creating that space with each other to really soak in that your wedding day is here, and enjoy those last few moments together.
What is ONE moment of your wedding you will always remember?
"Our vows. Having all of our friends and family sit among us as we made life long promises to each other."-Amanda
This part of the ceremony was so beautiful to be a part of! Not only did Chris and Amanda read their vows to each other, but they also made vows to each other's kids to be the best mom or dad they can be! They really put a beautiful meaning to being a "blended family"! Their kids are so lucky to have two amazing parents that love them so much, and the love this family has for each other really shows!
Favorite Part of the Phocus Experience?
"Tim, Sara, and Harry were amazing! When you are around them you can feel how passionate they are about what they do. It extends more than just taking pictures. They went above and beyond to make sure that we were taken care of. They are not only passionate about their work, but also their clients!"-Amanda
If we had to sum up Phocus in a few sentences, it would be just like Amanda said! Yes, we take amazing photos, but it goes FARRRR beyond that! We value the forever relationships we create with our couples, and honestly our forever friends! We cannot wait to see the Byrd's grow together in the future, and be a part of SO many new memories to come! The Byrd's wedding day was truly just a day of celebration, and we could feel how much Amanda and Chris are loved by all their friends and family surrounding them!
Here are a few of our favorites from the day!
Vendors:
Venue: South 22 Event Venue
Gown: The Bridal Loft
Hair: Samantha Edgar/ Jacob Carnley
Makeup: Gulf Coast Glam House
DJ: Tom Productions
Catering: Whistling Pig LLC
Cake: Lisa Nicholas
Florist/ Decor/ Coordinator: La-T-Da Events
Photography/ Videography: Phocus Photography LLC