when i was 11 years old i was pretty sure i was going to be a fine artist and an eye doctor when i grew up. my interests were soccer and theatre and my favorite food was macaroni and cheese and pickles. everything about me has changed so dramatically since then- except, honestly, pickles maaay still be one of my favorite foods. ;)

when lara was 11 years old she walked into a new school and the very first person she met was her future husband. you guys, lara & zack met when they were ELEVEN! they became close friends quickly and their shared interests kept them very involved in each other’s lives- they had the same friends, shared the same extracurricular activities and even found themselves passionate about the same big issues as they grew up. in 10th grade everything changed- these two best friends started dating. it was a big step for them but was the most natural thing in the world to those who had watched them grow up together. luckily for lara & zack, it was the right move- they’re so obviously deeply connected and in love and their comfort level with one another is such that no one would question them having been the closest of friends for so many years. they are beautiful and rare.

when we were first contacted about shooting lara & zack’s wedding we knew only one thing- they were currently through-hiking the appalachian trail together and wouldn’t be able to meet with us until the october before their new year’s eve wedding. matt & i always do what we can to meet with a couple before we agree to shoot their wedding but in this case it made the most sense to meet with lara’s mom while they were away and then connect with them when they returned. andie, lara’s mom, showed up with adorable pictures and incredible stories of lara & zack and instantly we knew we had to meet these two! we had so many shared interests and passions and their life experiences fascinated us. we quickly decided that, though we’d never made new year’s eve available before, there was no doubt we were going to open it up for lara & zack! when we finally met with them i’m pretty sure i just asked them 1000 questions about their time working on an organic farm, about their passion for locally grown beautifully prepared food, about their time on the AT and all of the beautiful sights and experiences they shared during their time away together- they are fascinating. i could go on and on but i’m starting to realize this is getting rather long…but seriously! these two were a joy to get to know and so much fun to work with on their wedding day. we couldn’t have asked for a better way to ring in the new year!

lara’s family is presbyterian and zack’s family is jewish so lara & zack spent lots of time designing a ceremony that highlights the similarities in the two religions as well as their shared themes of love and unity. the service was unique and personal with both parents walking them down the aisle and remaining with them in support and encouragement through the whole ceremony. it was so clear how much these families love each other and find joy in lara & zack’s relationship:

the chuppah was designed especially for lara & zack and made from zack’s mother’s wedding dress, such an intimate, personal detail:

after the ceremony, guests enjoyed a lively time of catching up and cocktails before they were introduced into the stunning reception space, brilliantly designed by steve bales, creative director at bold american events and catering:

lara’s dad surprised her by playing a song she had written and recorded when she was younger- she was definitely surprised!

somehow the father daughter dance turned into an impromptu family dance- i LOVE it! such a clear picture of how close these two families are:

lara & zack’s parents planned lots of little surprises for them on their wedding day! one of the crowd favorites was the huge tray of whoopie pies brought in from maine:

zack’s dad surprised many of the guests by joining the band for auld lang syne after the big countdown, impressive!

instead of running to a car to exit their reception, lara & zack just walked away with their packs! clever, funny and perfect for them:

***please click here to see lara & zack’s slideshow***

lara & zack & families, thank you all so much for trusting us to capture such a wonderful celebration! we feel so blessed to have gotten to know you all. best wishes!

before matt & i started this biz, i was in school and matt was working at a small ad agency in atlanta. we were engaged and excited and we knew nothing about weddings. we decided to get married in athens, where we met, and we chose our date: august 18th. with a good bit of help we pulled off the wedding and, as much as we know about weddings now, we still say that it was an awesome day of celebration and fun! BUT, it was over 100 degrees. you guys, i kid you not, the weather channel suggested everyone in athens stay inside that day! thankfully, all activities were indoors but looking back, i really wish we’d been able to sneak away with our photographer and explore our favorite little city on a beautifully sunny, 60 degree day like stephanie & patrick!

