A Year In Review | My Favorite Images of 2023

2023 has come and gone, and the year passed by blazingly fast and, at the same time, delightfully slow. The fact that, for nearly every week this past year, I was able to wake up, grab my camera(s), and create with some of the genuinely nicest folks I’ve ever met will perpetually blow my tiny lil’ brain.

After so many years of living my life in two different spaces - 2023 was the year where I simplified everything and, subsequently, made it more complex. Last year, I quit any level of full-time employment I had so that I could commit 100% of my time to my work and, most importantly, my couples. It’s been scary, but SO rewarding!

It’s another year of astounding, vibrant people.

It’s another year totally devoid of any wedding horror stories (I have the best couples).

It’s another year where I feel I don’t deserve to be on my two feet, doing what I love.

I’m working with people I call friends (vendors and couples alike), making the photos I’ve always wanted to make in places I’ve always wanted to make them.

For a photographer who typically covers the St. Louis area, I sure as heck didn’t stay put this year. From Northern to Southern Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas - these were just a few places to which I lugged around my camera bags.

To my couples - thanks for the trust, the laughs, the hugs, and the vibes. You mean SO much to me! If you’re reading this, I’m thankful for you and your attention.

Here are some of my favorite images that I made this year!

Hey, that was a lengthy blog you scrolled through! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in 2024 and beyond, I’d love to learn more about you and your dreams for your wedding!

Jewel Box Wedding in Forest Park | Kelsey + Megan

Of all my years as a wedding photographer in St. Louis, shooting at so many amazing venues, the Jewel Box in Forest Park holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite venues to return to year after year. With it’s towering glass ceiling and endless lush greenery, it’s a space that’s hard to beat - especially if Kelsey and Megan are getting married there. Check out some of my favorite moments from this wedding day, as well as the highlight film we created for this lovely couple!

Kelsey & Megan’s Forest Park Jewel Box Wedding Day

When Kelsey and Megan first reached out to me to capture their wedding day, we hit it off pretty much right off the bat. Here are a couple of things that immediately stuck out to me when we hopped on their consultation:

1. They have a dog. His name is Benson. He is adorable

2. Kelsey and Megan are madly in love

That’s all I needed! For me to be excited to work with my couples, #2 is a requirement. But, a cute dog is also a bonus! Kelsey and Megan made it clear that photography was extremely important to them. They wanted to work with someone who would capture raw emotion beautifully and creatively, someone who wouldn’t force them into awkward poses or situations, and someone who would approach candid moments with intention and care. Luckily for them, these are a few of the things I prioritize in my approach to weddings. From their engagement session to their album design call, Kelsey and Megan were an absolute DREAM to work with. I am beyond lucky to experience such love.

Kelsey and Megan did all their day-of prep in an Air BnB just a few minutes outside of Forest Park. Not only did this cut down on the travel time, but the duplex-style setup of the Air BnB made it extremely simple to jump back and forth between both sides of them getting ready. Kelsey and Megan’s details were so timeless and significant - from the sweet Converse to the matching vow books.

Kelsey and Megan LOVE so many classic spots in St. Louis, so Art Hill in Forest Park was a no-brainer for their first look, wedding party photos, and some pre-ceremony portraits. We were treated with some dramatic clouds, a strong breeze, and some amazing light (which doesn’t always happen with the late-afternoon sun). Some rain from the previous few days gave us cooler weather and plenty of opportunities for creative reflections in their photos.

From there, we did a short first look with both of their fathers and it was onto the ceremony and reception! The Jewel Box speaks for itself, but I’ll try my best to write a few words. Even from the outside, it’s such an iconic venue. Surrounded by manicured gardens, beautiful reflecting pools, and jaw-dropping architecture, the walk up to the venue is super inspiring as a photographer. My mind always spins with ideas for creative photos. Then, walking inside, you’re met with that grand, greenhouse-style architecture and immaculate, almost otherworldly plants. This vibe lasted us all the way through the reception, where the Jewel House team flipped the ceremony setup into a reception layout, perfect for a joyful night of toasts, great food (courtesy of Orlando’s), and even better dance moves.

