wheeler house — Beauty & Beard PhotographyBlog

We had the chance to meet Lee & Dena back in May of 2023 and talk about this beautiful wedding day at the Lake Rabun Hotel in Lakemont, GA and how they wanted Spring mountains and greenery everywhere because of their love for nature and they wanted and intimate wedding day full of family. We also learned about how they met and some of Dena’s story as a single Mom and how he proposed to her in their living room keeping with the intimate theme. He likes fixing cars and they both love being outdoors and spending time with family which is all felt throughout the story and wedding day. We got the chance to meet up with them also the day we did some of our Christmas mini sessions at Padgett’s Farm and Morgan even got to hold their sweet baby Girl Delaney which then brings us to the wedding day itself.

The day started with our team showing up and meeting up with Kirsten, the planner and then making our way to the cabin to photograph details where the girls were getting ready. Once they were all dressed, we got them ready for the first look just down the hill. They shared their private vows and a sweet moment and from there we hopped straight into some of the family photos before heading to the ceremony/reception site and the Forest Lodge. Once there, they got to mingle with their guests and get everything set up for the ceremony. During the ceremony itself, they shared beautiful vows and used different colored sands in the sand ceremony to represent everyone in their family blending together and it was very cute seeing the kids take part. Afterwards, they shared a kiss and were announced as husband and wife before making their way back up the aisle. From there, everyone enjoyed cocktail hour and formals as the ceremony space was flipped into reception space and before long, it was time for the wedding party to line up and be announced in.

The reception was where Athens DJ Service got to shine and Cannon had the dance floor as full as it could be most of the time. Everyone was announced in and they went into their formal dances and then later cake cutting and toasts where a lot of the people they love gave heartfelt toasts. They shared more dances throughout the night and the dancefloor was opened and full which led to the end of the night with the sparkler exit outside of the Forest Lodge. We’re super happy to have been a part of Lee and Dena’s wedding and story and know that their family will have such a beautiful future together.

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

Venue – Lake Rabun – Forest Lodge

Dress- Tiffinie Bleu Bridal

Rings – Windsor Jewelers

Invitations – Minted.com

Men’s Attire – Dillards

Florist & Caterer – Epting Events Su-Lin Timberman

Planner – Kristen Curles – White Fox Events

Hair & Makeup– Kaylee Rigdon

DJ/Band – Athens DJ Service

Cakes – Classic City Confections via Epting Events

Bartender – Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant

Chair Rentals – Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant

Other Décor Rentals – Epting Events

Any other vendors – Big Mountain Shuttles

We got to meet Brandon and Mackenzie back in Jan and learned about their beautiful story as well as more about this wedding day at the Wheeler House in Ball Ground, GA. They met when Mackenzie started trying her hand at bowling in a bowling league and he, as well as three of his groomsmen, were in said league and they started hanging out after practice which then eventually led to him proposing near the water wheel at the univ of North GA where they also go back to picnic at the same spot.

The wedding day started with saying hey as well as doing the details photos while I was getting a good feel for the space and doing venue photos/videos. We got to see fun dance moves from the bridesmaids, dress twirling flower girls and the guys getting ready then taking shots together with their custom shot glasses. We also helped in the exchange of gifts and letters which was fun and is always an emotional moment to read something like that from your almost husband or wife. We then got the last few photos of Mackenzie getting dressed just before doing a first look with her Dad which was super emotional and she even shared a letter and gift with him as well as a first touch with Brandon just before the ceremony. That led straight into getting in place for the ceremony as more and more guests arrived. Once everyone made their way down the aisle, Mackenzie and her Dad were at the top of the aisle and Brandon held back tears a good bit and you could tell they were both so happy and ready for that moment. They shared beautiful vows, their families lit a unity candle and they closed out the ceremony with a kiss as they were pronounced Mr and Mrs Dye. That kicked off Cocktail hour and family formal photos as well as the rest of the wedding party photos and of course romantic photos of the newly weds that ended with having her dress bustled and ready for their first dance.

Once the huge barn doors were slid open and they entered the reception, everyone let out a huge cheer and they went straight into their first dance to Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” followed by the Father-Daughter and Mother-Son dances. Both of their Dads then gave a toast for the newlyweds that led into some delicious dinner by Events by Dezine. After dinner was done, we went to cut both cakes which was followed by some amazing toasts by the best man and matron of honor which ended by opening the dance floor which filled up pretty quickly. After a good bit of dancing, we snuck away with the couple to grab a few photos with the Rolls-Royce as well as a few by the ceremony area with the romantic streamed lights then they went back in for some more dancing. When it came time to leave, everyone lined up for a sparkler exit as Brandon and Mackenzie shared one last private dance inside then we all exited together for the sparkler exit leading to the exit car. The night ended with everyone chanting as they are all big fans of UGA and then they got into the Rolls-Royce and drove off into the night. We have already loved seeing some of the beautiful things happening in their lives as Mr. and Mrs. Dye like her teaching awards and fun honeymoon photos so, we can only expect more and are so excited for their future together and the Dye family!