Malmö, Sweden Destination Wedding - Elizabeth + Sten
We were given a truly amazing and unique opportunity when Elizabeth, a former schoolmate of Jason's, contacted us about traveling to Sweden to capture her wedding. When we first talked about traveling overseas, it just seemed too good to be true, but as we boarded the plane destined for Copenhagen, we realized that we were on our way to capture our first international wedding outside of the Carribean.
Elizabeth greeted us at the airport where we also met up with one of her sisters, Leslie, and boarded the train that would take us to neighboring Malmö. This initial interaction set the tone for the remainder of the trip, which focused on family. Our favorite thing was, in fact, getting to know and building relationships with Elizabeth and Sten's families, as we are not usually afforded this on multiple occasions prior to a wedding; however, we think it made everyone feel more comfortable, which always makes for better photos. We shared dinners with the family, and they were even so kind as to take us around town to see such sites as Slottsmollan, a beautiful windmill; the Turning Torso, so named for its shape; some of the gorgeous parks around Malmö; and even Malmohaus Castle, built in the Middle Ages and home to some of Malmö's well-known museums.
The site that we were most blown away by during our visit, however, just happened to be the ceremony site at Sankt Petri Church, or St. Peter's Church. This is the oldest building in Malmö and is adorned with beautiful paintings and religious artwork added over the course of centuries. We were impressed with the amazing stone floors and the phenomenal altar that the two wed in front of. This venue was truly breathtaking!
After the ceremony, we took family photos by the ornate doors of the church and walked to the main square to capture the bridal party in front of Stortorget, a large statue surrounded by stairs. Then, we escorted the couple to a nearby park where we snapped some photos along the water and amidst the insanely tall hedges on the outskirts of the park. These turned out to be some of our favorites!
We were all staying at the Mayfair Hotel, where both the bride and groom prepared for their nuptials, and this was also the location for the reception (which was held in the cellar present since the 1300s although the classically elegant hotel has only been in use for about 100 years). We loved the perfectly placed table settings, and the arches provided an appealing architectural detail that we absolutely loved in the photos. Speeches and toasts were a huge part of the reception and a tradition for the Swedes at such special occasions. Everyone attending the wedding was there celebrating love and the union of these two, and it truly showed!
We cannot express how amazing this trip was and how excited we were to be part of Elizabeth and Sten's special day. Take a peek at our adventure in Sweden to capture this couple's wedding!
Ceremony- Sankt Petri's Church/ St. Peter's Church | Lodging and Reception- Mayfair Hotel Tunneln | Cake- Playbake Sweden | Suit- Dressman | Groom and Groomsmen accessories- The Tie Bar | Wedding Dress- Lilly | Bridesmaids' Dresses- David's Bridal | Catering- Malmo Rokeri | DJ- Robert Persson
The Barn at Living Water Wedding - Sarah & Daniel
We want to share with you today a very special wedding between one of my former students, Daniel, and his beautiful bride, Sarah, the epitome of high school sweethearts. Although they are still a young couple, one still in nursing school and the other pursuing a degree in medicine, they are wise beyond their years and so in love with one another.
Sarah and Daniel wanted a meaningful location for their nuptials, so they chose to have their wedding at the church they attended while students at Lee University, the Barn at Living Water. Featuring gorgeous fields, lush greenery, and a quaint barn, this venue was perfect for a beautifully sunny summer wedding. The two wed overlooking rolling hills and under an iron canopy adorned with purple, blue, and white flowers. This sentimental ceremony was performed by their pastor, and the two shared communion together as soon to be husband and wife. We loved the incorporation of string quartet for a touch of elegance and the family Bible that held the wedding bands for a sense of nostalgia.
Sarah's dress is aligned with one of the biggest wedding gown trends right now as it was two separate pieces. We loved the choice of a lace beaded bodice with a full skirt and long veil. The flawless "something blue" came into play with her shoes, but her gorgeous sapphire engagement ring and necklace were unique plays on that tradition as well. One of our favorite color pairings incorporated the girls' lavender dresses with the groomsmen's gray suits, and all of these shades blended perfectly within the rounded bouquets accented with greenery.
The couple's reception was held in the barn, and some of the most endearing moments of the day came as Sarah danced with her father and Daniel did the same with his mother; however, it was the speeches delivered by the bridesmaids and groomsmen that touched our hearts and showed us how much the love shared between these two has impacted others. The best man performed an emotional rendition of "Make You Feel My Love" that we think brought the entire room to tears. What a perfect gift for these two!
We feel blessed to have been able to celebrate the union of these two at their wedding, and we hope you see all of Sarah and Daniel's joy reflected in these images as we do.
