the morning started as many of my saturday mornings do- surrounded by beauty supplies (i feel like a grandma saying that, is there a hip way to say ‘beauty supplies’?), dresses hanging from every door and an unmistakable edge of excitement. kayla was calm and smiling; even as her mom grabbed a needle and thread to fix each bridesmaid’s dress after a seamstress disaster she didn’t let it stress her out. her mind was on her groom and she couldn’t wait to see him!

and finally it was time to make that happen! matt scouted out a sweet little spot behind their reception venue for them to first see one another. kayla & newton shared a private and sweet moment before we jumped in our car to explore a little of athens for portraits!

their bridal party was as vibrant as they are, totally full of energy and smiles despite the >100* heat index! they showed up toward the end of kayla & newton’s couple portraits and we grabbed a few images of everyone goofing off and enjoying the day. newton is a huge soccer fan so before we knew it the guys were forming a wall- i guess that’s the first thing a soccer fan thinks of when he sees five guys standing beside one another, totally cracked me up!

kayla & newton folded 1000 paper cranes for the wedding ceremony and i am in love with the legend of 1000 years of happiness as well as the design effect  and pattern created by the birds. now to figure out how to incorporate them into their new home!?

the reception was just down the stairs from the ceremony- so convenient for their guests! their photobooth was rockin’ nearby while dancing broke out in the main reception space. it was a night full of celebration and excitement for the future of this amazing couple- gotta love capturing that!

***please click here to see kayla & newton’s slideshow***

kayla & newton, 1000 thank yous for asking us to be part of such a beautiful day. you guys are a great couple and we wish you the very best. hope you enjoyed your honeymoon getaway- pictures soon?? :)

stacey’s wedding day arrived with a blazing sun (that’s a nice way of saying it was a BEAUTIFUL day and HOT AS BLAZES), a brilliant blue sky and lots of cheer as the girls munched on fresh bagels and pastries. friends reruns were playing in the background adding a since of nostalgia to the scene and reminding them all of their fun days in college and stories that would dissolve them all into laughter. the girls pulled a mirror into the living room so they could still be together while they took turns with hair and makeup- they all seemed so close and happy, it was really beautiful to be a part of it all. also, i’m obsessed with stacey’s dress, feast your eyes:

before we knew it, it was time for stacey & zach to have a moment together on the drill field at mississippi state before portraits. a little construction put a kink in stacey’s perfect plan but she rolled with it easily as we picked out a new spot for her to meet her man. they had a few sweet moments outside before taking cover in the air conditioning with their wedding party. luckily, inside was a well-lit blank slate and we made a few images there before jumping back outside for round two!

we left campus and headed downtown, excited to return to some of the spots we loved from the night before! stacey & zach braved the sun and when it was time, their whole wedding party was ready too! we loved the different little vignettes all around downtown starkville; such a diverse enviornment!

just as we finished portraits a few clouds blocked the sun and dropped 11 or 12 raindrops on the church. it seemed surprising after such a sunny day but such is life in the summer in the south. we were all grateful for the slight temperature drop as the guests began to arrive. i love these images of stacey peeking out at her family and friends- she was so excited she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!

and then the rain REALLY came down! we stopped to grab this image on the way to the reception site- this was just before we were blinded by big fat drops of warm summer rain (which i happen to really love!). everyone arrived to the reception safe and dry except stacey’s dad & brother who were driving the getaway car…a convertible! but they said if you drive it fast enough you stay a little drier, hahaa!

the rain cleared up in time for some night shots with their awesome car- jump over to their slideshow to see more exit shots with this guy- LOVE!

this guy knows how to party:

***please click here to see stacey & zach’s slideshow***

stacey & zach, thank you so much for getting us out to starkville for your wedding! we loved spending time with you and your friends- we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to spend our last weekend before our time off. we wish you guys the very best!

while i spent a lovely morning with the ladies, matt met up with the guys for a hot shave- i love these two he captured as ryan started his day relaxed and pampered (in a manly way!):

rachel has a streak of pure glamor amongst her many other endearing qualities and i love the bold eye makeup she went with on her wedding day! to infuse more color into these images i embraced the mixture of light sources and allowed the cool daylight to accent her hair as the teasing fest began- i am in love with how these came out!

meanwhile, the gents were taking a break to cool off (it was 100 degrees outside!) before getting ready:

rachel & ryan had their first look on the beautiful front steps of their reception site- the old medical college of georgia. the classy southern charm of the venue was perfect for rachel & ryan and a joy to photograph:

before we knew it, the ceremony was upon us!

and then back to the old medical college for the reception! the dancing was awesome and it seemed like everyone there knew every word to the songs! rachel & ryan’s fun, party side came out and they enjoyed their celebration with friends and family. there was so much joy to capture- it was a blast!

