Weddings

Andrew & Samantha

 

Back in the Spring, we had the chance to meet up with Andrew and Samantha in person for the first time at their engagement session which you can see here. It was so much fun and the fact that we were able to include their sweet pup Stevie which you will notice he shows up in some details in the wedding since he stayed home on the big day. The wedding day itself took place at one of our favorites, Windsor Manor, where we got married back in 2018 ourselves and every time we get to visit, it’s so special and we have such a kinship with the couples in having similar taste already and this couple is just so sweet and we have loved the entire process of getting ready for this wedding day with them!

The wedding day itself started with us showing up and saying hey to Samantha and everyone getting ready in the bridal suite and then gathering details to photograph which is also where we got to formally meet the coordinator Justine as well and she helped even with some of the details in the midst of juggling doing a ton of other things as well and we loved talking with her. Once we finished with details, we poked our heads back in and said hey to Andrew and his Groom’s team also as they were all showing up. Once everyone was ready, we set up for their first look for photo and video really quick with just Morgan and I covering it. Once they had a short sweet moment together, we hopped straight into some couples portraits before getting the wedding party together and they made their way inside to do one more practice of their first dance together inside which made for a great photo op as well! At that point we also had the finished cake nearby to photograph and some other details then before long it was time to setup for the ceremony and get in place as guests were showing up. As the ceremony started, the song selection was immaculate and a lot of the wedding party danced their way in a little down the aisle which would be better seen in the video later and would have been a ton of photos to include here. From our understanding, this was all a passion project of Samantha’s for the songs and then it switched from the upbeat songs to the beautiful song “Turning Page” by Sleeping at Last as Samantha and her parents came down the aisle and Andrew only got a little misty eyed but had a huge smile on his face which would later change during their vows and the story he told about the courage that Samantha has given him to overcome things in his life and the way that she loves him and really all of the vows and stories were beautiful and I am pretty sure everyone shed a little bit of a single tear at least. As they exchanged all of their vows and rings, they then finished off the ceremony with a kiss and making their way up the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

After the ceremony, we all met up together to do the family formal photos and full wedding party as well as just a few more couples portraits with the Golden hour light since we were ahead of schedule on everything and then it was time for Samantha’s dress to get bustled so they could make their way to the dance floor for their first dance which was so well done with the Ballroom Dance Center being great dance teachers and it all ended with a nice dip towards everyone at the reception. It was then time for the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances, a delicious BBQ dinner and then we made it to an open dance floor for a while followed by cake cutting which apparently was something they had been waiting on in excitement for a while in the planning and it turned out beautifully and even had Stevie included in the decor on the cake table. It was worth the wait they said and they had multiple flavors so it was fun to see some guests wait in line for the next layer to get cut instead because they wanted it bad enough. From here, we got back into an open dance floor for the rest of the night and taking photos with the different tables walking around then ended the night with a fun glow stick exit surprise before going back into dance some more where Mike from Magic Sound Productions did an amazing job as always so it was a ton of fun to see him again. From here, it came to time for us to leave and so we got to say goodbye to everyone and congratulate them again. We of course cannot wait to see what the future holds for them and Stevie as they start this new chapter together officially!

 

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

Venue - Windsor Manor

Bride Hair/MUA - Destiny Brees

Day of Coordinator - Justine Bosdell

DJ - Magic Sounds Production DJ Magic Mike

Cake - Sweet April Cakes by Rebekah Thompson

Catering - BBQ Barn

Bartender - Elegant Drinks by Vee

Dress - Elegant Bridals

Groom’s Suit - Simon’s Formal Wear

Clayson & Rebecca

 

We don’t typically have the ability to say that we knew the couple as great friends and have even our own stories with them that would make for a fun toast but, in this post, we absolutely can say that and that we love them dearly! Clayson and Rebecca’s wedding day took place at Living History Park in North Augusta which is a bit of a family tradition from what I understand and we also got to bump shoulders with one of our favorites here locally, Tracy Yahn and her whole team who we’ve worked with a quite a few times over the past few years. Throughout the wedding day, there was every emotion from tears to pure outrageous laughter (more on the laughter side of things and more on that in a minute) and it was such an honor to witness and capture some of our closest friends celebrate the love of these two.

