Tops in Lexington TOP WEDDINGS… 2nd year in a row!:)

Yes… so we’re pretty proud to be featured, for the second year in a row, as one of Kentucky’s TOP Weddings in the TopsinLex.  This is such a fabulous publication and we are always proud to be a part of it!  Check out our work… Kristen and Alan were the featured wedding for their “Book” Themed reception!  It was VERY beautiful and totally personal!  I loved it.  Definitely one of the more uniquely beautiful weddings I have ever seen!

Location was the gorgeous Talon Winery.

The florals were amazing by Suzi Hjorth of Magnolia Floral Design.

Cake by the awesome Martine of Martine’s Pastries.

Wedding Planning by Jackie Lee of Every Last Detail.

View the COMPLETE ISSUE HERE

Not to mention our amazing ad with another of our fabulous couples, Maureen and Chad (wedding pics to come!)

HOT Wedding Trend Alert: Belted Gowns!

These are NOT your grandmother’s belts.  (well maybe they are if your grandma was a chic happening lady!  It could be totally cool to wear a piece of her life with you!)  I am talking some seriously cool, beautiful, amazing, totally fabulous, sometimes “bling”ed out, always stylish belts!  A really amazing belt or sash can make even the simplest wedding dress look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!!!

Like this silvery gray stunner from yanethandco on Etsy:

Or this totally bling belt to add a little sparkle to your dress by IngenueB on Etsy:

Or maybe you are inspire by a softer satin look like this stunning satin sash with just a bit of bling by Untamed Petals on Etsy:

Then there is elegant, yet whimsical with something like this Vintage inspired satin flower and sash creation by GracefullyGirly on Etsy:

Or maybe you would think of using a belt / sash as a pop of color to tie in a colorful wedding theme with something like this stunning Teal Rhinestone Flower sash by peaceandglorydetails on Etsy:

Or MAYBE your dress stands on it’s own but you would rather wear a belt in your hair!  Today’s headbands seem to be the love child of the headbands we knew and loved as kids and a satin ribbon!  Something like this could be perfect from LoBoheme on Etsy:

At any rate I truly do this that this trend of belts and bows is fabulous.  It is the perfect way to add a little extra sparkle and pizazz to your wedding attire without altering your dress design.  Oftentimes, custom alterations can costs many hundred of dollars when adding a belt can cost as little as $25-100.  Not only is this cost effective but it could make the perfect heirloom.  So yes, let’s face it our daughter will be very unlikely to want to wear our dated gowns when they get married but these stylish belts can be added to their dress, hair or bouquet in the future to allow them to keep the tradition going in their own weddings.  Or better yet have a belt made from YOUR mother’s 1975 lacy number!  It’s puffy sleeves may not be cute but it could be the perfect “old” in your new, borrowed and blue repertoire!!

Maureen & Chad’s Southland Christian Church Wedding

Maureen and Chad were blessed with an AMAZINGLY warm January day.  It seems that my couples are lucky like that!  ( I like to call that blessed! )  We had plenty of time to run off to Keeneland for some beautiful photos with the couple before their candlelit ceremony.

There were so many unique and special touches to their wedding… It was like a photographer’s playground!  Maureen and Chad’s intimate wedding culminated in dinner at Malone’s, a fabulous cake by Brenda of the Sugar Forest and post wedding drinks at the Bigg Blue Martini!  Pretty perfect wedding day if you ask me!  Here’s the sneak peek!

Brittany & Caleb’s Ashland, Kentucky Wedding Photos

Brittany and Caleb were married in November, in their hometown of Ashland, Kentucky.  We traveled to Ashland to photograph their ceremony at the Historic “Chocolate Church” (First United Methodist Church).  Their reception followed at the Bellefonte Country Club.  Although it was a bitterly cold day (for November anyhow) and the skies spit snow at us all day long, the spirits were warm and our bridesmaids braved the cold to create some pretty awesome images for Brit and Caleb!   (Kudos to bridesmaids who are willing to take on for the home team! – no pun intended)

At any rate, the wedding ceremony was beautifully candle lit and yes, I cried, a couple of times as a matter of fact.  To see Caleb’s face light up when he finally got to see Brit turn at the end of the aisle… priceless.  Of course it is always an emotional moment to watch a father hand his daughter over, turn and walk away but that is another post for another day   Stay tuned!

Here is a sneak peek!  They had amazing details and their reception venue, and decor was stunning!  Of course I LOVED that they used enlargements from their engagement as decor!    Always makes me smile to see a print or engagement guest book because I automatically know how proud my couples are of their life, their love and their images!!

I loved that Brittany had tons of BLING!  Her necklace was fabulous.  Be sure to look for pics of it in the movie.  The back of the necklace had these long strands of crystals so every pic we took from that back of her dress had some bling in it!  I had never seen a necklace like that before I brides, I HIGHLY recommend it!  It photographed REALLY well and added a pop to each photo!

Their historic church was beautiful (quite dark- which any photogs know that dark church + no flash= tough lighting situation!) but there were lots of twinkling candles!!!

