Just a couple of previews from this adorable country wedding!
Savannah + Mason - Henderson, TN Engagement
I can't believe these two are getting married tomorrow! I'm so excited to be documenting their special day. Congratulations Mason and Savannah!
Ann Marie + Will - Henderson, TN Engagement
Ann Marie is basically one of my favorite people. I randomly met her several years ago at a Mad Men party and now she's one of my dearest friends. About a year ago she started dating this guy. For so long I only heard about Will when she talked to me about their latest date or adventure, but I'd never actually met him. Shortly after they got engaged I FINALLY met the guy and he's just as awesome as she said. These two are funny and cute together. They make each other laugh and they seem to just genuinely enjoy each other's company. I'm so excited to be shooting their December wedding!
Rachel + Josh - Mountain Magnolia Inn Wedding
Wow, this wedding season really started off on the right foot for me this year. Josh and Rachel's wedding was incredible and I'm so excited to share it here with you. I met Rachel around eight years ago through her sister, and my college roommate, Hannah. Rachel told me way on way back then that she wanted me to be her wedding photographer when she got married. She first told me this after I'd shot maybe three weddings, so hearing that someone else actually wanted to hire me was both astounding and exciting. I can't express how thankful I am that after all those years Rachel stuck to her choice. When she got engaged, I got a message. It was happening.
This time last year Rachel was in the process of hiking the Appalachian Trail. While hiking the trail she came across this adorable Girlmore Girls-esque inn in the mountains of North Carolina. She fell in love with it and decided that when Josh proposed she would want to have their wedding there. I can totally see why, because I also fell in love with the Mountain Magnolia Inn. It was adorable, intimate, and had the best bacon ever at breakfast.
Those are my requirements to like something. Adorable. Bacon.
This blog post is going to be way too long, and I'm not apologizing. It's worth it.
Now you can fall in love with the Rachel's dress. Oh my word. I wanted to take it home.
There are a dozen photos of the getting ready process that include Rachel being a complete goof ball. I decided to save them for her. But if you know Rachel just imagine some funny faces here while you're scrolling through.
A super sweet bridesmaids reaction to seeing her fully put together.
You wouldn't believe it, but this beautiful bouquet was put together by one of the bridesmaids! Right? That's talent.
Poor Josh, he had to wait all day to see her! Every time I came in to his room to check on him he jumped up and asked if we were ready for him. He was PUMPED for this first look.
This wedding was the very first trial run of Kyle being my second shooter. He was going to be at the wedding anyway, so we figured we'd give it a try. Well, he took this photo, and I thought it was pretty wonderful.
The ceremony was held under this fabulous and beautiful tree. If you've read any of my other blog posts you probably know how I feel about unique trees. Give me a cool tree, I'm happy. Adorable. Bacon. Tree.
I'm pretty sure this adorable photo is of Hannah looking at her husband. Either that or she's looking at her mom. Either way I love it.
Rachel laughed the whole time she said her vows. I don't think she was laughing AT anything, I think she was just straight up giddy to the point she couldn't contain it.
I wrote a blog post a while back about the moment right after the ceremony and how I missed it during my very first wedding. I don't make that mistake anymore because... THIS. These faces! Blissfully happy and also like WHAT IS GOING ON?
Instead of a unity candle, or sand, or whatever Rachel and Josh did UNITY ICE CREAM.
RIGHT?
They had ice cream instead of cake at the reception and one of the flavors is a combination of their each of their favorites. And then I died because I was so happy.
And then, when getting my ice cream, I dropped the entire cup I had just been served into the pot of hot fudge and the ice cream girls had to rescue it for me. I had some hot fudge on my dress for the rest of the night. So, basically just a normal day for me.
Josh trying to figure out how dancing happens?
This was the sweetest father-daughter dance ever. They danced to this hilarious song about fishing that apparently Rachel and her dad used to listen to when she was a kid. These two had the best time dancing to this song.
God Provides
For the last several years all I wanted, hoped for, and dreamed about was quitting my day job and doing full time photography. I prayed about it constantly. All of my petitions to God were for Him to grant me this one thing that I wanted. In January of this year I did quit my day job. I am now a full time photographer.
I am free. I'm free to set my own hours, my own prices, my own clients. I am free to wake up when I want and never change out of yoga pants all day. I am the boss. I own a business. I am woman, hear me roar.
Perfect, right? What I've discovered in these first few months since quitting my day job is that it's not that simple. Small business ownership, more than anything else I hoped it would be, has been a challenge of my faith. These last few months have been a huge challenge of my faith and my trust in God to provide. I have no idea where my next paycheck is coming from - or if there will even be one. I can be the best photographer I know how to be and offer my clients my absolute best in every area of my business. That doesn't guarantee that anyone will book me this month, or the next, or ever. There is no guarantee that I'll book enough jobs to keep my family financially secure. It is honestly VERY scary.
I like to be in control. I like plans. I like security. Scratch that, I LOVE security. I hate stepping out on the water and just believing that I won't sink. I want a life vest. And then a back up life vest. And actually, I'm scared of the ocean so I want to just be back in the boat thanks very much. Unfortunately, (for me at least) small business ownership is stepping out on the water and just having full faith, regardless of the any evidence to the contrary, that you won't drown and die.
The last few months have been a faith test, while the last few weeks have been a faith confirmation. I was in a bad place, a scary place. Actually, every single month from here on out is going to be a scary place. I reached out to some people closest to me to ask them to pray for God to provide. I spent time on my knees begging for God to provide.
And then He did.
I'm going to have to remind myself constantly that God provides. Every new month where I'm not sure what's going to happen I'll tell myself this.
I asked God to provide, and then He did.
