I usually only blog once a day, but today I am making an exception!  Today my best friend’s wedding is featured on Rustic Wedding Chic!!!  I had the true honor of capturing Lori and Ashley‘s gorgeous Tennessee plantation wedding last October and I couldn’t be more excited to see all of their hard work displayed so beautifully on one of my wedding favorite blogs.  Rustic Wedding Chic loves to showcase “real” weddings- filled with creative, dreamy and inspiring photos. Their loyal and engaged followers have made Rustic Wedding Chic a number one wedding blog!

Read more about Lori and Ashley’s wedding in the paragraph below and head over to Rustic Wedding Chic today and leave Lori and Ashley some LOVE!

From the Bride:

Ashley and I met through mutual friends over Thanksgiving Break three years ago. We figured out quickly that we loved a lot of the same activities and both had the same quirky sense of humor. We began dating and it did not take long for us to figure out that this was it. When it came time for Ashley to propose, he wanted it to be really special. I teach first grade and my job is a huge part of my life. To make a long story short, Ashley proposed to me in front of the entire school in the gym. I could have beat him at the time, but would not change our proposal for the world. Our proposal was nothing less than perfect.

We did not wait long to begin our wedding planning process. When we discussed our wedding day, there were several aspects that ran through our minds. Being products of the south, we automatically thought about our favorite college football teams’ schedules and how that would effect our October Wedding. We decided on an open day for our two favorite football teams.

After picking a Southern Plantation as our venue, we knew that our theme would no doubt be Southern Charm with an abundance of burlap, old books, and mason jars. We wanted the atmosphere to beat our wedding: formal yet comfortable. The venue was perfect in itself so I wanted to enhance its natural beauty without overshadowing it. It was easy to begin with all the fun little details. (My favorite part) I am a very detailed person and I wanted everything to scream “Lori and Ashley” as well as match at the same time. My favorite feature of our wedding was all the DIY projects my mother and I created. My mother and I wrapped the mason jar vases in burlap and purple satin ribbon to tie in our burlap runners and purple accents. My mother, bridesmaids, and I tied the twine and handmade ”H” tags onto 180 mason jars for our guests to use to drink from on our big day. I really relished the time I got to spend with some of my favorite people while creating beautiful decor for our wedding.

Our wedding colors were gray and dark purple which complemented everyone. Our menu was a yummy southern meal: baked chicken, baked potato bar, cream spinach, garlic cheddar rolls, salad and banana pudding. Our photographer, Amy Rizzuto Photography, captured every detail and special moment so perfectly. Our vendors were phenomenal and helped create a day of laughter, love and fun! We are so thankful that our families, wedding party and friends were there to help make our special day the best day of our lives.

They say love can find you at any age.  Mal and Dan fell in love in high school.  Performing experiments together in Chemistry class, Mal and Dan’s chemistry grew for one another very quickly!  Graduating from Hillsborough High School, neither could imagine what the future had in store.

Seven years after they first met, Mal and Dan’s relationship was stronger than ever!  Working in film, Dan frequently introduced Mal to his favorite new shows.  When he started watching The Wire, Dan began constantly asking Mal to watch it with him.  After many “no’s” he joked with Mal that he would propose once she finished all five seasons!  Slowly, Mal and Dan made their way through season one, two, three, four, and finally, FIVE!  As the credits rolled on the last episode, Dan got down on one knee and asked Mal to be his wife!  These two high school sweethearts are getting married next fall and I couldn’t be more excited for them.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Mal and Dan at their high school and at Duke Farms. Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from our time together below!

Mal and Dan’s high school sweetheart engagement photo session was such an adorable idea!  I love this composition notebook with “Will You Marry Me?”, check yes or no written inside.

Mal and Dan are only a page apart in their high school yearbook!

The principal of Hillsborough High School was nice enough to let us in to the Chemistry classroom where Mal and Dan met so many years ago!

Meet Mal and Dan’s adorable dog Sadie!

She is such a little model.  🙂

After taking photos at Mal and Dan’s high school, we headed over to Duke Farms for a second look.

LOVE.

Mal, your ring is absolutely gorgeous!

This might be one of my favorites!

As the sun started to set, we made our way through the last field of wild flowers and back to the car.  Thank you Mal and Dan for spending the afternoon with me.  I can’t wait to watch you tie the knot next September!

Two years ago, I penned my first blog post, shot my first wedding, and officially launched my business.  Looking back, I feel so blessed when I realize how quickly my dreams have become a reality and thankful for all the support along the way.  Joining the team of incredible people who have and are pushing me forward is Liza! Currently a student at Washington University, Liza loves everything about weddings.  Diving head first into this amazing industry, Liza started the summer interning for a wedding planner in New York City and is now turing her focus to photography.  She will be helping me in the office one day a week for the rest of the summer and assisting on a few gorgeous weddings.  Smart, personable, professional, and so much fun, I can’t wait for you to meet Liza!

As the sun set this afternoon, we headed out into the backyard to talk shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and finding the good light.  Check out a few pretty photos of Liza I was able to capture.

Thanks for all your help today Liza!  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer holds.

The sun rose over Battlefield Park making the tiny dew droplets shimmer and dance in the pretty golden light.  It was the morning of Ashley and Jose’s engagement session and it was beautiful.  Walking through the acres and acres of rolling farmland Ashley and Jose laughed together, carefree and so happy.  Loving everything rustic, we made our way through old corn fields and to a gorgeous red barn covered with ivy.  I truly enjoyed capturing photographs of Ashley and Jose so authentically in their element and obviously in love.  Check out a few of my favorites below!

Ashley and Jose are getting married this September and I couldn’t be more excited to capture their beautiful wedding day!

Ashley and Jose are constantly laughing together and so much fun to be around!

It is obvious in the way that they look at each other that Ashley and Jose will be happy for many many years to come.

LOVE.

SERIOUSLY?!  You guys are ADORABLE!

Thank you again for such an amazing day at Battlefield Park Ashley and Jose!  I had so much fun capturing your engagement photos and I can’t wait for the wedding.  It will be here before you know it!

HAPPY MONDAY!  I hope you all had an fabulous weekend.  Today I am so excited to share one of my favorite videographers with you, AJ Ingoglia Films!  I had the pleasure of capturing Jillian and Lee’s incredible Oheka Castle wedding with AJ and he truly was so much fun to work with!  More importantly, with his contagious energy and constant ear to ear smile, it was obvious AJ really loves what he does.  Check out how amazing AJ is for yourself in Jillian and Lee’s highlight film below.

Jillian & Lee 5.12.13 from AJ Ingoglia Films.

Congratulations again Jillian and Lee!  Your Oheka Castle wedding really was a dream.  Thank you AJ for sharing such an incredible video.  I hope to work with you again soon!