They chose to get ready in her parents’ lake home right outside of Cullman. It has been Emily’s vision from the start to choose to see her groom for the very first time on her parent’s pier. The weather was oh-so-lovely, and allowed for fabulous imagery throughout the entire day! They chose Northbrook Baptist Church in Cullman, Alabama to have their wedding ceremony and wedding reception. Her wedding colors were interlaced with natural earth tones, including browns, greens, whites, creams, and accents of purple. With Emily being an Interior Designer, we knew we were going to be blown away with her taste and style. The bride and groom chose to incorporate sentimental family elements throughout the day which made the day even more special! This wedding was an absolute perfect day. We are honored to capture the first of Emily and Preston’s happily ever after =D

Desiree and Jeff’s impeccable shabby chic wedding style is a photographer’s dream. With lovely red roses and pink accents, the colors blend beautifully in unison for a perfect wedding. The wedding day started off with a slight delay in the morning due to a mix-up in schedules with the hair and makeup crew. They both went with the flow effortlessly; it was a celebration of the couples love, and the enjoyment of friends and family uniting for a perfect occasion. All is well =)

Corrie with 333 Designs did an outstanding job coordinating the occasion and assembling the red roses with pink accents to form the perfect wedding bouquet! The red and pink wedding flowers were a fantastic blend of lovely. She even made a special bouquet for Jeff’s mother who passed recently as a way to celebrate her life here on earth. We were brought to tears by how the family honored his mother, and are eternally grateful Desiree and Jeff chose us to be their wedding photographers. We are honored and blessed.

Be sure to check out the recent feature of this wedding on Every Last Detail!

Kristen’s choice of color for this unique December winter wedding was lovely shades of blue and deep purple. She pulled off the look effortlessly with carefully crafted florals from Peggy’s Log Cabin, unique deep purple suede wedding shoes, and hints of blue and purple centerpieces with mix-matched glass vases and jars. Their whole day flowed like a dream. When they are together, you cant but help feel the tender love they possess for each other. We are honored to call them clients and friends <3

“…[F]inding a wedding dress is like finding a true friend; you should be able to trust it, you should never regret it, and whenever you see it…it should always make you smile.” -Designer Sareh Nouri

Tip 1: Start Shopping Early — So many brides make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to look for a gown and are sad to learn that some of their favorite designers can’t be ordered in time for their walk down the aisle. While our shop (along with others) often will help brides who have a short schedule, it can be expensive to rush order a gown. Shopping early will save you from the stress of rushing a gown to your event!

Tip 2: Know What Fits — Selecting the perfect gown involves more than just selecting one that is gorgeous on you! It needs to be the perfect gown to match the setting and location you have selected. Think of your wedding like a branding exercise – it needs to all make sense and lead people back to the idea or theme behind your wedding. For example, if you are planning a beach wedding steer clear of beaded ball gowns! You don’t only want to look amazing, but your dress selection needs to make sense for the type of wedding you are hoping to have.

Tip 3: Gal (and Guy) Pals — If you have watched an episode of “Say Yes to the Dress!,” you know how out of hand some parties can get. While we do know that some of that is made for TV, it is important to think about the friends and family you want to help you find the perfect dress! Make sure to bring friends and family that will support your gown selection – whether or not it is what they would select for their big day.

Tip 4: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover — When I was selecting a gown for my big day, I made the mistake of walking into the salon convinced I was going to select one particular dress I had pulled from the magazine. As soon as I put it on, it was a complete let down. What looked killer on the girl in the magazine, made me look rather frumpy. Thank goodness I had a bridal consultant who selected some gowns that were completely out of my comfort zone and different than what I initially said I wanted. Thus, the moral of the story – never miss out on a dress because it doesn’t look like what you think you are going to want from a magazine cut out.

Tip 5: Have No Regrets — Couture Bridal Gown Designer Sareh Nouri is a smart gal – selecting a gown is more than just finding a pretty dress. Selecting a wedding gown should be about what makes you feel confident and gorgeous on your day. That means to make sure you are happy before you place an order. Never let friends, family, or a bridal consultant talk you into a gown you are not happy with! This is your day and you should be able to choose what you want!

