I have a soft spot for this one, and Iβll tell you why up front. I didnβt meet Paulina and Sam on their wedding day. I met them the day Sam got down on one knee.
Heβd planned the whole thing in a newly built Design District building with the Dallas skyline stretched out behind them, golden hour pouring through the windows, Paulina with no idea what was coming. I was tucked away, camera ready, heart already pounding for them. She said yes, obviously. π€ And from that moment I got to be the person who documented every chapter that followed. The save the date session at Highland Park. The rehearsal dinner at Campisiβs, all red leather and roses and family squeezed around the tablesβ¦ And then this. So when I say it was an honor to shoot their wedding, I mean Iβd been waiting for this day almost as long as they had. π₯Ή
Getting ready
The morning started at the Renaissance Hotel Saint Elm, where Stephanie Nelson and her team got Paulina and the bridesmaids ready. Everyone was in matching blue pajamas, there was a chess board going (a very competitive chess board, for the record), and the energy was equal parts calm and giddy.
Then Laurie helped Paulina into her gown, and the room went quiet for a second.
The first looks
Paulina did three first looks. The bridesmaids went first, all of them turning around at once and completely losing it. Then her dad, Mark, who took one look at his girl and had to take a second to collect himself.
And then Sam. They tucked themselves outside the templeβs glass-and-steel courtyard, read private vows to each other, and exchanged monogrammed handkerchiefs, which they immediately needed.
Ketubah and ceremony at Temple Emanu-El
After the ketubah signing with their witnesses, everyone gathered at Temple Emanu-El for the ceremony. Sam walked in with both his parents, Matthew and Jennifer. Paulina walked in with Mark and Laurie. The chuppah was a dream, blush and cornflower blue blooms by Belle DΓ©cor climbing the whole frame, with the templeβs huge windows and bare spring trees behind it.
Rabbi Michael Lewis led their ceremony as Sam took Paulinaβs hand at the end of the aisle, they circled each other seven times, and Sam broke the glass to a room that absolutely erupted. They recessed out to βSigned, Sealed, Delivered,β because of course they did.
Newlyweds in downtown Dallas
Before the reception we stole the newlyweds away for portraits, up on a parking garage rooftop with the skyline behind them and out into the downtown streets, where Sam dipped Paulina right in the middle of the road. New husband and wife, city all to themselves. Some of my favorite frames of the whole day.
The reception at The Room on Main
Then it was up to The Room on Main, glowing under the chandeliers with those tall windows and the cornflower blue and white throughout. The cake from Delicious Cakes had the prettiest blue brushstroke petals, and yes, it tasted as good as it looked (lemon mousse, chocolate, raspberry mousse, in case youβre taking notes).
Their first dance was to βLovely Day.β Mark and Paulina danced to βMy Little Girl,β and Jennifer and Sam to βYouβll Be in My Heart,β and I dare you to keep it together through either one. π₯Ή
Kara and Rachel gave the maid of honor toasts, Mitch handled best man duties, and then Itβs Your Night opened up the floor and it stayed packed.
The hora was a whole event on its own. π Both of them up in the chairs, white-knuckling the seats, the whole room circling underneath. Glow sticks came out, the dance floor never emptied, and somewhere in there they snuck in donut holes and cheesecake lollipops for everybody.
The send-off was a tunnel of streamers out to their getaway car, the two of them laughing and ducking and absolutely covered in silver streamers by the time they made it to the car.
One last thing
Paulina and Sam, youβve been two of my favorite people to point my camera at since the very beginning, and getting to follow your story from that surprise proposal all the way to your last dance is something I wonβt forget. Thank you for letting me be there for all of it. π₯Ή
Hereβs to the Cassells. π₯π₯Ή
Vendor Team
- Photographer: Tara Arseven @tararseven
- Wedding Planners: H&H Weddings and Events @hh_weddings
- Ceremony Venue: Temple Emanu-El @templeemanueldallas
- Reception Venue & Photo Booth: The Room on Main @theroomonmain
- Catering: CN Catering @cnatering
- Florist: Belle DΓ©cor @belledeecordesign
- Cake: Delicious Cakes @deliciouscakesdfw
- Hair & Makeup: Stephanie Nelson Makeup & Hair @snmakeuphair
- DJ / Entertainment: Itβs Your Night, Jeremiah Brinkley @itsyournight
- Content Creator: Megan Williams, 519 Strategy @519strategy
- Transportation: Igport Limos and Trolley @igpport_limos
- Exit Vehicle: ALTO
