There is nothing quite like the feeling of going home.  Familiar smells, lots of laughter, and the arms of loved ones make the experience after you move away a rare and beautiful thing.  This Thanksgiving weekend Matt and I were blessed to be able to go home to see my family in Tennessee.  We spent Thanksgiving day catching up with aunts, uncles, and cousins while indulging in WAY too much turkey and cranberry sauce for our own good.  Matt played golf with my dad Friday and Saturday while Nathan (my sister’s husband) helped lead Ali, Mom and me through a hurricane workout.  Shoe shopping (I got FOUR new pairs), a dinner with high school friends, and a couple of movie nights rounded out the rest of an incredible trip.

Saturday evening was the best!  Right before sunset, my family headed to a local tree farm for a few fun Christmas card photos.  With the evergreen trees sparkling in the background, we took turns photographing each other with the ones we love.  Check out a few of my favorites from our family time below!

 The Fall Branch Christmas Tree Farm made the perfect location for our family photos!

Mom and Dad love it when we come home for the holidays.  Mom really likes hearing the pitter patter of many footsteps throughout the house and dad enjoys the conversation over a good meal.

My gorgeous sister Ali married her handsome hubby Nathan last June!  Hanging out with the two of them makes my heart so happy. 🙂

The whole family together!

I feel so lucky to not only have a sister in Ali, but a true best friend.

Thanks little boo for taking this sweet picture of Matt and me.  I LOVE IT!

What was your favorite part of the holiday weekend?  Feel free to leave your comments in the box below.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I woke up this morning at 6:30am and couldn’t believe the day was finally here.  I was going to Brazil.  No…more enthusiasm.  I AM GOING TO BRAZIL!!!  (That might have been post gingerbread latte.) 🙂  When I started my business two and a half years ago I dreamed of traveling the world to photograph weddings.  This June I had the honor of capturing Brittany and Aaron‘s beautiful day in Florence, Italy, and this weekend I will be documenting Carol and Eder’s gorgeous wedding in Brazil.  The couple will be tying the knot in Sao Paulo on Saturday and then heading to Costa Verde Tabatinga, a stunning private beach nearby.  I can’t wait to share the images from their incredible day.  Thank you Carol and Eder for your help in making my dreams come true.  I will see you soon!

“Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.”  I’ve heard this since I was young but I feel like I didn’t discover it for myself until photography.  Summer and fall have been a crazy whirlwind of incredible weddings and engagements and I have loved every minute of it!

This weekend I had my first weekend off since June 1st.  (Okay, technically I photographed a sunrise engagement session Saturday morning…but from 10am on Saturday to midnight on Sunday I was officially off!)  I had forgotten how nice it is to do the little things like rake leaves with my husband Matt, rent a funny movie on demand, make breakfast before church, and walk through the mall looking for shoes.  Matt and I even had the opportunity to play tennis on Sunday afternoon!  I kicked his butt by the way. 🙂  As much as I love photography, it was so nice and refreshing to have a few days to focus on the other things I love too.  I am feeling so thankful for this weekend.

I remember the days when this space was only a dream.  Sitting on my laptop in the middle of my living room/dining room/bedroom/or coffee shop, I imagined the day I would have my own office.  I longed for a place filled with light, one where I could hang my favorite photographs.  There would be a cute couch for my couples to relax on, and a pretty red chair for me. A large bookcase would store my albums, and in the center would sit a simple white desk where I could work.  Comfortable, happy, and decorated in my signature red, grey, and white, I dreamed of an official space for Amy Rizzuto Photography.

It took two and a half years, the purchase of a new house, and a whole lot of paint, but my dream office is finally a reality!  It is hard to explain the amount of joy I feel when I am in this space as it truly feels like home.  I am so grateful to my incredible couples who allow me to do what I love everyday, and the constant support from my family and friends.  Most importantly, I am thankful to my heavenly father who has blessed me with more than I could ever have dreamed possible.  Without further ado, check out my beautiful new office!

Sweet smelling candles are my weakness.  I just love how cozy they make a space feel.

One of my favorite additions was this cute coffee station!  I was literally jumping up and down when I found this mini red Keurig.

I love the simplicity of this white antique desk.  As someone who struggles with organization, it was important to have a clean space!

My pretty red chair. 🙂

My favorite part of my new office might be that Kylie hangs out up here with me all day!  Seriously, she has taken over my red chair.  It’s okay…I still love her.  HAPPY MONDAY!

I woke up the morning of our anniversary, tip-toed into the kitchen, and made a warm cup of coffee.  Three years!  I couldn’t believe we had been married for so long. It seems like Matt and I were saying our “I do’s” in that adorable chapel in North Carolina yesterday.  I couldn’t believe that in the past few years we had settled into a “grown-up” house in New Jersey, adopted our adventurous cat Kylie, and started on career paths in fields we both love.  It is crazy how time flies by.

On our three year anniversary, Matt has made me feel so special.  First the chocolate covered strawberries arrived, followed by a dozen roses.  I am told my real surprise will arrive when Matt gets home from work.  Thank you for making this ordinary Wednesday, extraordinary babe.  I love you!

And because every post is better with pictures, check out our three year anniversary photos taken by the lovely (and very talented) Sidney Morgan.  Thank you for coming up to Martha’s Vineyard to capture our love in one of our favorite places in the entire world.

Matt and I actually spent our two year anniversary in Martha’s Vineyard.  Read more about our time there here.

I love the way Sidney captured our playful and adventurous personalities. 🙂

Favorites.

Having the entire beach to ourselves at sunset was so romantic!  I hope we are able to take anniversary photos together every year.

Love this handsome man.

And because I just had to see these gorgeous photographs in print, I included our favorite memories in a soft cover coffee table book. 🙂

Happy anniversary babe!  I hope the next 100 years are filled with as much happiness as the last three have held.  LOVE YOU!