Ali & Zach

What a perfect day this was!  I mean, just look at that sunset!  This was such a fun, beautiful day with something that seems elusive in the summer - perfect weather.  It was even sort of cool in the evening which was crazy.  So happy for these two!

The Big Fake Wedding

I realized today that I never shared any of my photos from The Big Fake Wedding!  And it would be a shame not to because there was so much gorgeousness to capture with such an amazing team of Knoxville wedding vendors.  It was really an amazing experience.  Here's a list of vendors:

Premier Laser Spa, Makeup by Chesni, Whitney Evans Beauty, Bradford Catering, Robyn James Trio, Dale's Fried Pies, Philip Mobile DJ, Bells Box, Event Rentals by Rothchild, Restoration Rentals, Pink Zebra, Vera House Events & Design, Napping Cat Flower Farm, Sassafras Flowers, A Rose Garden, Ellie's Home, Matchbox Factory, Robinson Paper Co., I Do Linens, and Wedding Wonderland.  I wasn't the only photographer as I got to work with the amazing Carrie Jo Pinkard and Heather Faulkner, but all of these photos are mine.  

This was such a fun day and Katy & Casey just so happen to be one of my former real life weddings from 3 years ago so I loved snapping photos of these two again.  Yay!

Ashlyn & Chris - Preview

A few of my favorites from a gorgeous 4th of July wedding at the amazing Castleton Farms!  So much emotion from these two...

Peyton & TJ - Preview

I get to photograph the most gorgeous weddings!  Here's a little preview of Peyton & TJ's classic wedding.  One thing that people kept saying about them all day is that they both are more beautiful inside then they are outside and I love that you can see their radiant love just shining when you meet them.  Enjoy a few of my quick favorites.  More to come!

Kate & Charlie - Preview

These two are smoking hot - maybe because it was 96 degrees all day at the gorgeous RT Lodge or maybe just because they're beautiful.  I'm sharing just a handful from this fun wedding but so many more to come!

Katie & Kyle

When life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade and that's exactly what we did on the day of Katie & Kyle's wedding.  They got married at the always gorgeous Castleton Farms and even though it rained these two were such troopers for photos.  I'm in LOVE with these rain shots that I'm almost thankful it rained.  What a happy day this was.  And how gorgeous is this couple?

Barbie & Kelvin

Once upon a time, when my husband and I were dating way back when in college I remember talking to him about marriage.  We were young and in love and I vividly remember him talking about how if we got married right after college with no jobs we wouldn't have any money to support ourselves, etc.  That was all sorts of blah, blah, blah to me and I vividly remember saying to him that I would rather live in a cardboard box with him then anywhere without him.  (I'll let you take a wild guess who the dreamer is and who the realist is in our relationship.)  Would I really have been able to do that?  Would I really have been able to back that up?

I'd like to introduce you to a couple that absolutely can.  

A native of Knoxville, Barbie was born with cerebral palsy. She has lived in nursing homes or had a caregiver her entire life. She depends on others for even the most basic of her needs.

Kelvin was born in Georgia and moved to Knoxville as a child. He is the brother of three sisters. He was recently working in construction. Until he met Barbie, Kelvin never thought he would want to marry.

They met through a mutual friend about a year ago, and they became fast friends. Kelvin didn't see the wheelchair, he saw a beautiful smile, beautiful eyes, and a beautiful spirit. He describes her as his angel. Barbie describes Kelvin as kind, strong, and reliable.

Finding people who she can trust has been difficult for Barbie. Through unfortunate circumstances, Barbie asked Kelvin to get her out of unsafe living situation. Kelvin had a home but it was not one that Barbie could live in.  No shelter would take them together because they were not married. During the coldest, harshest months of the winter Kelvin and Barbie lived on the streets. They stayed in parks, on stoops, near churches, anything to stay warm.

When Kelvin and Barbie first came to Redeemer Church of Knoxville, they brought joy and big smiles with them. They didn't complain about their circumstances. Instead they spread their joy to others. Through the Redeemer Church of Knoxville and friends, they were able to secure housing and finally be out of the cold in late January. They have been engaged since the fall but unable to marry because the cost of even the marriage certificate was too high with all of her medical costs. Nevertheless, Kelvin has been steadfast in his love and care for Barbie, and she has continued to adore him.

There are 5,762 reasons why I love the people of Redeemer Church of Knoxville.  It's been our church home for a few years now and I have to say that I have never been more proud to call it home then this past Monday.  God's love and the love of His people shone in this humble little space that brought two loving people together.  It's a beautiful community of souls and this union was a special one.  So many people came together to create a special day for these two lovebirds from hair to makeup to gorgeous flowers and cake and on and on and on.   I can't even put into words what it was like to watch people work for this couple so they could realize their dreams of marriage.  This world of weddings is one I of course often find myself in and I love every second of it, truly.  But when you see two people come together in a love like this one you realize that we could give them all the finest things that the wedding world has to offer but they already have everything in each other.  What a beautiful thing to celebrate!

Anna & Brett

Sometimes, after the wedding, I will see or hear a bride describe her wedding as the perfect day. All I can say is that after their turn, I'd be willing to bet that Anna & Brett say just that.  This day went on without a hitch.  It was so gorgeous that the second Anna walked into the room that the ceremony would take place in she cried because it was so gorgeous.  And it really was!  But not as gorgeous as the bride herself who smiled all day with her groom.  We were completely on time with the schedule and taking photos and then they had one of the very best parties I've ever seen.  This day was truly a dream. One of my favorite things about this day was that Anna really wanted to re-create a photo from Brett's grandparents' wedding (you'll notice as soon as you see it, it's adorable).  Try not to smile as you look thru these photos...