when we arrived in athens, we could not even believe that their december wedding was so balmy! the same time last year we were all preparing for a white christmas! needless to say, we took full advantage of some of our favorite nooks and crannies in athens and spent a relaxed half hour with stephanie & patrick, soaking up the most beautiful day in a city we all love. i was reminded of so many afternoons matt & i spent getting to know one another, walking the very same streets, lingering at some of the very same spots where we stopped to capture stephanie & patrick. we felt so blessed to return and capture the love of two people we like so much. stephanie & patrick are warm- their love radiates from their expressions, their movements and their care for others. i’m pretty sure that had their wedding dawned icy and overcast i would still look back on their day and see warmth and light- they are just that full of life and love! and so was their whole bridal party! the makings of one awesome day, for sure!

after a sweet few moments of disbelief at seeing one another in their wedding clothes and re-absorbing what the day would bring, stephanie & patrick exchanged gifts. patrick surprised steph with a pair of stunning diamond earrings while she surprised him with a seriously awesome watch. stephanie didn’t miss a beat- as soon as she could she removed the earrings she had purchased to wear on her wedding day with patrick’s gift- so sweet:

pops of red are perfect for a winter wedding- the trees are bare and the grasses are golden- and the red stands out so boldly and cheerfully. i love it:

has there ever been a happier bride!?

i love this next series- especially the detail of the blue strip of sky- matt’s just the best. :) i also like how stephanie & patrick leaned in for a kiss and managed to not fall off the skinny little cement barrier that divided the parking lot and the ‘flower bed,’ they’ve got skills!

we couldn’t help but embrace the beautiful sunlight- everything around us was dramatically lit and we had to reign in our inclination to stop every three feet or so to capture it- so, we stopped every 6 feet or so instead. ;) stephanie & patrick were so trusting and excited and even encouraging of us as we tried a couple of spots that seemed a little crazy! this couple rocks.

and so does their bridal party! [many of whom you've probably seen dancing on this blog before- it was a fun reunion for us!!]

stephanie and her close friends and family shared some sweet moments of encouragement and prayer before the ceremony:

and then it was time! patrick’s expressions are the best:

stephanie & patrick hosted a receiving line on the way out of the church to thank all of their guests for sharing the day with them and then it was on to the reception!!

i love this next image of stephanie & patrick’s parents as they watched their first dance:

patrick and his dad- in case you were wondering where patrick gets his endless energy and dancing skills! :)

***please click here to see stephanie & patrick’s slideshow***

stephanie & patrick, we hope you guys had a very merry christmas as a new family! thank you so much for having us at your wedding to capture your love and celebration. we wish you the very best!

i am currently hugely distracted by christmas. we have strings and strings of interior and exterior lights. i’ve closed all the blinds in the house so i can enjoy the warm glow of the tree and mantle even during the day. i’ve had eggnog three times in the last two weeks [ugh!]. so it means a lot for me to say that i haven’t even taken the time to turn the tree on today because i’m happily sitting in the office working as quickly as i can because i just can’t wait to share these images with you! i talked about the amazingness of jaimie & jonathan in their photobooth post and i am really excited for you to scroll down and learn more about these two and their sweet families and friends. there is just nothing better than capturing the wedding day of two people that are so obviously meant to be together. there is such a peace that comes with a wedding like jaimie & jonathan’s, such a trust and understanding and comfort at the base of all of the excitement and celebration. spending the day with these two, matt & i really felt like we were witnessing something very special. there is no denying that these two are madly in love with their best friend and i feel such joy to have been a small part in their celebration.

ok ok, let’s get started with the images! the first time jaimie caught a glimpse of herself just before going to meet jonathan:

her sweet friends were quick with the tissues and comfort:

jonathan, just before seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day. the excitement and love is so clear:

jonathan couldn’t take his eyes off his lady. it made for sweet pictures. :)

these two LOVE to laugh together, a trait that i really appreciate! we laughed a lot with them:

each of their parents gave a toast and charge to the couple and encouraged them in their new life together- it was such a sweet gesture- i love this image of jaimie’s dad’s toast as he took a moment to compose himself:

and jonathan kissing his mom after her toast:

