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Wedding at TPC Sugarloaf Duluth, GA | Isabelle & Charlie

January 31, 2020 0 Weddings
bride and groom portrait under large oak tree

Where it all started…

A while back we introduced Isabelle & Charlie via their wonderful engagement session at Lake Lanier. You might recall their PineIsle Pointe shoot included a labradoodle, a romp through the high grass fields and shoreline stroll that ultimately ended up in the water. Now we get a chance to share the other side of their journey as a couple. The wedding!

It was a perfect October day in Georgia. Not too cold, but just right for tying the knot. Isabelle & Charlie had just recently purchased a home at a country club. But not just any country club; it was TPC Sugarloaf!

Golfers in the South will immediately recognize that name. It has long been a prized member of the PGA TOUR’s acclaimed TPC Network of premier clubs. Designed by the Australian professional golfer Greg Norman and situated on 1,200 acres of Georgia’s countryside; it’s first class all the way. So a portion of their lovely 60,000 square-foot clubhouse would serve as the setting for both their ceremony and reception.

The day begins

As usual our storytelling style of coverage begins with the getting ready portion of the day. Isabelle chose to get ready at the clubhouse while Charlie hosted his buddies at their house. Since they had just recently purchased the house, they didn’t have much furniture. However one key piece was their gorgeous grand piano in the center of the house against a huge wall of windows. Charlie actually had a little extra time on his hands to play a little bit. Meanwhile Isabelle was going through her hair and makeup session as she was surrounded by loved ones. Once they were ready we moved right in to the couple’s first look in the center courtyard; next to Charlie’s favorite red Japanese maple where he stood patiently as she made her approach. After a few minutes of privacy we jumped into their bridal portraits, which included shots by the garden and a gigantic oak tree.

mom watching bride getting ready
bride having makeup applied
bride looking at herself in mirror stepdaughter looking
wedding gown hanging window
bride holding wedding dress
sister helping bride into dress earings
wedding rings on ribbon
groom and groomsmen get ready
groom and groomsmen jacket on
groom playing piano at home groomsmen portrait

First look in the courtyard

couple first look
couple walking by windows
intimate kiss bride and groom
romantic bridal portrait
bridal portrait under oak tree

Let the ceremony begin

The spot for the wedding was actually situated just outside the clubhouse on a perfectly manicured lawn with a trellis that overlooked the lake and the golf course. The ceremony was a simple but relaxed affair with a nice soft breeze comforting the couple as they exchanged their vows. After a few moments to greet family and friends we took them right back out for some additional portraits with the tall feather grass gardens by the lake.

groom watching bride down aisle
bride and father walking down aisle ceremony
wedding ceremony
wide view ceremony outdoor
ring bearer bringing ring to groom
ring exchange during ceremony

A few more bridal portraits during cocktail hour

wedding portraits tall grass
couple portraits walking through grass
wide shot on golf course near lake
bride and groom walking towards clubhouse
reception detail shots at tpc sugarloaf

It’s time to get this party started

Finally the reception arrived. It was brisk and to the point. Introductions, the first dance and their cake cutting. All designed get to the most important portion of the evening, dinner and some fun on the dance floor. The night concluded with a fantastic sparkler exit.

couple enter reception father toast
family toasting during reception
wedding couple dancing

Let them eat cake

cutting cake during reception
bride feeds groom cake

Time for farewell to our lovely couple

wedding exit sparklers

All throughout this journey we had a great time getting to know Isabelle and Charlie and we are truly grateful to have been chosen to document this time in their life. We can’t wait to see how they continue to grow as a family in the future!

The team that made this wedding the fabulous event it was:

Venue coordination by: Elizabeth Smith — TPC Sugarloaf

Awesome catering and venue: TPC Sugarloaf

Amazing hair artist: Veronica Sitterding

Fabulous make up artist: Veronica Sitterding

Wedding gown custom design by: Calla Bridal

Brides maids gowns: BHLDN, Tinsley Dress in rose Quartz

The dapper groom and groomsmen tuxedos: Guffey’s of Atlanta

Flower and furnishing arrangements by: Holland Daze

Decor rentals: sourced through Miss Milly’s

Dinnerware rentals: We Rent Atlanta

Cake so good you have to have a second piece by: Confection Perfection

Making it all legal: Dr. Lee Mabry, Sensational Ceremonies

Videographer: Petit Four Films

Rocking the hits with: SE Events Spectrum

Atlanta, GA — Ponce City Market/Beltline Engagement | Michael & Grace

May 31, 2018 0 Engagements
couple back to back stain glass window

Weather in Georgia for an engagement session can be…

By Georgia standards Atlanta had a very strong winter. Temperatures stayed unusually low throughout the spring and rain seemed like a constant fixture almost every other day. Then out of nowhere we get a day in the low 90’s with scorching sun for Michael and Grace’s Ponce City Market and Beltline engagement session. That’s okay since this couple has all the warmth to match the setting.