The day started at an airbnb in Downtown Augusta just inside Olde Town with a super eclectic yet, beautifully detailed vibe. After saying hello and exchanging hugs, we grabbed all of the details to photograph and found which space we wanted to use and landed on one of the upstairs rooms with a huge window and plenty of space to spread out. Once finished with details, we gave a good “hooty hoo” signal for Rebecca’s MOH Marlow to bring her up to open a surprise gift from Clayson with a bunch of personal flare with an added bonus of it being their engagement session photo as a gorgeous painting. From there, we had all of the girls grab some orange juice for a few quick photos on the bed in that room before everyone got dressed and Rebecca’s mom helped with her last bit of getting into the dress and then the airbnb had a beautiful claw foot tub upstairs so we got a few photos there before everyone started packing and we all made our way to Living History Park in North Augusta. From here, once the girls were all in their spot, we met up with the guys and helped with the boutonnieres then took Rebecca’s Dad to get in a good spot to do their first look and we landed on a shaded spot surrounded by greenery where we knew we would have angles and also close to the Bride. Once he turned around and saw his little girl, you could tell that he was just filled with joy and pride seeing her and they shared a sweet moment. From here, we called for Clayson and got him in position for her to be able to come around easily and us to have the space again but also have it be a different spot. We know the anticipation for this moment was huge and they were so ready to be on the other side of the ceremony as Husband and Wife. When she tapped him on the shoulder, he turned and just had probably one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen from Clayson and they shared a small moment together before hopping into some photos with their wedding party and a few family photos. Pretty quickly, everyone started to show up and it was time for them to hide away for their entrance. Once they had everyone seated and it was time, everyone started making their way down the aisle and just before the Bride came, we had the beautiful moment of seeing one of my best friends as a flower dude entering in to “Pour Some Sugar On Me” which I have to say I am excited to figure out how that slow motion footage will play into the Highlight Film. After that, the song changed and Rebecca made her way down the aisle and that big smile showed itself again just as in the first look. Once they were hand in hand at the foot of the cross, our dear friend Pastor Mitchell Copeland took over and had some great memories and insight to share for the couple before announcing them as husband and wife where they got to seal the deal with a kiss and make their way up the aisle together as the Kansanback’s.

After the Ceremony, we hopped right into the family formal photos and taking some photos of the newlyweds as well as signing the marriage license then we made our way over to the barn for the reception to get ready for their entrances. Once entered in to all of the cheering attendees, they started dancing to (everything I do) I do it for you by Bryan Adams with their wedding party just behind them. They then went into the Father-Daughter dance where some of the Bridesmaids cried a little bit and then the Mother-Son dance as well before everyone started to get in line to eat tacos. After everyone had their fill of tacos, the dance floor opened up and the DJ’s lighting came out while the rest of the lights were turned off. We also did the cake cutting, a bouquet and garter toss and pretty much danced/fellowshipped the night away until we came to a point of doing a quick fake exit with streamers and from here it turned into everyone on the dance floor having a ton of fun and eventually requesting some songs even to end off the night. We loved being a part of this amazing couple’s big day and getting to provide them with these memories and look forward to seeing their marriage grow over the years!

 

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

House of the Bride - Dress

Mitchell Copeland - minister

The Floral Bar - florist

Ever After Beauty - hair and makeup (Amy Gay - Hair, Rachel Turner - Makeup)

Tracy Yahn Events - coordinator

Monterrey’s - caterer

Brantley Sound Services - DJ

Nothing Bundt Cake - cake

Ranco Event Rentals - rentals

Jason & Sharon

 

Now, there’s a lot that can be said about this couple, from his live streaming on Twitch to their shared love of cars being part of how they met. They are so fun and down to earth that we knew we would love this wedding day at Ashton Cole Place in Thomson, GA.