***please click here to see jaimie & jonathan’s slideshow***

jaimie & jonathan, thank you for including us in your wedding celebration! we felt blessed to capture it all- best wishes to you!

november 11, 2011 dawned crisp and gusty- a lovely fall day in atlanta! matt & i walked stella, trying to stay in the warmth of the sunlight, and then made a big breakfast to prepare for the day. it was a calming and comforting way to begin atoya & sam’s wedding day- and from what i hear, their mornings started off just as relaxed and laid back as ours! atoya & sam are such incredible people- their wedding day was wonderful and overflowing with love and thoughtfulness- and seeing them together just warms my heart. they just speak so sweetly and honestly to one another- words straight from the heart are so rare and beautiful and communicating thoughts and emotions as clearly as they do is so refreshing to witness- i think it means their future as husband and wife is full of promise! matt and i arrived and began shooting about an hour before their first look and we felt so privileged to see some of the behind-the-scenes before the big reveal. atoya and her best friends and sweet family were full of life and happiness- capturing the getting ready moments was effortless- everywhere i turned there were smiles and laughter and hugs and tender moments. everyone seemed like one big family! i love this first image because of the story behind it- atoya had a rush of emotion hit her and in just one moment the room was FILLED with her bridesmaids- dancing, singing and calling out jokes- while the makeup artist fanned her to dry her eyes. it all happened so fast and none of us could help but dissolve into laughter once the tears were under control. what an amazing group of ladies.

atoya is playful and sweet while at the same time completely fabulous and fierce, i’d say this dress was the perfect fit:

after a little dance party in the room, it was time for atoya & sam to meet up for a quiet moment and some portraits:

love how he is looking at her- i love this couple!

after bridal party images, we all headed back inside to atoya’s suite to warm up! the ladies touched up their makeup and the guys enjoyed the snacks. i love this quiet image of atoya just after putting on her veil:

the ceremony began filling up and before we all knew it, it was time. the service was sweet and personal and we were all already grinning from ear to ear when sam took the microphone from the minister and surprised atoya by singing to her! everyone in attendance was glassy-eyed and lots of their guests jumped up to record the moment on phones and cameras. atoya just melted as soon as he started, i love the emotion in all of the shots around that moment:

then it was time for the room-flip! the guests were whisked away to cocktail hour while eliana made sure matt and i had a few moments to photograph the space. danny made atoya’s dreams come true, what a stunning reception:

atoya & sam were ready for the party to start! as soon as they entered, the room seemed to light up with energy and excitement. there was lots of cheering and celebrating and dj sixfive kept everyone dancing until the very end! a great way for atoya & sam to begin their new life together:

instead of a mother/son dance, sam opted to call his mom to the dance floor and thank her for all that she’s done for him. it was a really powerful gesture and it was clear to everyone what a wonderful relationship they share:

i love this next image of atoya and her sweet mom, faye:

***please click here to see atoya & sam’s slideshow***

atoya & sam, congratulations! we loved capturing your wedding day- every moment was beautiful! we wish you the best!

have you ever walked through your old elementary school and caught the scent of old books and floor cleaner and actually enjoyed it? or decided that, after 10 years of dying your hair you’re finally letting it go natural? or fixed a piece of toast with butter and sugar, just like your mom fixed when you were little? maybe those are just my experiences but there has always been something about returning to my roots that i find nice- refreshing even. so when danielle & brandon contacted us about shooting their small family wedding, i couldn’t help but be reminded of the first wedding we ever photographed- intimate and family oriented, full of laid-back, good people having a great time. and when danielle & brandon made it clear that we would be shooting exclusively photojournalism, we knew this was going to take us right back to our roots, capturing fleeting glimpses into who a person really is, deep inside. it refreshed our minds and challenged us to freeze sweet moments between danielle & brandon- knowing that ‘couple portraits’ was not on the schedule. their wedding day was different than what we are used to and we really loved every moment of it! every wedding presents new challenges and surprises- but something about danielle & brandon’s day really took us back to our beginnings, those few months when we were kicking around this idea of being wedding photographers- the passionate conversations we had about the kind of images we wanted to take and the responsibilities and privileges that would come with the business we were thinking of starting. it was nice to be reminded of all of that and then pick up our cameras and get back to those roots with danielle & brandon and their incredible friends and families!