A chance meeting

Grace and Michael met through their church. She had recently moved to Atlanta and really didn’t know many people. Thankfully her sister-in-law arranged a big lunch with many friends and invited her to come along. That’s where Michael came into the picture. They bonded immediately over the terrible Chinese buffet food they just had and how much they loved talking trash about each other’s favorite NBA teams. The rest is history as they say.

The details on their proposal

So, when the time came, how did he propose?

“He proposed at the Garden Lights, Holiday Lights show at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in front of the lighted trees that changed colors according to the musical arrangement. It was magical and I was shocked (had no idea it was coming)!”

We met inside Ponce City Market which has quickly become a favorite spot for most Atlantans. Located on the Old Fourth Ward, this old Sears, Roebuck & Company building was renovated into a contemporary marketplace with a focus on food that reflects many of the flavors of this great city. The Atlanta Beltline connects right up to the market providing quick access to 45 great neighborhoods such as Virginia-Highland, Midtown and Inman park. The Beltline itself is a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, parks and streetcars – all based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta. It runs right through Piedmont Park (Atlanta’s version of Central Park) and it is packed with murals and sculptures from an eclectic mix of artists; becoming the largest temporary outdoor art exhibition in the south. As you can imagine, a location like this feels like a gold mine for both art-loving couples and photographers.

Our session began inside the market so we could take advantage of the backlit colored windows located throughout the Central Food Hall. Not to mention the air conditioning was cranking! A perfect way to kick off an engagement session with a couple so they could ease into the process. This couple truly has a blend of modern style with timeless elegance. Michael was rocking a navy bespoke suit with Allen Edmonds wingtips. His suit was a surprise gift from his future father-in-law during their most recent trip to Taiwan. Grace was glowing in a bohemian hunter green dress with Clarks Spiced Ava sandals. Both providing great contrast against all the backgrounds we used across the afternoon. From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture. The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla. Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture. Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on. Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.

Before we knew it almost 3 hours had gone by since we first began the shoot. A testament to how much fun we had with this couple and their incredible disposition. They were willing to go along with every crazy request we threw their way to obtain the most artistic imagery we could create on the spot. Battling large crowds, long walking distances and blistering temperatures in a suit and dress, no less. Thanks Michael and Grace for allowing us to share our love of artistic photography with you. We can’t wait to continue our adventure with you this summer at your wedding, where we look to document so many friends and family coming in from various destinations from around the world to share in your special day!

couple laughing stain glass window

couple face each other laughing black and white

bashful couple in corner hugging

intimate couple close up lips black and white

shy couple against corner facing each other

editorial pose couple side by side

editorial pose girl giddy over boy black and white

From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture.

editorial paris at ponce couple walking hold hands

couple editorial paris at ponce hold hands

romantic kiss outside hug

The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla.

whimsical kiss with metal gorilla watching

couple walking on beltline bridge sunglasses

Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture.

couple sitting back to back graffiti pink pig

couple hug from below metal posts

couple kiss from behind metal posts artwork

Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on.

whimsical couple sitting side by side on bench

couple sitting on bench flirting

Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.

creative mirror reflection couple and cyclist peace sign

creative mirror reflection couple bubble art mural beltline

couple bubble mural beltline

couple face each other along bubble art mural laughing

couple facing fish mural beltline with cyclist

editorial portrait front of fish mural beltline

ring shot black and white atlanta beltline

couple embrace back to chest fish mural beltline

playful couple tickling fish mural atlanta beltline

romantic couple front of ponce city market sign

fun couple hug on parking lot stairs

Downtown Roswell, GA Engagement | Michael & Elisabeth

May 29, 2018 0 Engagements
couple hugging front of flowering tree

Small town…or small world

It’s a small town or better yet, a small world. I first met Michael through where we usually meet our couples, through our online contact form. It so happens we have a mutual friend in common and I hadn’t seen our friend in a while. It’s so refreshing to have connections between people. There’s not enough of that in the world right now. In any case, we set up a time to invite them over and talk about their upcoming wedding. Elisabeth came first after work that evening and asked how her drive was. I was surprised to hear that it wasn’t so bad. She actually works right outside our community at a local dentist office. Talk about small world. A few minutes later, and Michael arrived. Well let me tell you, she lit up as soon as he entered. It was beautiful to see these two together. They are so kind and genuine. We talked and talked about their plans and the venue and how they envisioned the beginning of their new lives together. So much talk that we lost track of the time. We’re so happy to have been a part of your day!

