Seaside Romance: Editorial | The Cottages on Charleston Harbor

During my recent travels, I had the utmost pleasure of photographing this seaside editorial on Charleston's charming harbor. Soft hues, mixed textures, and the most romantic florals--I couldn't have been more enamored with the detail. And I'd just love to talk about this TO-DIE Carol Hannah gown, but I'm pretty sure it speaks volumes all on its own.

I may have gotten carried away photographing the natural details along the beach while shooting, but gah, I just couldn't resist. All of the natural elements that pieced so perfectly with the planned elements of this shoot just had my little heart jumping for joy.

Location: The Cottages on Charleston Harbor | Bride’s Gown: Carol Hannah | Groom’s Attire: Louis Purple | Florals: Gathering Events | Hair & Makeup: Wedding Hair by Charlotte

Beth + Jacob

Something I've noticed more recently with my brides and grooms is the unwavering level of support they have surrounding them on their day. This isn't to say that some I've photographed have not, just that lately, this particular thing has set a certain tone for the weddings we've been photographing. Beth and Jacob's large wedding party was just that--full of life and love for the two of them. In fact, the entire wedding party kind of seemed like one big family. What can you say? That's kind of how we do it here in the South...

Classic New Orleans, simple and clean details, and a little bling were some of my favorite parts of Beth and Jacob's day. Everything was in the French Quarter and had such a homey New Orleans feel. To make it a little sweeter, the staff at Riverview Room were just phenomenal, to us as well as the guests.

Here are a few of the vendors and locations that helped make Beth's vision come to life...

Getting Ready Location: Westin

Ceremony: St. Mary's Catholic Church

Reception: Riverview Room

Florist: Beth's Flowers

Hair/Makeup: Traci Woodard Salon

Video: Carriage Films

Photography: Kali Norton

We had a large chance for rain that day, but graciously it held off and we were able to do all of the photos outside like we had originally planned. The skies were perfect, the light was perfect, and most importantly, Beth was perfect.

Despite the head, Jacob was such a trooper in his many layers of stylish formal attire as he waited to hear his bride's voice behind him.

Beth and Jacob allowed me full discretion when it came to the creative nature of their photos, which really allowed us to utilize our photo time in the most productive way possible to create a curated collection. Additionally, Preston was unable to shoot this wedding with me due to military obligations, so I had the absolute PLEASURE of my ever-creative photog friend, Desiree shoot with me. It was a nice change of pace and her artistic capacity just blows my mind and speaks volumes to my soul. We worked, chatted, and bounced creative ideas off of each other all day long.

St. Mary's is just breathtaking... Riverview Room was such a perfect location for a truly New Orleans wedding. The views of the city from the balcony were perfection, especially for out of town guests. From the Mississippi River to the rooftops overlooking the Cathedral, it was all in viewing distance.

Beth and Jacob, thank you for the pleasure of allowing us to peek our lens into the beginnings of your life together. I wish you nothing but health, love, and happiness. Forever.

Featured In: Emmaline Bride

I'm so excited to announce that Laure & Ryan's wedding is featured on Emmaline Bride today! Hop on over to their blog HERE to check it out.

A Southern Louisiana Wedding - Ashley + Jason

Having photographed weddings for a few years now, I can say that much like people, wedding days are each unique to the tone and vibe that they carry. Some are full of excitement from start to finish, some are intimate and low key each and every minute, some are glitz and glam in every last detail--and these particular characteristics make each wedding day an event and sweet memory burned into the minds' of its participants. This is at least how I observe them. For Ashley and Jason's day, with the utmost sincerity I can say I'm not sure that I've ever witnessed a family so genuinely warm and caring to everyone, big and small, whom which they were surrounded. From Ashley's father's obvious love for his baby girl to Jason's chivalry and warmth towards his mother and sisters, everyone was just full of the best kind of warm, ooey gooey make you wanna give a stranger a kitten kind of love. But what can you say? Warm, genuine people; big, loving families--that's how they make em' in the South and I'm not complaining about it.