The wedding day itself started with us showing up and saying hey to the couple and the wedding party while also gathering details to photograph. As we were finishing up details and I walked out to do a few photos of the venue, it started to rain which we thought wasn’t going to happen until maybe much later according to the forecast. It worked out that it started early and continued making it a little bit easier to call it and switch to plan b of having the ceremony in the reception space so they pulled out a bunch of chairs. This was for sure a testament to how great the folks at Ashton Cole are at handling any situation and we did appreciate seeing that. Also, they say it’s good luck when it rains on your wedding day and Jason and Sharon handled it perfectly together which in a beautiful manner told the story of how great they are together. Once everyone was ready, we did a few photos of the guys together and also the reveal of the Bride to her Bridesmaids and the Mother’s. We quickly set it up to do a first look with the Bride’s Father as well and then then couple’s Son (who is hilarious and obsessed with fishing to the point of having literal fish shoes on his feet later in the wedding but more on that later) and of course the first look between Jason and Sharon just before it was almost time for the ceremony and everyone was showing up.

From there, we got into our spots for the ceremony and got to meet a sweet pup who apparently was the face of a company (which company it was escapes me at the moment) but any time there’s animals involved, we thoroughly enjoy ourselves. Once we had everyone in place, the music started and the family and wedding party made their way down the aisle. The joy all over Sharon and Jason’s faces as she made her way down the aisle was very contagious and we always love the moment of seeing the Bride’s Father giving her a hug and handing her over to the Groom, moments like that start hitting differently when you become a parent and have that perspective. Their great friend Jarrod who also officiated the wedding did an amazing job and everything went smoothly and ended with Jason and Sharon sealing the deal with their kiss and making their way back up the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Berry.

From here, it had dried enough that we made our way to the original ceremony location for a few family photos and as well as the wedding party and couples photos to quickly get them into their reception. We actually finished a little early and got to give them a breather to sit down before going into the reception as well as change shoes before hitting the dance floor. As everyone set up and entered into the reception, everyone had just finished cocktail hour and were enjoying the photo booth before finding their seats. Once Jason and Sharon entered surrounded by cheering, they went into their first dance. Once they finished that dance everyone started eating and enjoying the photo booth some more as well as dancing a little. Then it was time for the Father/ Daughter dance and then Mother/ Son dance and then to the cake cutting where they got to taste the cake but also enjoy wearing a little bit because they smooshed it into each other’s faces which was funny. From here, we enjoyed both Dad’s giving a toast before trading off to dance with their Son’s new Wife or Daughter’s Husband which was a nice switch up and provided such a sweet moment. From that moment on, it was an open dance floor with a bouquet and garter toss at the very end almost before ending off with a beautiful sparkler exit where they stayed lit for a while so we made a few passes just for fun and then went to actually end the night off signing the marriage certificate in the Bridal suite. From there, they started packing up and planning the clean up process to head home as the Berry family officially. We got to say our goodbyes and get a few hugs in but we must say that we are excited to see what all the future has for Mr. and Mrs. Berry!

 

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

Venue - Ashton Cole Place

Decor - Flowers on Broad

DJ- Drop The Mic

Caterer - Penny Jo Newkirk

Brides Dress - Tiffinie Bleu Bridal Boutique

Hair / Makeup - The Darling Loft - Rachel Biestman

Bridesmaids / Flower Girl - Amazon

Groom / Groomsmen - Suit Factory

Denis & Maya

 

This was the first of what we hope to be many Bulgarian weddings because it was such a beautiful culture to experience. The wedding day was full of a ton of amazing traditions from Bulgarian culture which we will talk about more during this blog but first, a little about meeting with this couple and the location of the wedding day. We met them just a few days before the wedding day via Zoom and got to learn about the culture and what all was most important to the couple and how we could best serve them and their families during the big day. There we learned about how important Kayaking is to them and that they also love gardening. Also, we learned more of their story from meeting in West Virginia in 2017 up to when he proposed in San Diego while they were visiting her Brother. Seeing that all come together in the story on display at the wedding day made it super special where each table at the reception was named by a location that they had kayaked together instead of having table numbers. Even their cake topper was of the two of them in kayaks together. All of this was beautifully displayed at the West Lake Country Club in Martinez, GA with a bunch of amazing vendors listed at the bottom of this blog to help it come together.

