millen wedding photographer — Beauty & Beard PhotographyBlog

We met with Kenneth and Kaitlyn back in October of last year via Zoom and got to learn a little about them. We of course love that fact that he is into a lot of techy things that I can relate to as well as how genuinely fun and kind hearted they are. The wedding day took place at a pretty new venue called “Venue at 21 East” which is actually one of the larger venues in the area now with a lot of to offer on their grounds. The plan changed since it was super cold and raining on the wedding day to an indoor wedding which was luckily more than doable. Also, we loved working with Penny at the venue which says a lot of everything the venue has going on.

The wedding day started with us actually being a little lost since Google was confused where the venue actually was with it being new but, once they described the gate and we drove just a second more, we found ourselves arriving to the huge property with fields for days. Once we were inside, we met one of the bridesmaids and also met Penny (the coordinator) to get a feel for the space and quick run down with the change of plans. We then went into the huge bridal suite to gather details and say hey as we always do then dove right into the details and venue coverage. As we were looking around for where we wanted to photograph the dress, we ended up seeing the small changing room where it was hanging and realized that it has a really cool mirror and would be great if we just moved a few things so we did that and then did the photographs of the girls in their custom flannels before making our way to the guys. The guys were playing Contra (this may be one of the only wedding blogs in existence to reference Contra and know what it is) and finishing up getting ready upstairs so we took them into the next room where the pool table is and of course had a blast with them all making jokes and taking some goofier photos together as well. We then ended off our time with them by taking solo portraits of Kenny. As we got back into the girls room it was time to finish up the back of the dress and set up for a father-daughter first look quickly before the guest arrived for the ceremony. Kaitlyn and her father shared a brief but beautiful moment together and everyone managed to hold back tears for the sake of makeup pretty well but then it was officially “go time” for the ceremony as guests were arriving. The space was decorated beautifully and even though in-door weddings can be tough lighting wise, everything turned out beautifully. After the family had been seated and everyone made their way down the aisle, the Bride rounded the corner and Kenny lost it which made for such a great moment. (Morgan almost always covers the groom’s reaction because she loves moments like these so much). As she was handed off and the faced each other hand in hand, they shared in beautiful vows, communion (accompanied by beautiful live music), a prayer and finished off with their kiss. As they made their way back up the aisle officially as husband and wife, Kenny gave a few fist bumps and the joy radiated from the newlyweds.

Switching everything from the ceremony space to reception mode quickly took quite a few hands but it happened quickly so that we could do the family and bridal party photos before they moved that as well. We finished quickly then made our way upstairs for a few photos with the Bride and Groom. This is always a short moment where the couple gets to soak up the fact that they’re officially married and are taking their first photos together before heading to the reception. It’s brief but, it’s always one of our favorite parts of a wedding day. As we made our way downstairs, it was time for Kaitlyn’s wedding dress to get bustled and we normally take advantage of this moment to get setup with lighting and how we want to space out the dance floor coverage wise. Once they were ready, the DJ announced them in and everyone cheered as they went straight into their first dance. All of their dances were some of the most beautiful moments everything from tears to laughs being shared and of course seeing them wipe each others tears had us a little choked up ourselves. At this point it was time for dinner and honestly, this was some of the best country cooking we have ever had at a wedding reception so, hats off to the chef(s). Everyone had eaten and their was something magical happening outside, a beautiful pink sunset and a rainbow somehow all at the same time so we all braved the cold to get some of the sunset as it was disappearing as well as the venue space a little bit. As we made it back in, we went straight for the cake cutting and then shortly after into toasts. The toasts were a rollercoaster of emotional moments and their were a few so we didn’t share as many photos as we wanted but, they were all beautiful and finished off with the Father of the Bride before going into their dance. You could tell from the speeches and this dance that he is one proud Dad and that he loves the woman Kaitlyn has grown up to be so it made for a very special dance. Kenny and his Mom danced next and ever since we have had Logan, the Mother-Son dances hit us a little differently so just assume that we may or may not have cried a little when Kenny leaned down to hug his mom and cried on her shoulder. Everyone then made their way to the dance floor for a little while before doing the fake sparkler exit out front (we ended up doing it a little early while it stopped raining a little bit). It turned out beautifully and actually made for a cool point for the DJ to transition the lights inside to be darker and crank up the music more. Everyone came in the front door and then were just all of the sudden on the dance floor so it worked out perfectly. Besides the bouquet and garter toss, the rest of the night was full of fun dancing, photos with family and then some of the moments where the dance floor was just full of happy couples slow dancing. As our night was coming to an end, we got to say goodbye and congratulate the now Mr. and Mrs. Miles with excitement as they were heading to one of our favorite areas for their honeymoon, Tennessee!

