A Year In Review | My Favorite Images of 2023
A collection of my favorite images from the Bryson B Photo year 2023 wedding photography season.
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!
A Year In Review | My Favorite Images of 2022
A collection of my favorite images from the Bryson B Photo year 2022 wedding photography season.
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!
Piazza Messina Wedding | Jenny + Alistair
Checkout this beautiful spring wedding at Piazza Messina in Cottleville, Missouri! Jenny and Ali had just the perfect day. It was an honor to capture it!
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
A Year In Review | My Favorite Images Of 2021
A collection of my favorite images from the Bryson B Photo year 2021 wedding photography season.
Have a wedding in 2022 or beyond? Let’s do the thing!
Kentucky Lake Backyard Wedding | Maddie + Bill
Maddie and Bill's intimate Kentucky Lake wedding was beautiful, stunning, and tons of fun! Check out some of our favorites from this backyard celebration.
Getting married? Need some photos? We can help!
Tower Grove Park Wedding | Amanda + Alex
Amanda and Alex’s fall wedding at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, MO. The ceremony was at the Tower Grove Bandstand Pavilion with the reception at Hendri’s.
Need some wedding photos of your own? Let me know!
Stephanie + Zach - Highland, Illinois Engagement Session
Stephanie and Zach’s late-fall engagement session in Highland, Illinois at Silver Lake Park was gorgeous! We did this session during a week where I had about 6 other shoots and, let me tell you what, every single one had this amazing, warm light.
Stephanie and Zach’s late-fall engagement session in Highland, Illinois at Silver Lake Park was gorgeous! We did this session during a week where I had about 6 other shoots and, let me tell you what, every single one had this amazing, warm light. Throw in an awesome couple and a handsome German Shorthaired Pointer, and you’ve got a recipe for beautiful photos!
We spent about an hour and a half taking a lap around the park, hiding behind bushes and trees, and dodging errant frisbees sailing through the air. Some of our talking points were as follows:
Dogs, obviously.
Law school…… obviously?
Puppies, which is dogs.
RuneScape. Yep.
Hope you dig these photos. I’m really lucky to get to know folks like this through my work. I’m a big fan of Stephanie and Zach, and I think you’ll be too!
Does the thought of having boring wedding photos make you sad like in one of those lame infomercials? I can make you not sad (about the photos, specifically)!
Chelsea + Mason - Peoria, Illinois Wedding Photography
It was so much fun shooting wedding photography for Chelsea and Mason’s Peoria, Illinois wedding! Well, we also did some stuff in Pekin, too. Chelsea and Mason are highly special people and, as evidenced by their engagement session, hanging out with them is always an adventure.
It was so much fun shooting Chelsea and Mason’s Peoria, Illinois wedding! Well, we also did some stuff in Pekin, too. Chelsea and Mason are highly special people and, as evidenced by their engagement session, hanging out with them is always an adventure. If you need a refresher, we spent half our time wandering around a trailer park playground at sunrise trying to find the entrance to a trail we saw online, only to realize it was a quarter mile up the road. We also learned the story of a man named “Bad Chad.”
Anyways, regarding their wedding, this was one of those classic COVID-weddings that we’ve all grown so accustomed to and that I have grown to totally adore. The small size, the subdued tension, and the joyous, intimate celebration at the end of the day make for a really special wedding. Chelsea and Mason had all that and more!
We began the day getting ready in separate locations, Mason at his family's home, and Chelsea at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. Fortunately, this is also where the ceremony was to be held, so we were able to get a lot done in a short amount of time. We met up with Mason and the gang at Mineral Springs Park (commonly called the Pekin Lagoon) for their first look and some quick portraits before they had to jet back to the church to GET MARRIED!
After the beautiful ceremony with some super-sweet vows, we skipped on over to the Peoria Riverfront for a few more shots before sunset. Oh, by the way, Nikki Erin Films was with us every step of the way doing video. She’s a rockstar and produces amazing work.
The reception was at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria and, on top of some amazing food, the party was so special and alive! I can’t thank Chelsea and Mason enough for trusting us with their wedding day, and if a full-blown event is soon to come with tons of lovely folks, know that we’ll be there to capture that, too.
Be warned, there are a lot of smiles below… 👇
Need some photos of your own? I can help!
Kyle + Brooke - Hidden Lake Winery Wedding Photography in Aviston, Illinois
I can’t say enough good things about Kyle, Brooke, and their wedding at Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, Illinois! Throughout this entire year, at every step of the planning process, they’ve been totally stoked and excited about their wedding! Click through to see some faves from this party of a day.
I can’t say enough good things about Kyle, Brooke, and their wedding at Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, Illinois! Throughout this entire year, at every step of the planning process, they’ve been totally stoked and excited about their wedding. Being a WAC (Wedding in the Age of COVID [I just made that up]), paired with the occasional rain showers on the day of, a less-chill couple would have had a difficult time matching Kyle and Brooke’s energy and smile-content. Needless to say, this one was one for the books (or a blog, in this case).
