Hannah & Alan are Married!

When Hannah was in high school, she would come to South Carolina during the summers to visit family. She always hung out with the teens from her family members' church, and although she and Alan knew each other, they were "just friends." Fast forward to 4.4.09....the perfect spring day for these two to show the world that while they are the best of friends, they are no longer "just" friends.

Hannah is one of the sweetest, most relaxed brides I've ever met, and that just shines through...

She's a little bit sassy, too. :-)

Hannah with her sisters Olivia and Amanda...

...and their parents.

Alan was just as relaxed, just as easy-going as Hannah. (Although there was some discussion about a Batman mask coming out during the ceremony...hmmm, I think he's got a mischievous side too!)

Alan and his mom. Did I mention that he was about a foot taller than anyone involved in this wedding?? :-)

I loved the architecture in the sanctuary.

Husband and wife! BTW, they processed up the aisle after the ceremony to the "Super Mario" song, too cute! 

I love when a photo can tell a story without even seeing anyone's face...

 

Love love love the details on Hannah's dress!

Hello, adorable!

Any guesses on the honeymoon destination? Hehe!

Hannah and Alan--thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your wedding day. Everything was beautiful, your family and friends were so much fun, and you guys are awesome! I hope you are having a great time at the "happiest place on earth"...I'm guessing that as long as you're together you make it the happiest place. :-) 

And finally, my favorite:

*NOTE to Hannah and Alan's family and friends: Please check back over the next week or two for a link to the full ordering gallery so you can see all of the proofs from the wedding! Thanks!

Kelly and Brady: Engagement

Kelly and Brady are such a sweet and cute couple! Kelly is a hairstylist, and we've gotten to know each other through my super-amazing stylist Holly (my last post). (Kelly is awesome with color--contact me and I'll hook you up with her info!) Anyway, Kelly and Brady are getting married in a few months and already have a fabulous photographer for their wedding, but they asked me to shoot their engagement session Valentine's weekend. We had a very Greenville session, hitting lots of cool downtown spots, and it was tons of fun!

Kelly has the greatest laugh:

I really like the mood of this one.

I love the colors in this one!

Looooove this series...

My favorite from the day!! I think this would make a very cool canvas...

Thanks for checking out Kelly & Brady's photos and for bearing with me even though I've been a super-slack blogger lately! Don't forget to "show me (& them) some love." :-)

Wedding Festival!

I had a great time at the Wedding Festival Saturday, and enjoyed a fun dinner afterwards with some awesome photographers from the area. And then I slept all day today, hehe. 

For all of the super sweet brides (and grooms and moms and friends!) I met at the Wedding Festival, thank you for taking the time to stop by and look at my work. I know there is an overwhelming amount of information to take in at an event like that, and it's hard to get to know someone in that brief time! I can't wait to hear from you again so we can talk in more detail about your wedding. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading the blog and checking out my work from the past year. Talk to you soon! 

Here are a few more photos of my booth. :-) 

Here's to You...

*Note: I don't usually "journal" on the blog, but I do hope you'll take the time to read this post...*

I love music--all kinds. And yes, that includes country. Even the bubble-gum kind that inspires my dad to rant about how "that's not REAL country; Hank Williams Sr., now that's country!"

Rascal Flatts have a fun little song about all of the reasons why they hit the road and go on stage night after night--the kids who pile too many people into their car just to get to the show, the cute girls hoping to catch a glimpse of somebody famous in the back parking lot, the moms and dads who leave their babies at home and dance up a storm in the aisles. The chorus says "You're the heart and the soul and the reason we do what we do; here's to you!" 

The reasons why I do what I do with photography are many: inspiring others to look at the world in a new way, creating art from everyday experiences, preserving too-fast moments, documenting life and love, and capturing personal history. As in the Rascal Flatts song, though, it isn't so much about the art or the final product as it is about the individuals, the lives, the stories captured in those prints.  I do not take it lightly when you trust me with your wedding, your newborn baby, your family moments. I get to know you and your story, I plan, I prepare, I pray--both for my abilities and for you. I do this so YOU have your life documented, so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day, so you can always remember that new-baby smell, the giggles of your toddler, the transformation of your child into an adult, and the love that you share with your family and friends.

