Back in December I headed down to Auburn with Kelly to help her shoot Jessica and Casey’s wedding. From the custom Heidi Elnora gown that Jessica had made, to the darling DIY paper goods thanks to Casey’s scrapbooking queen of a mom, to the classic navy and coral color scheme, to all the sparkles and twinkle lights everywhere… the whole day was eye candy! And Jessica and Casey are pretty easy on the eyes, too. ;)

These two are also super sweet and were so calm throughout the whole wedding. We really lucked out with the unseasonably warm weather, too. Only in Alabama (ok, and maybe Texas and Florida) could a bride wear a strapless dress outside in December and not freeze to death. Ha.

Big thanks to Kelly for having me along… make sure to go check out her post for even more pretty pictures!

A few months back I got an email from my friend Gail Werner asking if I’d be interested in coming up to Indiana to second shoot a wedding with her. I’ll admit, I squealed a little when I read it, because a) Gail has the most impeccable taste of anyone I know (especially when it comes to books, music, and culture in general– seriously, go read her blog if you don’t believe me) b) up to this point, we had only chatted back and forth via email after we discovered how much we had in common and c) I was kind of in shock, considering how talented she is and how many states separate us, that she wanted ME to come shoot with her. Talk about a huge honor!

I admit I was a little nervous on the plane ride up, because I always worry that people are going to meet me in person and I’m going to be a huge letdown from what they know of me online. (It’s funny how the Internet can do that– make people seem larger than life or just… different.) But when I walked out and saw Gail wearing the exact same yellow Target skinny belt as me, I breathed a sigh of relief and just knew that we would be as good of friends in person as we were online.

That weekend in November was so much fun. I got to stay at Gail and her husband Nick’s mid-century rancher which could not have possibly been more my style. (If there’s one thing we both love– to the point of obsession– it’s mid-century design.) It was only fitting that Nick is a dead ringer for Don Draper (that is, if Don Draper were the outdoorsy type), which makes gorgeous blonde Gail look like Betty by default. Their Halloween costumes from a couple of years ago are proof:

Are you dying right now? ‘Cause I am. But anyway, needless to say, I loved the Werners. They also have a Midwestern spirit about them that I think is so awesome. Gail says “gal” like I say “y’all” and it’s adorable. So between lots of girl talk, bonding over photography stuff, watching Emma Stone on SNL while downloading cards from the wedding, and eating their famous Belgian waffles on Sunday morning before heading to the airport, it was a pretty fantastic time.

Not to mention the wedding itself!  The bride and groom, Laurie and Joe, were stunningly beautiful on the inside and out, and their classic wedding was a blast to be apart of. As much as I adore Southern weddings, I also love getting to see how people do them differently north of the Mason-Dixon line. For one, I’ve found that northerners know how to par-tay. They have gorgeous, traditional ceremonies in big old churches and then have insanely fun receptions that last looong into the night, with people of all ages packing the dance floor the whole time. You can’t help but be happy!

But enough of my rambles… on to the pretty!

A big huge thanks to Gail (and Nick!) for being such amazing hosts and great new friends, and to Laurie and Joe for treating me like an old friend despite the fact that I was just a girl from Alabama they met right before they got married. It was an incredible experience!

You guys…. I’m not sure it’s humanly possible to convey how over the moon I am to be sharing this with you today. Mary Beth and David’s handmade lakeside wedding from November is in a whopping 8-page spread (!!!) in this month’s issue of Birmingham magazine. Every January, they publish a special bridal section of the magazine, and this year, Mary Beth and David’s wedding was chosen as the feature and lead story. When I heard the news, I nearly had heart palpitations. Seriously.