danielle & brandon’s reception was held in brandon’s parent’s backyard and his sister concepted and created the environment and all of the details. everything had an inviting feel to it- from the wildflowers to the music to the drink selection- the day was definitely full of danielle & brandon’s favorite things brought together to be enjoyed with their favorite people.

***please click here to see danielle & brandon’s slideshow***

danielle & brandon, thank you so much for including us in your awesome wedding day- it was so much fun to capture your joy and sweet celebration! we wish you the very best!

rachel & ken are so different from one another on paper but once you meet them and see them together, their differences meld together and create the most vibrant couple- full of life and laughter and love. separately, they are opposites but together they are a force! and it really seems like together, they lead one another to experience life more fully. does that even make sense? i barely understand what i’m trying to say here so really, i just hope one day you meet a couple like rachel & ken- a couple that makes you smile and laugh and think and examine. matt & i feel so lucky to know them.

their wedding day was perfect- every detail was infused with rachel’s impeccable taste and style- down to the tips of her toes! here are a few of our favorites:

rachel gave ken the most amazing travel guitar as a wedding gift. his excitement was obvious from the first second he realized what it was:

rachel & ken designed their invitations to their exact specifications- don’t you love them!?

rachel is just stunning- i’m particularly in love with her hair and adorable dimples (i’ve ALWAYS wanted dimples! when i was little i tried to figure out how to hold my expression in such a way that it looked like i had dimples, am i the only one?)

rachel and her family are really close and shooting portraits with them was hilarious and entertaining, love:

just after portraits rachel & ken saw one another for the first time on their wedding day. it was such a sweet moment full of excitement and love, so happy to have witnessed this:

ken’s sharp wit is quiet and subtle- and no one can make rachel laugh harder, adorable:

i couldn’t resist sharing a few detail shots from the entry way- guests passed through and found their name and table number on this vintage ledger that rachel and her mom repurposed- so unique! i also love that rachel & ken included the globe- they’ve done SO much traveling already but i know exploring the whole world together will be a big part of their future!

we’ll get back to more beautiful details later but for now, the ceremony. rachel & ken were married in the center of the room, surrounded on all sides by their family and friends. i really loved the setup- it was like a big supportive hug all the way through the ceremony!

as the ceremony drew to a close, the sun began to drop and cast it’s stunningly vibrant rays across the venue. such drama:

while everyone enjoyed a sunset cocktail hour, matt & i were able to capture some of rachel & ken’s thoughtful details as they were set up inside. the legendary steve bales of bold american events perfected every inch of the space, stunning. if only i could figure out a way for him to style my life… :)

the hora (traditional jewish dance) was so awesome- friends and family were holding hands, dancing together and raising rachel & ken above their heads:

***please click here to see rachel & ken’s slideshow***

rachel & ken, you’re so so perfect together. it was such a joy to capture every moment of your wedding day- it was perfect! we wish you guys the very best!

it’s so incredible to me how one tiny little moment, one off-hand decision, is often the start of something huge, life-changing and beautiful. i love hearing stories like this- embracing the serendipity of it all and seeing the growth since that first instant. jessica & chris’s story happened this way- they first met at a casual gathering of friends before attending a festival. how easily one of them could have missed the pre-party! but thankfully, they met and formed an instant connection that grew strong quickly as they began not only dating but growing a deep friendship as well. when we first met jessica & chris it was this that struck me first- they are best friends. they love to laugh, goof off and explore all that life has to offer- together. it was wonderful to spend their wedding day capturing their love.

jessica & chris are both unc alumni but they didn’t meet until they both moved to atlanta! now, their shared love of unc is a big part of their life together:

jessica & chris were married at the cathedral of christ the king, one of the most stunning churches in atlanta, i think:

jessica & chris’s reception was held in the gorgeous georgian ballroom at the biltmore. we snuck in to shoot a few details before the guests entered and we were so lucky to be there when jessica & chris saw it for the first time! their gasps and smiles were full of excitement, they couldn’t wait to get the celebration started!

