Louisville Wedding: Dave + Alex

If rain showers on your wedding bring blessing, then Dave and Alex will have buckets and buckets throughout their marriage! I drove through quite a lightening and thunderstorm the morning of their wedding! I shouldn't have been surprised because their wedding coordinator, Hollis Starks, had told me earlier in the month that it would rain on their wedding day. I was surprised that she would have such a strong intuition about the weather, but she filled me in that the Farmers Almanac was unusually accurate and I have to hand it to her, she was right! (Thankfully I was early and the weather tapered off by the time we were ready to begin photos)

The rest of the day was beautiful. From Alex's gown, to the amazingly creative florals by Boston's Floral Coutour, and the color-saturated reception at River Bend Winery, there was much for the eye to enjoy. But a wedding is more than just beautiful details, it's about the significance of the day, the establishment of a new family, and the joy shared in fellowship with family and friends. Alex and Dave had this in abundance as well. I think you will be able to see this in the photos below!


Alex and David were married in the historic Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Louisville (on 4th street). And yes, those are peacock feathers in the bouquets!

Alex discovered her bridesmaids dresses in Israel. The tops can be worn seven different ways, including off the shoulder! They looked extremely comfortable! I loved the peacock paired with the men's gray suits.

Don't you love how the red pops against the teal?

I really enjoyed their wedding party, game to try some fun shots!

Hollis found these beautiful black birdcages that served as striking centerpieces and pulled off the "Moroccan" vision Alex and Dave had for the reception. Guests were treated to a Greek menu, reflective of a place special to Dave and Alex as the site of their engagement!

One of my favorite candid moments captured during the day (above). I was so glad they took time to enjoy several dances together on the dance floor -- (it's harder than you think given the number of guests you want to visit with).

Dave's two best men gave toasts, both touching and humorous.

Everyone had a great time on the dance floor, singing their hearts out!

Congratulations, Dave and Alex! Enjoy this special time in Ireland!

Matthew and Jessica's Paris, Kentucky Wedding Photos

I love how every wedding is so unique and personal to the couple getting married. For Jessica and Matthew, it began with their wedding location, the Cane Ridge Meeting House outside of Paris. Jessica grew up on a farm adjacent to this amazing, historic site (built in 1791, it's believed to be the largest one-room log structure in North America and was the site of one of the largest Protestant revivals in the U.S.).

Jessica incorporated many vintage touches to her day. Her bridesmaid gifts were antique pieces of jewelry which many of them wore for the wedding.

How do you get groomsmen interested in bouttonnieres? Attach unique fly fishing lures to each one! How neat is that?

The reception was held at the Wallis House, home of the Garden Club of Kentucky. Jessica collaborated with a friend of Matthew's mother to design a woodlands-meets-french-country elegant party. It was beautiful!

Congratulations!

John David & Jessica's Memphis Wedding Photos

It sounds cliché, but it’s truly a privilege to document someone’s wedding through photography. It’s an even greater privilege when it’s a friend! I met Jessica back when she was a college student. She was involved in the student missions fellowship which my husband and I have the pleasure of facilitating at Asbury College. As ‘our students’ are want to do, Jessica completed her time in Wilmore and went on to graduate school in Nashville. I followed with interest when she took trips in medical missions to places in Africa and the Middle East. Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, I wasn’t terribly surprised when I heard that she was working at a clinic in Memphis, serving a primarily African refugee population, since she had done similar work during her time in Nashville. Furthermore, she had spent the first 12 years of life with her family in Kenya and I knew she was happiest when serving her African friends.

I was surprised and delighted when she contacted me this spring to announce that she was engaged. I didn’t have to think twice when she asked if I would consider serving as her wedding photographer! I must admit I was really curious about this man she was going to marry and it was such a joy to meet John David in person. He seems perfectly suited for her and I wished I had more than just that day to spend with them both.

In planning their wedding, Jessica and John David desired to marry in the community in which they work, live, and worship so their friends could all attend. I wish I could describe their wedding ceremony, but words won’t do it justice! It was just really, really special. They married in their friend’s back yard on a beautiful October Saturday evening. The service was rich in content and meaning, highlighted by the beautiful singing of their church friends. The reception, just a few doors down the street, was quite the party, with lots of joy, Ale 8, barbeque and kids! Enjoy these highlights from their day!

Lee and Naresha's Lexington Wedding

Everything came together beautifully a few weeks ago for Lee and Naresha's wedding. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the details were perfect. Even if nothing had come together right, I doubt you would have been able tell from these two. You could tell how genuinely happy this couple was to be marrying and it made my task of photographing their wedding a real joy. Add to that sweet family and friends, and it was a wedding I didn't want to leave!

Other favorite memories from this wedding...

The bride's adorable 7-month-old twin niece and nephew. They had bibs which read, "The bride is my aunt".

The beautiful architecture of Lexington's First United Methodist Church -- the columns, the steps, the texture of the stone are all perfect for formal occasions like this. Add to that their coordinator Bonnie, who's just a nice, pleasant lady to work with. Just as we were photographing the bridal party, the sun hit the towering 5/3 Bank Building a few blocks away and bounced beautiful afternoon light on the steps, providing the largest reflector I've ever worked with. It was serendipitous.

When the bridal party arrived at the Marriott for their recepion (where Lee and Naresha work and met), it was so neat to see many of the hotel staff on hand at the car port to congratulate them as they exited the limo. Over and over I saw how much this couple is loved by their family and friends -- and it's not hard to see why.

Finally, it was fun to hear the tunes of a band (Funk Seminary) started by our old college friend, Mike Vandemark. They kept the party going!

Others who contributed to the wedding:

Video: Jeff Meadors at JM Video Productions

Hair: Noelle Palmquist

Make-up: Tina Howard

Programs: Hunter at Notables, the Party Store

Florals: Bonnie at Stems

Transportation: Gold Shield

Wedding Photographer: Cydil Waggoner Photography