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

rachel & ryan, thank you guys for asking us to be part of your day! we had a great time returning to augusta and capturing the beautiful old south with you in the foreground! you guys rock!

we first met colleen & don at one of matt’s favorite places in atlanta, taqueria del sol, for a dinner of cross-cultural tacos and lots of talk about house hunting in the city. those two facts alone should give you enough information to know that this was a couple after our own hearts- we knew right away that working with them would be a joy. and thankfully, they decided we were a good fit too! so when the day finally came, we were excited to see them again and ready to create some beautiful images! the naturally stunning grounds of serenbe were all but glittering with sun (forecast? rain.) when we turned onto the lane that saturday morning. we squinted against the flood of yellow sunlight as it blanketed the cool greens and we smiled as every detail of the grounds set the stage for an epic wedding and celebration!

i arrived at the ladies’ cottage just as the florals showed up and ooed and ahhed with everyone else over their delicate colors- the perfect compliment to colleen’s natural elegance. everywhere i looked was a beautiful images waiting to be taken, seriously, look:

as the ceremony drew near, we zipped through fields and forest to arrive just in time to walk down the aisle. i love that matt was in the perfect position to capture this sweet moment between colleen’s parents as they looked over the beautiful scene of their families and closest friends waiting in the clearing for their daughter and her groom. such proud parents:

after colleen & don had an intimate moment to soak in the goodness of their new life together, we began exploring the amazing grounds of serenbe. we could have spent the entire day shooting around the property but there was a party to attend! so we made the most of the time colleen had allotted and loved every second of it! this is where you click over to the slideshow to see MORE!

the reception started with a sweet first dance and continued into a great celebration of dancing, laughing and general fun! the band was full of energy and a few suprises- talking more than one guest into a solo dance on stage! a few of our faves:

***please click here to see colleen & don’s slideshow***

colleen & don, thank you so much for including us in your beautiful wedding day! we really loved capturing you guys together- your happiness together is evident and infectious; we wish you the very best!

click here to jump over to toni & matt’s wedding feature as well as their amazing details in the reception feature.

from the salon we were off to the foundry to enjoy a big breakfast beth’s dad was preparing- surrounded by a smiling group of excited ladies! beth was welcomed into the suite with hugs and even a few cheers as her best friends oooed and ahhhed over her hair and makeup and recounted what happened while beth was at the salon. the ladies finished getting ready while i grabbed a few details and beth took a quiet moment to write a note to her husband to be:

meanwhile:

when beth arrived at the church she quickly hung up her dress and checked over a few details while we waited for the rest of her bridesmaids to arrive. she was so excited to see lawton when he arrived that she couldn’t stop grinning as she fanned out her programs and arranged her guestbook, a gift from her sister, near the doors of the church.

then it was finally time for beth & lawton to see one another! after an intimate first look in the sanctuary we headed out into the sun for some fun, summery portraits full of huge smiles and excitement- their love was overflowing and it was beautiful to capture:

the girls and guys headed back to the ac to relax before the ceremony. when the time came, the nerves snuck in just barely but were quickly erased by the antics of their adorable and totally unpredictable flower girl:

after beth & lawton were officially a new family, we took some time to make images on their (and our!) old stomping grounds- the beautiful north campus of the university of georgia. be sure to click over to their slideshow to see some of the fun images beth & lawton had in mind for their full bridal party!

the reception seemed to fly by in a whirl of dancing- before we knew it, they were off!

***please click here to see beth & lawton’s slideshow***

beth & lawton, thank you so much for bringing us back to athens to enjoy your love and be reminded of our own! we wish you the very best in texas and we hope you’re loving married life!

while i was marveling over the tiny nuances within 100 shades of purple eyeshadow, matt was hanging out with dan and the guys as they relaxed- half watching tv while enjoying golden glasses of scotch and discussing everything from favorite restaurants to good movies to computers…the last of which reminded dan to sneak off and print out his vows! i love these shots matt captured:

the ladies arrived at the house in time for amy to exclaim over the beautiful bouquets in the kitchen before sliding into her dress and jumping in the car for some portraits on emory’s campus- where she and dan first met!

amy & dan are a joy to be around and capture! dan’s quiet comments (i didn’t catch 1/2 of them!) repeatedly send amy into peals of laughter through which you can easily see her love for him and just life in general- this next series is just a little picture of a moment like that:

oh, and when they aren’t laughing with joy they are straight fierce- just stunning:

these next images are two of my favorite things about their day- remember how i mentioned an intimate ceremony space being part of their vision? to achieve this they decided to arrange their guests in a circle in the garden. there was so much symbolism in that decision and it really was the perfect touch for their wedding. another of my favorite things was their tree planting ceremony where amy & dan each added earth followed by each set of parents taking a turn watering the sapling- it just struck me as so sweet and respectful and loving:

just a couple of last minute images before the ceremony began:

just after the ceremony amy & dan were overcome with emotion and took just a moment to be alone and soak it all in:

the reception started with an amazing korean meal served family style at each table- yet another nod to the intimate design and feeling of their wedding day. the guests enjoyed talking together and sharing as dish after dish of brightly colored, steaming goodness was presented to each table. i diverted my attention to capturing the beautiful decor before i actually drooled. [sidenote: when we had a sec to eat a little later on it couldn't be denied- some of the best food we've ever tasted at a wedding! two thumbs up, bold!]

