Oh what joy to finally get to celebrate with Megan, Bradley, their friends & family! COVID may have delayed this celebration, but nothing could stop the love these two have for one another!
Megan’s vision of a rustic barn wedding came together perfectly on Saturday. Every detail told the story of their love. The weather could not have been more prefect with blue skies and a lovely breeze!
Megan + Bradley, I have prayed for you and your marriage as I have edited these images. I feel let to pray that your honeymoon this week will be a special time of leaving your parents and cleaving to one another. What God has joined together will not be separated!!
Booking an engagement session is also a great way for you to work with the photographer who will be shooting your wedding, it’s like getting a test run of what to expect on your big day. But, what exactly can you do with all those fabulous images? Here are 8 ways you can put your engagement photos to use.
How to Use Your Engagement Photos
1. Save the Dates
One of the most popular reasons to have engagement photos done is to use them for save the date cards. You can get really creative with different props to let people know when your big day is approaching.
2. Invitations
If you are skipping the save the date card and just sending our invitations you can use your engagement photos for that as well. There are many different components to a wedding invitation from the actual invitations, RSVP, menu cards, directions and hotel accommodations lists to the stamps, envelopes, and address labels. There are many places you can use your professional engagement pictures to give your wedding invitations a more personal touch.
3. Guest Book
Creating a customized guest book is a great way to display your engagement photos. You can keep your guest book simple with just an image on the cover with blank pages for guests to sign or you can make it a little more personal. Some couples have included a few pages in the sign in book that lets their guests know how they met, fell in love and end up saying ‘I Do”.
4. Photos for Your Home
There is no better way to start the new life you will be sharing than decorating your new home with your photos. Having your engagement images hanging on the walls in frames around your home is the perfect way to remember the special bond you two share.
5. Displaying at Your Wedding
There are many ways you can use your engagement photos to decorate your reception venue. You can have large prints made to line the walls of your venue or have a few framed and allow your guest to sign it.
6. Photo Montage for Reception or Rehearsal Dinner
Having a sideshow playing as your guests enter the reception area or even to show at your rehearsal dinner is a great way to get your guest talking and adds a little sentimental value. Why wouldn’t you include a few of your engagement photos in it?
7. Party Favor/Gift for Guests
Key chains, postcards, and t-shirts even can all be made with your image on them. You’ll want your guests to take home something special to remember your wedding day by. Even if getting a coffee mug isn’t something you think your guests would appreciate, you can still have little escort cards personalized with your engagement photo.
8. Social Media Images
The best way to use your engagement photos is to have them as your profile pictures on your social media accounts. What better way to not only show off your stunning images but to also let everyone know you two will be tying the knot!
Even though your wedding photographer will guide you every step of the way, it doesn’t hurt to know a few tricks yourself.
Place your hands on your hips.
This is quite a common pose but it works wonders for your body. Keep your toes together and turned at a forty-five degree angle with a pop in the font knee. Place your corresponding hand on your hip. Slightly angle your body towards the camera for that slimming effect. It’s important to make it look natural though.
Get to know your better side.
Spend some time in front of the mirror and discover which side of your face is the better side. We all have one. Take a few selfies with your phone to see the results for yourself.
Sitting pretty.
How you sit makes a huge difference to your photos too. One of the best poses is when you cross your legs at the ankle. For an extra slimming effect, ever so slightly draw your arms and shoulders inwards.
Lighting matters.
Soft lights and natural lighting are the best for hiding any minor imperfections. Make sure that the room you’re getting ready in doesn’t have any harsh lighting and ensure that you won’t be sitting under any bright lights during the reception.
Angles make a difference.
When it comes to your portraits, the shots should always be taken at eye-level or from above. Low angles will give you that dreaded double chin effect so avoid taking photos at that level. If you would like to look taller in your photos, try and stay away from tall objects or very tall people, it really does make a huge difference.
When Nicole + Austin agreed to meet me at the Windsor Ruins for their engagement session my heart nearly exploded! I was so excited to try out a new location and include a bit of Mississippi History in a session!
If you have followed along for awhile, you know that I LOVE engagement sessions because it is a chance for me to get to know my couples. I love hearing their stories and just having fun together on a relaxed photo shoot so we build a relationship prior to the wedding day!
How They Met
We knew of each other back in high school because we had a lot of the same friends. However, it wasn’t until my freshman year of college that we actually started talking and hanging out.
I came home from Mississippi State for Christmas break and I knew he was always at the parties and bonfires our friends would have. So, I texted him and said “Hey, let me know of anything you hear going on over Christmas break!” Well, the very next day he messaged me and said “Hey, I haven’t heard about anything, but I do need to go Christmas shopping for my mom and sister, and I’m clueless as to what to get, will you come help me?” I was like “Yeah, I’d love to” (what girl doesn’t like shopping?!)
Well, we spent every day after that together. The entire first month of us hanging out we were strictly just two friends hanging out and riding around all night. We only went our separate ways long enough to go home to sleep and when we woke up, we always met back up. I guess somewhere throughout that month we caught feelings and decided we wanted to be more.
