{candace + garrett}

Y'all!!  It is eye-candy time in Tennessee!  This is ONE GORGEOUS WEDDING with some beautiful people.  If you know me well, you know that I LOVE working with type-A brides.  They know what they want out of life and love and also out of their wedding.  They plan and plan in advance and then usually, the day of the wedding they are super zen and just ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  This is a perfect example of that.  Every detail was impeccable from her amazing pink dress to perfect vintage hair waves, to the florals and the hand-lettered signs (Candace was a cheerleader and apparently, cheerleaders get lots of practice hand-lettering things).  But most of all, I love how much Garrett seems to admire and appreciate and support her.  They have supported each other for the last few years as they got their PhDs in Physical Therapy and are now getting to work {sorta} together as they start the rest of their lives.  They have learned to be a good team already and it shows. Anyhow... enough of the talking and onto the action!  

Venue: The Standard

Event Planning/Coordination: Honeybee Events

Lighting and Entertainment: Special Notes

Florals: Lisa Foster

Food/Cake: Bradford Catering

Dress: Lazaro

Rentals: All Occasion Party Rentals

{stacey and taylor}

• I'm finally getting around to posting some blogs and wanted to start with this sweet winter wedding from way back in December.  I'm in love with these two and how much fun they have together... I had such a BLAST shooting this wedding!! Carrie Jo of Texture Photographics and Alli Rader of AlliBphotography joined me as second shooters and having their awesome energy and eyes there was so inspiring and fun!  The Standard was a perfect backdrop for this art-filled wedding.  Stacey is a painter and Taylor built the gorgeous wooden backdrops and Stacey painted them in her awesome abstract style.  They also gave original paintings as favors!  LOVE!  Anyhow... on to the good stuff...

{kayla and matt: the wedding}

Ooooooh, yes!  This is a good one, y'all.  SO. MUCH. JOY.  So if you are feeling cold and dreary today (like I am!!), grab a hot beverage and a cozy quilt and take a second to let this wedding warm you right up.  If the joy on your faces doesn't do it, the amazing light we had for shooting certainly will. I adore this couple, who made me laugh, made me cry and made me sooo happy to be a part of their day.  You can't find two more in love or genuine people than these two.  And they aren't too bad lookin' either!  ;) 

{lauren and michael}

Okokok!  So I have to warn you... this is a BIG POST with a LOT of images!  Probably too many for most attention spans... but just bear with me, because this is one magical wedding... it just got better and better.  I did something a little different for this one and I'm starting off with the rehearsal dinner (because it was just too cool to skip!).  We didn't get to do an engagement session because Lauren and Michael live way up in Minnesota, so I "crashed" their rehearsal dinner and stole them away for a few short minutes to get some casual shots of just the two of them.  Super sweet and I think they were grateful for the quiet minutes. ;) But, the wedding itself was the magical part.  Held at the DeBarge Vineyard in northern Georgia, not only was the bride absolutely gorgeous and the ceremony amazing, over-looking the valley and hills below, but we majorly lucked out with the best sunset light I think I've ever shot... EVER.  So cuddle up, stay awhile and tuck into this sweet love story...

Thanks to my second shooter for the day, Matt Brock, who totally rocked it and HUGE thanks to Lauren and Michael, who trusted me to come along on their journey.  :) j

{kayla and michael}

Pretty excited about this one Y'all!!  One of my favorite gals in the WORLD got married out at the beautiful Castleton Farms and was kind enough to share it all with me.  I'm going to do a much more intense post about this one when I get a chance, but just had a share a little sneak peek!  I am pretty much in love with everything about this Carnival-themed bash executed by the uber talented Jennifer Laria.  And to top it off, Kayla was just nominated for the cover of Pink Bride Magazine.  You can vote for her HERE

{rachel & chad}

Holy cow, I love so much about these two.  From their laid-back personalities to Rachel's uber-classic style (and beauty).  I am also pretty much in love with their venue.  They got married at Bluebird Hill and instead of the normal garden area, they chose to have the ceremony up on top of the hill.  Just perfect in every way.  Chad made the awesome, rustic wooden cross and I lovelovelove her flowers by Sassafras.  Enjoy and Happy Tuesday!  

{alli & jase}

I hope you are all sitting down, because what follows is what happens when you let your associate blog her own wedding...  TONS and TONS of photos.  She said she was having a hard time narrowing it down, so I could just weed some out, but honestly, I just couldn't!!  She tells the story perfectly I think, from the sweet, sweet ceremony at Samary Plantation in Nashville to the tons of DIY details to the amazing flowers by Melissa Timm.  I've also got to say a huge thanks to my second for the day... Kayla of Kayla f photography.  It was just like old times getting to have her around for the day.  