In the past week, two of my newlywed couples have just lost a loved one--in one case, the groom's father, in the other case, the bride's father. Both have shared how they displayed photos from their weddings at the memorial service, and both have shared how much these images mean to them and their families during this time. 

I have a hard time expressing how humbling this is to me:  not only was I allowed to play a part in the story of their love, but I also am playing a part in the story of their loss, and ultimately in their healing. It is truly an honor. 

YOU are the reasons I do what I do.

Here's to you.

Tammy & Cecil--Sneak Peek!

A-maz-ing. Tammy and Cecil's small morning wedding was held in a tiny little church in Highlands, NC, up a winding, woodsy path; theirs will be the last wedding the "Church in the Wildwood" ever hosts. They are unbelievably in love, and their ceremony was so spontaneous and emotional and real. Their singer had an angelic voice, and during her second song the bridesmaids were crying, Cecil's mom was crying, Tammy was crying, and the almost-newlyweds were basically slow-dancing during the song. It was beautiful, and I couldn't help but cry with them!

Fortunately, I can sniffle and shoot at the same time. I promised Cecil a sneak peek before I get the "real" blog post up; what you're about to see is just the tip of the iceburg in terms of smoking-hotness! Tammy and Cecil are SO not scared to do whatever I ask, including lay in a bee-filled patch of wildflowers and pull off the side of the road on a whim, not to mention the massive quantities of chemistry these two have!



During the ceremony...so sweet...no wonder we all teared up, right?




I'm at a loss for words, I just love this shot!



Smo-kin'...



Their after-work reception was back in Greenville at The Lazy Goat--super cool lounge-y feel with awesome views of the Reedy River...



How's that for a preview, folks? :-)

Wedding Proofs Online!

Ashley and Garron, friends and family--
Thanks SO MUCH for your patience as you've waited to see Ashley and Garron's wedding proofs! I'm trying out a new online ordering system, and I had a few technical difficulties along the way. :-) But finally, your wait is over...

To see the proofs, click here. The password is the couple's new last name....if you need to know it, please email me. You can enter your email address if you'd like to save your shopping cart and come back to it later. Once you sign in, there is a drop-down box on the left side of the screen, and you can select which gallery you'd like to view: Ashley's bridal portraits, Ashley & Garron's wedding, or all the photos together. All the pricing and ordering info is on the proof site, but feel free to contact me with any questions.

I hope you enjoy the photos!!

Ashley & Garron's Wedding

Ashley and Garron had a gorgeous wedding in May at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, NC. I LOVE outdoor weddings, and this one was perfect--tons of bright flowers, a warm sunny day, lots of friends and family, many personal touches, and a super-fun reception. Ashley's Maid of Honor was my close friend Marilynn, and I've enjoyed becoming friends with Ashley over the months as she's planned for the wedding, we shot her portraits, went out on the town for her bachelorette party, and finally celebrated her marriage to Garron. As with Ashley's bridal portraits, I have waaaaay too many favorites to choose from, so I'm just going to let the photos speak for themselves!

Gorgeous details and the "Rock Barn" initials...

Ashley's colors were shades of yellow and navy...

When I went to take photos of Garron and the guys, I found them practicing their putting. Hey, how long does it take to put on a suit, anyway? Pleeeeenty of time to improve their game before the ceremony! :-)

Getting some last minute touch-ups...

...and checking out the crowd to see who's arriving!

This was such a sweet moment as the minister prayed God's blessing over the rings and the union they symbolize.

And nothing but joy as those rings go on!

On to the reception...

And finally...the happy couple!

Congratulations Ashley and Garron! You guys have the most wonderful family and friends, and I am so glad you chose me to be a part of your wedding. Can't wait to come to the beach and see y'all again soon!

Family and Friends: Be on the lookout in the next week or two for the online posting info for all the proofs!!