Scroll on for the photos and highlight film that we made for Kelsey and Megan. This day deserved to be captured in a vibrant, unique, and loving way - I’m so glad that these two trusted me and my team with these special moments!

Featured Vendors

Planner - Adorist Weddings & Events
Photo+Video - Bryson B Photo
Catering - Orlando’s
Venue - Jewel Box
Photo Booth - STL Photo Party
Ice Cream Cart - Slingin’ Scoops
Cake - Celebrating Life Cakes
Hair - Nikki Russo
Makeup - Faces By Heather
Transportation - LS Transportation
DJ - Elite Pro DJ
Florist - Bloomin’ Buckets
String Trio - Innocenti Strings

Highlight Film - Kelsey + Megan

You made it! If you’re looking for someone to capture your wedding day in a creative and intentional way, I can help!

Timber Creek Wedding | Molly + Chris

A wedding at Timber Creek Event Center in St. Joseph, Missouri

Molly and Chris’ wedding at Timber Creek Event Center in St. Joseph, Missouri was totally unique and absolutely stunning. From Chris’ dark suit and the black bridesmaids’ dresses to the moody florals and rustic accents around the reception space, it was clear they had a vision - and it totally worked!

Timber Creek Event Center was an absolute joy to photograph and work with. The team was friendly and accommodating, and the place is just stunningly gorgeous. I love the ceremony space, especially at night (check those last few night photos), and the large reception area with tall, beamed ceilings made for an awesome place to party! In spring, with that late afternoon light flowing through the leafless trees, this venue offered so many amazing opportunities to get creative with the couple.

Needless to say, the llamas were a highlight of the day, if only for the sole reason that they were wearing their own fancy wedding attire. THE BEST part of the day was just looking around, seeing how obsessed Molly and Chris are with each other, and feeling how much everyone at the wedding cared so deeply for them.

I knew from their engagement session that they were fun, creative, laid-back, and down for pretty much anything - my type of people! Get your scrolling fingers out and check out some of my favorites from this awesome day!

Photo/Video: Bryson B Photo

Cake: Three Wishes Bakery

Florals: Landers Flowers

Hair: Whisper Lynn

Makeup: Mafia Makeup by Sarah

Catering: Day N’ Paradise

Cake Pops: Cake Poppin with Brittany

Looking for bland wedding photos? Didn’t think so.

A Year In Review | My Favorite Images of 2022

2022 has come and gone, and the year passed by blazingly fast and, at the same time, delightfully slow. The fact that, for nearly every week this past year, I was able to wake up, grab my camera(s), and create with some of the genuinely nicest folks I’ve ever met will perpetually blow my tiny lil’ brain.

It’s another year of astounding humans.

It’s another year totally devoid of any wedding horror stories (I have the best couples).

It’s another year where I feel I don’t deserve to be on my two feet, doing what I love.

I’m working with people I call friends (vendors and couples alike), making the photos I’ve always wanted to make in places I’ve always wanted to make them.

For a photographer that typically covers St. Louis, I sure as heck didn’t stay put this year. From Northern to Southern Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee - these were just a few places in which I lugged around my camera bags

To my couples - thanks for the trust, the laughs, the hugs, and the vibes. You mean SO much to me!

Here are some of my favorite images that I made this year!

Hey, that was a lengthy blog you scrolled through! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in 2023 and beyond, I’d love to learn more about you and what you value!

Main Street Abbey Wedding | Columbia, IL | Courtney + Nick

So, here’s the deal. Courtney and Nick are simply lovely humans, and their wedding at Main Street Abbey in Columbia, IL was exactly that - lovely.

Courtney and Nick are so. Friggin’. Cool. They have cool friends. Their families are cool. Their dog, Boone? Radical. Literally, there was an entire section of their wedding timeline titled “Boone Being Radical.”

Nick reached out to me, what feels like, eons ago to capture his proposal to Courtney. I hiked up a huge (for Columbia) mountain (hill) with way too many cameras to grab the big moment. After setting up and settling down, I see a Nervous Nicholas and a (mostly) Clueless Courtney round the corner of the trail. Still neck deep in the ruse, Nick comments to Courtney on the weather, and gestures to me, the nameless photographer, saying, “It’s nice up here! Looks like he’s taking photos for an art project.”