Now that we have the location in mind, imagine an absolutely kind hearted and joyful couple who are also laid back and we show up to discover them moving and working some things to be in place before getting dressed and we get to meet them in person then walk around just a little bit to see what all of the space they were using. Being that they were already married, they weren’t too worried about seeing each other beforehand but did want to have a first look once they were fully dressed and done up as well. It was an adorable moment that lead straight into us getting ready for the ceremony as family was showing up to find their seats. Once most of the guests found their seat and they had everyone lined up in the bridal suite, they made their way out to the ceremony. It was an absolutely gorgeous day but, it was also very hot so a large amount of guests were off to the side under the porch as well since there was not much cloud coverage either. Throughout the ceremony, there were a few traditions sprinkled in as well as the couple sharing some beautiful vows but one of our favorites was the part at the end where the Bride kicks over a Pall full of red and white flower petals as well as a few other things and the first color flower petal to come out signified the gender of the first born baby. As they kissed at the top of the aisle with their guests all behind them in the photo, we made our way to a set of stairs where it would be easier to layer all of the guests for a large group photo and all of the other family formals that we had planned. We then made our way down to the green just down the hill behind the ceremony location for a few couples portraits and also road the golf cart around for a few more photo ops before parking and heading back to get ready for the reception entrance. As they prepared to enter, we setup our flashes and lights quickly and were prepared for all of the dancing to come.

Now upon their entrance, they made their way to the sweetheart table and everyone ate before starting some of the traditional dances. One really cool thing to note about the dances besides the music and dances themselves was that the first dance was to the newlyweds, the others were performed for and with the newlyweds to the rest of the guests and there was also someone explaining the traditions via a microphone for the guests that wouldn’t know what the traditions were symbolizing like the grooming ceremony where they traditionally spend the whole day where the groom sits under a shady tree and reflects and then some father figure men shave his face from right to left and it’s all for good luck and coming into being a man/husband which was really funny because the men who did the shaving pulled out a few of the wrong sized blades (aka a machete and knife) first as a little joke. Then the bride was covered with a red veil which is the traditional color for brides which is mean to ward off evil eyes and protect from bad luck/spirits. They also gave her a beautiful flower crown and apron as well as dressing the groom in some more red traditional attire which was so cool to see. From there, they also had a bread breaking ceremony where the bride and groom holds something like monkey bread above them and pulls it apart. Whoever ends up with the biggest piece of the bread is considered to be the bread winner which we just loved that when it was explained. After that, they drank and broke their champagne glasses in a lined basket as well as a few more dances including the first dance, father-daughter and mother-son dances. Before too long, they started some more traditional dances where the bride was holding their flag and dancing in a line then more and more of the Bulgarian people in attendance joined into the line as they passed by the table to make it longer and longer and then there was another dance where the groom was holding the flag as well. Before long, it was time to break out the penguins! There were supposed be a few penguins but something got mixed up in the mail I believe and so there was one penguin and one person wearing a hairy potter cloak but, they still carried everything out for the love of their dear friend Denis where he and his Bride, Maya, eventually joined in with them for fun dance. From here, Maya also presented some birthday cakes to two girls who had a birthday that day and it was such an act of kindness to see the Bride share her day and love with dear friends/family in that way. Besides the cake cutting and a fun sing along song, the rest of the night was full of dancing and fun photos by the photo booth as well as drinks lasting well into the night. It was such a joyful wedding day and that’s exactly the type of day we love being a part of so much. We’re excited for these families and what the future holds for them! Congrats to Denis and Maya!

 

Vendors List

Photography - Beauty & Beard Photography @beautyandbeardphoto

Cake - A Piece of Cake Bakery

Dress - David's Bridal (Alethia Y. Hudson)

Hair - His & Her Hair Salon (Carolyne Simms)

Flowers - Georgia State Floral Distributors

Special thanks - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (Father Vasile Bitere)

Venue - West Lake Country Club

Favors - Hand Made by Maya, Dennis and their families.

DJ and Lights - M&S Mobile Production (DJ-Phil)