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!

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!

I'm back - with some updates!

Life has been a straight up roller coaster these past couple weeks. We had a blast celebrating our three year anniversary, we officially BECAME AN AUNT AND UNCLE (oh my word you guys, I am so completely obsessed and in love with my new baby nephew its not even funny - I haven't done a whole post on it because its not my story to tell, or my baby to brag on, just know how unbelievably excited we are to have a nephew and how proud I am of my sister Erin for bringing their sweet baby into the world!), and enjoyed some much needed free time over the long holiday weekend.

Memorial Day weekend truly was full of lots of free time, lots of doing whatever we wanted, getting some sun, hanging with family, golfing, eating like crap, and loving every second of it together!! Uninterrupted time like that doesn't come along very often, so we soaked it all in!

Since its now June (what the what?!) and I haven't consistently blogged in 2 weeks, I figured instead of recapping every detail per the usual, I'd just start fresh now that it's summer! Caleb and I shot two AMAZING weddings this past weekend. I have to say, if we're going to put ourselves through 2 long, hot back to back wedding days, I'd hope we get to work with awesome people...and boy, we really did! 

Dani and Tony's wedding was first. I shot their engagement photos in the fall and KNEW they were a great fit from the beginning. Two people who loved the Lord, have genuine kindness in their hearts, and are clearly so in love with one another! We couldn't ask for more. Typically, Caleb will drive to the guys while they get ready and Friday was no exception. I knew they hit it off when Caleb sent me a photo of he and the groom saying how awesome Tony was! They also had the yummiest fried potatoes at their dinner and oh, DID I MENTION they sat us at a real table at the reception, and had name cards for us?! That's never happened before, so we felt pretty dang special.

We slept like ROCKS that evening and Saturday morning woke up to hit the road for Jenn and Andrew's big day! I also really loved this couple. They are the ones who treated me to dinner (best mac and cheese balls ever) after I drove an hour for their engagement session in their favorite town; Oxford, OH! We woke up on Saturday and were petrified at the weather report, which was basically 50-90% showers all day, and yet somehow our prayers were answered. The rain came at the perfect time and we managed to get every single shot we needed! They were such goofballs all day, and we got lucky at the reception when a rainbow came out. How fitting that their first dance song was "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"!?!? Honestly, how beautiful is Jenn!?

Sunday we worked with the kiddos at church, they are too darn sweet! We had a bit of free time before we grabbed lunch with family, then that evening we had our summer kick off party with the youth group. I love these teens!! We played kickball and ultimate frisbee for hours. It felt so great to get outside!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I hope to be back to my normal blogging schedule now! ;)