Event Venue: The Barn at Living Water | Floral: Grafe Studio | Cake: Kimmie's Cakes | Dress: Monica's Bridal | Shoes: Steve Madden | Catering: The Barn at Living Water | Bradley Rentals | Chattanooga Tents | Hair: Bliss | Makeup: Ryan Andrews | Videography: Martha Douhne & Ruthie Martin
Cleveland Tennessee Bridal - Sarah
A bridal session is perhaps the best way for a future Mrs. to become comfortable in front of the camera prior to her big day. Just like an engagement shoot, we treat this as an opportunity to get to know our bride better and for her to learn more about us too. Having a relationship with your photographer upfront is a major advantage in having natural and effortless posing in your photos when the wedding rolls around.
The bride also gains another huge benefit from this session aside from becoming familiar with our posing and growing more comfortable as the subject of so many photos. This provides a perfect chance to put that hair and makeup trial to great use. Brides can see in advance exactly how they will appear in photos in order to make any alterations, but a great photog always keeps these hidden from the groom until after the wedding.
We were so thrilled to capture all of these moments with Sarah before her wedding day with Daniel. We loved the incorporation of the Lee University campus, as the couple attended school there together. The gorgeous chapel and classic buildings provided the ideal backdrop for her timeless gown and perfectly styled veil. The photos taken at the venue, the Barn at Living Water, allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the ceremony and reception site in advance and to snap some shots of Sarah where the two attend church together. These special moments with the bride are some of our favorites!
A bridal session can truly provide a great opportunity for the bride and photographer to develop a rapport with one another, but it also gives the bride a more relaxed occasion to capture some amazing photos to add to the wedding album. We hope you are inspired by this elegant and romantic bridal session with Sarah!
Nikki & Brian's Elkmont Campground Engagement
We were so excited to meet Nikki and Brian at the Elkmont Campground for this gorgeous engagement shoot. This Alabama couple was vacationing in the Smoky mountains and wanted a unique setting for their save the dates.
This sweet couple brought along their adorable dog, Scout, and we were happy to catch some endearing moments between the three along the streams of the campground. Some of our favorite shots, however, were taken at an overlook just past the Laurel Falls hiking trails.
Take a peek at these mountain engagement photos, and look out for Nikki and Brian's Alabama wedding feature on our blog in the fall.
Inara & Cody's Modern Bohemian Wedding - The Stables at Hunter Valley Farm
An absolutely beautiful bride; a handsome, happy groom; and a group of fun loving friends and family celebrating with them made Cody and Inara's big day at The Stables at Hunter Valley Farm a truly memorable one. The Stables feature a gorgeous outdoor ceremony venue underneath a canopy of tall trees, a stone-paved path beneath a large pergola, and rustic fences lining the property. We loved the mix of wooden chairs and classic pews for guests to witness the union of these two as well as the spacious reception area that truly embodies the feel of a stable but with elevated elegance.
Inara's gorgeous lace gown fit her like a glove, and we adored the variety of bridesmaid's dresses. Cute, sparkly flats ensured the girls would be comfortable, so they could dance alongside the couple throughout the night. Shades of pink, purple, and cream in the bouquets and centerpieces by Swank Floral added the perfect pop of color and complemented the neutral tones of the girls' dresses. Cody and his groomsmen kept it simple, forgoing traditional coats and three piece suits in favor of stylish suspenders and gray Converse. These guys were great sports, creating one of our favorite moments (and photos) of the day when they decided to playfully toss leaves into the air together.
Stealing a few moments alone after the ceremony, Inara and Cody took a stroll down a grassy path and were greeted by horses who popped their heads over the fence at the most opportune moments for us to capture a few shots. We hope you enjoy these photos from the couple's special day, and join us in congratulating them again!
Venue: The Stables at Hunter Valley Farm
Food: Rosa's Catering
Dress: Martina Liana
Cake/Dessert: Rosa's Catering
Flowers: Swank Floral
Bridesmaids dresses: Alfred Angelo
Tuxes: Men's Warehouse
DJ: Ogle Entertainment & Light Design
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Sarah & Daniel's Haw Ridge Park Engagement
These high school sweethearts had two classes together when they initially met, and ironically enough one of those was Chemistry, something clearly evident in these adorable engagement photos.
It couldn't have been a more perfect evening to spend with these two at Haw Ridge in Oak Ridge. This park boasts extensive trails that run alongside the Clinch River, and we loved the gorgeous scenery of this location as well as the old fashioned wooden fence and beautiful docks we visited with the couple. Haw Ridge holds a bit of sentimental value for the two as well as they have run the trails together, and we were thrilled to incorporate that sense of nostalgia in these photos.
We had to visit the location where it all started, their alma mater, Hardin Valley Academy, to capture a few intimate moments with Sarah and Daniel. We climbed to the top of a hill overlooking the school with blooming wildflowers and a mountain backdrop, resulting in some of our favorite shots.
We hope you enjoy these moments from Sarah and Daniel's walk down memory lane as a newly engaged couple. Could they be any cuter? We are so excited for their wedding in May!
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