Mississippi Country Wedding | Mr and Mrs Sullivan

Saturday I had the honor of celebrating Hayden + Brandon with their families and friends at their Mississippi Country wedding. The celebration was held at Hayden’s family’s farm, and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful location!

My last wedding of 2019 was filled with beautiful details and family heirlooms that made my heart sing! Hayden + Brandon honored their families and their faith with every detail of their wedding day. From the cake servers and ring bearer pillow used in Hayden’s parent’s wedding, a first look with both of their parents, and the unity tree where dirt from each of their childhood homes was added during the ceremony, each detail told the story of a rich heritage of love built on a foundation of faith.

Hayden + Brandon, I have been praying for you and your new marriage as I have edited these images. I truly sense the Lord’s joy and excitement as you have made this step in obedience to His plan for your lives. I pray that you will always seek Him for clear direction in each decision you face. I pray His protection over you both, physically and emotionally, as you serve Jesus in your jobs and your personal lives. I pray that His love with fill you to overflowing! Abundant love for one another that overflows to each person you encounter, drawing many into the Kingdom of Heaven!

It has been such an honor to pray for you throughout your engagement, and to celebrate with you at your Mississippi Country wedding! I pray our friendship will continue for many years to come!

Vendor Team:

Planning | Design | Florals | Catering: Oak Weddings

Bride’s Gown: Lace Bridal Boutique

Bride & Flower Girl’s Shoes: Sperry

Groom & Groomsmen: Creative Formals

Bridesmaids: Azazie Bridesmaids

Videography: Revival House

DJ: William Cooke

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A Wedding at The Ice House Venue | Mr and Mrs Miley

Mr & Mrs Miley’s Southern Wedding at The Ice House Venue was timeless, classic, and full of JOY! Sarah + Nathan know how to laugh and have a good time. I enjoyed a day of laughing right along with them as I captured each moment of their beautiful wedding day.

My team and I arrived at the venue early to scout out portrait locations and to have time to visit with Sarah, Nathan and their bridal party. This was such a fun group to spend the day with! Sarah was stunning in her Madeline Gardner gown. Nathan’s timeless blue suit was the perfect selection to complete the look for this dapper duo.

You may remember Sarah + Nathan’s May engagement session and the epic field we found. I was so excited when they were willing to hop in my van and go to the same field for their sunset Husband and Wife portraits!

Sarah + Nathan, I have continued to pray for you as I have edited the images from your wedding day. As I pray, I sense the Lord’s love for you both. He has such amazing plans for your life together! Keep your eyes on Him and allow Him to guide your every step, every decision. He is for you, and His love is greater than you can even imagine! Allow Him to fill you with His love so you can pour out that same love to one another!

Thank you for allowing me the honor of capturing your wedding day memories at your wedding at The Ice House Venue.

Vendor Team:

Venue: The Ice House Venue

Flowers: Something Borrowed Blooms

Caterer: Dena Piggot

Cake: Dream Cakes

DJ: Thomas DeMartini

Video: Caleb Jordan Byrd

Officiant: Chip Henderson

Hair/Makeup: Christine Cody

Photo Booth: Southern Exposure Selfie Booth

Bride’s gown: Madeline Gardner from Low’s Bridal

Tux: Tuxedo Junction

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

 

5 Simple Tips to Help Take the Stress Out of Planning a Wedding

1. Learn to say no

Planning a wedding is exciting and fun but it can also be one of the busiest times of your life. If you don’t want to end up being a nervous wreck a week before your big day, learn to prioritize and say no to any new commitments that would take away from other important wedding-related tasks. It’s really ok to say no every now and then.

1. Become the queen of organization

The more organized you are, the better your wedding planning experience will be. Keep a digital copy of all of your important documents, contracts and information in one file on your computer so that you can easily refer back to them when you need to. If you want to be able to bring important documents along to meetings with vendors, you can always create a wedding binder that contains all of the information you need. Plus it makes for a great backup copy too.