So Michael and Elisabeth decided they wanted to have their engagement session in downtown Roswell. It fit just right for them since they’re familiar with the area and their wedding was being held at Primrose Cottage.

They just light each other up. Adorable.

We walked around a bit and ended up at Primrose Cottage and decided to take some photos here. Although it was a cold and cloudy day, they seem to bring out the warmth within each other.

Continuing our walk through downtown Roswell, we took a break and stopped by Provisions.

Can’t help but get excited with a solid blank wall. And they were having a ball being goofy with each other.

We’re so happy for you. Your wedding did not disappoint. Want to see their engagement slideshow. Well, wait no more.

Lindale Mill, GA Engagement | Michael & Tyler

April 15, 2018 0 Engagements

A different type of engagement session

From the very start Michael and Tyler always wanted something different for their engagement session. While they appreciate images of couples on a beautiful countryside or next to a glimmering lake, they were looking for something that could offer a unique visual experience. Something with rustic character, able to offer a wide array of scenes with varying textures and uncommon colors. In the past the Goat Farm Arts Center always fit the bill for similar requests with other couples. However this time around that venue was not available and we wanted to try something new all together. So where to go? Thankfully we came across Joe Silva and the Lindale Mill!

Is it a Mill or is it a movie studio?

Dating back to 1896 this structure served as a textile mill providing hundreds of jobs for Floyd County for roughly 105 years until the mill closed in 2001. During the next 9 years these buildings slowly began falling apart until a family from Seattle moved across the country to give this special place a brand new start in 2010. Currently the Lindale Mill is quite relevant again but with a brand new purpose. Providing spacious industrial locations, the mill is now used for wedding celebrations, stylized photography shoots and film projects including music videos and motion pictures. Most recently the Mill was used to film several scenes of the The Divergent Series: Allegiant

In particular the Mill provides cavernous rooms filled with rusted scaffolding and machinery, endless walls of original brick, a creek that can double as a moat and over 100 years of paint textures in vibrant shades yellow and teal.

This was the perfect spot to give Michael and Tyler the look they were envisioning. Talk about searching for that industrial vibe and hitting a home run!

Just as wonderful as the location, this couple was an absolute thrill to work with. Michael is smooth and easy going and Tyler is energetic and adventurous. Together they share a love for volunteer work and good food. They also share a love for cars. How can you not like a couple that love to race drift cars!

In any case our photo session was filled with so many options it almost went beyond 3 hours. Every time we turned a corner at the mill a new spot would appear with at least 5 different shot options. We are so thankful for the opportunity of working with Michael and Tyler on this engagement session. We also look forward to returning to the Lindale Mill with another couple sometime in the near future, as we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible at this fantastic location.

 

Need to see more? Take a look at their video slideshow.

Piedmont Park, Atlanta GA Engagement | Jef & Sara Lynn

April 3, 2018 0 Engagements

A day at the park…Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Engagement sessions aren’t always easy for some couples. Some folks are camera shy or simply don’t enjoy being the center of attention in public. Thankfully just about all those people open up half way through a session when they see how much fun one of those shoots can be. Then you have couples with absolutely no inhibitions about letting loose in front of the lens. They could have a thousand eyes staring at them and they wouldn’t have a care in the world. Such was the case on a March afternoon when we caught up with Jef and Sara Lynn. This lovely pair are professional film, television, stage and voiceover actors. Jef has multiple 2018 TV roles in production and has worked on projects for Lifetime, OWN, Discovery, Audible and others. He is perhaps best known for his voiceover work with Scientific American and the New York Times. Sara also has various TV and film appearances including projects with NBC/Universal, HGTV, Lifetime. She is also a graduate of the distinguished Dell’Arte International. Currently they both run the Springer Film Institute based in Georgia. So, it’s easy to see how a couple of actors could make this shoot so fantastic. From the very start they were relaxed and up for any adventure as we navigated through Piedmont Park. Honestly though, the success of this photo session was truly based on their sincere love for each other. That was the star of the show. Mix in their wit and unique sense of humor and it was all we could do to keep up with them. This could have easily gone on for hours but unfortunately, we ran out of time. Thanks again Jef and Sara on such a wonderful afternoon!