And of course the reception at the Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland was awesome!  The tables were draped in beautiful flower centerpieces, and even the CAKE had bling!!!  LOVED IT!

And yes, I could not resist.  Brit and Caleb had a stunning sparkler exit from the church and I snagged some spare sparklers to play with later at the reception.  I am just a big kid when it comes to wedding!  I think that your wedding should fulfill all your childhood dreams and should be one of the most emotional, spiritual, FUN days of your life!

Brit & Caleb’s Wedding Movie is still to come!  Check back later in the week for it!

Brittany’s Snowy Bridal Session at Keeneland

Brittany’s wedding was at the beginning of November and even though it flurried, it did not snow on her wedding day.  BUT one weekend in December when there WAS snow I hinted that we might go out and shoot her bridal images that day and she jumped at the opportunity!  Of course CATCHING the snow in Lexington is not always easy… our meteorologists must need a raise or something!  We headed out to Keeneland and despite the cold managed to end up with some GORGEOUS images!

When this image came up in the download I knew that this was just “it” for me.  Lots of times couples will ask me how long with a session take to shoot and I always say “Until I get the money shot”… and that is the God’s honest truth.  When I look into that camera and see that one shining moment, which usually happens toward the end of the session, I know that we will not be able to top that for the rest of our and generally that is when I say “done!”.  All of my couples, I am sure will agree, that each of us can pick that ONE photo out of the crowd… this was it for Brittany’s session… Something about it made me say WOW!

Brittany, came prepared for our snowy adventure!  I always want my brides to know that I will never ask you to do anything that I would not do myself.  All the photos that you see on my site of people in water, snow, etc… I am generally in up to my waist with them!  I am not a sissy and I am also very careful to be gentle with my brides!  For that reason, when shooting in the snow, I do NOT wear a coat.  I have my mitten with no fingertips, but I try to dress in similar fashion to my brides and that gives me the ability to know when enough is enough.  I can gage how cold they are because I AM THAT COLD TOO!!!

After her session was posted on Facebook Brit gave me a compliment that brings tears to my eyes!  Brittany said:  “I thought it was the sweetest thing ever that my thoughtful photographer said that she didn’t wear a coat on the sessions so that she could tell how could it was and wouldn’t freeze her brides.  That is the nicest, most thoughtful thing I had ever heard!  Not only is she talented but she has a heart of gold!!!”

So yes, I do care too much sometimes! Sometimes that equals fevers, chills and a friggin cold after my snow sessions but its all worth to know that my clients have these amazing memories to treasure forever!

Lateefah’s Bridal Session

We shot Lateefah and Matt’s wedding in Louisville, Kentucky on the rooftop of the Glassworks building in August but due to time constraints we were unable to fit in a bridal session before the wedding.  Problem solved…do it afterward.  This is ALWAYS an option for our brides.  Before or after… makes no difference to us.  We actually find that brides are a lot braver in their dresses AFTER they have already worn them on the big day!

Now, granted I have known Teefah for at least 15 years now, and spent many long wonderful days with her as Kyleigh’s nurse at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital (shout out to my 4 East girls!), I trusted Teefah with my daughter’s life and I asked her to trust me with her photos.

(Ps… this one took my breath away… I have a few images every now and then that do that… still blows me away that I look into my camera and see THIS.. it is often overwhelming to me that when my clients TRUST me and allow me to be the most creative, that is when they get the most stunning images!)

She of course, was up for anything and off we went.  Through a field, over a railroad track, avoiding a thunderstorm, in a fountain, downtown to Triangle park… we did it all!  Here is what ensued:

My favorite chair from my house + 1 beautiful bride in her golden dress = A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. (right?! )

I mentioned fountains and Teefah was pumped!  So we stood on top of the fountains (granted by this point in the season that water was COLD!) … we tip toed around.. took pics in front and they were great… but then I said… what if you got IN the fountain and this is the look I got:

SURE! …. so in she went!

After her legs and feet were fully numb from the cold water… we got down to business…

Or maybe we, like any good friend and photographer, sat back and laughed as Teefah froze her butt off splashing in the fountain!  But it made for good pics right?

So we laughed for a while and then decided we had better get those WOW images before she froze to death.  Can’t you just hear the headlines?  Photographer pushes bride to get in cold water and causes frostbite!  LOL  Yeah.. we need NONE of that!

Even though a storm was encroaching we decided to hurry down to Triangle Park for a few last minute pics in Teefah’s RECEPTION dress!  I mean… if smoke em if you got em … (and no I don’t endorse smoking… when we flew to Disney our pilot made a joke about NO SMOKING on the place except that our plane had exactly 3hrs and 30 minutes worth of gas and if we were still in the air at 4 hours then we might as well smoke em if you got em!  We thought it was funny … so if you hear us use this during your session… don’t freak out.)

