Rachel has been one of my best friends for a long time now. I remember first meeting her through mutual friends (who ended up being in my wedding). She eventually was the props manager for a theatre production I was acting in and she had to make me little fake blood capsules every night - and that's where it started. We liked each other's sense of humor and began talking more and more. After that we soon became friends and she's been a part of my life ever since. A little over a year ago she started dating this nice guy who makes her super happy and now they're getting married! Watch out for photos of that one - I'll be the bridesmaid standing next to her. :)
Becca + Nick - Cincinnati, Ohio Engagement
I don't think it has EVER taken me this long to get a blog post up after a session, but the last two months have been absolutely INSANE. My apologies to Becca and Nick for the wait!
Becca and Nick's engagement session was my very last stop on the crazy train that was this fall. October was jam packed with long distance travel, tons of sessions, and a really unpleasant dose of chronic car trouble.
Two of my lovely best friends got married on November 5 in Ohio, and months ago I scheduled this engagement session to be perfectly timed with that trip for their wedding. I don't often just drop by Ohio, so timing was pretty important here. I knew I would be making my way down from northern Ohio on Sunday after the wedding and have to pass through Cincinnati to get home. The plan was to time my trip from Canton so that I arrived in Cincinnati exactly on time for this session. Meet this amazing couple, shoot some pretty pictures, drive on home.
While in Canton for my friend's wedding my car started acting bananas. I was busy being a bridesmaid all day on Saturday and couldn't do a thing about it until Sunday morning at the earliest. I had a friend take my car in Saturday so it could be looked at, and called back first thing Sunday morning. I needed to leave Canton at a very specific time in order to be able to make it to this session and spent a good portion of Saturday night/Sunday morning being panicked that this wouldn't be possible.
By some amazing chance of fate my car was able to be repaired on Sunday morning at the EXACT time I needed to leave town. (Thanks again to the wonderful Dennis and Kathryne for driving me to get my car and making sure I got home safely.)
This, again, was one of the prime examples of how amazing my clients are. I'd had a pretty stressful 24 hours. I spend most of it wondering if my car would be able to get me home and if I would have to call at the last second and cancel this engagement session. There's, of course, no way Becca could have known this, but still. When I arrived for our session she had CUPCAKES for me! RIGHT!? And they were delicious. The whole way home after the session I listened to my most recent podcast discovery and ate cupcakes and thought about how lucky I am to work with awesome people.
Nick, if all of her baked creations taste like those cupcakes, you're a lucky dude.
It was important to Becca and Nick that we include his guitar in some of the photos, which naturally I was all for. This guy pulls out the guitar and starts playing... you guessed it... The Avett Brothers. Only my favorite ever. Thumbs up for Nick.
These are some of my favorites!
Tiffany + Jacob - Nashville, TN Engagement
It was so much fun working with Tiffany and Jacob! We met at Sharp Springs Park, which turned out to be a wonderful spot for fall engagement photos. These two were sweet and cuddly and made taking great photos so easy. I'm so excited I got the chance to work with them!
This ring, though...
Carmen + Paul - Bristol, Virginia Wedding
I am going to freak out in adoration about everything in this blog post. I will use the phrase "I LOVE..." about a hundred times and I'm not going to apologize. Just know that I'm not over exaggerating at all. I've been known to do that, but I'm not doing that here - I promise. I legitimately love basically everything about this wedding. Can't help it. It was an awesome wedding - you'll see. Here we go.
I was OBSESSED with Carmen's florals. I feel like no one is going to take me seriously here because I always say that I love the flowers at every single wedding. Every time I'm over here like I LOVE THE FLOWERS. This time I really mean it though. I LOVED her flowers.
Also her wedding band reminds me of mine and it made me smile.
Paul's gifts to his groomsmen were so awesome. Also, PAUL set it all up like this - not me. He's so skilled, right?
CARMEN'S DRESS. It was so beautiful and so perfectly Carmen.
