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Wedding: Featured on Desiree Hartsock (aka The Bachelorette)!

Holiday time is crazy for everyone – you’ve got parties to go to, gifts to buy, cards to mail, and more.  For photographers, it also means last minute rush orders that need to arrive in time for Christmas, lots of people getting engaged (so more emails and questions to answer), and meeting with next year’s brides while they’re free from school or home to visit family on winter break.  You end up staying up far later than normal, like I did last night.  So it was a nice surprise to wake up this morning and find out that one of my weddings is featured on Desiree Hartsock‘s website (who you might recognize from season 9 of The Bachelorette)!  You can check out Casey and James’ Auburn wedding by clicking HERE.auburn wedding featured on desiree hartsock website

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Wedding: Briana & Robert – Gallatin First United Methodist Church & Depot Square Event Center, Gallatin (Nashville), Tennessee

I think the first time I photographed his family, Robert was still in high school.  The last time I photographed him, he was getting ready to graduate from college.  Not too long after that, his mom told me he was getting married.  The same Robert that years ago, I photographed on what was once his family’s farm off Taylor Road, with his sisters and their African grey parrot, and a a dog that tried to jump in the car with me when I went to leave.  Time flies, ya’ll.nashville-wedding-photographers-01groom getting ready for nashville wedding

I didn’t get a chance to meet Briana before the wedding, so I made my way toward Gallatin, Tennessee (just outside of Nashville), I wondered what the girl who stole Robert’s heart would be like.  Over the years, Robert’s mom would keep me updated on how all of her kids were doing, so I knew they had met when they were in school at Wash. U. (aka Washington University in St. Louis – and no I’m not crazy, it’s in Missouri, not Washington, look it up!).  Other than that, I didn’t know much.  Come to find out, she’s a tiny thing with dark brown curls and a big smile, and big googly eyes for a guy named Robert. 🙂

bride getting makeup done before nashville weddingbride getting into wedding gown in gallatin tennesseebride getting ready with bridesmaids in tennesseeblue and coral wedding bouquetcoral bridesmaids in different style casual summer dressesblack and white bridal portrait with veilbride at gallatin first united methodist church weddingwedding rings in a peony

Briana and Robert decided they didn’t want to see each other before their ceremony at Gallatin First United Methodist Church, but they did want to have a private moment to exchange letters.  Their giddiness was contagious, and so were their other emotions.

bride and groom hold hands around a cornerbride's letter to her groombride and groom read letters to each otherwedding ceremony at gallatin first united methodist churchgroom and groomsmen at nashville tennesee weddingromantic bride and groom portrait at nashville weddingbride and groom in balcony at their nashville wedding

Since Briana and Robert didn’t see each other before their ceremony, they knew we would need to take some time for pictures afterward.  So to entertain their guests at the reception at Depot Square Event Center, they brought in the pros to teach a swing dancing lesson while we finished up pictures.  You can’t have swing dancing without music, so they had the Moonlighters Big Band there to provide the tunes.

depot square event center wedding receptionmoonlighters big band at gallatin wedding receptionchalkboard and mason jars at gallatin weddingvintage linens at nashville wedding receptionbabys breath and swan wedding cake in gallatin tennessee

Guests went home with coffee mugs featuring the newlyweds’ names and the popular Bible passage from Corinthians about love.  Why a coffee mug?  In Briana and Robert’s words, “Coffee time has been an important part of Briana and Robert’s relationship – a time to bond, pray together, work out issues, discuss life, and rejoice in the moment.”

coffee mug wedding favorsbride and groom first dance at nashville weddingbride and groom swing dance at nashville wedding receptionBriana & Robert – here’s hoping you aren’t freezing your butts off in Wisconsin.  Thanks for letting me come all the way to Tennessee to be part of your day!

Ceremony Venue: Gallatin First United Methodist Church

Reception Venue: Depot Square Event Center

Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal

Band: Moonlighters Big Band

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Wedding: Megan & Kenneth – Rocky Mount – Prattville, Alabama

After shooting Megan’s bridal portraits, I was excited for her wedding day at Rocky Mount because she is one of those people that is just naturally photogenic.  Most people are better at giving a “serious face” OR a “smiling face”, but she can do one just as easily as the other.  She arrived with flawless makeup by Rebekah of Lush Makeup Art, and as she stepped into her Maggie Sottero gown once again (with a few adjustments made since her bridal portrait), it was clear that she was ready to turn on that Tyra Banks magic once again.wedding bouquet with monogrambride getting into maggie sottero gownbride at rocky mount bed and breakfastblack and white bride on a bedbride with lace veil at prattville weddingengraved inscribed wedding bandgroom at prattville weddingmakeup by rebekah at lush makeup artceremony program and sparklers at prattville weddingceremony decor at rocky mountrustic cross and flowers at prattville alabama wedding

Since they travel extensively for their jobs, I didn’t get to meet Kenneth until the day of the wedding.  The first thing I noticed is he has great dimples (you’ll see those later).  The second thing I noticed was the look on his face as Megan tried to hold it together while she walked down the aisle:

groom watching bride walk down the aisle at prattville weddingbride and her father walking down the aisle at prattville weddingoutdoor wedding at rocky mount

During the ceremony, Kenneth’s four children joined their dad and Megan for a prayer, uniting all of them as a family:

groom's children join in wedding ceremony in prattvillehappily ever after chalkboard sign at alabama weddingnavy and coral pink wedding party in alabamabride and groom with rustic cross in a fieldbride and groom black and white portrait in prattvillebride and groom in a field in prattville alabamablue and pink theme wedding in prattvillefirst dance at rocky mount weddingwedding reception at rocky mount in alabama

At the reception, everyone enjoyed dancing to music spun by one of the groomsmen (who happens to be a DJ), and cakes by Cake Designs under the pavilion.  Once it was dark, the bride and groom and their guests headed out into a field to release wish lanterns (aka sky lanterns).  Then with candy apple favors in hand, guests showered the newlyweds in sparks as they made their exit.

cakes by cake designs in montgomerybride and groom dance at rocky mountbride and groom releasing wish lanternbride and groom watching wish lanterns at prattville weddingbride and groom dance with groom's daughter at alabama weddingcandy apple wedding favors at alabama weddingsparkler exit from rocky mount weddingMegan & Kenneth: I’m thoroughly jealous that you get to spend so much time in my home state.  Thank you for letting me capture a few of your moments in Alabama!

Venue: Rocky Mount

Makeup: Lush Makeup Art

Wedding Gown: Maggie Sottero

Cakes: Cake Designs

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