It was a project, but not for my art class. I was a Music Business major, after all.

A question was popped, nervous giggles were… guggled? A resounding “Yes!” was heard.

From that moment forward, I had this nagging hope that I’d get the opportunity to capture Courtney and Nick’s wedding. I’m so happy that we ended up here!

Main Street Abbey provided the perfect venue for an all-in-one wedding, with ample (and beautiful) space for getting ready, the ceremony, the reception, cocktail hour, and everything in between. I’m a particularly big fan of the huge cathedral-style ceilings! I’d happily recommend this venue to anyone in the area looking for a full-featured, spacious, and gorgeous place to have the perfect wedding day.

Courtney and Nick - thank you SO much for trusting your memories to my eyes. Check out some of my faves below!

Dress: Bridal Manor
Cake: Twice as Sweet
Florals: Farmhaus
DJ: DJ Connection
Hair: Lauren Herbeck
Makeup: Art of Beauty
Food: Salt + Smoke
Painting: Karen Raidy
Venue: Main Street Abbey

Hey! You scrolled this far… If you need stunning photos, let’s chat!

The Standard On State | Rockford, IL Wedding

If I was legally forced to capture every single wedding at The Standard on State in Rockford, Illinois, I wouldn’t shed a single tear. This wedding checked every moody, modern, joy-filled, vibrant box in my little photographer heart. I’m so happy to have been there with my camera, taking way too many photos.

This wedding came after a small break in the seemingly nonstop wedding season of 2022. I had just had a couple of weeks off and, as any photographer knows, even the tiniest break can make it feel like you’ve never shot a wedding in your life! McKenna and Grant were such a welcome introduction to the fall wedding season. It truly felt like we’ve known each other for a much longer time than we actually have, and their wedding was an effortless whirlwind of love. Hm. Effortless Whirlwind of Love…. Dibs on that band name.

The Standard is a venue that has every little part of your day covered! They have basically the entire building, from basement to rooftop, so there’s plenty of room for everything from the getting ready to the reception - and McKenna and Grant used it all! McKenna spent so much time nailing down the physical details (signs, favors, invites), and the team at The Standard was able to bring it all together in gorgeous fashion!

I’ll let the photos tell the rest of the story, but every part of this day was striking. The beautiful, warmly lit rooms for getting ready… The open, spacious rooftop ceremony (and dancing) floor… The exposed brick dinner and reception room. All surrounded by the historic city of Rockford, Illinois!

Check out the photos and the awesome vendor team that made this day happen!
Dress: Bucci's Bridal
Florals: London Avenue Designs
DJ: Luxe Productions
Makeup: Alpenglow Artistry
Catering: Lino’s
Videography: Oakhouse
Venue: The Standard

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Missouri History Museum Wedding | Margarett + Jeff

This wedding at the St. Louis Missouri History Museum was such a treat to capture. It had it all: rain, an amazing venue, and a lovely couple. What more could a photographer ask for?

Margarett and Jeff are some really special people, as is their entire cute little family! We immediately connected on their initial call, and the rest just fell into place. Not only did I have the pleasure of capturing their wedding, but their engagement session AND a family session for their entire squad!

For the getting ready portion of the day, we started at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. After they were done getting ready, we headed down to a beautiful spiral staircase in the lobby of the hotel for their first look (while also dodging another couple that was proposing at the same spot). Right after that, the rain came pouring down, so we scrapped the outside pictures and went to the Missouri History Museum for some family photos and portraits of the couple.

Then, after we made one of my absolute fave images ever (I dare you to guess which one), it was time for the ceremony. The inside of this St. Louis museum really made for a totally perfect ceremony space, with towering glass windows, classic city memorabilia, and a totally killer balcony. Some vows, a kiss, and some cheering - all leading to the reception.

Here’s a bit of what the couple had to say about working with me:

“If you’re on the fence about hiring Bryson, you’re thinking too much. Just hire him! Professional and talented and just pure fun. He was part of the magic behind or most special day! Thank you, Bryson!”