***please click here to see jessica & chris’s slideshow***

jessica & chris, we feel so honored to have been there to capture such a beautiful day! you guys are a perfect couple and we hope you’re enjoying your incredible hawaii/napa adventure to the max!

i’ve been talking non-stop about this wedding for two weeks. really- ask anyone! related to that: this is about to be the longest blog post of the century. i hope you’ll stick with us through to the very end, where you’ll find my favorite photograph- actually, i may have a couple favorite photographs, you see where this is going?? anyway, grab your morning coffee, let’s do this!

matt & i first got to know nitya & neal on a chilly january evening, across a candle-lit table full of cheesecake. [aside: i wish that happened more.] right away matt & i felt such a connection with them- they’re both so engaging and easy to talk to that quickly we felt like we were sitting with old friends. together, nitya & neal are playful and fun with an underlying connection so deep and permanent there is no doubt they are meant to be together. capturing their incredible wedding day was such a joy for us. we learned about so many fascinating traditions- some momentous and serious, some funny and lighthearted. but what really struck us about nitya & neal’s wedding day was the intentionality of it all. every moment was spent drinking in the beauty of the day and every detail told a story. nitya & neal very clearly considered their guests in every element of the wedding planning, thinking of their comfort and happiness every step of the way. for example, with the ever-changing atlanta weather, their wedding day ended up being much warmer than anyone had expected! last minute, nitya & neal called in king of pops and westside creamery to serve up refreshing treats before everyone took a little break to rest and/or change clothes before the reception. so thoughtful! i could go on but i have about 230498 images i want to share with you:

nitya & neal’s wedding was held at the stunning, summerour studio:

i love these next images with nitya & neal and her dad- the expressions are my fave:

nitya and her dad took a quiet moment together to check out the ceremony space before any of the guests arrived, so sweet:

meanwhile, neal was getting ready to make his official entrance to the wedding called the baraat. the celebration was huge and everyone was cheering for and dancing with neal- what an awesome way to start your wedding!

neal’s family and friends met up with nitya’s family and friends just before the ceremony and everyone entered together:

the parents had so much fun together:

while the guests enjoyed delicious ice cream and snacks, nitya & neal headed back to the hotel to change for a few portraits and then their reception!

what a STUNNING dress! in case you forgot about their engagement pictures, nitya can always be counted on for her excellent taste! also, that is the excellent jennifer lackey helping nitya into her gown- she did such a great job keeping the day running perfectly!

i love neal’s expression when he saw his new wife in her reception dress for the first time! i think these two are prefect for one another, don’t you?

such a beautiful reception awaited them when they returned to summerour! nitya worked with bold american event design and production on the design and everyone was so thrilled with the result [including me!]; such a welcoming environment!

while the bridal party did wait to be introduced, they did not wait to start celebrating nitya & neal!

nitya & neal mentioned to us that they’d like to sneak away for just a few short minutes for portraits around summerour and we are SO glad! i just love how romantic and soft these images are. the first picture is my favorite and was actually supposed to be a bridal portrait- but after taking some stunning shots of nitya we quietly noticed neal’s classic stance and included him in a few. the perils of being awesome all the time, right neal? ;)

***please click here to see nitya & neal’s slideshow***

nitys & neal, we feel so blessed to have been a part of your wedding day. everything was so beautiful and inspiring- especially you two! best wishes!