1. Have a little fun

There’s no need for you to be a frazzled bride. Take out your calendar and schedule a few fun days in-between all of your planning. Make fun and laughter a priority in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Sometimes it’s important to come back down to earth and remember why you’re choosing to marry your partner and that trying to control every single aspect of your day is only going to leave you wishing it was over. Go out and enjoy an afternoon with the girls where you don’t talk about the wedding at all.

1. Move your body

Exercise does wonders when you’ve got a lot on your plate and just need to take a breather and focus on your health. This doesn’t mean that you need to schedule in an hour at the gym every day either. If you’re strapped for time, a simple 15-20 minute walk or yoga session will make all the difference to your stress and energy levels.

1. Just breath

Take a complete timeout from wedding planning as often as you need to. Every bride deserves a relaxing soak in the tub or a heavenly hot stone massage to relieve some of the tension she might be feeling. It can be difficult to make time to simply relax but do your best to find the time, even if it’s just 30 minutes a week.

Mr and Mrs Parrish | A Classic Southern Wedding at First Baptist of Jackson

 

Mr and Mrs Parrish’s classic southern wedding at First Baptist of Jackson was elegant and timeless. Every detail came together perfectly to give Rachel and Samuel their dream wedding day.

This was to be my first wedding at First Baptist of Jackson. Unfortunately the enemy tried to take my family out in a bad car wreck the day before. I am so thankful to Amelia Catherine & Co for her willingness to cover this beautiful wedding for me and love my couple well.

Rachel and Samuel’s love for one another shins brightly every time their eyes meet. Their joy is contagious and I have loved praying over them as I have edited these images. I see the love of Jesus these two share in every detail of their day.

As I have prayed, the Holy Spirit led me to this poem by M. S. Lowndes:

United Hearts

God has brought you here together
To be united in His love,
Joined in Holy Matrimony
With faith in God above

Let your faith guide your lives
With a measure of God’s grace,
For this is what keeps love strong
Through whatever you may face

Keep building your marriage on
The foundation of Christ,
It will not crumble or give way
Through the daily pressures of life

But it will stand the test of time,
Growing stronger day by day
Just keep your hearts truly united,
Joined as one when you pray

The cord that binds your hearts
Will not fray, or break in two
When you build your lives on God,
He will walk with you.

 

Vendor Team:

Ceremony Venue: The Chapel at First Baptist of Jackson

Reception Venue: The Cedars

Florist/Caterer: Fresh Cut

Invitations: Invitations by Dawn

Wedding Cake: Gina Smith

Hair/Makeup: Jacqueline Reynolds

Videography: Joe and Callie

This vendor team worked hard to give Rachel and Samuel their classic southern wedding.

Mr and Mrs Pigott | A Classic Wedding at Lakeland Presbyterian and The Ivy

Marilyn and Will’s classic wedding at Lakeland Presbyterian and The Ivy Venue was simply beautiful. My initial client meeting for this wedding was actually with the mothers of the bride and groom, and I have loved getting to know Karen and Kim in addition to Marilyn and Will over the last nine months! These two families both have deep faith and have raised Marilyn and Will with a solid spiritual foundation.

I got to spend more time getting to know Marilyn and Will during their January engagement session. They are such a joy to be around! We laughed and had the best time! Our time together just made me even more excited to capture their wedding day!

Marilyn and Will, I have prayed over you and your marriage as I have edited these images. As I pray the verse that keeps coming to my mind is “the two shall become one.” I feel like the Lord is saying that many talk about two becoming one through marriage, but He is going to bring revelation to many of this deep spiritual principal through your union. He has such amazing plans for the two of you! You are going to shake the Kingdom and bring glory to His Name!

Detail Rich Disney Inspired Wedding | Mr and Mrs Kelly

Victoria + Drew’s detail rich Disney inspired wedding at Old Waverly Golf Club and the Chapel of Memories was an absolute joy to capture! I fell in love with this couple from our first FaceTime conversation. We talked about their love story and upcoming wedding. We also talked about their hearts for Jesus. When I met Victoria and Drew for the first time in person at their engagement session, I knew this was the beginning of a friendship that will last far past their wedding day!