We had so much fun with Jef and Sara Lynn at the park. They forgot we were even there.

A little wind action on the dock giving us an unexpected Marilyn Monroe moment from the classic movie The Seven Year Itch.

Roswell GA Engagement | Marc + Meghan

May 26, 2017 0 Engagements

They met…

Marc and Meghan first met in a Marketing class at Georgia College. Meghan was sitting in the front row, and when Marc walked into the classroom, he proceeded to sit down right next to her. Marc then introduced himself with a wide grin and let her know he doesn’t normally like to sit in the front row. That class sparked their friendship that grew into something very special.

After about a year of very close friendship, Marc had been wanting to take Meghan to dinner, so he asked her on a few dates. Not wanting to lose the close friendship they loved so much, she politely declined. However, that didn’t stop Marc from asking her out again. In May of 2013, Marc asked again and she finally agreed to dinner. Marc took her to Piccolo’s Italian Steakhouse. After that date Meghan was just kicking herself for not saying yes sooner, since she realized then how much she cared for Marc and was really falling in LOVE with him. Many more dates followed, and have been more madly in love with each other ever since!Roswell Mill GA Sweet Kiss

Aren’t they the cutest?

Marc and Meghan are just naturals in front of the camera.

The Proposal

After almost three years of dating Marc knew he found the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It hit him while he was golfing with some friends after they jokingly asked when he was going to “pop the question.” He laughed it off, but then thought, he was really going to marry this girl! A couple weeks later he went to pick out the perfect wedding ring. Meghan loves surprises, so he had to pick out the perfect ring without any help so she wouldn’t find out.

For the next few weeks Marc planned the perfect rooftop proposal at a downtown club in Atlanta. Everything was on schedule until the day of the proposal…Marc received a call at 10 am that he could no longer use their roof.

On April 8th, 2016 while Meghan thought he was at the gym, Marc was frantically driving all over Atlanta to find the perfect spot. Around 1 pm that day Marc remembered another Midtown club with a rooftop terrace! He called the manager and told him his situation and they agreed to keep the club open for an extra hour for Marc to propose. Upon arrival, there was only a bartender, manager and one or two other people at the club. Meghan thought it was strange how empty it was for a Friday, but the bartender played it off casually and told her their table was being prepared in the other room. They were asked to wait out on the terrace. It was an extremely windy day and Meghan had asked if they should go inside to wait. Marc convinced her to stay outside and they got some champagne.

A few minutes later the manager came out and set a cake on their table while they were enjoying the beautiful Atlanta skyline. Meghan tried to let him know that they didn’t order any food, and suddenly looked down and saw “Will you Marry Me”…by the time she turned back around and Marc was on one knee asking her to marry him.

 

I know you want to see more. Click below for a video slideshow from their Roswell Mill engagement session.

We are so excited to see you two again in a few months along with your closest family and friends as you dedicate your lives to each other. Congratulations!

 

Stone Mountain Park, GA Engagement | Eddy and Diandra

October 15, 2016 0 Engagements

We love when our previous couples refer us to their friends. Eddy was a best man at Alex and Yaqui’s wedding we photographed back in 2015. When it was time for him to take the leap into marriage he remembered us and how great we were with his best friend that he had to quickly find out if we were available. We’re so happy to hear that. We want every one of our couples to feel like we are friends and always have their best interest in mind. Thank you Eddy and Diandra for trusting us. Can’t wait for your wedding in April. In the meantime, enjoy their engagement session taking place at Stone Mountain Park.peeking through leaves at couple in stone mountain peeking through leaves at hand at stone mountain park piggy back at stone mountain park

Aren’t they just adorable? They loved playing with each other. No complaints here. walking side by side at stone mountain park couple looking out onto lake at stone mountain park shot under bridge in stone mountain park

They look adorable and felt so comfortable with each other.couple under covered bridge in stone mountain park couple beside covered bridge in stone mountain park

A lovely end to a beautiful fall afternoon at Stone Mountain.couple together near lake at stone mountain park

Check out our video slideshow from this session.