We started dating Jan 5th, 2015, right before I had to go back to Starkville for spring semester.
And how did Austin pop the question?
So anyone who knows me knows that I’m completely obsessed with penguins. It’s weird. I know lol.
Anyways, we had to go to Memphis so Austin could run the half marathon for St. Jude. We had decided months before that we would go to the zoo because hello they have penguins. Haha He had planned to propose to me right in front of the penguins. (talk about the perfect idea) However, that did not happen.
After running the half marathon, the bottom of both of his feet were huge blisters. Even though he assured me he was okay, there was no way I was gonna make him walk around the zoo with those blisters so I told him I didn’t wanna go to the zoo anymore. (I know I’m such a caring fiancee) He had one of my guy friends who’s a photographer in Tupelo drive all the way to Memphis. And they quickly had to come up with a new plan.
Well the only thing they could think of was the top of the pyramid looking out over the city of Memphis. So we go and get to the top of the pyramid and I was looking out at the view of the city and he was like “Nichole” and I was like “what” and I turned around and he was down on one knee!! Bless his heart, he couldn’t even get any words out through all of my crying.
When he told me about the penguin idea, I couldn’t help but say “I was trying to be a good girlfriend and not make you walk around the zoo with blisters, but if I’d known you were going to propose in front of the penguins, we would have still gone”. haha. However, he did an amazing job and planned the perfect proposal and although the penguin idea would have been the best thing ever, I wouldn’t trade the way it happened for anything in the world!”
My Prayer For You
Nicole + Austin, I have prayed for you as I edited the images from your engagement session. As I have prayed, I hear Holy Spirit singing “Come Away” over you. He wants to take you both on a WILD ADVENTURE following Jesus and advancing the Kingdom!
I also pray that the Lord will strengthen your relationship with one another and Himself throughout this engagement season and into your marriage. He desires to build a strong foundation with Him as the cornerstone for your marriage and future to be built upon!
Many blessings to you friends! And I will see you again in August!
It was such a joy to finally meet Caroline + Ian in person Friday afternoon at their Town of Livingston Engagement Session! Caroline first inquired with me about her May 2020 wedding at First Baptist Church of Jackson in June after seeing my work from two friend’s weddings at the same venue. With busy summer schedules we decided on a FaceTime call instead of a coffee date for their initial client meeting. Even over FaceTime I fell in love with this couple and their hearts for Jesus as we shared stories and talked about wedding plans!
How They Met
Caroline + Ian went to school together starting in the seventh grade. They had classes together throughout the years, but did not start hanging out consistently until after high school ended because they both had high school boyfriend/ girlfriend who were in different schools. They became good friends hanging out with groups. As high school was ending the relationship became something more once college started!
How Ian Proposed
While taking pictures on a beach trip with Caroline’s family, Ian got down on one knee asking her to marry him! Little did Caroline know, his mom had also driven down as a surprise! Caroline says “it was a dream!”
Prayers & Encouragement
Caroline + Ian, as I have edited these images I have prayed for you and your relationship. I am so honored by your prayers over me, my family and our ministry at the end of our session!! I know that the Lord has such big plans for you and your marriage! As I have prayed for you, the Holy Spirit gave me a picture of the two of you marching forward. Your arms were linked together and you were marching in perfect step with one another. Instead of the serious face of a soldier, your faces were RADIATING with JOY as to steadily took new ground for the Kingdom of Heaven! I am so excited to watch as His plans for you unfold!
Below are a few of my favorite images from your Town of Livingston Engagement Session! I hope you love them as much as I do!
Anna Leigh + Houston overcame numerous obstacles to become Mr & Mrs Hanna on their rainy Philadelphia wedding day. Saturday morning’s storm included trees down, power loss and other storm related issues. But Saturday, October 26, 2019 was a day of overcoming! We stood in agreement and commanded the rain to stop, and the day that began with obstacles quickly turned to a day of rejoicing as we celebrated love!
I have loved getting to know Anna Leigh + Houston during their engagement season. From planning and capturing their engagement session at the Town of Livingston, I knew that Anna Leigh loves open green spaces. I was so excited when their reception was moved to the Philadelphia Country Club and we were able to capture their bride & groom portraits on the golf course! The golf course was the perfect location for a rainy Philadelphia wedding. I was able to keep Anna Leigh and Houston on the golf cart path and out of the mud. We also kept the clear umbrellas at hand in case the drizzle began again. The Lord gave us a perfect fifteen minute break in the rain so we were able to capture beautiful outdoor portraits! Answered prayers indeed!
Anna Leigh + Houston, I have continued to pray for you and your marriage as I have edited these images. I see the Lord’s hand in every detail of your wedding day. From stopping the rain, to the outpouring of joy, Holy Spirit was present in every moment. I teared up again as I edited the images from your foot washing, remembering how special this moment was. You kept Jesus at the forefront of every detail of your wedding day. Continue to do this, and you will truly be a chord of three strands that will not be easily broken.
I am so thankful for the amazing vendor team that overcame every obstacle to make Mr & Mrs Hanna’s rainy Philadelphia wedding day absolutely perfect!