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

Shockwave Entertainment - DJ

Penny Tanner - Day of Coordinator Venue

@ 21 East - Venue

Annette McCray - Catering

Pineland Bakery - Cupcakes

Cathy's Cakes & Creations - Cake

Jordan Zeigler - Bridal Hair

Teresa Harley - Florist

Coastal Georgia Tents & Party Rentals - Outside Drapery Decor

David McLendon - Officiant

Heart to Heart Bridal (North Liberty, IA) - Dress

Doland Jewelers (Davenport, IA) - Rings

Men’s Wearhouse - Suits

We just recently shared their engagement session and mentioned having met with them a while ago at Starbucks and getting to meet the bride’s parents there as well. If you’d like to see their engagement session, click here.

We started their wedding day with saying hey and photographing some of the getting ready with the girls. It was our first wedding working with Taylor even though we already knew her a little and her salon but it was great to capture their work. The Bridesmaids all had a lot of fun and you could hear the laughter throughout venue and with the walls for the guys dressing room and the girls room being shared, they had some hilarious moments with each other. Later once the guys were dressed and had received their groomsmen gifts, we hopped on the golf cart to go down by the water and pinned the boutonniere’s on them all just before doing the group photos. Once we finished their group photos, the groom and his brother shared a moment to take it all in before heading back up to their room so the bride could come out. Once Cara got in her dress with the held from her mom, we then loaded them all onto the golf cart as well to go back down so there was some uniformity to the group photos. It seemed to be a theme that everyone had a great sense of humor and was having a great time throughout the day and the girls group photos was no exception. Once we finished those, we took a few bridal portraits as well and headed back up the hill to get ready for the ceremony. Everyone was making their way in and JJ (the in house coordinator for the venue) started taking grandparents over on the golf cart from the reception venue where most of the attendees were congregating. They formed the lineup just behind the big white curtain once everyone had made their way into the somewhat newly built ceremony venue on the grounds. Everyone made their way in on their que but we really wanted to highlight the groom’s sister and that she clearly loves her brother and shed some tears on her way down the aisle just after him, it was such a great moment. Fast forward just a little bit and the bride makes her entrance and as soon as Jordan (the groom) saw her, he was smiling from ear to ear and you could tell this was the happiest day of their lives. The ceremony went perfectly and they chose pink and black sand for the unity sand ceremony. Once they kissed to seal the deal, they shared an adorable hug and walked back up the aisle as husband and wife with pure joy on their faces.

They quickly signed the marriage certificate with the officiant and we did family photos just behind the ceremony site by this beautiful arch way they have built out of wood from the property. Once we made sure we got everything on the family photo check list, we took the entire wedding party down to the water and got the full group photos and a few silly ones as well. We then sent the bridal party back up and just took a few moments to take some of the newlyweds together with the stunning fall colors and large pond as an amazing backdrop.

Once they were announced into the reception, they went into the dances and after their beautiful dance, the father daughter and mother son dances, they actually all shared one slow dance as couples which doesn’t happen often but we think is such a beautiful thing to do. Fast forward through all of the fun events of the night like the cake cutting and bouquet toss and the kids were making the best of the smores station and bonfire outside while a lot of the rest were inside dancing. They actually did a fake exit and went back into dancing and smores after which gave them probably the longest sparkler exit line we have had the honor of being a part of which was so perfect with the streamed lights that the venue have outside making for even more beautiful and warm light into the joy filled exit. We left shortly after a little bit more dancing and saying bye to the family and newlyweds and are super excited for their future as Mr. and Mrs. Spinks!