It Is All In The Details

Victoria and Drew both give special attention to detail. It was no surprise that every detail of their wedding day was well thought out and carefully designed. From rings, to invitations, flowers to bridesmaids dresses, every detail blended elegance and fairytale. Drew and Victoria were truly a prince and princess as their family and friends celebrated their love and new life together.

Getting Ready

An atmosphere of JOY filled Old Waverly as Bridesmaids and Groomsmen assisted Victoria and Drew in getting ready. The sound of laughter rang through the rooms and halls of this grand country club. Excitement was palpable as excitement grew with each moment. Putting on a suit jacket, pinning on a boutonniere, groomsmen playing chess enjoying fellowship together. The squeals of the bridesmaids as they turn to see Victoria in her wedding gown.

First Look

Victoria and Drew chose to have the private moment of a first look to not only see one another for the first time, but also to exchange gifts and letters. Victoria’s gift to Drew was an engraved pocket watch and a journal where she began writing out her prayers for her future husband long before they met. Drew’s letter brought tears of joy to Victoria’s eyes, and the pearl bracelet made her radiant smile only brighter!

The Ceremony

Jesus was truly the center of every detail of Victoria and Drew’s wedding ceremony at The Chapel of Memories on campus at Mississippi State University. The presence of the Lord was felt by all as the name of Jesus was lifted high, Victoria and Drew were presented with a family Bible, scripture was spoken over this couple, and they each vowed to be faithful to this covenant of marriage for the rest of their lives.

The Fairytale Continues

We returned to Old Waverly for Victoria and Drew’s Disney meets Biltmore inspired reception.  Whimsey and elegance collided at this detail rich reception! Every table showcased a different Disney character. There were small touches of Disney everywhere! The atmosphere of JOY continued as a meal was shared and dancing began. Everything seemed theatrical as many of Victoria’s fellow former Disney cast members danced to well known songs! It was truly a fantasy affair!

Victoria and Drew’s detail rich Disney inspired wedding day was absolute perfection! Aloha!

 

Rachel + Samuel | Engagement

Two students at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. A bus ride to orientation at the Jackson Free Clinic. Little did they know Jesus’ plans when they “happened” to sit beside one another. The ride that normally takes five minutes lasted an hour, and Rachel and Samuel talked the whole time. What began as a friendship slowly blossomed into more as they endured the rigorous schedule of first year. Papa God has been directing each of their paths to intersect at this time, and He has directed the converging into a single new path they are are beginning to walk together. Hand-in-hand with both one another and their Savior.

The day Samuel proposed seemed like a normal Sunday. Church together followed by lunch. During lunch there was a call from Samuel’s mom asking them to come to his sister’s art exhibit at the Fairview Inn. When they arrived, Samuel led Rachel to the garden and handed her an envelope addressed to his future wife. Rachel opened the envelope to find it empty, but then noticed a small burlap canvas on the ground nearby with words written on it. Samuel had written the parts of the letter out on different canvases and placed them throughout the garden. They walked through the garden and Rachel read each letter out loud. The last part of the letter was in the gazebo with roses. The letter ended with 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” Rachel was shocked. This letter was written over three years ago… but even then the Lord knew that their pastor would preach a sermon on this verse, and only this verse, on this day. The day that Rachel would say “yes” to Samuel’s question, “Will you marry me?”

I so enjoyed getting to know Rachel and Samuel during their recent engagement session at The Town of Livingston! Not only can you see the love these two have for one another, but their hearts for Jesus shine clearly to everyone the meet. I am so excited for the plans God has for Rachel and Samuel, and I am honored to capture their love story as they become one in June!

Victoria and Drew | A Starkville, MS Engagement Session

When Victoria and Drew each signed up for Mississippi State University RUF’s Dating Game, they were excited to meet new people. Neither of them expected to meet their future spouse, but that is exactly what happened! We walked down memory lane and relived their love story as we captured Victoria and Drew’s engagement session at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge near Starkville, MS.

Victoria reminisced fondly, “It was this spot on our first date where we talked about our favorite places to travel, and he brought it home by telling me his favorite places in Starkville. I had only been at MSU one semester, so I hadn’t been to many of the places he mentioned, but I could hear my inner monologue saying ‘I want to go there with him! I want to go everywhere with him!’” It was on that very first date that God placed a desire to spend their lives together in each of them!

