This week, we highlight five wedding day moments that unfolded spontaneously. The following images were taken by As The Crow Flies, Bobbi Barbarich, Lee Allison, Traci Edwards of Adventure + Vow, and Will Dolphin.

This striking wedding day moment was taken by As The Crow Flies, (aka husband-and-wife team Alexis and Warren, in The Valley of Fire in Overton, Nevada. “We were just outside of Las Vegas, where it never rains,” Alexis explains, “but of course on this day it decided to pour and the wind was stronger than ever!”

Alexis goes on to share that typically on wedding days, “We are often faced with brides who want everything perfect for their photos. Mother nature didn’t allow for that here. The wind took the things that we normally photograph as the final touches. The tie, their hair, the dress! This image says that even on the rough days that may be experienced ahead, her groom will always be behind her.”

Bobbi Barbarich says that what’s extra special about this image (below) is the random dog passing through the frame. “The dog is repeating or reinforcing the couple’s playfulness,” she explains. “The pup adds an unexpected pop, elevating the photo beyond what would otherwise just be a cute photo of two people playing on a beach.”

Barbarich goes on to explain that her photographic approach in general is pretty playful. She also says she tends to gravitate to natural expressions of joy. “I’m a documentary photographer so I rarely pose or direct. Instead, I create a space for people to be themselves and when I just let things happen, random acts of interesting characters often pop up. Like this dog!”

London wedding photographer Lee Allison loves the different perspective that a drone gives a photographer. “It provides you with endless possibilities of producing something truly unique,” he says. “In this case [below], I had taken loads of images by the poolside of all the guests having fun but the drone shots give the couple a completely different viewpoint. More of an overview of the afternoon that tells multiple stories.”

Overall Lee’s approach to wedding photography, he says, is to capture those fleeting moments that are often missed throughout a wedding day. “If I had to put a label on it, I’d say my style is documentary with a bit of creativity thrown in,” he explains. “I let the day flow naturally and capture it from my perspective throughout. I love working with stylish couples who want a relaxed and fun wedding.”

Adventure + Vow‘s Traci Edwards says the image below was taken during an elopement in Moab, Utah. “The couple rock climbed on their first date and it continues to be their favorite adventure activity to do together,” she says. “They planned to start their elopement day with climbing a multi-pitch ‘trad route’, something they love, but also something new that would be a challenge for them.. When they told us during the planning stages they also wanted to star gaze, I thought about how awesome it would be to combine their love for climbing to their star gazing and make it more of an experience. So we actually started their elopement under many stunning stars as they climbing the arch and rappelled down to enjoy the view.”

Devon wedding photographer Will Dolphin loves wedding day moments like this one (below) and the story it is telling during couple Debbie and Steve’s first dance. “The young girl had to cover her ears as she was finding the music too loud,” he explains. “I was all set up for the first dance with a bounce flash ready to go on my camera and then I saw how dramatic the light coming from the band was. I quickly turned off the flash and readjusted my exposure to highlight the couple using the band’s lights. I then noticed the girl to the left with her hands covering her ears (the band was loud!) so I worked quickly to capture them both in the scene to tell this humorous moment.”

Dolphin continues: “I love the dramatic light that I was able to capture and the way the veil is hanging with all the hands—both the couples and the girls—helping to tell this story. I always want to capture the day naturally and tell the couple’s own individual story in a beautiful, artistic way, that would help bring back all those feelings that they had on the day.

“I love that at the start of the day, I never know what story I am going to find and tell. I know for sure I would never have imagined this shot and that is what is so magical about storytelling photography and the way I shoot weddings.”

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more eye-catching portraits, incredible wedding day moments, and more. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting images to: jacqueline.tobin@emeraldx.com.