Elisabeth + Patrick

These two met in New York City, but both have roots down South so it makes sense they married in Elisabeth's home town.  And it was an incredibly beautiful wedding! I loved getting to see these two laugh and have fun with each other, while also having sweet moments that showed their love and devotion.  Here's a little preview of their big day...

Elisabeth looked like the perfect bride and is so photogenic that its impossible to take a bad photo of her! Special thanks to Kristen White Imagery for being an amazing makeup artist and her team for making everyone look pretty fab.  

One thing that has really hit me after photographing weddings for 7 years is the importance of the bride and groom's parents.  It stands out to me because they are the people there who have loved these two special people the longest, have stood by them over the long haul, and who are the people that remain the key players throughout the rest of their lives.  So here's a tribute to the special parents who make weddings possible and for these two couples whose love was so apparent for the couple.

The wedding reception at Athens Cotton Warehouse was INCREDIBLE.  Bethany at Epting Events did an amazing job bringing Elisabeth's vision to life and the venue was magical with candles and hanging lights.  I especially loved the praline bar and donut wedding cake... 

This reception was full of dancing- it was rare to not have the dance floor completely covered.  I loved getting to see everyone have fun, but the best was when Elisabeth and Patrick joined the band on stage for "Shout," and then were surprised by Elisabeth's dad coming on stage showing his moves!  I'm so glad I get to capture moments like these because I hope these photos will bring them back to a really special memory.

Congratulations to this beautiful and lively couple- and thanks so much for letting me document the celebration!! And special thanks to all the wedding vendors who contributed to the beauty of this day, including my second photographer extraordinaire- Latetia of June Bird Photography !

Mr. + Mrs. Thibedoux

Greg and Cheryl had one of the sweetest weddings ever.  Really.  I knew when I saw the big red felt hearts that Cheryl made for Greg and each guest that this was my kind of wedding.  The inspiration for the red hearts came from the legendary chef Julia Childs, who would often throw parties or dinners and have each guest wear a large red heart.  Julia Childs and her husband Paul wore large hearts for Valentines Day, so I included that photo at the end of the post.  Seriously what a cute idea; Cheryl even gave me a big heart to wear while I photographed the wedding!

Cheryl is from England, so it was fitting to include British details throughout the wedding.  Little appetizers common in England with the British flag and special chocolates were given as a wedding favor from across the pond.  Another detail I was in love with was Cheryl's beautiful art deco jewelry and hair piece (featured above).  I also loved that she wore a green cardigan over her wedding dress when it got a little cooler, and it went perfectly with her fabulous blue shoes.  Brides that wear what they love and aren't afraid to step out of the box are sooooo fun to photograph:)

The wedding ceremony and reception took place at Canoe, an awesome Atlanta restaurant along the Chattahoochee river.  Cheryl and Greg were pronounced husband and wife in front of a colorful ribbon backdrop that Greg had made for the wedding.  It was awesome.  They both wrote their own vows to each other, and there were lines that I don't think I'll ever forget.  My favorites were "I will always let you eat the corner piece of the cake" and something to the effect of always being your Samwise Gamgee (referring to the best friendship between Samwise and Frodo in Lord of the Rings).  It was so clear in Greg's face how absolutely in love with Cheryl he is, and the tears in his eyes when he saw her made even me cry.   Oh, and their dog as the ring bearer wearing a bow tie? Awesome.

The reception was an intimate dinner with amazing food, finished off with a perfect hedgehog wedding cake topper.  I loved hearing Cheryl's british accent throughout the day, especially when she referred to Greg's love for critters:)  It was just such a good night of good food, big hearts, and families getting to know one another.  I love an intimate, colorful, and personal wedding, which is exactly what this day was.  Best wishes Greg and Cheryl, and know how much I treasure my big red heart!!

Julia and Paul with their big red hearts.

Mr. + Mrs. Mundo//Midtown ATL wedding

When I drove up in front of the Artmore Hotel in the heart of Midtown, I knew I was in for a serious wedding photography treat:) Erin and Alex had both the ceremony and reception in the courtyard of the Artmore- a venue with Italian countryside charm mixed with modern decor that makes for a perfect hip Atlanta wedding. I should have known that Erin and Alex would plan their wedding in such a cool location... they both have such a unique and funky style that it fit them perfectly. I met Erin through her sister, Kelly, who I went to high school with. Kelly got in touch with me about Erin's wedding and I was so excited that she chose me to photograph it. I want to go on record by saying it was the MOST laid back wedding I have ever been to. Erin and Alex were up for taking pictures anywhere, and everyone was so go with the flow that it made the day really enjoyable without a lot of wedding stress. It is such a gift to be able to enjoy your wedding day and I really think Alex and Erin did!

Quick note about Erin's wedding dress: she found one that she liked then got it altered to make it a tea-length dress! love it.

2 first looks here- Erin's nephew sees Erin for the first time and then Alex! Both looked like they adored her:)

How cute is Erin in this picture? So cute. And Alex you did an awesome job rocking the Fedora.

It was so special to see Erin's mom walk her down the aisle and see them holding hands... Erin lost her dad when she was just a baby, and her tattoo of a ship on her arm is in honor of him (he had a special ship collection).  This was really sweet even for me to photograph knowing how much love and time Mrs. Norris must have put into raising three girls on her own.

Love it when a family member jumps in a picture, and it turns out to be one of best pictures! Family is fun...

For a guest book, Erin and Alex had guests sign this print which is so perfect because they both work in Forensics with DNA testing for criminal investigations.  How cool?!?! So the fingerprint heart is awesome.

get it, erin. you totally did.

Such a fun Atlanta wedding... thanks so much to Steven Wallace for second shooting! Best wishes Erin and Alex!!!