Atlanta, GA Engagement | Wesley and Chelsea

July 27, 2016 0 Engagements

Chelsea and Wesley are so adorable together. They met back in 2012 on Chelsea’s first day working at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. The two have been inseparable since. Take a look at their engagement session that took place at the historic Old Fourth Ward district of Atlanta over the summer.studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-1 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-2 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-3 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-4A local cat came by to check up on things during the session. How adorable and so very friendly.studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-5 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-6 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-7 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-8 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-9 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-10 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-11 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-12 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-13 studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-14studioplex-atlanta-engagement-session-wesley-chelsea-viridian-images-photgraphy-15

Take a look at more from their session.

Alpharetta, GA Wedding | Ryan and Tara

July 22, 2016 0 Weddings

Ryan met Tara when she was a sophomore in college and he was a freshman. Tara let a Bible study for freshman at a campus ministry and Ryan came. He was quiet and seemingly stanoffish, but everyone was a little fascinated by his intelligence and quiet nature. At first Tara was annoyed that he didn’t talk more, but thought he was interesting and wanted to be his friend. Over the next three years, they became friends and spent time together in groups since they were both dating other people at the time. After they started dating and soon realized and admitted  that they would’ve been interested in each other had they known the other was interested in them.

Ryan proposed after 10 months of dating. It happened one weekend in August when Tara went to visit him in his hometown. He told her his parents had planned to take her out to dinner. They arrived early and stopped at the town square. He walked her to the gazebo, and there was a note with her name on it. By the time she finished reading it, he was on one knee. He surprised her by inviting her parents to dinner that night and they all celebrated together.metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-1 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-2

Tara wore a beautiful ballgown from Atlanta Bridal Couture.metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-3 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-4 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-5 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-6 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-7 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-8 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-9 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-10 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-11 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-14

Ryan and Tara are amazing, inside and out. The flowers were gorgeous too. Flowers from Us. metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-18 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-19 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-20

The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta was an amazing venue to host Ryan and Tara’s wedding reception. The cake by Cakes by Darcy was just as delicious.metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-21 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-22 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-23

The Gentlemen of Swing had the crowd up on their feet the entire night.metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-24 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-25 metropolitan-club-alpharetta-ga-wedding-photo-26

Wedding Coordinator: Emily Crawford / emily@emilycrawford.com
Ceremony/Reception Location: Alpharetta First United Methodist Church / The Metropolitan Club
Hair/Make up: Aryana and Leslie – Borelli’s Salon
Bride’s Dress: Atlanta Bridal Couture
Bridesmaid Dress: weddingtonway.com
Groom and Groomsmen attire: Jos A Banks
Florist: Flowers from Us
Cake Artist: Cakes by Darcy
Band: Gentlemen of Swing

Wanting more? Take a look at the video slideshow here.

Bulloch Springs Manor, GA Wedding | Alex and Mattie

June 7, 2016 0 Weddings

We are so very fortunate to work with amazing couples and Alex and Mattie are definitely one of the most easy-going, fun-loving couples around. We decided to mix things up a bit for our blog and interview them to help future couples as they plan their wedding day. To garner a different perspective, our groom Alex offered a lot of insight for this blog post.

 

In the beginning…

How did you two meet?

As Jehovah’s Witness’s, we are very involved in our ministry. I had started visiting a sign language congregation to start learning sign language. I officially joined after visiting for 7 months. At that point, Madeline [Mattie] had been serving in Nicaragua where the need for sign language speakers was greater. She returned and shortly after attended the 2016 International Convention In Zimbabwe. It was after she came back that we went out in the ministry for the first time, and we ended up sitting together at Chipotle come lunch time. We didn’t really talk much, I think she was having a rough day, and I had just joined sign language, so I was trying to make friends, but it seemed as though she and I probably weren’t going to be friends at all. Anyways, later in the day she had gotten her car stuck on a curb. She called one of her friends for help, and it turns out I happened to be with a group of people that showed up to help. I helped her dad get the car off the curb, and I guess I’m really fortunate that I happened to be there, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have become such great friends.

How did he pop the question?

I had invited Mattie to a “movie party”. I left most of the details out, but I told her we needed to dress up fancy as it was meant to be a party from the 60’s where you dressed up fancy to go watch a  “broadway show”. I had rented out a room in the local community center. I called her last minute and told her my parents had car trouble and if she could please meet us there. My brother led her into the room and we played the proposal video I had made for her. After the video finished, I entered the room and told her some private romantic words that I don’t fully remember, and then I walked her out to a fountain where a group of our closest friends were waiting with roses. It was there that I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me in Spanish, English, and Sign Language. Afterwards, we went back to the room to have dinner that had been prepared.

 

The Wedding

What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding?
Bride: Saying “I DO” to my best friend and dancing my first song.
Groom: Dancing with my wife, and carrying her out to the limo.