Venue:  Samary Plantation - Nashville

Flowers: Melissa Timm Designs

Coordination and Set-up: Wallis Tharp with Revelry Event Creations

China, quilts and white furniture: Something Borrowed Vintage Rentals

Arbor/Arch: Hand made by Alli's dad

{kelley & matt}

If you get simple beauty, and naught else, you get about the best of what God invents.  - Robert Browning    

I absolutely adore this wedding from February that is chock-full of simple beauty.  From her lovely white flowers (by the ever-talented Lisa Foster) down to her sweet sparkly shoes, every last detail was perfect... and they also might just be some of the most lovely people I've ever shot.  Just look for the photo of him hugging her after the first look... you'll see what I mean.  xoxo

{alli & jase}

...and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees, on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. - john lubbock

{adam and megan } :first look:

I CANNOT WAIT until next week when I get to share some of my favorites from my 10 year anniversary contest!!  Until then, this post was inspired by one of the entries.  We are LOVE with these first-look photos.  I thought I'd share Adam and Megan's entry and take it a little further and share the whole first look along with a few of my favorites from their pre-wedding photos.  My clients know I'm a BIG believer in a first look making the wedding day SO much more relaxed and fun and I think this is just perfect to show how romantic and sweet having a few stolen moments at the beginning of the day can be. And, besides, aren't the best things always shared and the best days spent together?

Here's what Adam wrote and the photo they submitted: 

 Much like you, we are obsessed with the our first look photos.  We particularly love this picture because it describes us perfectly.  You can tell we are completely absorbed in the moment and each other, and nothing else seemed to matter.  Actually, in this picture we were praying and we think its a good reminder to us that, much like God created that beautiful scenery, he also created this marriage. Even being caught up in a important day like that, where you are worried about details and everything going smoothy, this picture reminds us we are each others first priority on this earth and we don't ever want to forget to stop and pray.

And here is the rest of the first look.  

{kayla & michael}

Goodness, gracious... I can't think of anything more fun than a day at the fair.  I'm going back a couple of months for this one, but I just couldn't let another week go by without sharing it.  I've known Kayla for YEARS!  I mean, we go way, way back.  So, naturally, I was SO EXCITED when she asked me to shoot her wedding next year and to do her engagement photos this fall.  First thing you should know... Kayla has amazing style.  The girl doesn't leave the house without perfect hair, flawless makeup and adorable clothes.  Which makes her so much fun to shoot (well, that and her slightly dramatic nature).  ;)  Second, when they asked me if I'd mind shooting at the fair, I jumped up and down!  I love shooting the fair... with all of its colors, smells, quirky people and tasty food, it's sensory overload!  And I can't help it... i just LOVE photos with other people in them.  Just makes a shoot feel so romantic, like, who cares about all these other folks?... I choose YOU... over and over and over, I'd still choose YOU.   xoxo

#whatwe'reworkingonwednesday

Another sweet #whatwe'reworkingonwednesday for you... this one featuring Trevor and Lindsay and the awesomeness of downtown K-town.  Lindsay is absolutely LOVELY and I so enjoyed shooting them.  They gave me tons of time for 'couple' shots and that just makes it so much fun!!

These next four shots are from Alli.  I'm honestly OBSESSED with the light in them.  PS I think this is my absolute FAVORITE church to shoot in Knoxville.  Its Holy Ghost Catholic Church over off of Central Ave in Happy Holler.

Love these... Lindsay used to live in that building behind them.  

And I HAD to finish this one off with some of their hilarious and oh, so fun dancin' shots from the reception at the Crowne Plaza...

Thanks y'all!!  Soooo fun!

Have you ever...

caught someone talking about you behind your back?  I just did.  And it made me cry.  See what I'm talking about here.  Happy Thursday y'all!!  ;)

#whatwe'reworkinonwednesday

Welcome to another installment of #whatwe'reworkinonwednesday!  I got to go shoot the elopement of Justin and Belinda yesterday and I just had to come home and edit a couple... cause I LOVE elopements.  Just LOVE them!  And I love a couple who says, just shoot naturally.  We just want you to tell the story.  So excited to share these!

waiting...

the ceremony...

Thanks you two for letting me be there with you! Such a sweet, fun way to spend a Tuesday morning.

Jessie & Craig {got hitched}

In honor of the blazin' hot weather... I thought I'd take this opportunity to cool down a bit with a couple of sweet winter weddings.  In all honesty, I waited and waited this "winter" for a chance to blog them while it was still cool outside, but it the crazy weather just jumped straight into spring in oh, February.  So... anyhow, Meet Jessie and Craig.  I think this was the only cold day we had all season long... but everything about their wedding was perfect... from her INSANELY beautiful dress to the flowers by the fabulous Sam Franklin.  And I love, love, love Maple Grove as always.  

jessa & jim {headed to the chapel}

I'm pretty darn excited about this post because it involves an old friend.  Jessa and I went to high school together back in the "day."  I was stoked to get to shoot their engagement party at the Sunsphere and they wanted a few quintessential Knoxville photos since they met here, but neither live here anymore.

nancy & matt {hitched}

i LOVE this gal.  A few of you reading this probably know her too.  She's my colleague and (more importantly) friend Nancy from Hunter Valley and I was so honored when she asked me to shoot her wedding last fall.  

