Our Weekend || A Wedding Getaway to Nashville!

Caleb and I had the opportunity to venture to Tennessee this past weekend for a wedding of an old friend. He grew up in church with the bride, Heather, so we all knew each other already! Also, my bestie was a Bridesmaid in the wedding, which made it even more fun!

They seriously got the perfect weather for a November wedding date. You really never know with November. It could rain, it could be 20 degrees and snowing, or it could turn out to be mid 50's and just tolerable enough to not wear a jacket. Luckily, that last one is exactly what we had. The glow from the sun we had all day was JUST right and I couldn't stop smiling. Michael and Heather, thank you so much for letting us be part of your big day, we had so much fun!

Thats my bestie, Lynds! She and Heather have been roommates for the last few years, so this was a bittersweet day for them!

Their reception was way too much fun! Heather and Michael's friends were all so sweet! We left feeling like we made a bunch of new friends!

Rewind to Friday night when we arrived in TN, we stopped at our favorite book store in all the land; McKays. We discovered it about 3 years ago with Erin and Jared when we made a road trip to Memphis for a wedding Caleb was in, and knew we had to make the pit-stop again. Seriously, I had like 7 books in my hand, all for about .50 cents to $1.75. There was actually one brand new book I've been wanting and it was $7, but that's still a quarter of the price if I had bought it brand new from any other store! We headed back to our hotel and ordered a pizza, watched a movie and called it a night.

When we arrived back home Sunday afternoon, I took a MUCH needed nap. It. Was. Glorious! I'm really excited that we are approaching some SERIOUS free time now that this weekend is behind us. It's much needed. We have one more wedding in December, but guys, we have 4 free weekends before that. I can't even handle it! As much as we love photographing weddings, and serving our clients, its time to take time for ourselves and I'm pumped about it!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend as well!

A new perspective on creativity and busy weekends.

Friday evening was ladies night! I was so looking forward to this because we found a great deal for a local paint night and hello, girl time! I was able to get in touch with my creative side in a new light. Normally, my creative outlet is my other job; photography. So it was fun to try something new! I'd only done this once before but it was before Caleb and I were married so it had been a while!

When Erin, Natalie and I arrived and saw the painting up close and personal we were a little nervous. It was a LOT more detailed than the calendar online made it look; but we were determined. It helped tremendously that we had THE COOLEST teacher in all the land. Christine was her name, and she rocked it. She had an awesome playlist and pretty sure there was more dancing than painting half the time.

To be totally honest, I'm kind of impressed with us. I love that each of ours has their own unique spin on it, and I can't wait to hang this somewhere in our home!

Saturday, Caleb and I had another wedding and we knew we were in for a long day. What we didn't know we were in for, was one of the sweetest couples we've ever photographed. So many times throughout portraits, Daniell couldn't help but tear up and tell her sweet groom, Evan, how she couldn't wait for the next few hours to pass so she would be his WIFE! I did my fair share of tearing up all throughout the ceremony and the reception speeches, and it just gave me a renewed perspective for what Caleb and I get to be a part of. We honestly count ourselves blessed.

Their first look was one of the most precious I'd ever seen. Evan couldn't contain his emotions when he saw her! If you saw my instagram, you'd know it took both of their tissues to clean up those tears; talk about precious. I was also excited to find out this sweet bride of mine reads my blog!!

Sunday was filled with two engagement sessions and a lot of walking Downtown. The last engagement session ended at Rhinegeist which totally worked out so I could go support two of my friends at an art show that was being held there!

So while my weekend was long, a friend recently put things into perspective for me. She basically said to look at these long days as an act of worship, because I'm using the gifts God has given me! So I decided to look at this weekend through a new pair of lenses. The long weekends that include weddings, sessions, vendor meals, new faces, battery changes, memory cards, flash triggers, sore feet and tired eyes... I need to look at it as serving. I need to see it as an act of worship. I'm thankful for friends who speak truth when I need it most!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. Next up this weekend? A wedding in Nashville. Woo!!

The wedding dreams are made of.

Regardless of the long weekend, Caleb and I still photographed a wedding on Saturday! Although it was a long, 13 hour day, we still had the best time with Alyssa and Jon and their gang. Honestly it kind of overwhelms us when family/friends of the bride and groom consider us to be an addition to their day, rather than just another vendor. It means so much when they remember our names. One of the bridesmaids simply said "Kayla, where should I sit my bags so they aren't in your way?", and its sad how much it surprised me that she called me by name! A lot of the time, we are just called "the photographers" and it was really nice to feel welcomed and recognized from the get go! We're lucky to work with so many people who truly value photography.

Right as I arrived her mom dropped everything to see if I wanted a coffee, or something to eat. I knew when I met Alyssa that there was a good chance all of her ladies would be just as sweet as her, and I couldn't have been more right. Caleb dropped me off and headed to hang out with the guys at their hotel and he did all the groomsmen photos solo. He's really rockin' this gig lately more than ever. So proud :) this wouldn't be the same without him.

Is this not the most fabulous Mother-of-the-Bride dress you've ever seen!?

Their ceremony was adorable. Alyssa and Jon didn't do a first look so his reaction when she walked down the aisle was just the sweetest.

We were so excited when the bridal portraits officially started. Luckily we've shot at this venue in Dayton before (Country Club of the North) and the coordinator let us go alone with the golf carts! They even wanted to venture sort-of in someones backyard to make some willow tree magic happen, and I didn't refuse...even if it gave me a little anxiety! ;)

Can I just take a moment to say Alyssa is incredible at make up?! She did her own and it was flawless and lasted ALL day. I've basically been convincing her since that morning that she could totally change her life calling and do that for a living! ;)

They even let us sneak them out for a few sunset photos, which we all know are my FAVORITE.

I'm really not joking when I say we loved every second. Sure it was a long day, but when everyone involved is so kind the entire day, and truly VALUE what Caleb and I do, it makes it so much more enjoyable. For the last 20 minutes before we left, we danced the night away with all their friends, we and already put all of our gear away. We had way too much fun and definitely feel like we made some new friends!

I'm SO thrilled we get the day off today, which also means only a 4 day work week...then a FREE WEEKEND! Woo woo! Happy Labor Day, friends! Hope everyone has fun plans!