Hidden Lake Winery really is the perfect solution for a compact, single-location wedding day. The wedding party got ready in the cabins, which offered a private and quiet place that still kept the bride and groom out of sight of each other. The ceremony and reception were held at the Majestic Falls section of the venue, characterized by a tranquil pond, awesome water features, and massive trees lending depth and scale to the ceremony.
This wedding featured:
Custom sunglasses for each member of the party (totally rad)
SAND! (you had to be there)
A plant tube (official scientific name)
Scroll down to see some of my favorites from the wedding day! Congrats Kyle and Brooke!
{Nerd stuff for photographers}: This was my first wedding shooting DUAL Nikon Z5s, the latest (at the time of writing) mirrorless offering from Nikon. These little guys are fast, agile, have GREAT battery life, and really fantastic sensor performance. In almost every way, I believe they’re a welcome upgrade over my previous D750 cameras. The in-body stabilization (IBIS), the electronic viewfinder, and the live-view autofocus are those simple, next-generation features that mirrorless shooters have been enjoying for years now. And since the cameras are mirrorless I can now scoff at DSLR shooters for no other reason, so I have that going for me…
Need your own wedding covered! I can help with that!
Haley + Nathan - Alton, Illinois Wedding Photography
Haley and Nathan threw a fantastic COVID-19 wedding at WOW on Broadway in Alton, Illinois. Check out some of my favorite pictures!
There’s not much that hasn’t been said about COVID-19. In this blog, I’m not going to focus on the masks, the distancing, or the hand sanitizer. I think to focus on the obstacles that Haley and Nathan had to face to make their dream wedding happen does disservice to the true joy that was on everyone’s faces throughout the entire day.
Haley and Nathan’s beautiful wedding day started and ended at WOW on Broadway in Alton, Illinois. As far as venues go, it was replete with beautiful light, sprawling bookcases, exposed brick, and deep wood tones throughout. These made for a visually wonderful day, from getting ready all the way to the small reception.
Haley and I actually grew up in the same hometown and went to high school together, so it was such a blast so see some old friends there and to have a small part in this special day. It was also a huge honor to meet Nathan and his gorgeous family! Scroll down to see a few of my favorite moments from the day.
Makeup by Ashley Boren Makeup and Hair
Need some photos of your own?
Elizabeth + Scott - St. Louis, MO Wedding Photography
Elizabeth and Scott’s lovely and intimate wedding day at SIlver Oaks Chateau.
Liz and Scott’s wedding day was one for the books. They did such a stellar job with all of the details, and making everyone there feel so welcome and loved. I’m so gosh dang happy for them, and I’m so gosh darn happy with the photos we made.
Ceremony and Reception held at Silver Oaks Chateau in Pacific, MO.
If you’re curious, here’s their engagement session!
There are some late 2019 and 2020 dates still available. If you need photos, hit me up!
Michalah + Zach - Peoria, Illinois Engagement Session
I love the pictures I made with Michalah and Zach. Checkout out some highlights from their Peoria, IL engagement session.
We had to push the day of this shoot twice. I’m very very glad that happened. The conditions for this shoot were just perfect!
It was also just great to do a shoot on my home turf. There is something very special about couples from my home town. I love it.
Rachel + Holden - Taylorville, Illinois Wedding
Holden and Rachel’s Taylorville, Illinois wedding photography!
Joined my good friends Rachel and Holden in Taylorville, Illinois at The Landing Barn to photograph their wedding a few months ago. The rain gave way to sunshine later on in the day and it was just so much fun!
Video by: Jesse James Ayers
Jesse is a cool, cool guy. Here’s a fun vlog he did from the wedding day!
Thanks for tagging along! If you need photos of your own, hit me up!
Joe + Kailey - Defiance, Missouri Wedding
Kailey and Joe’s Defiance, MO wedding at the Daniel Boone Home. Love love love!
I have so much love and joy for Kailey and Joe. What an honor it was to document their day, make really cool photos with them, and party into the wee hours with their family.
Amen.
Ceremony/Reception: Daniel Boone Home
Need cool photos?
Rebekah + David - Springfield, Illinois Wedding
A few of the highlights from Rebekah and David’s Springfield, Illinois Wedding!
This was such a joyful wedding day! Hopping around Springfield with these two was so much fun, and their wedding was so special.
The ceremony was at Edwards Place, one of the most unique spaces I’ve had the pleasure of shooting in. We moved over to the reception at the Springfield Motor Boat Club, which is a space I know is so important to Rebekah and David. In fact, each location was meaningful to them in some way, and it was so special to be brought along in the story that day!
Also, the dancing got REAL goofy near the end. Take a peek at some of the highlights!
Thanks for checking this wedding day out! If you need images of your own, let’s chat!
Elizabeth + Scott - St. Louis, Missouri Engagement Session
Elizabeth and Scott’s Forest Park engagement session!
