Following a 16hr flight and a quick stopover at the "character building" airport that is Atlanta, I picked up the keys to my car in San Antonio and merged onto the 6 lane highway in the direction of the Texan Hillcountry. As the sunset over the dusty hilltops, I was in awe of the alien landscape. Far from the cartoonish arid deserts interrupted only by cacti and heavily eroded rocky outcrops, the meandering road into the plateau took me through bountiful valleys, gorgeous little creeks and sprawling trees as far as the eye could see.

It was an absolute privilege to be invited out here to photograph the wedding of my friends, Alisa and Russ.

As the girls arrived for hair & makeup in my guest suite at the Ranch, it was quite possibly the shortest commute to work I'd ever experienced. The excitement was tangible, with music blaring, champagne and fine wine flowing.

Alisa's dress was uniquely special - a perfect fit, it was fate that she would be wearing her mother-in-law's wedding dress some fifty years on from Sunni & Stash's own wedding day. It was a gorgeous 70s style, with a little modification for a longer train and a gorgeous veil to match.

Over with the boys, the men-in-black theme was strong with cufflinks and dark sunnies paired with matching ebony suits for all the groomsmen. Quite possibly the best dressed I was ever likely to see them!

The wedding itself was taking place a few miles away, at Turtle Creek Vinyard - a place with special connection and meaning to the couple and their families. My jaw dropped as I drove down the driveway, seeing the chairs lined up at the fountain ready for the bride. Bright and airy, with a twist of rustic Texan vibes, the venue was an idyllic setting for celebration - and the tiny Egyptian obelisk the perfect addition to the wedding table decor.

Against the backdrop of the fountain and the gnarled grapevines that Russ and his brother and best-man Kyle themselves had planted, Alisa and Russ exchanged beautiful vows - and there was more than a few tears shed. To conclude their personalised ceremony, Alisa's sister and maid-of-honour Lesia announced the arrival of a special traditional Ukrainian wedding bread presented by Sunni and Stash.

Under the beaming Texan sun the wine flowed, guests mingled the kids played in the shade or ventured down by the creek. Following a delicious meal, the speeches began - opening with a warm and heartfelt speech from best man Kyle and from his wife, Laura who could barely contain her happiness at finally having a sister in Alisa. Filled with laughter and fond memories from Alisa and Russ' own love story, the speeches served as a reminder of how these two had brought together all their guests - from old family friends to those met through YouTube and the success of the Brothers of the Serpent Podcast - without which Russ and Alisa might never have met.

Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" kicked off the first dance - with incredible footwork and chemistry between the happy couple. It was a first dance to remember - not only for Alisa's insane ability to dance so animatedly in heels, but for the love so clearly conveyed as the couple locked eyes as they twirled around the dancefloor.

Their love for music and flair for dancing sparked one of my favourite shots from the whole day - with the sun catching the top frame as I told them to dance back to their reception following couple portraits from around the venue. For me, as a photographer, it's such a joy to capture the romance and love between a couple that's so effortless - all the giggles, all the body language and electric touches: these guys had it all.

In between the conga lines and cake cutting, there were a few more speeches from Alisa herself, Sunni and Russ as well as the traditional parent-child dance against the backdrop of the setting sun. As the stars began to unveil themselves, the happy couple prepared to make their sparkler exit and head onwards to the after party back home - nestled amongst the dusty bones of an ancient seabed, high atop the Edwards Plateau.