What made this even more exciting was finding out that this particular issue also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the magazine and a complete design makeover. Let’s be honest… most of us are pretty skeptical of local publications, because sometimes they’re a little lacking in modern sensibility and style. But this? Wow. An absolutely stunning transformation! I love how they’ve increased their amount of white space (so much less clutter!) and changed up their fonts for more modern, easy-to-read, visually appealing ones. It truly makes me even more proud of my city and the talent that exists here. So to be apart of their brand new issue is a doubly-exciting honor. And man…. there’s just something about seeing your work in print that is so satisfying. What is it about text overlaid on big, bright photos that is just so cool? I mean, I didn’t know that shot of the bouquet could be so fancy until they put a lovely headline on it. :)

It also has to be said that I can’t imagine a more feature-worthy wedding than Mary Beth and David’s. They made an enormous effort to celebrate their pride in their roots and their city, and I’m so glad it’s being shared with so many people. And Mary Beth’s account of the day is a must-read. Dare you not to tear up a little bit. :)

Also, gotta give major props to my girl Kelly of Spindle Photography, who second shot this wedding with me. Several of her beautiful images got included!

I just can’t think of a better way to kick off 2012. Thank you guys for all your love and support, because without you, moments like these wouldn’t be possible!

Back in October, I had the privilege of getting to shoot Skye and Alex’s wedding with my friend Kelly of Spindle Photography (you can see her original post with tons more stunning photographs here). It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day, and we got really excited when we started seeing all the lovely DIY details Skye worked so hard on. Even better? So many of these personal touches reflected a deep love for Skye’s Alabama heritage and were a great introduction to the South for many of their out-of-town family and friends.

There was also a pretty fantastic after-party…. but more on that later. ;)

One of my favorite handmade details were these mix CDs that Skye made to include in the out-of-town guest bags at the hotel. In honor of the Year of Alabama Music, it included such Alabama born-and-bred favorites as “Dixieland Delight,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Stars Fell on Alabama,” and a track by one of my favorite new artists of last year, the Secret Sisters. And that hand-stamped cover? Darling!

Anyone who has visited us in Birmingham knows all about this big guy, the Vulcan statue that we used to live right down the street from. Skye and Alex paid homage to this fixture in the Birmingham skyline with a collection of figurines on the mantle at Rucker Place.

The spread from Savoie Catering was out of this world, as always.

As was the baby bite cake from Homewood staple Pasty Art. (Totally addicted to the caramel ones!)

After the reception, we headed to the Tutwiler Hotel for some more fun shots of the couple before their after-party was set to begin. Love these!

Now, as Kelly and I were sitting around at the private loft where the after party was held waiting for the action to begin, we were a little unsure of what to expect. Several songs played and no one really seemed like they were going to get on the dance floor and get the party started.

And then, Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” came on, and a funny thing happened….

Needless to say, it ended up being one of the most fun dance parties we’ve ever gotten to shoot. We even put down our cameras at the end to join in on the dancing. Don’t judge. :)

Huge thanks to Kelly for inviting me along for such a fun wedding! And congratulations to Skye and Alex!

This past April I had the absolute pleasure of getting to second shoot Clay and Bryan’s wedding with Kelly of Spindle Photography down in Selma, Alabama (which is about two hours south of Birmingham). To say this wedding had every element of a classic Southern affair is a major understatement. I’m pretty sure Kelly and I didn’t stop squealing with delight the whole day.

What made it even better was that Clay, who is from Selma, met Bryan, who is from New York, in Colorado, where they both live now. So Bryan’s whole northern, Jewish family was given quite the introduction to Southern culture at this wedding. It was so beautiful to see the two worlds come together, and all around, it was one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever gotten to be a part of.

We started the day by shooting the brunch that was held in their honor. The weather was perfect, the glasses were full of mimosas and sweet tea, the bluegrass band was playing, the kids were running around in their adorable little gingham outfits, and we also got to fill our bellies with an insanely delicious meal. (My favorite? The sweet potato biscuits with ham and apple jelly. Oh my goodness.) It was almost hard to believe the whole thing was real and that we weren’t just on a movie set, to be honest.

The two moms watching Clay and Bryan see each other for the first time. LOVE this moment.