Kristi & Jonathan Wedding

Kristi & Jonathan's wedding was full of sparkly goodness in the best kind of way.  The two beamed radiantly all day long.  And then there were fireworks as they were announced as husband and wife, and again that evening, and a sparkler exit finished it all off.  It was so magical!  The sun was a little bit elusive on their day but when it came out during photos...OMG!!!  I'm so in love with this day.  May it bring a smile to your face today...

Brittany & Nico

I get to photograph the VERY BEST weddings!  This one just wouldn't stop - it was a dream to photograph every single part.  First of all, Brittany was the sweetest bride and just so much fun during photos because she was up for anything.  The ceremony was adorable, the wedding party beautiful (I may have asked where the dresses came from because I want one just to wear, haha).  And then came the reception.  During cocktail hour the couple did a balloon release after each guest wrote a message to the couple and attached it to a balloon.  The hope is that someone will find each one and put it in the mail to the couple.  How cute is that?  Then they did a champagne presentation before the toasts which was gorgeous.  And did I mention there were fireworks?  All of this was pulled of without a hitch by the wonderful team at Castleton Farms - and all on Kentucky Derby Day (you'll definitely see some shout outs to that too).   I loved working with them and Samuel Franklin who did the amazing florals, and Corey Ozair of Music in Motion.  It was a perfect day!

Caroline & Buck

Some days go exactly how you planned and then some days bring surprises along that way and that creates more beauty then you could ever have imagined.  This wedding day was one of those magical days.  It rained, but it rained at the perfect times throughout the day. Like seriously, this was one of my favorite first looks ever, surrounded by rain.  It created a very romantic and soft setting in all the right places but then stopped just enough for photos outside and an outside ceremony.  I'm in love with this day - the gorgeous bride and groom and the love they have for their family.  And did I mention the amazing details?  Enjoy this beautiful garden wedding...

Kendall & Cove - Preview

Jodie & Andy - Preview

These two went down to the Old Courthouse today and got themselves hitched - in rain, and wind, and sunshine and well, maybe just every bit of weather we could have other then snow.  It was amazing - more to come!

Meg & Bryan - Maternity

Spring + Maternty = so much life just growing and blooming all around us!  What a special time for Meg & Bryan who will be welcoming little Graham into the world in a few weeks!  I had the honor of photographing their wedding a little over a year ago and love that I got to continue this journey with them that is the excitement of their lives.  Enjoy!

The Williams Family - Maternity

Baby #3 will be here in just a few short months for the Williams Family and they are so excited!  Kara & Creed decided to keep it a secret and find out what their new babies' gender is at delivery which is so much fun.  They all have different guesses as to what the new baby will be but let's just hope little Preston is wrong on this one.  Enjoy these spring photos!

Mer & Joe

So, it's taken me a few weeks to get this post up but there is one really good reason - there is just so much to share!  I think I originally tagged 400+ photos to edit for this post but narrowed it down to around 250 which is still way more then a normal post.  So get comfy because this is a long one!  I'm incredibly honored that Mer wanted me to photograph her wedding after I did her sister's wedding 7 years ago.  And what a special day this was.  Mer is the last of 3 girls to get married and now Haley has a sweet little baby on the way.  So much life happening!  Mer & Joe decided to wash each other's feet as a special, just the 2 of them, moment and watching Mer get emotional as she fed communion to her guests made me super emotional too (sniff, sniff, my camera was all sorts of wet after that).  I LOVED this day and I hope you enjoy these photos...

The White Family

Spring has sprung you guys and I'm so excited!!!  I've been out and about with some families lately and while these blooms might make us sneeze, they sure are beautiful!  I'm starting with the White Family who were first up on my spring family brigade, as I'm affectionally calling it.  This little cutie made us work for those smiles but when she gave them up, she really gave them up!

Jessica & Tim

I seriously LOVE a winter wedding, especially when all of the family love just warms you right up!  Jessica & Tim were married a few weeks ago and according to their kids, this was a long time coming.  So, therefore, there was a lot to celebrate!  Enjoy some of my favorites from this special day...

Caroline & Buck - Engagement Photos

People often ask me what my favorite thing to photograph is.  I really truly love it all but if I absolutely had to pick just one it would be engagement photos.  You get all of the love with two cute people and none of the stress that comes with the time constraints of a wedding day.  Photographing Caroline & Buck just absolutely confirmed that too.  I love the variety that Caroline wanted in her photos - classy and elegant and then woodsy and casual.  And Buck was up for anything too.  It was such a fun session and I can't wait for their wedding this April!

Calley & Matthew

Oh this wedding!!!!  I'm at a loss of words to describe just how lovely this day was.  It was, by far, the most windy wedding day I've ever photographed.  And since this is year 10 for me, it's hard to surprise me really.  But in all 10 years that I've been in business, this wedding really was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen!  The Georgian Terrace, The Fabulous Fox Theater, they all played a part but Calley and Matthew and their amazing family and friends were just the sweetest and nicest people and so much fun!  The normal day stresses were completely replaced with smile and laughter.  It just simply wasn't anywhere to be found.  Calley is fiercely gorgeous inside and out and I just am so excited to share the images from this day...