I had the honor of shooting my cousin Katie’s wedding to Tony in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Capturing a cousin’s wedding is a whole different experience. There’s an extra layer of responsibility and emotion — I wanted to make sure every moment was done right because this wasn’t just another wedding, it was family.

Katie and Tony both work in journalism for the University of Alabama athletics department, so their story is full of memories tied to the university. To make their wedding video uniquely theirs, I wove in archival footage from highlights of games they had been part of or moments that had shaped their relationship. It was a fun and personal way to open the story before transitioning into the classic wedding narrative — first looks, vows, dancing, and all the little moments in between.

Being a cousin behind the camera added a deeper sense of care and attention. Seeing Katie and Tony’s personalities shine, from the stadium memories to the emotional moments of the day, reminded me why I love wedding videography. It was family, it was love, and it was a story I felt proud to tell.