I really love first looks, but some especially great. They were both so crazy happy to see each other. You might notice the wind was going a little nuts, but I feel like it adds to the moment. Being swept up in each other's love! Is that cheesy? That's cheesy. I don't care. Going with it.
Honestly, this photo isn't my typical style at all. There were several photos of Carmen and Paul's wedding that had me thinking that's not really how I usually do things, but I took this incredible wedding as an opportunity to try to expand my horizons. This image is essentially just an accident. I was testing my light and they were just waiting on me, but I really like it. They are being blown around and yet it looks really calm and peaceful. Thoughts?
The last time I took photos of Carmen and Paul we were all sweating through our clothes in the Tennessee summer humidity. This time they were snuggled up keeping each other warm. You can't tell, but it was pretty chilly outside. I love cuddly pictures though, and I don't think they cared.
Again, the wind was in full force that day, but doesn't she have the PERFECT dress for wind?
I LOVE mismatched bridesmaids dresses. I want everyone to do this for forever. Carmen gave all of the girls these shawls as gifts and we decided to use them for photos since it was cold outside. I love the look of it.
Carmen potted succulents to line the aisle with and I thought they looked so cool. First, this was something I hadn't seen before which always gets me pumped up. I see a lot of the same stuff going to as many weddings as I do. These were so unique and again - so Carmen.
This moment GOT me, you guys. I was just snapping photos and sobbing into the back of my camera. Don't mind me.
Every wedding I've shot has included a prayer. It's a super common thing. What's significantly less common is praying with vulnerability and intimacy. Prayer is something we tend to do so casually that we forget the connection that comes with it. I think prayer is supposed to be raw and real and emotional. I think scripture talks about prayer in this way with imagery of people kneeling, tearing their clothes, raising their hands to the sky, being anointed with oil, etc. In the modern church world we tend to just bow our heads and get it done, but we miss an essential piece of prayer by doing that. Prayer becomes (in my mind) more meaningful when you do it with another person and acknowledge that by touching them. It's vulnerable and intimate to "lay hands" on someone. I thought it was so special that the people closest to Carmen and Paul physically acknowledged the blessing on their marriage. More people should do this.
As their unity ceremony Carmen and Paul planted a plant together with soils collected from all of the different significant locations in their relationship. SO COOL.
Another one that's not really "my style" that I ended up loving.
We'll end on this note: these two being adorable and in love.
VENDORS
Venue, Catering, Lodging, Reception Floral
The Olde Farm (Lori Boggs and Marc Eubanks)
Videography
Genesis Media Solutions (Chris & Kenda Germain)
Reception DJ
Sound Extreme Entertainment (Steven Harris)
Ceremony Music/Cocktail Hour Music
Beth Snapp
Bouquets & Floral Crown
Connie Timmons
Terrariums - DIY Carmen's sister, Naomi Huffman
Homemade Pies/Caramels - DIY Carmen's Family
Groom/Groomsmen Attire
Turtleson
Bride's Dress
Marie Gabriel
Hair + Makeup
Lashes & Lace (Haley Cason)
Bride's Jewelry
Homegrown Silver and Stone
Zach + Stephanie | Ruby Nashville Wedding | Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Wedding
It was such an honor to work with Stephanie and Zach on their wedding day! The day was all about love, fun, and creating a new family with Stephanie, Zach, and Zach's sweet daughter. Everyone was so sweet and relaxed all day and it couldn't have gone better!
Doesn't Stephanie look so "old Hollywood" here? I love it.
VENDORS
Rental company - Liberty Party Rental
Coordinator - Amanda Kelly
Floral Design - Cottonwood Floral by Abbigail Curtis
Catering - Chuy's
Cake - Short Cakes Cakery
Venue - Ruby
Bartending - Details Nashville
DJ - Jeff Tunks
Bridal dress- Glitz Bridal
Suits - Menswarehouse
Hair - Kaylan Bodewig
Makeup - Salon West, Chelsea Coker
Photography - Stephanie Benge Photography