— Margarett and Jeff

It was truly an awesome day, and I couldn’t ask for a better couple and vendor team. Check it out!
Dress: Elegant Brides, Edwardsville, IL
Catering: Russo’s Catering
Venue: Missouri History Museum, Forest Park, St. Louis

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Piazza Messina Wedding | Jenny + Alistair

We had a TON of fun at Piazza Messina with Jenny and Alistair! After a string of chilly, but still amazing, wedding days, Jenny and Ali’s was as warm, sunny, and joyful as we could have hoped for!

Jenny and Alistair’s story is truly a special one. After meeting about 5 years ago, they wanted to tie the knot and make things official not too long after! However, some random virus (who knows what it could have been) happened in early 2020, and Alistair was stuck at home in Scotland for a better part of that year. They fought for their relationship and stuck through so many difficulties that come with being at such a great distance from each other. I’m so impressed by them!

Their story made the wedding day all the sweeter. The toasts were extra toasty, the laughs had a bit more oomph behind them, and the tears were that much more impactful. What a stellar wedding with an amazing group of humans! Check out some of my favorites below!

Vendor team:

Photography/Videography: Bryson Buehrer Photography

Venue: Piazza Messina

Catering: Russo’s Catering

Dress: Boulevard Bride

Florals: Belle Fleur

Trailside Event Center Wedding | Lauren + Jesse

Lauren and Jesse had an awesome central Illinois wedding with a reception at Trailside Event Center on the chilliest day in March!

Luckily, we had access to the gorgeous house you see below, which made things super easy for us during the first part of the day. After their ceremony at Northfield Christian Fellowship, we hopped over to Trailside Event Center in Peoria Heights for the reception! I’m a sucker for industrial accents and those exposed ceilings, so it was such a treat to spend the evening there! After a super quick portrait inside (again, so cold outside), we left them to party the rest of the night away. Check out some of my favorites below!

Reception Venue: Trailside Event Center

Formals: Cloud Nine Boutique

Cake: Trefzger’s

Let’s make something amazing!

Destihl Barrel Room Wedding - Macy + Mike

I shoot a lot in and around Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, and Destihl Brewery’s Barrel Room has got to be one of the best wedding venues to photograph in the area! Before we talk details, let’s chat about Macy and Mike, first.

When these two first reached out to me, I was stoked! Based in Hawaii, they were hosting their wedding celebration in Normal, Illinois so that more of their family and friends could attend. Macy and Mike are totally rad: two dog-owning, outdoors-loving, passionate people. We clicked immediately!

Macy started the day off getting ready with her bridesmaids in a super awesome Air BnB with these gorgeous windows which, of course, I was really happy with. All the bridesmaids got their makeup done by LB Beauty and she absolutely killed it! Everyone was looking fantastic. After shedding a few happy tears, writing a few happy vows, and slipping into her dress, Macy and I headed over to Ewing Cultural Center for the first look(s) and some portraits! Quick tip: If you must have some traveling and multiple locations on your wedding day, definitely do it like Macy did if at all possible. Every location was less than 5 minutes apart and was a breeze to access, which made it easy to not eat into the actual timing of events that day.

After some more tears and laughs, we scooted on over to the Barrel Room for the ceremony and reception! The team at the venue did such a fantastic job in keeping things running smoothly and switching the ceremony space into a rockin’ reception space. The warm lighting, huge windows, and ample “barrel” aesthetics makes Destihl’s Barrel Room a no-brainer for couples who fit that vibe!

The ceremony and reception went by without a hitch, and I was even able to steal the couple away for a quick couple of night portraits which always turn out fun! Check out some of my faves from this awesome wedding below!

Venue: Destihl Brewery - The Barrel Room

Dress: Masako Formals

Makeup: LB Beauty

Want a bland, run-of-the-mill wedding photographer? Didn’t think so!

A Year In Review | My Favorite Images Of 2021

Have a wedding in 2022 or beyond? Let’s do the thing!

Lafayette Park St. Louis Micro Wedding

Need some photos of your own? Let’s be friends!