To anyone who hasn’t gone to church in the deep South, it might seem strange for all the kids to have bare feet and be wearing smocked outfits with bows. But that’s just how it’s done. Growing up, my mom used to hand sew and smock ALL of mine and my brother’s outfits for church and special occasions, and yes… we matched. My brother is mortified to see those photos now. ;)

The reception was held at Clay’s parents’ plantation home. Absolutely STUNNING, to say the least.

One thing I’ve been obsessed with at Southern weddings are these delicious homemade caramel cakes. Man oh man.

One of the Jewish traditions they incorporated into the wedding was the hora. (LOVE.) One of the best parts of the whole day was watching Clay’s mom, on the far right, who is much sweeter and more down-to-earth version of Paula Deen, get hoisted up on that chair. The look on her face? Priceless.

Huge thanks to Kelly for inviting me along and to Clay and Bryan and their families for hosting one of the best weddings we’ve ever been to!

Oh, Mary Beth and David…. Where do I begin with these two? I met Mary Beth way back when at a bridal show, and when she came to my office for an initial meeting bearing a gift of (turquoise!) eggs from her farm, I just knew it was meant to be. And then when I actually got to see the farm she lives on with David during their engagement session, I was even more smitten!

It makes sense that they chose to get married at the lake house of their friends and neighbors, the Yieldings, out in Sterrett, AL. Mary Beth and David have a deep love for horticulture and living off their land, so the fact that they incorporated flowers picked from their own garden the morning of the wedding, as well as ingredients for the wedding feast that came from their own land and other local farms, is just perfect. They actually met when Mary Beth, who wanted to learn more about the horticulture industry, interviewed for a job with David, who managed a local garden store. Pretty soon it was clear that it was much more than a job interview, and they haven’t been separated since.

I have to say that I’ve been loving these intimate and super personal weddings I’ve been shooting lately. Each one is so special in its own way, and this gorgeous lake side wedding was no different. It also makes me so happy when couples choose to honor and celebrate not only their love for each other, but also their love for their local culture. From the Good People beer served as guests arrived, to the custom Alabama Chanin piece that Mary Beth commissioned, to the hand-painted invitation suite, to the Jim ‘n Nicks barbecue (YUM)… it was definitely all an ode to an Alabama kind of love. Heck, they even chose to share their wedding day with the big Alabama-LSU game. ;) And in return, the always-unpredictable southern weather chose to smile upon them with sunshine and a balmy 70-degree forecast. PERFECTION.

Anyway, on to the photos!

Kelly came to second shoot this wedding with me, and I’m obsessed with the image she captured below. Notice that tiny little bee? Notice how above there’s a tiny little bee buzzing around the flowers on the invitation? Ah, serendipity. :)

I was also in love with MB’s bouquet. What a stunning selection of florals!

Could they be a more gorgeous couple? I mean, really.

As many of you know from Kelly and John’s engagement session and from Kelly’s bridal session, Kelly has a thing for Taylor Swift and all things fairy/woodland/romantic/lantern/tutu-related. I mean, I definitely feel like I had an idea of what to expect going into their wedding day based on those sessions and just getting to know Kelly and John, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the cry fest that occurred up at the front of the aisle when John saw Kelly in her dress for the first time. Their wedding had all the visual elements of a T Swift music video, it’s true…. but there’s nothing pretend or make believe about the love these two have for each other. They are the real deal. Head over heels in love. And from the first mason jar being hung in a tree to the last dance to “Today Was a Fairytale,” Kelly and John’s wedding had all the makings of a sweet Southern romance, and I hope these photos can do it all even a little bit of justice.

It was a gorgeous fall day at the Memphis Botanic Garden, so my lovely second shooter Rylee (some of whose stunning shots you’ll see below) and I had fun wandering around and capturing lots of details before the flurry of activity began. I also want to give a shout out to VM Weddings, who were the awesome videographers we got to work with. They were so helpful, and I can’t wait to see the finished video! :)

It was a total DIY fest…. As a DIY bride myself, I can appreciate all the hard work that went into pulling this off!