How long have you been together?
We knew each other for 7 months, we dated for 7 months, engaged for 7 months and were married on April 17, 2016.

How would you describe your overall wedding experience?
It was unforgettable! We wanted time to stand still so we could enjoy it longer. For the most part, everyone was fantastic, and it was definitely our night, it was like we were the Prince & Princess for the night!

 

Any Advice?

What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding?
Start  planning immediately after he pops the question! And ultimately, don’t stress, have fun with it! Most people stress about everything being perfect, but it’s when things don’t go exactly as planned that some of the best moments happen. 


What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple?

Research a few poses and try to learn where they placed their hands and how they positioned their bodies. That will help posed and unposed pictures have better composition. Also pick only a small handful of pictures you really, really want. If you try and cram too many, you wont get them all. It’s better to have a few amazing pictures, than a ton of okay shots.

 

The Dress, where did you get it?

Tell me about your dress. Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one?
It was from Adore Bridal Boutique, a fitted style with lace flowers that were hand sewn in. There was no real science behind picking it, instinct just led me to it, and just like I knew my husband was the one, I knew that dress was “the one” the  moment I laid eyes on it.


How was your experience taking photos/working with me on your wedding day?

You both were very easy to work with. You managed to keep a good eye on the schedule, and managed to get all, the photos that we requested. Most importantly of all, you oriented us into making the pictures amazing. That was the best part of the photo experience, you were very interactive and that helped us get everything else that we wanted done at the wedding.

 

First Look?

Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell me why or why not!
Nope. Alex wanted to be surprised, because it adds anticipation, and it did, when Alex saw his future wife Mattie walk down the aisle, he almost nearly fell over.
Mattie wasn’t to concerned about being seen or not, but she preferred to follow tradition. It made it harder to take pictures, but it also made both of us really want to see each other.

 

How About Wedding Photography?


Any tips on how to prepare for the wedding photos?
Start early, prepare the family and all those involved so that they know what pictures will be taken, and when. Make sure they know this before the wedding and not minutes before it’s about to start. Also, make sure they have the props they are going to need! That’s really important. If the photographers give you tips on how to stand and the words they will use to pose you, make sure the bridal party and family know them. It will make things so much smoother.


Any tips that you have about preparing your wedding party for the photos? What did you tell them, how did you get them to cooperate, what did you do or what would you have done differently?

Make sure they know how they will be paired in the bridal party photos. That seemed to be the hardest part, getting the crowds to get in the correct groups. As for what we did to prepare them was simply giving them a typed up timeline of how everything would take place. We didn’t tell them what pictures would be taken, but our photographer did a fantastic job putting the couples together! Its vital that they know which pictures they are needed in, otherwise they will wander off, making the pictures take longer.


Any tips on what to bring?

For the girls, back up hair supplies is essential. Also, bring snacks! The bridal party should eat right before the wedding because they will not be eating for a while! A little alcohol doesn’t hurt either, just make sure not to over do it.

 

Vendor Love


We love to hear about vendors you love. List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site or Facebook page and how your experience was!

Everything was all inclusive, we really everything that Bullock Springs Manor did for us. They practically catered to every single one of our desires. Bullock Springs catered the event, provided all the decorations and cleanup, as well as the alcohol. They were really easy to work with, and they allowed us to include other things we wanted without charging more, making it an amazing experience.

bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-1 Bulloch Springs has a beautiful Bridal Suite ready for the bride and her lovely ladies.bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-2 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-3 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-4-1 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-4-2 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-6 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-9 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-10-1 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-10 It’s time for Alex to get ready to marry his bride.bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-12 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-13 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-14 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-15 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-18 The groomsmen were so much fun, especially the one on the right. You can tell right?bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-20 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-21 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-22 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-23 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-24 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-26 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-27 Three generation of country. Here we have grandpa, bride and dad strutting their cowboy boots for the wedding.bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-28 The bouquets were so beautiful. Renee Saar did an amazing job with the “country girl” theme Mattie wanted for her wedding.bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-29 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-30 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-31 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-32 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-33 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-35 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-36 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-37 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-38 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-40 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-41 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-42 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-43 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-44 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-46 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-47 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-49 bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-50 We’re so glad Alex and Mattie had a few extra minutes before running off to create the shot below. This was actually the first shot and we nailed it.bullock-springs-dallas-ga-wedding-52

Check out the video slideshow to see more from Alex and Mattie’s wedding.

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