From my first meeting with Elizabeth and Scott, I knew they were gonna be tons of fun! Scott is a super talented potter, and Elizabeth is a painter and raises German Shepherds! Art and puppies: an obvious match made in heaven.
I can’t wait to see what we make on their wedding day! See some of my favorites from their engagement session below. ❤️
Makeup By Ashley Boren
Hair By Katie Evers
Emma + Kurt - Marion, Illinois Wedding
Some pics from Emma and Kurt’s lovely Moline, Illinois wedding!
After Emma and Kurt’s engagement session, I knew I was in for a treat with these two.
The loving family, friends and gorgeous weather framed their wedding day so perfectly.
And they even let me steal them for night portraits. How neat is that??
Pretty neat, I’d say! See some of my favorites below.
Thanks for scrollin’! If you need some photos of your own, say hi!
Katie + Kyle - Hermann, Missouri Wedding
My favorites from Kyle and Katie’s beautiful farm wedding in Hermann, Missouri!
Katie and Kyle's wedding was a HAWT one! But it was also so, so, so good. You could easily tell that every single person on this lovely day had so much love and joy for the bride and groom.
And that makes for some good partying!
I did Katie and Kyle's engagement session back in February (which seems like forever ago), and to see them again and to be given the honor to do their wedding day was such a joy.
If you'd like your day to be better, scroll on down and see some of my favorites from Katie and Kyle's big day! #whanggang
Venue: Sweet Clover Farm
Need some awesome pics of your wedding day?
Mary + Austin - Collinsville, Illinois Wedding
See some of my favorite moments from Mary and Austin’s Collinsville, Illinois barn wedding!
This fun little Collinsville wedding could not have been a more perfect day! The weather was perfect and uncharacteristically cool, which was a welcome change from what we've been getting lately here in the midwest. Hanging out with Mary and Austin, and getting a front-row seat to their hilarious family and friends was an absolute joy.
Thanks so much to Willoughby Farm for having such a fantastic venue for a June wedding. See some of my favorites below!
Are you getting married soon, and need some photos taken of said marriage?
The Top 5 Best Wedding Reception Send-Offs
Easy, memorable, and affordable, these wedding send offs are a great way to end your big day without breaking the bank!
So, you got engaged. Not only that, you planned a wedding. Not only that, you invited all your friends, family, and some other random people that your mom knows to that wedding. Then you HAD the wedding. Then you partied.
Now what?
How do you end the day with a bang and make some beautiful memories without having to sell an arm, leg, wedding dress, or best man?
The send off.
The best way to finish out an amazing wedding reception is to have all of your loved ones gather around you and maybe fling some stuff at you! Check out my top 5 favorite, affordable wedding send offs (in no particular order)!
1. The Arm-Tunnel of Victory
This one is just an instant classic. I urge you to try and run through a tunnel of your loved ones, with arms outstretched, without laughing like a crazy person. Seriously, grab your mom, your dad, your sister, your grandma, and your dog, and sprint through a huge arm tunnel. Plus, it's completely free!
Bonus points: Deal out high-fives and don't slap any of your wedding guests on the way out the door!
2. The Sparklers of Eternity
Humans learned to control fire tens of thousands of years ago. Now, on the evening of your wedding, you and your beloved will run through a path of white-hot magnesium to wrap up your amazing wedding day. It also signifies the burning love you have for each other, and how hot 🔥 you both look.
In all seriousness, this one is so much fun for you and your guests, and makes for some amazing pics. Just make sure you have a couple of buckets of sand to deposit the sparklers once they are all burnt out.
Bonus points: Stop and kiss mid-way through your exit. Your photographer will love you even more!
3. The Paper Airplanes of Limitless Fun
This one is insane. You literally just fold paper airplanes and let your guests throw them at you. It's more fun than laundry and it's for your wedding.
Just make sure you have the planes' tips folded in so no pokey-bits get into peoples' peepers. Learn how here.
EXTRA BONUS POINTS: Add silly string. To any of these suggestions. Just do it! (except for maybe the sparkler one. Silly string may be flammable. Dunno, it just seems like the kind of thing that could possibly be flammable).
4. The Bubbles of Gratuitous Love
Kids love 'em. Adults love 'em. Puppies love 'em. It's a win win win. Choosing bubbles as your preferred method of reception send-off is such a solid choice. Just look at the results below!
You can create such a magical and vibrant environment with just a little bit of soapy water.
Bonus points: Smile and laugh, but don't eat one.
5. The Glitter of Intense Fabulousness
Science is right: Glitter is the most party-infused material known to humans. It only makes sense to give a little bit of it out to your wedding guests so you can be sent out in style!
Bonus points: Get the larger glitter pieces. The small dust-like ones may still be found in all the nooks AND crannies after the honeymoon.....
So there ya have it! As a photographer, these wedding reception send-offs are the ones that I've found to be the most fun, exciting, and budget-conscious options to wrap up what will become one of your most treasured days!
Interested in having pictures of your very own send-off? Hit me up!