Kelly’s handwritten vows…. needless to say it made quite the statement when she whipped this out during the ceremony. ;)

Kelly’s best friend and maid of honor Erika (the one on the right)…. I’ll be shooting her wedding in Knoxville next June. :)

Big thanks to Lynn and Michael Doyle for all your hard work with the beautiful flowers and decor!

In lieu of a typical first look, because Kelly didn’t want John to see her before the ceremony, she had in come into the bridal room blindfolded. I love that you can see the glisten of tears in her eyes here….

…. and her mom’s full-on sobbing here :)

Here it comes…. Wait for it….

Since the ceremony was held right during and after the sun set, it was getting dark crazy fast, so we sped through some quick portraits of the two of them. It’s a good thing it’s easy for them to love on each other for the camera. :) (For photographers: Rylee and I shot most of these at between ISO 2,500-12,000. That’s how dark it was. Yay for the 5D Mark II! :) )

Kelly’s bridesmaid-of-honor Madison schooled everyone in how to whip your hair back and forth a la Willow Smith. :)

This shot that Rylee took pretty much sums up Kelly and John…. and I’m in love with it. :)

Congratulations Kelly and John!

I just returned from Memphis yesterday, where I shot the gorgeous wedding of Kelly and John (who you might remember from their engagement session). And just like that session, and the one I’m getting ready to share with you, the wedding could’ve been straight out of a Taylor Swift music video. :) I’m so happy for these two, and I hope they’re having a BLAST in Disney World right now. Until their wedding photos are ready, I’ll offer up Kelly’s bridals for a little fairy/woodland/princess/TSwift-inspired eye candy.

When I showed up at the Memphis Botanic Garden and entered the bride room, where Kelly had just put on her dress, I literally gasped. She looked absolutely stunning in her Vera Wang, and she told me that she was almost more excited for ME to see it than for John to. Ha. I think she knows my photographer-geek-out tendencies all too well. :) We also had her mom, Carol, and her bridesmaid-of-honor Madison on hand to assist, and all in all, I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

Enjoy! More to come of this lovely lady and her husband.

Remember Holly and Andy’s super fun state fair engagement session? Well, I knew after hanging out with them then that we’d have a blast together at their wedding, and I was NOT disappointed. For one, the bright and happy color combination of red and aqua that Holly chose outshone any clouds that were hanging in the sky, and I don’t think anyone stopped smiling and giggling all day.

They got married at the Rosewood home in Pinson, which is a gorgeous venue. My favorite element? All the random vintage chandeliers hung from the huge stately trees around the property. They really were the perfect touch to Holly and Andy’s modern-meets-traditional outdoor Southern wedding. Big thanks to Bill and Renee, the owners of Rosewood, for all their help throughout the wedding (and even after when we had a bit of a missing equipment mishap– but thanks to Renee and Holly’s mom all was found! whew!). They coordinated everything, from the florals to the cake, so perfectly, and made our job that much easier!

I’ve also gotta give major props to my second shooter Kelly of Spindle Photography for all her support, assistance, and the beautiful images she captured (some of which you’ll see below).  If you’ve been following the blog much this year, you’ve probably noticed how many weddings I’ve gotten to shoot with her this year, so it was fun to turn the tables for the first time!

Enjoy!

Isn’t Holly’s Wtoo dress a show-stopper? I have been LOVING seeing all the different kinds of dresses my brides have chosen this year! I also love that she wore actual ballet flats. Comfy and cute– can’t beat it.

So stunning, Holly!

These next ones of Holly were captured by Kelly in the bride’s room just before the ceremony. I am in love with them.

Andy’s grandpa? AWESOME.

Holly and Andy are big coffee drinkers and love Primavera, which is what is served at Urban Standard, one of their favorite date spots. Always love when local Birmingham products are incorporated into weddings!

And tiramisu cups? YUM.

I don’t think I saw Holly cry the whole day, until she danced with her dad. If I’m being honest, the father daughter dance gets me every time.

Congratulations Holly and Andy! Thank you for giving me the honor of being part of your big day!