Kentucky Lake Backyard Wedding | Maddie + Bill

Getting married? Need some photos? We can help!

Tower Grove Park Wedding | Amanda + Alex

Need some wedding photos of your own? Let me know!

Kabekona Hills Wedding - Chelsea + Mitchell

Edwardsville, Illinois Wedding | Paige + Tim

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A Wedding at the Hangar | Brianne and Loren

Brianne and Loren got married at The Hangar Wedding + Event Venue in Greenville, Illinois. Though it’s nestled in the middle of the rural country just outside of Greenville, The Hangar is a venue that packs a massive amount of style and function! In fact, my wife and I were going to get married here, but the 2020 lockdowns had other plans for us. Since we’d originally spoken with the owners, they have poured SO much blood, sweat, and tears into this venue to improve it, and it shows! I’m stoked that I’ll be shooting at the Hangar for a few more upcoming weddings next year!

Brianne and Loren are the heroes of today’s story, and they deserve every bit of that title (though they’d never admit it). They are some of the kindest, most laid-back people that I’ve ever had a chance to photograph. Let’s be honest, their wedding was at the end of August. It was HOT. Even still, they showed up and celebrated with massive smiles throughout the day, and you could just tell they were joyfully soaking in all the love they received from their guests. After their engagement session earlier this year, I knew this wedding was going to be a good one. Spoiler alert… It was. Do your finger stretches, cuz this one’s jam-packed with images!

Venue: The Hangar

Hair+Makeup: Joseph Mathew Salon

Catering: Fire and Smoke

Cake and Treats: The Sugar Shop

Florals: The Brick House

DJ: 5Twenty-nine Entertainment

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Silver Oaks Chateau Wedding | Akia and Darren

It was a true joy to be back shooting a wedding at the lovely Silver Oaks Chateau, with the dream team - Akia and Darren. From start to finish, this day was full of so many amazing little moments! For this wedding my team and I were covering both photo and video, and we were never at a loss for beautiful things to capture!

Some of my favorites:

• That dress! 😍 (and her hair accessories, of course)

• Their first “touch” - High risk, HUGE reward!

• Tears at the ceremony

• Giggles during the first dance

• A freakin’ great party

• and, of course, they smashed their creative portrait session(s), even though the rain tried to say something about it.

After their sub-zero (literally) February engagement session, I know Akia and Darren were going to be such a cool couple to photograph on their wedding day. The team of vendors (down below) was a joy to work with, too! I could shoot one of these every day and not get tired of them.

Vendors:

Venue - Silver Oaks Chateau

Catering - Ces and Judy’s

Dress - Clarice’s Bridal

Reception Dress - Lulu’s

Makeup - Beauty by Reecey

Hair - Yaestylez

DJ - Andrew Jones

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Bold, vibrant, and non-traditional wedding visuals for laid-back couples that reject the mundane. Does that sound like you?

Cozy Wedding in Peoria, Illinois | Kaitlyn + Trey

I’m so honored that I got to shoot Kaitlyn and Trey’s lovely Peoria, Illinois wedding. We started at the Mark Twain hotel, a Peoria staple, where Kaitlyn and her party got ready. We then visited Trey’s grandma’s home for the ceremony, and moved on to the gorgeous Waterhouse event space in the downtown MAXAM building for the reception.

Kaitlyn and Trey are such a good hang, and amazing folks. Together, they own 460° Pizza so, if you’re in the Peoria area, go show them some love!

As always, stretch that scrolling finger to see some of my favorites below!

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Kankakee Valley Boat Club Wedding | Miranda + Kyle

This beautiful, joy-filled wedding day took place up in Kankakee, Illinois at the Kankakee Valley Boat Club. The entire wedding day was centered around the gorgeous Kankakee River. The homes of friends and family where they got ready were set just on the river, and the venue for the ceremony and reception offered a wonderful view as well. Miranda and Kyle were so much fun to hang out with and photograph! This wedding was also a morning event, and it’s the best kind of weird to leave for a wedding at 5AM and to get home before dinner. More morning weddings, please!

Check out some of my faves below!

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