Beauty & Beard Photography — Beautiful Ashton Cole Place wedding in Thomson, Georgia.

We had honor of meeting Clint and Sjane way back when Covid-19 wasn’t even a thought yet and got to talk about them and their relationship like how he proposed at Hopeland Gardens in Aiken trying to make it out to be an anniversary photo shoot and not have the family hiding spoil anything and of course she said yes and was still surprised!

Fast forward some and we got to meet up in April for their engagement session at Brick Pond Park/Hammond’s Ferry which can be seen HERE. One of the first things we saw showing up to the wedding day was those photos blown up beautifully around the reception area and framed with really good taste we must say. It made for such a gorgeous way to surround everything with their love and story which, we are all about!

Now that we’re on the wedding day, this was our first time at Ashton Cole Place and we have to say that it’s nothing short of breathtaking. So much thought and gorgeous spots to use for photos that we could have spent the entire day photographing around the property. We started the day the same way we start every wedding day, details and getting ready photos but we have to say that the flat lay details when we set them up on a vintage white table they had in the bridal suite turned out so gorgeous! Once we did all of the details and the bride was ready, we went right outside of the bridal suite to do a first look with her dad. He called it beforehand that we were trying to make him cry and that it was going to work, what we didn’t know would happen is that the girls would be crying in the window behind them watching. (okay, we knew they would be watching but didn’t think about the crying part) Every moment was beautiful as he turned around and saw his baby girl in her dress that reminded him of her mother’s dress and we can only imagine that all of the thoughts rushing in at that moment about the family in South Africa that couldn’t be there and how happy he was that she found someone like Clint. Going from one beautiful moment full of joy and tears, we fast forward to the next one when Clint is waiting at the altar for her and her dad to walk down and as the doors opened up to present her for the first time, he lost it. That also got to his mom and she started crying so before long, pretty much everyone was crying and smiling at the same time. (us included) Once they got through their hand written vows laughing and crying and sealed the deal with a kiss, they joyfully made their way back up the aisle as husband and wife to go and start on family photos while the guests all went over to cocktail hour. We knocked out the family photos and bridal party photos before walking around more with the newly weds and saved the best for last to go to the pond (they really love water photos and ponds). Once we finished that, it was time for them to lineup and head into the reception and start their dances and they were all so sweet and sentimental. They finished the dances and before long, it was time for the speeches. Her dad stepped out and welcomed Clint to the family and thanked him for being the man he is as well as looked back on Sjane as a little girl. Then one of the groomsmen stepped up to read notes from the family in South Africa that couldn’t be there for the wedding and they were all so beautifully written and you could even feel the welcoming and loving nature of the whole family through just the reading of their words. the Best man, maid of honor and matron of honor all gave lovely speeches as well and everyone raised a glass in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Gantt. They danced the night away and it got pretty crazy (in a good way) and then it was time for the sendoff. It held off rain the entire day but the started right as it was time to leave so, we just went for it and they ran through the sparklers and out into the rain surrounded by their friends and family. It was such a great day and we’re excited to see what the future holds for their marriage and family!