CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNALIZA AND CHARLES!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I couldn’t be more excited to announce the finalists for our 2012 Wedding Photography Giveaway. Choosing the finalists couldn’t have been more difficult. Every one of the submissions truly touched me in one way or another.

To all who entered, thank you for sharing your beautiful stories.

Below are the three finalist couples. Please vote below.

Annaliza and Charles:

Charles and I have been so patient and not many people can say they were in a long distance relationship for over 3 years and haven’t even spent half of it together. Since we began talking, we have to schedule when we are going to talk because there is a 16-18 hour time difference, depending upon daylight savings time. When he is working we do instant message each other, but it’s very minimal. He has to concentrate for work and I have my own work I need to do for school. Money is always a concern because what money is saved up in 6 months time, a good chunk of it is spent on a ticket to see each other. And if that’s not already frustrating — we are planing two weddings. I wanted just one but the more we thought about it, it would be unfair to leave out his side or my side and that we want everyone  to share this moment with us. The first wedding will be in Georgia and then I will move to New Zealand and we will have the other wedding at the end of the year. I decided to cut my budget in half so my family could afford tickets to visit me in New Zealand for Christmas and New Years. I’m so grateful for my family and cutting my budget is something I insisted on doing because having them visit my new home is more important to me than having a flashy wedding.

I just find it funny that Charles and I are what you could say the “contemporary” pen pals. Since we began talking in 2008, we have only seen each other a total of 4 times (length wise in total, 5 1/2 months). Each visit lasts for about 1 month but I had the privilege to stay for the whole summer this year, which is when we got engaged.

Tina and James:

I met my fiancé who is a honored military man with 2 bronze stars, which few even know about because he is very humble.
We met while he was being set up on a blind date by my best friend ( who I set up with her current husband). That date did not go over but while at the same party… We met and just clicked … At the time we met I had a boyfriend of 7 years that was breaking up with me via email which I did not know until the next day). After reading my email and exhausted from a relationship that was going no where, I decided to give this James a second look.

My best friend had spoke of him months before and tried to convince me to just go to dinner with him, I said no because I was in a relationship.   After we met by chance at this going away party and his blind date did not go over well, we just connected.

Two days later I found out he lost a very good friend that he served in the Military with ( an unfortunate suicide .. Which many Veteran’s have taken their lives, from stress and life changes that make it hard for them to cope) I called James to console and we talked for hours while he drove to collect belongings for the friends family.

James is my true love and best friend…we instantly became friends than in a relationship… Things were perfect and then he had orders for  Afghanistan. I was  devastated but he left his job as a federal officer and obtained yet his second bronze star.  I kept his two beautiful daughters as much as allowed by their mother while he was away Eli was 5 & Lydia was 7, they are now 7 & 9 and beautiful.  They can’t wait for us to marry!

Gabby and Brad:

Gabby will be getting married following her graduation from nursing school. Brad will be preparing to go back to school for his MBA after the wedding. Thus, it is not surprising that the couple is working hard to obtain enough funds for the wedding. This includes money to hire a photographer. One might say that they could easily wait until they are both into their careers with enough money to have the ‘perfect’ wedding. The reality is Brad and Gabby represent two brave individuals that understand that tomorrow is not ours. How many times is love delayed because of fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of financial instability, fear that “we have our whole lives ahead of us” so why should we rush. While these are all valid concerns, there is something to be said for people who understand that maybe, just maybe, waiting won’t change anything. Perhaps getting older and getting setting into their careers won’t guarantee financial stability. So, today, they choose love.

Winning this contest will mean the world for Gabby, her family, and Brad. As one knows, the family of the bride pays for the wedding. Gabby’s family is from Haiti. This tradition is a serious one for the parents. Gabby comes from a family of nine children- two boys and SEVEN girls! Only 1 out of the 7 is married. After Gabby walks down the aisle, that leaves FIVE beautiful girls to give away. Anything that will make it easier on
the parents in this journey is much needed.

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VOTING IS NOW CLOSED!

Please be respectful/honest with votes.

From all of us to all of you… We wish you a warm, healthy, and safe Holiday season!

-Allison -Rich -Megan

You might remember Callie and Seth from their downtown engagement session a few months ago. We had a blast with them getting to know them and making our way throughout downtown Savannah!  Well their big day was finally here, and all of the planning and stress was worth the work and wait!