now that you’ve experienced becca & ben’s photobooth in all of its’ glory, it’s time for their equally fabulous wedding! we begin in the small town of upatoi, ga, a little over two hours south of atlanta, where some of their family members have a beautiful home and property. while wedding setup began at the house, becca and her friends began their preparations in a lovely little church. the tiny white chapel has such a homey feeling about it and was the perfect way to begin such an intimate, personalized wedding celebration. when i arrived becca was relaxing and laughing with her friends. a little while later she began casually braiding her thick brown hair and adding twists here and there- until she was satisfied. our mutual friend, erica, began to deftly apply becca’s makeup: such a light and natural look with a little sass around the eyes, perfectly stunning. the atmosphere was that of a perfectly restful golden summer day- the way you might feel lingering over a delicious brunch on a patio, mimosa in hand, knowing a day of enjoyment is ahead. i have to commend becca did not allow even one little beautiful moment escape her notice:

after a few portrait-y photos, it was time for the ceremony. the sun cooperated so perfectly and shined golden through the cool green oaks that surrounded the site. the perfect setting:

becca & ben set aside plenty of time for couple portraits and we were excited to learn they wanted to get some at the little white chapel where they got ready! the natural beauty that surrounded every aspect of their day was like a playground for matt & me!

this next photo really struck me. i love the timeless quality of the environment and the naturally classic look of becca & ben- you could easily convince me this photo was taken decades ago:

isn’t this just the most adorable church ever!? it’s available for weddings, in case you were wondering. :) we were so happy to be shooting such an awesome couple in this unique spot:

meanwhile, back at the house:

becca & ben share a love of craft beer and spent some of their free time over the past year visiting some of their very favorite breweries and collecting growlers and bottles to infuse into their wedding decor. i love it when couples think of fun ways like this to display their shared interests! and, since many of their guests (and matt & i, too!) share their love of craft beer, it was so fun for everyone to look around at all of the great places they traveled- sampling and exploring new cities!

becca, notorios for her inability to keep secrets from ben, succeeded in keeping one BIG secret from him until their wedding day: she organized the designing and brewing of a special beer just for their wedding! this is pure surprise:

***please click here to see becca & ben’s slideshow***

becca & ben, thank you SO much for asking us to capture your wedding day; we feel so blessed to have been part of such a wonderful celebration. we wish you guys the very best; hope to run into you at the many favorite places we share! :)

i’ve been so excited to tell you all about randi & michael for a while now- we met them on a chilly winter day for some hearty, delicious pasta at one of our favorite little places in atlanta. a good start to anything, i think! we quickly learned that randi & michael love food just as much as we do- randi is actually a chef! and next we found out that they are actually into photography as well! aaaand so we love them. that is just how these two are. they are so interesting and interested and they’ve traveled all around the world experiencing so many places and adventures. but they are just so relaxed and down to earth about it all. we walked away from dinner having learned so much about so many different things but really feeling like we just had two new friends! their ever-present smiles are truly an overflow of how much they love life, one another and everyone around them- it’s such a joy to know people like randi & michael.

randi actually got ready at michael’s parent’s home- in his childhood room! i love everything about that.

meanwhile, their guests began to assemble at the ceremony site, enjoying a cold drink as they mingled in the warm afternoon sun:

a close friend of randi & michael performed their ceremony which was so sweet and personal…and pretty quick too! before we knew it they were whisked away for a few quiet moments together:

i really do love this next image. after the ceremony emotions tend to surge- feelings of pure joy mix with relief and excitement and just the magnitude of it all- beautiful:

after a quick look around their dinner setup, randi & michael were introduced and began their first dance as a new family. definitely click over to the slideshow to hear their adorable first dance song (it’s the second slideshow song)!

***please click here to see randi & michael’s slideshow***

randi & michael, we feel so blessed to have been part of your wedding day. you two are just beautiful together and we are glad to know you. we wish you guys the very best and we cannot even wait to see your images from your romantic parisian/italian honeymoon!