Elisabeth + Patrick

April 5, 2017

These two met in New York City, but both have roots down South so it makes sense they married in Elisabeth's home town. And it was an incredibly beautiful wedding! I loved getting to see these two laugh and have fun with each other, while also having sweet moments that showed their love and devotion. Here's a little preview of their big day...

Elisabeth looked like the perfect bride and is so photogenic that its impossible to take a bad photo of her! Special thanks to Kristen White Imagery for being an amazing makeup artist and her team for making everyone look pretty fab.

One thing that has really hit me after photographing weddings for 7 years is the importance of the bride and groom's parents. It stands out to me because they are the people there who have loved these two special people the longest, have stood by them over the long haul, and who are the people that remain the key players throughout the rest of their lives. So here's a tribute to the special parents who make weddings possible and for these two couples whose love was so apparent for the couple.

The wedding reception at Athens Cotton Warehouse was INCREDIBLE. Bethany at Epting Events did an amazing job bringing Elisabeth's vision to life and the venue was magical with candles and hanging lights. I especially loved the praline bar and donut wedding cake...

This reception was full of dancing- it was rare to not have the dance floor completely covered. I loved getting to see everyone have fun, but the best was when Elisabeth and Patrick joined the band on stage for "Shout," and then were surprised by Elisabeth's dad coming on stage showing his moves! I'm so glad I get to capture moments like these because I hope these photos will bring them back to a really special memory.

Congratulations to this beautiful and lively couple- and thanks so much for letting me document the celebration!! And special thanks to all the wedding vendors who contributed to the beauty of this day, including my second photographer extraordinaire- Latetia of June Bird Photography !

Caroline + Andy

July 6, 2013

Andy + Caroline Paczkowski. Their love and friendship is so incredibly apparent to anyone who knows them, and I hope these pictures can show even a fraction of it. I really have never known a more photogenic couple, and it wasn't because they love to model in front of the camera but because they are genuinely this affectionate and sweet and fun with each other. When Andy saw Caroline for the first time he literally gasped at how beautiful she looked. In that moment I wished I was a videographer to capture his reaction- but these pictures will have to do for now!

Caroline and Andy have a contagious joy about them. They can be romantic and sweet with each other, and then two seconds later break out some dance moves. Apparently at the rehearsal dinner they taught some of their family and friends how to "Dougie" (for those of you not familiar it's a song with some awesome moves to go along with it). I love that they brought it out on their wedding day for me to photograph!!

Caroline and Andy wrote their own wedding vows (and included tissues at the entrance of the chapel)- and I'm pretty sure there was not a dry eye in that place by the end! I really was starting to tear up so much that I had to go get tissues at good time because it was a little out of control on my part (why I love wedding photography, ps). A close family friend married them and read their favorite poem: "How do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I happened to have memorized that poem in high school and have loved it ever since so it pulled on my heart strings big time. My favorite parts are in the lines that talk about loving someone freely and purely and with passion. And then to make it even more emotional Caroline and Andy wrote the most poetic and heartfelt vows to each other, each one tearing up while the other spoke. I know they will treasure the video taken from their ceremony- even I want a copy!!!

The sky stayed clear until their ceremony began, and then the rain came down pretty hard. But by the time we walked out of the chapel the rain slowed down to just a drizzle and on my way to the reception I saw a huge rainbow in the sky. Such a good day. You can see the tiny raindrops in the shot below with a lot of sun shining in the midst of it.

The reception was at the Foundry Inn and Spa near downtown Athens, and it's an awesome venue with an outside area filled with stringed lights and elegant indoor rooms. Caroline and Andy are both wine connoisseurs with a love for great wine, so they used that wine theme in the reception table decor. The centerpieces were wooden wine crates and table place cards from wine bottles and corks. The best part is that Caroline and Andy both wrote each other letters and put them into a wine box with a really (expensive) fine wine and then nailed it shut to be opened on their 10th anniversary of marriage. What an awesome idea. I told them to get in touch with me in 10 years and I'd photograph the opening of that box:)

You guys just make me happy. I am so glad I got to photograph your wedding and know that there are TONS more happy pictures for me to go through and for you to enjoy soon! A good friend of mine saw these pictures and said, "That looks like a couple I would want to be friends with..." and I really thought no truer words could be spoken about you guys. Thanks for letting me see your passion and heart for each other and life and asking me to tell part of your story. xoxo

Mr. + Mrs. Zimmerman//Father of the Bride Wedding

May 23, 2013

I can't tell you how much Arthur and Chelsea's wedding reminded me of the one in the movie Father of the Bride. Everyone was getting ready at Chelsea's home and the reception was held there, too. Chelsea's dad was running around making sure everything was in the right place and I couldn't help but think of Steve Martin getting ready for his daughter's wedding. I had been to the Ferguson's home for Arthur and Chelsea's engagement session, and since then Chelsea's parents had built a patio/dance floor, planted beautiful flowers all around and had everything ready for a gorgeous home wedding. The morning of the wedding day it was raining (nooooooo!) and plans quickly changed to include tents and to move the reception inside the Ferguson's home. I don't know how they pulled it off so well but it was amazing. Much thanks to the wedding coordinator and friend Ms. Dale for making this happen! And yet as it turns out, the rain stopped and we got a beautiful outdoor reception and dancing with the most amazing greenery backdrop and farm animals and even a few moments of sunshine.

It was so meaningful to see Chelsea getting ready and walking in the hallway between her parent's room and her bedroom, filled with everything from her childhood. The hallway walls were decked with pictures of Chelsea and her sister, from their beanie baby phase to high school proms and pageants. I got a quick shot of Chelsea walking down the hall with childhood portraits next to her:)

One of Chelsea's bridesmaids had the best idea of how to protect Chelsea's dress from getting dirty from the wet ground- cutting a hole in a fitted sheet! Chelsea's mom got a fitted sheet and the bridesmaids had a hole cut in the middle and Chelsea walked around with her feet through the sheet, holding the dress inside the sheet until we took pictures and hid it under her dress. By far the best idea I have seen yet for ways to get pictures outdoors while not getting her dress messed up! Check out this fabulous sheet picture below:)

Chelsea and Arthur got to ride in not one but two amazing cars- one from the church to the reception and one that they rode off on their honeymoon in. The first was an incredible Bel-Air in perfect condition, and the second was a orange (in honor of Auburn) convertible Corvette. These cars were so fun to photograph!

Arthur and Chelsea included both Jewish and Christian customs into their wedding ceremony. The Chuppah is the canopy they stood under, and is meant to represent the home the couple will build together. One really neat thing I read about the Chuppah is that this "home" doesn't have furniture in it as a reminder that the basis of a home is the people in it and not the possessions inside of it. Also the canopy is meant to represent the presence of God over the covenant of marriage. How beautiful is that!!

Arthur and Chelsea were sent off with streamers and a police escort, including flashing lights and sirens so everyone in LaGrange would know there was a celebration. This was such a beautiful and meaningful wedding- I am so glad I got to be a part of it. Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman!

welcome

INSTA-Jammin'