Callie picked a simple and very elegant theme of white and black. Little touches of black in her sash, shoes, and accessories completed her elegant look. She chose luscious white flowers that were spilling out of every corner and flawlessly arranged by Garden on the Square. Romantic candles lined the isle for their sunset ceremony, and later filled the reception room which set the mood for a night that was all about celebrating the beautiful love of Callie and Seth.

The day was perfectly styled by Caroline Carter of Caroline Carter Events and could not have been more of a representation of these two and who they are, romantic, simple and all about love and devotion!

Thank you so much for letting us share in your amazing day!!!

I reintroduce Callie and Seth!

Ryan and Jordan came down from North Carolina to wed on a beautiful Savannah fall evening!

Jordan and Ryan wanted their day to be intimate and about their close friends and family.  They chose the Avia Hotel, in downtown Savannah for this touching affair! The two held their ceremony on The Avia’s rooftop terrace at twilight followed by a charming dinner reception. It was such a romantic location and setup, adorned with so many rustic fall details…

The day came together perfectly, and had every bit of the beautiful and unique touches that represented the love and life of Jordan and Ryan!

Congratulations Guys!

Meet Ryan and Jordan!

Stay tuned for their upcoming full wedding blog!!

Congrats Guys!

I first met Michelle a couple years ago because of our sweet little beagle!  See, every time we have to leave all day to go and shoot a wedding, we have the amazing At Home Pet Sitters come over to play and walk our little Maggie.  With Michelle being the office manager of At Home Pet Sitters, and talking to her every week, we really got to know each other!

Michelle became a little bit of a fan of our work and the blog and swore that even though she was already married, having just a courthouse wedding, she really wanted a “real” wedding with every little detail that she had been dreaming about for all the years that her and Jozv had been married.  Well on 11.11.11, all of those long awaited dreams of the perfect day came true, as Michelle and Jozv renewed their vows!

Michelle and Jozv are Savannah locals and wanted a little bit of Savannah, details that were fun, whimsical, and personal and lots of touches of purple and orange!  The two renewed their vows with Michelle’s father as the officiant, in Savannah’s beautiful Calhoun Square!  After a fun and sweet ceremony we made our way through Savannah’s Historic District.  Michelle was definitely comfortable as she wore her purple Cons and because it was a bit chilly she had to wear her sock monkey socks! Sock monkeys are something that both Michelle and Jozv love, and the little guys could be seen making their appearances throughout the day. Other cute touches that Michelle incorporated was her amazing brooch bouquet and her bridesmaids different color dresses and paper mache  bouquets.

The day was the perfect mixture of fun and beautiful, and had touches of both Michelle and Jozv’s beautiful relationship and fun love!

Congrats you two, and thank you for letting us capture this amazing day!

Meet Michelle and Jozv!

Tim and Kate chose Honey Horn Plantation as the venue for their Big Day.  Honey Horn is a historical and beautiful little piece of Hilton Head that has expansive fields, old historic homes, and even backed up to a scenic marsh view.  It was the perfect venue for these two, as it was a “blank slate” where they could chose and control every detail, and that is exactly what Kate, Tim, and Ashley from Ashley Rhodes Events did. Ashley did an incredible job taking Kate and Tim’s vision and making it a reality!

When I asked Kate what was her inspiration for her wedding day, she said that is was antique hydrangeas. She loved how they are not fully just one color, but a mixture of light purples, pinks, greens, browns and whites.  She loved how the nontraditional mixture came together perfectly in the flower.  Tim and Kate also wanted the day to be outside and have the essence of the fall and nature.  These natural elements along with the plantation, was the perfect dream wedding for Kate and Tim, and more importantly really represented the two of them!

The two decided to hold their ceremony under one of the plantation’s giant oak trees.  With the sweeping limbs and Spanish moss above them, Kate and Tim shared their vows complete with laughter, smiles and tears!  After the ceremony concluded, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres on the back veranda as we captured some fun and sweet moments of Kate and Tim during the sunset on the marsh.

Guests then made their way along a lantern and pumpkin lined path, to the pavilion.  The pavilion looked rustic and enchanting, lit with twinkle lights and a variety of different shaped tables covered with burlap, candles, and purple, green and of course antique hydrangea flowers!

After an amazing evening, the day concluded with a special toast made by Kate’s father.  Kate’s father, for wedding favors made homemade limoncello! And as he said, just like Kate and Tim’s relationship, the limoncello is both sweet and strong!

Congratulations you two!

Meet Kate and Tim!

Honey Horn Plantation was truly the perfect location for you two.

Congrats Guys!