t didn’t take long for me to figure out that I LOVED photographing couples. The way two people just light up around each other is something that makes my heart skip a beat. Not only is it adorable, but it also emits this type of… contagious happiness that makes it practically impossible for me to not smile right along with them. So what drew me to want to photograph weddings? It’s like a couples session on steroids! I love love love it! I am an extremely detail-oriented person (usually more of a perk than a drawback haha) and weddings are FULL of details. The flowers, the rings, the tablescapes, the cake… The more the better! And the best part is no wedding is the same! Every single one is unique and has tons of its own personality shining through. That’s always an exciting part for me: to arrive at the venue and see how the couple has decided to decorate and arrange everything. It’s like I’m meeting them all over again, just in a different way.
When I turned into the long private driveway leading up to Sugar Grove Carriage House for the first time, I felt like I had just pulled up to a relative’s home that I hadn’t seen in awhile. That feeling of a place that is a bit new yet familiar at the same time. The owners were sitting out on the back porch soaking up the sunshine and watching their farm be transformed into Mariah and Matt’s dream day. They invited me right into their beautiful home and told me to just head on upstairs to find the bride getting ready.
Before I even got halfway up the staircase, I could hear tons of excited chatter and giggles. And Mariah? She was probably the calmest one out the entire bunch! Mom, of course, was all kinds of nervous excited. It was her girl’s wedding day after all! I assured her everything was on schedule and to just enjoy girl time! Me? I was off to go photograph details!!!
I came back up to the suite, gathered up all the girls, and we headed outside into the GORGEOUS day for some portrait time before the ceremony.
After the girls and I finished up, I went to meet the guys over at the “Groom’s Quarters.” Well, lets just say that all the chatter and giggling I heard from the girls room was NOTHING in comparison to what I heard when I walked into the guest house.
hat a great gift for all the groomsmen!
Then it was time for the bride and groom to attempt to relax while I got to explore the rest of Sugar Grove!
What felt like an eternity later, it was finally ceremony time. And these two cuties did their best to steal the show!
Aaaahhh and my FAVORITE part of the whole day: taking their first portraits as HUSBAND & WIFE!!! <3 <3 <3 There were so many places to explore around the venue.
The rest of the evening was just as sweet (pun intended lol).
And the night wouldn’t be complete without a special exit!
I also want to give a huge shout out to all the amazing vendors that made my first wedding an incredible experience to photograph!
The Vendors
Wedding Planner: Visions by Debra
Caterer: The Southern Belle Catering Co
Wedding Dress: Wedding Belles
Venue: Sugar Grove Carriage House
Cake: Joelle’s Bakery
Videographer: Studio B Productions
