David and Megan | Wedding

Some people are just meant to be from day 1. This is one of those couples. David and Megan have been dating since their first date in 2006 (more information on that from their engagement session). After many years, a long distance relationship, and even moving states to be with each other, Megan and David are happier than ever and now officially married.

As a photographer I am lucky enough to get to meet a lot of people. I would call myself a people person so I highly enjoy interacting and getting to know everybody I photograph. I get to spend hours with people on some of the most important days of their lives. Megan and David, along with their family, have made that so much fun and made me feel like part of the fam. Dinner with Megan and her mom, chatting for hours, exploring Starkville for their engagement session, frantically searching for an animal rehabilitation facility for an injured hawk I once found, picking Megan's mind about the perfect cruise..... and finally deciding she's planning a cruise for me, to getting invited to their crawfish boil rehearsal dinner.. Everybody had welcomed Joyce and myself in like they had known us for years.

Random fact: A large majority of the people that were rehearsal dinner are from Ohio. They don't really eat crawfish in Ohio.... so there was a big learning curve for a majority of the visitors but they ended up loving it.  For those of you who traveled down to Mississippi and enjoyed the food.... This link is for you.) 

Glad to see this amazing couple start a new chapter in their life that started way back in 2006. I couldn't have asked for a more awesome group of people to work with that I am lucky enough to now call friends. 

Jessica and Ty | Wedding

Ever since Jessica and I sat down at her consultation last year to discuss her big day I have been genuinely excited to be a part of it. She described her big day in detail from the flowers, dresses and cakes to the venue perfectly, and man was it fun to photograph! I have known Jessica for quite some time now but unfortunately had never been lucky enough to get her in front of my camera. Until we did a gorgeous Columbus, MS engagement session where I met their four legged child, Dash. All three who were natural in front of a camera. Fun loving, carefree, gorgeous, and just a pleasure to be around since day one. Their beautiful wedding day was amazing to be a part of from the wedding itself to the people involved, everyone and everything was perfect. 

Kelly and Colby | Wedding

I remember the first time I met Colby and Kelly for their wedding consultation here at my studio. Cool and friendly from the get go. They also had their new pup join us. She was just a few weeks old at the time; you can see their family portrait below from the engagement session a few weeks later. But it wasn't long before this pup mistaked my artificial turf (I photograph athletes in the studio on it) for real turf during her bathroom break. Call me soft but I couldn't even be mad at a dog so cute. However, it makes for a good story and definitely an unforgettable moment - like Colby and Kelly's wedding day.... but way less "crappy". It was a beautiful day filled with great weather and great people. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Ponder. 

Carlee and Dave's Rainy Day Wedding

Question: What do we do if it rains on our wedding day?
Answer:

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. We all have heard that saying used throughout our lives but how often do we really get to live that out? Carlee and Dave got the chance to on their wedding day and it turned out for the better. Most couples (and photographers alike) cringe at the thought of a rainy wedding day and even more if it's an outdoor wedding. I will admit Carlee and myself without a doubt cringed a bit when we looked outside 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and it was an absolute downpour. Dave (the groom) was a champ keeping her calm and happy though, props to him! The weather channel app (we all became meteorologists that day) said there would be a 30 minute break in the rain and the option for moving the ceremony under the awning, "plan B," was out due to the guests outnumbering the space available. When the ceremony started it was a light rain/sprinkle. No big deal! (Shoutout to Canon cameras weather seal!) As the wedding party entered, the rain thickened. As a photographer, my nerves heightened slightly but still, I can handle this! As soon as Carlee entered the wedding area the bottom fell out of the sky. I was jumping from random guest umbrella to the next borrowing umbrella space  (you know who you are and I thank you for that) to attempt to stay dry which did not work... I was soaked already. When the ceremony started I honestly was thinking..... "What?!" but by the end I was thinking "This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever photographed." It genuinely was amazing to be a part of that special moment that I GUARANTEE every single person in attendance will never forget, myself included. 

Later that night when I was talking to Carlee and she mentioned to me that she had unfortunately lost her father at the age of 13. She said, "The rain was nothing more than my father watching me and crying down from heaven." There was even a clap of thunder (true story) when they kissed. It gave me chills and still does to this day. Carlee and Dave are an amazing couple who didn't let a little rain mess up her perfect day. Life gave them lemons.... and they made the best lemonade anybody could ever ask for.  

Also I want to send a special thank you to Old Waverly workers who were SOOO helpful the day of, from drying attendants seats, getting me bandaids for my blisters showing up from new shoes, to just being supportive all around. ALSO a big shoutout to Renee Reedy Videography for not only just being an awesome human being but also spotting me AA batteries when I was in a bind. 

And just incase you are curious as to how I turned out during the ceremony. The umbrella at that point was strictly for the camera gear. I was soaked. Like literally taking out socks and ringing the water out of them soaked. Luckily I had packed an extra change of clothes (I always do because I sweat a lot and it's Mississippi) And a special thanks to Joyce Li for being the best second shooter ever. 

Thanks to Marc Liza Miley for the picture.

Chelsea and Michal | Wedding

"Bol to krásny svadobný deň." translates from Slovak into "It was a beautiful wedding day" and that is what it truly was. Chelsea and Michal's day was absolutely perfect. Filled with perfect people from literally all over the world (Michal is from Slovakia and so were his family and friends in attendance). Even with a language barrier a smile always translates. Glad I was able to spend the day with this group of people.