Vendor Team
Ceremony Venue | Trinity Baptist Church Philadelphia, MS
Hannah and Dustin’s country wedding at Sand Ridge Barn in Lake, MS was absolute perfection! I have enjoyed getting to know this joyful couple throughout their engagement season. Their engagement session at the Town of Livingston was beautiful and I was so excited to see some of the images from our session displayed at the reception! Hannah and Dustin are so full of JOY and you can just see their love for one another.
Every detail of the day, from the beautiful barn to the stunning florals, was simple perfection! Bethany of Oak Experience wowed us all with her beautiful designs and her team pulled off the event flawlessly! Hannah’s laughter and Dustin’s smile were the perfect accents to the day! The Name of Jesus was exalted throughout the ceremony as these two became one.
Hannah and Dustin, I have prayed for you and your marriage as I have edited these images. The verse the Holy Spirit has given me for you is from 1 Timothy 1:5 which says, “For we reach the goal of fulfilling all the commandments when we love others deeply with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and sincere faith.” The Lord has put the two of you together for a Kingdom purpose. Allow the love He has placed within you to grow and overflow to others He puts in your path. Your love and joy is contagious and will draw many into the Kingdom of God!
I loved capturing every moment of Hannah and Dustin becoming Mr & Mrs Smith at their country wedding at Sand Ridge Barn!
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.
I loved my time with Jessica + Nathan at their Town of Livingston Engagement Session last week! Jessica and I had only met via FaceTime over the summer for her bridal consult, and I was so excited to meet this couple in person! Jessica + Wade also brought along their beautiful fur baby Echo to join in the fun!
How They Met
When asked how they met, Jessica shared with me that she and Wade were high school sweethearts. “The first time I saw Wade it was the day of a big grade-wide exam. I wasn’t interested at first, but my friend took one look at him and told me, “you’re going to date him”. I told her she was crazy. Just a few short months later, after switching classes to avoid an unwanted teacher, I found myself sitting in front of this boy in my new US History class. A couple days later, I received a Facebook Message (so retro) asking about homework ~that we totally didn’t have yet because school had just started~.”
“He proceeded to ask me out three different times before my mom persuaded me to “give the boy a chance”. For our first date, we got dinner and went to a movie. He picked me up, dropped me off, and introduced himself to my parents. Who would have know that 7 years later, we would be where we are now!”
How He Proposed
I especially love their engagement story. “Christmas Day 2017 we were at his mother’s house with her whole side of the family. His mother has a tradition where she spends several months collecting the “perfect” ornament for each person that will be attending that year. She unwraps all of them, writes the year on the bottom, and decorates her tree with them. After gifts have been exchanged, everyone takes turns (oldest to youngest) to go up to the tree and try to guess which ornament is theirs for this year. I was the youngest person there that year and so I went last.”
“I went up to the tree, circled it a few times, and was a little confused because my ornament was usually a Mississippi State ornament but there weren’t any on the tree. After a little prompting, I went back around to the back of the tree and found my ornament. It was an ornament shaped like an engagement ring box popped open just like a proposal. I thought, surely this isn’t mine, but I took it off the tree and walked back around to see Wade in front of his family down on one knee with another box in his hand. I barely uttered a yes to his question before jumping into his arms and putting my real ring on my finger. He knew that Christmas holds a really special place in my heart but this was for sure was the best Christmas ever.”
Prayer
Jessica + Wade, as I have edited the images below I have prayed for you and your relationship. The word that keeps coming to my mind as I pray is HOLY. The Lord desires for your marriage to be a beautiful example of the passionate and holy love that Jesus has for His bride, and that the bride has for Him! He has such amazing plans for the two of you, walking in unity, to advance the Kingdom of Heaven!
Jessica + Wade, I hope you enjoy my favorite images from you Town of Livingston Engagement Session!
Josh & Cayla’s classic southern wedding at First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, MS was such a joy to capture! Every detail from the soft pink florals to the timeless blue suits, was absolute perfection.
I loved getting to know Josh & Cayla during their engagement session. We got to know each other as Josh drove us around the lake where he spent so much time as a child, stopping in beautiful locations to capture the love they share in beautiful images. I was so excited to see them again this past Saturday as their wedding day was finally here!
The wedding ceremony was held at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Meridian, built in 1913. The beautiful stone facade and traditional decor of the sanctuary were the perfect setting for Josh and Cayla’s timeless wedding day style. Dr. Rhett G. Payne, III led us in a worshipful service, honoring Jesus as Josh & Cayla became one before God and congregation of witnesses.
Following the ceremony, the wedding party boarded the Meridian Trolly for the ride to The Max to celebrate the newly married couple. The party was kicked off by the traditional first dances, followed by Style Entertainment leading a high energy dance party! The culmination of the evening was the sparkler exit and Josh & Cayla speeding away in a classic 1950’s Chevrolet Belair!
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to capture Josh & Cayla’s classic southern wedding at First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, MS!
Mr & Mrs Miley’s Southern Wedding at 
Meridith Lee Photography 