Katie and Darren’s wedding (seen HERE), captured by Matt Mendelsohn, gives off the most fantastic vibe. From beginning to end, the couple seem to be filled to the brim with joy, which obviously spilled over to the guests. 
You’ll notice that none of their pictures focused on details, but there’s not one picture lacking a bright smile. While the setting, food, music, and details all contribute to the success of a wedding, the key ingredients truly lie in love and happiness. When everyone is there to celebrate with you on such a joyous occasion, your smile easily translates to become theirs.
And you know you’ve done something right when this happens by the end of the night:
Note to self:
1. Smile, laugh, and enjoy myself as much as possible on the day of. Everyone else can’t wait to follow my lead.
2. Start talking to the older guests coming to our wedding and give them incentive to ‘let loose’. 
I totally agree… it snowed eight inches on my wedding day and I could have totally flipped out, but I was just so happy regardless - it was beautiful! I told everyone at the rehearsal that as long as hubby and I made it to the church, that was all that mattered.
Becky
That man is Gatoring! Fantastic.
Miss Green Tea, thanks so much for the reminder. Its sad but I am going to put this on my to do list. I know I will be totally stress that I am forgetting something or worry about something not being in the right place that I won’t fully let myself enjoy things. I am scheduling in 15 minutes before the ceremony to take some deep breaths, smile and remember that it is our party so its our time to enjoy and celebrate.
Aww, I know this bride! She certainly looks very relaxed and happy for someone who finished law school exams a couple of weeks before her wedding!
I just forwarded this post to her.
No need to talk to anyone about “letting loose” … isn’t that why we ply them with alcohol at the reception?!?! 
Love, love, love that last photo. Hilarious!
One of my groomsmen was recently caught on camera dancing with one of our most famous musical bums in midtown Sacramento - Downtown James Brown. Towards the end of the song and dance spectacle, they both dropped down into the splits!
I told him that he is required to do that same dance at my wedding.
This is a good post. We didn’t really have many “detail” shots at our wedding, either, but we have quite a few of the if-I-smiled-any-bigger-my-face-would-break pictures. We had so, so much fun, and both sides of our family commented on what a fun wedding it was. However, no crocodile… that is truly awesome.
GREAT POST!
I second that! Some of my favorite photos of my wedding are my husband’s great-aunt and great-uncle who have been married for 55 years getting DOWN on the dance floor.
amen! hope that my wedding will be fun like this
FYI, Matt Mendelsohn is the brother of Jennifer Mendelsohn, whose completely fantastic manifesto on wedding planning (known as the Sulla Tips) should be required reading for all brides to be:
Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic
Engagement Date: November 17, 2006
Wedding Date: August 23, 2008
Blogging Since: June 10, 2008
Venue: Vineyard on the Delta
About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
It’s hard not to smile on your wedding day. It’s a happy occasion.
But it’s true that you should not focus on things that go wrong because there will be some, and just enjoy your guests.
Good reminder.