Ashley's taste was classic for her day, which gave way to lose all of the fluff. It was for me, truly, an observation of the genuine love and support shared for her and Jason.

She and Jason, just as genuine as the relationships that obviously exemplified and defined love for them...

And this part of the day had me choking back some crocodile tears and reminded me of my own dad's emotion on my day. Ashley very clearly shares a close relationship with her father and his outpouring of love and perfect desire for her happiness was a moment I'm grateful to have documented. Forever.

My ceremony photographs are not nearly even close to all in black and white, but for some reason, the emotion in the black and whites really stood out to me from Ashley and Jason's ceremony--and most ceremonies when I go to blog. So sorry (not sorry) for the B&W chosen sequence ahead. 

They had their reception at Chesterton Square in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and it was precisely the lively to-do we tend to throw for wedding celebrations here in the South. Love, family, lots o' dancing, you know...

Ashley and her father's first dance was sweet too, before they decided to break it dooooown on the dance floor.

 Ashley and Jason, thank you so much for allowing me in to document your genuine hearts, warm loving family, and the beautiful beginnings of your life together as a married couple. I am ever-moved and grateful.

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Victoria Austin Designs

I know I said that I was hermiting playing catch-up this week and might not be gracing you with my normal two posts, but I just couldn't leave you high and dry! Plus, I'm so so very excited to announce a new component of the "FOR BRIDES" section of the blog that will now include periodical recommendations from yours truly to beautiful, stylish, and quality vendors in the wedding and event planning industry. I'm going to break this down knitty gritty style, because I know that some of you might even be asking, "Wait, what's a vendor?" And if that's you (no judgin' here), I'll explain that too.

Let's start with the basics. When planning a wedding or soiree of any kind for guests, unless you are the bees knees (which you maybe are), you'll probably need to hire a few professionals who specialize in pretty things to make your headaches a little less and your vision come to life. For these various needs, brides and hosts often hire vendors. Vendors for a wedding, for example, are those people you've hired to help make the day come to life--this includes reception venues, florists, wedding coordinators, photographers (heyy!), paper goods design, etc. Get the picture?

When it comes to hiring vendors, especially for brides, the task can be quite overwhelming. There are so many fabulous creative professionals out there, but if you don't work in the industry, it can often feel like going to Home Depot for supplies to build a shelving unit when you have not a clue about carpentry. I should be so kind to recommend that you can ALWAYS ask your already decided on professionals for advice in this area. Not only am I just tickled pink when a bride asks for and trusts my advice about vendors, but also, I often know her style from our meetings and am able to point her in the direction of quality vendors in the industry that fit both her and my styles. You see where I'm going here?

Now, with that being said and without further ado, I'm so very happy to introduce my first recommended vendor. I had a little girls night with her recently and just instantly fell in love with her class, drive, and vision to give her clients only the most beautiful things. Why? Because beautiful things make us girls feel pretty, and we ALL deserve a little pretty in life. This girl is a mover and a shaker with a heart on fire for  all elements breathtakingly simple and elegant. Originally a California girl, she now resides in the South with her husband and sweet pup, I introduce to you Mrs. Victoria Austin of Victoria Austin Designs. Below are some of my favorites of her paper goods design work, but PLEASE hop right on over to her website and check out more of her breathtaking art. If you're looking for some classy invitations, menus, calligraphy addressed envelopes, or anything that resonates the sound of clean and classy, I highly recommend inquiring with her.

I should note that Victoria actually does more than just fabulous design of paper goods. In fact, she and a colleague collaborated to design this whole shoot as a part of another business that's currently in the works for them--one I am also SO very excited to introduce to you in the future.

I should also note that these photographs were not taken by me, but by another fabulous photographer, Jennifer Pharr as well as a couple shown by Callie Pitts of Nancy Ray Photography. 

Victoria,  her right hand gal Mary Kendall, and I have a few things up our sleeve in store for the future. So sit tight and you will undoubtedly see more of her work gracing this blog--hopefully even by some of my brides too! Happy, happy Thursday my pretties.