Lauren & Justin | Engaged

One of the sweetest things about being a photographer is becoming a part of people's stories. Sometimes even becoming a part of the family. As a photographer you are entrusted with some of the most exciting seasons in one's life. From marriage to babies, I've seen it all behind the lens.

A few summers ago I met Lauren at her brother's wedding & now here we are planning hers. Lauren met her beau, Justin, at church & never dreamed of the adventure that the following years would entail. "I know for a fact that God sent him to our church so that we could meet. He is my best friend, makes me laugh constantly & is the most caring guy that I know."

Justin would later propose to Lauren in that same church. As they walked into the sanctuary with rose petals and candles set up on the stage, she instantly knew the question he was about to ask. All the years of prayers led to this moment & they both stood trusting in God's perfect plan. "It was the sweetest proposal and I couldn't have asked for it to be any better than it was," Lauren commented.

Lou's Jewelry in Mobile, Alabama did it again! They crafted the perfect ring for Lauren.

You'll be seeing more of Lauren & Justin soon as they prepare for their June 2018 wedding!

The Smileys | 11.4.17

'A Tale as Old as Time' played as the bride made her way down the aisle towards her prince who couldn't hold back the tears. 

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared

All your life you've heard, love will find you when you least expect it. And if you are anything like me you laughed. Until it happens to you. *So here is my public apology! I was wrong.

Same goes for Ariel & Mark. They quickly became friends & after a few dates decided to embark on an adventure together. It wasn't long until Mark asked his girl to marry him in the glow of Cinderella's Castle while on vacation at Disney World. Ariel remarked, "It was a dream come true for me." And their wedding day was nothing short of a modern day fairy tale filled with lots of sparkle & laughter.

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Brides, go for the veil. Every time. Trust me.

Ya'll if I could blog every single one of their bride & groom portraits I most certainly would. They are a stunning couple! Goodness!

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Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Smiley! And cheers to all the wonderful vendors, too!

Bride's Dress: Essense of Australia | Purchased at I Do Bridal & Formal in Mobile, Alabama

*Click here for the link to Ariel's Bridals taken at the beaufitul Bellingrath Gardens.

Venue: Azalea Manor

Caterer: Tyner's Catering

Second Shooter: Ashley Brooke Mason

Bride & Groom Cakes: Valerie Jackson

Videographer: Chase Smith

Makeup: Tabitha Johnson & Morgan Knotts

Rings: Hayes Jewlers

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Francia's Formal Affair

Draping & Lights: Sterling Event Design

Transportation: Carriages of Pensacola

Rentals: Mobile Popcorn
 

Tori & Trey | Engaged

I believe in finding someone who makes you laugh. From the blushing giggles on the first date to the abs-on-fire laughter after a long day of unpacking boxes in your new home. A wise man once said, "Your only goal in life is to keep her laughing. If you can do that, you're good."

I have no doubt that Trey will keep Tori laughing for the rest of their lives. Her smile can light up any room & I'm sure Trey doesn't mind bringing that smile to her face on a daily basis.  Their engagement session was my first to photograph as an engaged photographer! Ah! It's so fun to celebrate alongside my couples & share in the excitement of this season.

Tori & Trey are absolutely adorable & basically rocked their entire portrait time. Congrats you two!

I simply adore these two.

Lou's Jewelry in Mobile, Alabama is the best. They made Tori her dream ring. Isn't it stunning?!

So very excited to capture their wedding day this August!

The Odoms | 10.14.17

Often times you hear of two high school sweethearts falling in love & getting married. And I am lucky enough to have witnessed one of those sweet stories with my own eyes. It was the most perfect October day when these two began their journey as husband & wife.

The bride dreamed of being like Cinderella on her wedding day, after all their proposal happened at Disney! Her vision came to life that day as she tiptoed to her prince charming for the first time & then later as he twirled her around the dance floor.

Catherine & Ocean couldn't stop smiling the entire day & neither could I! What a treat it was to celebrate their wedding day with family & friends.

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I believe in traditions. Keeping them & making new ones too. Each one brings forth memories much like a sixpence carried by your mother & grandmother on their wedding days. Now it's your turn to carry on the sweet tradition. I loved incoorparting these family heirlooms into Catherine's bridal details.

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I have said it before but I will say it again. Make time, even if it's just 15 minutes, for "Just Married" portraits. They always turn out to be some of my favorites portraits of the entire wedding day.

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All the wonderful vendors who made Catherine & Ocean's wedding dreams come true:

Bride's Dress: Bliss Bridal - Fairhope, Alabama

Ceremony & Reception: Baldwin County Coliseum & Fairgrounds

Cake: Cakes by Vickie

Catering: Guido's

DJ: DJ Que Events

Florist: Hub City Florist

Catharine & Kevin | Engaged

Early morning sessions normally aren't my thing but between these two & that light, I might schedule them more often.

Catharine & Kevin met in college during an anatomy class & have been dating for nearly 3 years. Now they are planning a small & intimate Spring wedding. I have photographed them both individually but never together. And what a treat that was to finally have that opportunity.

We met up for their engagement session at Springhill College & walked along the avenue of grand oaks with their precious pup, Ava. Enjoy a few of my favorites from their session!

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The Bonds | 05.27.17

"The best thing about getting married is that you get to stand up in front of everyone you care about & state for the record that you believe in the best-case scenario. These two have just done that. It's very easy to be cynical about love until you're lucky enough to meet a couple like this."

I adore hearing stories about my dear couples & the speeches from Meghan & Nathan's wedding were no exception. The bride's matron of honor, Lizzie, reminded family & friends that were gathered at the reception of the couples' beginning & left the newlyweds with some encouraging advice. More from her speech later on in the blog, so for now enjoy some lovely portraits.

As a girl from a small town in Vermont, Meghan had an idea that she wanted to practice rural medicine and during college heard about this non-profit in Alabama that sparked her interest. Never having visited the South, she had no idea what to expect, but ended up falling in love in more way than one.

After a few months of nudging from family & friends, Nathan finally introduced himself to her. Full of shyness & awkwardness, these two went canoeing for their first date. It wouldn't be long before Meghan returned home & quickly discovered that long distance wasn't for them. So Nathan made a huge sacrifice to leave the comforts of home in the South to move up to frigid Vermont for the winter months.

And the rest is history!

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Months before the May wedding date, I met with Meghan over a cup of coffee. (ha no surprise here - this photographer loves her coffee dates!) We discussed everything from first dates to future job plans to wedding day details. I asked her what the feel would be for her day to which she responded,  "classic with a touch of vintage." And I can testify that her wedding day was simply so. The recently renovated Opera House in downtown Greensboro was the perfect combination of both to celebrate the newlyweds.

Meghan & Nathan's first dance was choreographed by the couple & then accompanied by music from her father. Such a special moment - of course I was in tears. Such a sucker for sweet dances at wedding receptions, mother & son dance included.

"This couple is brave, strong & make each other grow every single day," were the words spoken by Meghan's matron of honor.

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Vendors who made this small town wedding a dream come true for Meghan & Nathan:

Bride's Dress: Allure,  Divine Design

Ceremony: St. Paul's Episcopal Church -  Greensboro, Alabama

Reception: Greensboro Opera House - Greensboro, Alabama

Band: Crystal Clear

Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang, David's Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse

Couple's Accommodations: Johnston-Torbert House - Greensboro, Alabama