Wedding “ish” session at Keeneland

We were unable to photograph this beautiful couple due to a conflict in our schedules but we were able to spend a little time with them at Keeneland for an impromptu session. Keeneland happened to be one of the ONLY locations in Lexington that actually had fall color this year and God smiled on us and gave us an absolutely stunning evening with blue sky and unbelievably warn light.

Yes… I broke out the fisheye… gotta love the modern look it bring to the photos as well as the wide angle!  Our favorite fisheye happens to be a 10mm so I always have to be careful to not catch my feet in the pic!  LOL

Hot Wedding Trend: Using antique jewelry to jazz up your bouquet

Recently I had the privilege of photographing a very thoughtful (and beautiful!) wedding.  The bride had put beautiful sentiment into every single inch of her wedding and I was truly touched by so many things that it is hard to highlight just one.  Although, I literally welled up with tears when I saw her bouquet sitting on the coffee table of her hotel room.  It was stunning!!!  See for yourself :

Gorgeous right?  Then she laid it on me… the jewels inside the flowers, are pieces of antique jewelry from her grandmother’s collection.  The stems are also bound with a bracelet.  Instant tears… how special, and beautiful!!!  I SO wish that thoughtful things like this had been trendy years ago when I was married.  I have always kept a few pieces of my grandmother’s jewelry and will continue to in hopes that Kyleigh may want to use it when she is married.

So how does one go about attaching these pendants?  These were actually attached to SILK florals and arranged sporadically with her beautiful fresh flowers.  The floral design was created by Suzi of Magnolia Floral Designs here in Lexington, KY.

Thank you Kristen for allowing me to share your creative efforts!!  Your wedding was truly gorgeous and I count it my honor to have been there to capture the day!  Congratulations and Best Wishe as you celebrate your new life with Alan!

Nicole & John’s Versailles, KY Brittany Farm Wedding

Shooting weddings is not only a career for us, but a passion.  We never take the privilege lightly and always count it an honor to be asked to spend one of the most important days of two people’s lives with them, capturing every little piece   That honor is elevated a bit in our eyes when we are asked by family and friends to be their photographers.  I have to say it is usually a bit more stressful just because you want everything to be PERFECT for them!  My husband, Troy, has known the groom, John since they were small kids so when John called to say that he was getting married we were over the moon excited for him and Nicole!  Sharing their amazing wedding day was a special experience!  The wedding took place at Nicole’s family home on Brittany Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.  On a bright and beautiful July day, John and Nicole exchanged their vows and celebrated late into the night with an awesome reception headlined by Caught Red Handed. It was a fabulous day and evening that ended with a late night send off under a cloud of bubbles.  Good times were had by all!

Makeup by Susan Strange.. who did a fabulous job on both face and body!  She made Nicole’s tan lines disappear!  I was totally impressed!!!

These bridesmaid dresses were so flowy and gorgeous.  I do believe they were David’s Bridal dresses (which honestly shocked me because I am not normally a DB fan!  I was thinking they were J Crew!!)

John helped choose these awesome swirl ties from thetiebar.com

Nicole rocked these awesome Steve Madden wedges that matched her wedding colors perfectly!

Nicole and John were married under the amazing shade trees in her parent’s yard on Brittany Farm.

The reception followed in an adjoining field under a tent decorated beautifully with shades of celery green, yellow and orange.  NO pink at this wedding

Nicole and her awesome bridesmaids.

John and his groomsmen in their tan suits.  Perfect for a warm summer evening!

The main driveway of the farm is lined with rows of yellow and orange Lily flower beds.  It was like they had planted them just for Nicole and John!!!

Their awesome cake by Brenda Renner of The Sugar Forest.  Notice the paw prints on top?  That was Nicole’s way of having her two beloved pups with her on the wedding day!!  How cute is that?

A close up of the puppy prints… awwwwwwwwww…..

Such a sweet first dance!  There was dancing… and a LIVE band (one of our favorite to boot!  Caught Red Handed)

And an awesome bubble send off …

James and Randa’s Asbury Wedding

So I made it mostly through proofing James and Randa’s images before I completely lost it.  That is a side effect of being so close to your clients… although you give them a gift of photography, they are forever emblazoned in your heart.  I enjoy all of my clients.  I have fun with all of my clients.  I say goodbye to many of my clients knowing that it may be a long time before we see each other again as they move on with their lives, out of state, to bigger and better things.  But every now and then a client wanders into is divinely placed in your life.  You know that they are there for a reason and you feel lucky and blessed by their friendship.  James and Randa are one of those.  Those people who leave a footprint on your heart and you know you will never be the same.

I watched as their wedding ceremony was as much about worship as it was about them.  It was as much about friends and family as it was about them.  These two are the single most selfless people I have known in a very long time and in proofing their photos, in seeing the love and light inside them, they make me want to be a better person.

I am sure they never set out on their journey to plan a wedding thinking “I think we’ll go change some lives today” but … for such a time as this… we were given the privilege of spending their wedding day with them.  We were the lucky ones.

Congratulations James and Randa.  I know that God has a truly “beautiful ending” for each of you.