As we walked the lovely grounds of the Refuge we shared not only our love stories, but also our faith stories. Victoria and Drew have a solid foundation in Christ their Savior. It is He who has brought these two together. It is He who has filled them with such joy that you just can’t help but laugh and smile when you are around them!!

And it is He who painted the most beautiful sunset for our final set of images for the day…

I love every moment of my time with Victoria and Drew, who flew in from Charleston, SC for their engagement session with me! I am so thankful for the friendship that we have formed and I am more excited than ever to capture their wedding at the Chapel of Memories in Starkville, MS in May!

 

5 Things You Should Trust To Your Wedding Photographer

Trust is the key ingredient to any relationship and this is true for the relationship you have with your wedding photographer. There’s a reason you chose them to capture the most important day of your life. While you may have a vision of how you want some of your images to turn out, for the most part, you are going to have to put a lot of trust in your photographer. Trusting your photographer a little more in these main areas will not only result in better images for you to remember your big day by but will also relieve you of some stress as well.

1. Choosing the Location of the Shot

You wedding photographer will have taken the time to familiarize themselves with your reception location or areas around your ceremony site to find the best places to photograph. They’ll know where gets the best light and where the best scenery is.

2. Time of Day to Shoot

Lighting is key to creating beautiful images and using the natural light of the sun will produce the best lighting setting but that doesn’t mean any time of the day will give you the same results. Your photographer will know what time of day will be best to take those gorgeous outdoor shots that won’t leave harsh shadows on your face or when to sneak outside to take some night inspired shots.

3. Poses

Trust your photographer to know what pose is the most flattering for you. They can see how the light is illuminating you and what is in the background. While some photographers will take into consideration your picture ideas, you shouldn’t be offended if they shoot down your ideas. Most times you’ll be working with limited time and light and you don’t want to waste much of either on your big day.

4. Editing Your Photos

Trust your photographer’s creative eye during the editing process. They will know which images will look best in black and white or color, and how best to crop each image. The editing process is a part of their style and this is one of the reasons you hired them. Trust them to use their skills to make each image stunning.

5. Handling Printing Your Photos

Your photographer knows where to get prints made and probably has a long-term relationship with a reputable printing company. The worst thing you can do is have a stunning image, order a large print and find the colors are off, the image is blurred or it simply looks dull. Knowing where to get your prints made, what size they should be done in and which ones will look best in your albums, wall art or thank you cards is part of the package you get when you hired a professional photographer. Trust them and listen to what they think will look best for what you want.

Valen and Kody | A Proposal at McClain’s Lodge

Congratulations to Valen and Kody!! I was so excited when I first got the call to be part of this surprise proposal! I mean, who doesn’t love a surprise?!? Especially one THIS GOOD!

The plan was to set up family portraits at McClains Lodge all initiated by Kody’s mom Cindy. This plan worked perfectly with how I normally run my family sessions, which include not only the big family portrait, but break out sessions for each smaller family grouping, and also each couple.

We started with Cindy and Justin and their precious granddaughter Evelyn.

Then we captured some of just the two of them… because we should all have updated portraits with our spouse on a regular basis!

Next I took these precious images of Kayla, Patrick and Evelyn making sure to also include some shots of just mom and dad.

We then got pictures of the whole family together… We then moved on to a set of portraits of just Kody and Valen. After taking a few pictures, I gave Kody the sign that this was his moment. He twirled Valen around, told her how beautiful she looked and that he wanted to tell her that every day for the rest of their lives.

He then dropped down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked the big question… “Valen, will you marry me?”

As everyone celebrated Valen’s big “YES” to Kody, it was so fun to hear all the little details, how they came together and how everyone managed to keep the secret from Valen!

We continued taking pictures, and were sure to capture more full family portraits now that Valen had a ring on her finger!

It was also so fun to have Valen’s mom and step-dad there as well! They traveled from out of town to be here for this special moment… they were in on the surprise, but Valen thought they just happened to come visit the same weekend that Cindy planned family portraits.

We also had to get a picture in front of Kody’s new truck. She got white gold, he got platinum.