and then the dancing started! and it NEVER slowed down! everyone there was out on the dance floor celebrating with amy & dan- there was not a still foot in the house! such fun to capture it all- i’m so envious of all of their moves:

***please click here to see amy & dan’s slideshow***

amy & dan, thanks so much for including us in your wedding day- really, we had such an amazing time with you guys! everything was so wonderful- thinking back to our first meeting it seems you guys had the perfect day you envisioned from the start! i’m sure we’ll run into you around the city- we look forward to it!

my day with brandi started with a delicious brunch spread in the restaurant at the king plow arts center. all of the ladies from brandi’s family lounged around with her best friends, recalling old stories about brandi, laughing at their crazy exploits and generally enjoying the easy pace of a well-planned wedding day. [as a little side note i want to bestow some huge props to one of our very first clients ever, laura, who was brandi's wedding planner! it was wonderful to see her again and hear about her booming new business! it was equally exciting to watch her truly ROCK at her job; give her a call if you're in the market!] the girls took turns dipping out to have their hair done and before i knew it brandi was ready to get into her stunning dress and spend some time with thomas- if only every wedding day could be as relaxed and peaceful!

while the guys were finishing up i had a few extra minutes to grab the rings; i guess when you notice a pin stuck in an old post it’s kinda meant to be:

matt’s morning was just as calm and cool as mine- he hung out with thomas and some of his closest friends and by the time he saw me he was just one of the guys. he also learned all about thomas’s amazing new job as a landscape architect at one of the most creative firms in atlanta- i think you’ll notice his & brandi’s passion for the natural in their reception decor!

brandi & thomas are super sweet together- their first look literally brought tears to my eyes! they were both just so excited to see one another- they’d been apart a whole 12 hours! they are just meant to be together, always, love it!

after portraits while everyone was cooling off inside, matt had a few minutes to capture some of the details they designed! thomas did all of the graphics and they masterminded the rest together. i love how they used natural materials but still achieved a vibrant, modern color scheme:

i’ve never seen a bride so pumped to walk down the aisle! brandi could barely stop laughing she was so excited to marry thomas!

after the ceremony we took a little time to explore the grounds with brandi & thomas. we were thrilled to still have daylight so we could make use of all of the interesting architecture! i love how these next two capture what a beautiful day it was- it compliments their overflowing happiness:

sometimes if we ask you to look directly into the sun for an image we’ll suggest you just close your eyes until we’re 100% ready…and then we may or may not shoot while your eyes are closed to make sure our settings are perfect…and then we may end up liking that photo the best: ;)

we decided we’d end with a few portraits in the air conditioning so we could all cool off before the big introduction- a little drama, anyone?

i love the movement in this next image of their introduction- it portrays so much of the energy and happiness we were surrounded by the whole day!

***please click here to see brandi & thomas’s slideshow***

brandi & thomas, we are so thrilled you guys trusted us to capture such an incredible day- we had an amazing time being part of it all! hope you guys had a super relaxing honeymoon and we hope to see you soon!

stefanie & her mom are so close- there were many moments where they would just look into each other’s eyes with huge grins on their faces! capturing them interact was just so sweet! no idea what they were saying in these next shots but it was really tender:

stefanie & tom got ready at a hotel right on riverwalk in downtown augusta so after meeting in the lobby we headed outside to shoot some portraits! but we weren’t the only ones- it was PROM SATURDAY! so many glittering highschoolers and their parents with cameras to dodge while we shot = pure entertainment. stefanie & tom were such good sports about rocking it in the sea of sparkle:

ooo, my fave! stefanie is just stunning and tom looks content and happy:

onto the reception at the historic marbury center- a restored firehouse! i’m sure this comes as a surprise to no one but these families know how to party!

and of course, a break for das boot!

***please click here to see stefanie & tom’s slideshow***

stefanie & tom, thank you guys so much for having us there to capture your day! we wish you guys the best!

anyway while we were finishing up, matt was at the church scouting indoor locations for some portraits as well as capturing the guy’s finishing touches. actually, i’m not sure what ‘guy’s finishing touches’ entails but judging by matt’s pictures every week it seems to include mostly eating and goofing off. and maybe readjusting a jacket or two:

matt found some pretty striking sheltered locations at the church and we got started right away!

kelly, who rarely wears makeup (because she doesn’t need to at all!), went with light, natural makeup for her wedding day. perfect for a beach themed wedding and just the right compliment to her bold earrings and romantically ruffled dress.

before we knew it, it was time for the ceremony! full of sweet moments and lots of smiles, the ceremony was a definite celebration of a marriage eight years in the making!

we grabbed a few quick portraits before they were introduced and the party started! we laughed along with everyone else at the hilarious toasts and quickly found ourselves swept up in the celebration. capturing it was a blast!

***please click here to see kelly & jim’s slideshow***

kelly & jim, we are so happy for you guys! thank you so much for having us at your wedding- we wish you the very best!