Hair by Jeanne Shrader – Attitudes Day Spa | Makeup by Sylvia Smith – Pro Makeup Artist Studios | Wedding Dresses & Accessories – White Dresses Bridal Boutique | Florals by Corrie Spearing – 333 Designs

We are so happy to share the shoot below to get you in the winter spirit =D We recently teamed up with Erica Thimsen of Helping Hand Parties, All Needz Rental, 2 Invite You, and Cynthia Fisackerly for a custom owl graphic design, and The Burritt on the Mountain here in Huntsville Alabama for a Winter White Owl inspired wedding shoot. Our goal is to encourage and inspire our sweet brides for a lovely WINTER WHITE WEDDING. The white chapel at Burritt on the Mountain is an adorable, cozy, cottage-style for the perfect intimate RUSTIC CHIC WEDDING! It is laced with history dating back to 1884. I cant help but imagine the many praises that were sang to the Lord, and souls that were saved in this quaint little country church that sat on College and Sullivan St. You must see it in person to get an idea as to its southern charm.

We also wanted to take this time to send our appreciation and gratitude to our clients, readers, friends, family, followers, and more ! If it wasn’t for your trust, support, word of mouth, and encouragement, we don’t know where we would be today. For this, we are deeply thankful for you all!  Wrap up in a warm blanket, light the fire, and roast some marshmallows with the ones you love. Wishing you a season of love and laughter! xoxo Jan & Chase

Throughout the wedding day, their easy-going, kind personalities breezed through each and every special moment with poise and grace. The wedding was a stunner with the rich wedding colors of lovely shades of purple, Ivory and Green. These two pulled off a fabulous reception held at Valley Hill Country Club here in Alabama; a great meal catered by Valley Hill, tasty wedding cake, and dancing into the evening. The bride was a knock-out in her incredibly gorgeous wedding gown by Allure Bridals and silver metallic Antonio Melani Talia shoes! Clayton is a lucky man to have been blessed with such a beauty. Mandy, you are truly a woman of God, and have a pure spirit that is rare among many.

We are incredibly honored to have worked with such a precious couple, and pray the Lord may bless these two with many years of love and lasting cherished memories. xoxo

Please take time to wish the sweet couple your best and send them your love and warm thoughts below in the comment box!

Josh and Megan are a couple with an undying love for one another.  Their love story began in high school and the bond between them continues to grow each and every day. Throughout the whole wedding day, they laughed, smiled, and hugged with a wonderful excitement to be starting their happily ever after.  May you be blessed always as you enter into life as one! <3 Jan

Styling & Coordinating: Erica Thimsen, Helping Hand Parties / Make up: Sylvia Smith & Colleen Gagnon, Pro Makeup Artist Studio / Hair: Jeanne Shrader, Attitudes Day Spa / Wedding Tutu Skirt: Tara Atkins, Luna Bella / Cake: Stephanie Thomas, Stephanie Thomas Bakery Art / Chairs: All Needz Rental / Vintage China: Kathi Bertsch, Decorous Dishes / Red Shoes: BCBG  Suspenders: Belk

1. To have a PRIVATE, intimate moment to share on such a busy day.

2. Be in the MOMENT. When he can see you before, he can take it all in, respond to how beautiful you are, laugh & cry with you.

3. Family photos are over before the ceremony; & family can visit/relax with guests.

4. Smoother transition after the ceremony.

5. Enjoy my guests who came from out of town because we are not taking pictures an hour or longer after the ceremony.

Ever wondered where not seeing each other before the ceremony came from? It’s actually an ancient tradition of the days of arranged marriages. Here, it is expressed so eloquently from The Knot:

“In the early days of arranged marriages, the bride and groom often never saw each other at all before the wedding. Even when couples were acquainted before they married, it was still considered bad luck for the groom to glimpse the bride pre-ceremony, as she would not be pure and new. Neither was the bride supposed to see herself – it was believed that if she saw her reflection she would leave some of herself behind in the mirror.”

Brides…. what are your thoughts?  We would LOVE to hear from you, pretty please???