They had a way cool wedding that was both laid back (only about 15 guests at the actual ceremony) and a BLAST (family and friends showed up for the rockin' afterparty!!

The day started off with a tea for all of the ladies in the group...

So, not only did I have an amazing time shooting this wedding, but so did Kayla.  Her dream in life came true when I said... Ok... you have all the time you want to just walk around and get some great property/detail shots.  She came back with these beauties (including the stunning pics of the horses).

Nancy's design company Swank did all of the design... including these rad tables as well as her bouquet...

sarah & stephen {sneak peek}

This is just a super-duper quick little blog to share a few pics from my oh-so AMAZING New Year's Eve wedding!!  Holy-moly, i can not explain how much fun this wedding was.  I'll make sure you guys get a FULL big ole blog story after all the pics are done, but until then... enjoy this little teaser...

Wishin' on bones...

I cannot explain in words how lucky I feel to have gotten to shoot this wedding.  Hold on to your seats and grab a big ole cup o' joe, because I think this is the longest blog post I've ever done!  How do you narrow it down when everywhere you aim your camera is another amazing detail - puppies, horses, a gorgeous farm, crazy-beautiful flowers- another funny incident or another super sweet moment??  Well, you just don't.  I simply love this family so much and Sara and Jake are two of the most gracious people I've ever worked with.  They deserved the perfect day, and I have to say, it was pretty darn close to that!  So sit back, relax and enjoy the story of Sara and Jake...

I'm starting out with some pics from the rehearsal dinner... notice the finery they are sporting!  Jake and Sara asked folks to wear something they'd NEVER consider wearing to a wedding.  There was everything from PJs to Prom dresses...  And their sweet families toasted them until the whole room was just one big blubbery mess.  LOVE.

These next are a mix of the rehearsal and the morning of the wedding.  Notice the wishbone flag... more about that later...

oh, Lordy.  Those of you who really know me know I CANNOT resist doggies... much less puppies.  Sara's sis had just gotten this sweet baby and he showed up in {probably WAY TOO MANY} of the wedding pics...

 There is just something about being able to get ready at home.  Sara and her sis getting ready in their own bathroom with family wedding pics just outside the door.  Gotta love that.

Ok... gonna jump back a little here... these next few are from a bridal session we did at the farm a few weeks before the wedding...

And back to wedding day.  The boutonniere (and rest of the flowers) are by Samantha at Mulberries.  Girlfriend ROCKED it!!!!   Sara wanted cotton, so Hope (from Simply Southern Catering) brought her bags of it back from some family in Georgia (or was it Alabama - sorry if I messed that up Hope). 

 Sweet, sweet, sweet first look.  Holy moly, the way Jake looks at her is enough to send anyone into heart palpitations. 

ok... so, I think it may be time to share the story of the wishbone.  Back years and years ago, when Sara and Jake were not even really old enough to think about things like serious dating, they had a bit of a crush on one another.  Working at a camp, they were on the dishline together (how romantic, right?!?) and a wishbone showed up on a plate.  They each grabbed a side (see photo below for the reenactment) and Jake ended up with the bigger side.  It wasn't until years later that Jake got his wish of a date with Sara.  Little did he know, Sara had wished for the same. 

The reenactment was true to the original outcome...  hehehe.

Oh, my.  gotta love a bride who doesn't take herself too seriously.  ;)

Seriously, are these not the coolest flowers ever?  OMG.  I died a little.

Ok... so,  the ceremony.  I'm gonna put my photographer's high-hat for just a second...  I LOVE a ceremony where I have the ability to move around...  With the barn behind them, I could hide in the shadows while getting really unique shots and the ability to move around on both sides let me get soooo many great shots!! It doesn't hurt that they were so precious and full of love and emotion and even some laughter. 

Samantha did all of these too...  gah.  Amazing.  And the ladies at Enchanted Details worked soooo hard to make it all come together. 

I've never seen a cooler cake (or cakes). By sugarbuzz Bakers.

The food (Simply Southern catering) was delicious!!!  She made homemade pies with fresh peaches...  insanely delicious!  I'm pestering Hope to make me one!!!

Some of my favorite reception shots...  they had a Square Dance caller!  What a great idea for getting everyone involved.  Loved it.

And....  the "get-a-way..." which consisted of being pushed down the hill by the crowd when the car wouldn't start in the uber-cold weather.  Gah, what a send off!!  it was perfect!

Sara and Jake (and your families)  thank you, thank you, thank you for having me...  its weddings like yours that helps me keep huge amounts of passion for my job season after season. xoxo  -j

{Anna & Garrett Sneak Peek}

I promised Anna and Garrett and little sneak peek before I left town on Wednesday, but just like EVERY other time I go out of town, I didn't manage to quite finish up everything.  So, here I am from the great state of New York... I brought a harddrive with me just so I could upload a few of my favorite pics for them!  I'm going to expand this post to the full wedding blog in the next week or so, but until then, here are just a couple of my favorites. {Don't worry Anna, no crying pics yet... those'll come with the next round - hehe}