I have been dying to post Gemma and Matt’s wedding here on the blog.  It was just so hard for me to cull it down. In fact I think it has taken me longer to cull this wedding than any other wedding I have ever shot.  It is just so interesting  and beautiful, it’s not many Saturdays that I get to shoot two ceremonies with the same couple.  That is right, they had an Indian ceremony first and then a Catholic ceremony. Big huge thanks to Claudia Sasser Events for keeping things running smoothly!!!!  Matt English met Gemma Patel when they were in high school and soon there after fell in love, and have been together since.  Gemma grew up in Athens, GA with a great legacy of culture with her Indian daddy and her mum who is from across the pond, yep she is English.  What are the chances she would fall in love with a guy with the last name English?  It is all so inter-connected, and they are definitely the perfect match. Ok, so let’s get started…..

The wedding celebrations commenced at the beautiful Tucker Plantation in Colbert, GA.  Here are a few details from the day.  The elephant is one of the Indian Gods of good luck.

Two gorgeous dresses. . . the saris were imported from India and Gemma’s traditional white gown was so unique! 

So beautiful!

The florals were designed by Gardenia Floral Designs out of Athens.

Gemma’s hair was done is two diffent dos by Jennifer Haddon of Mint Hair Boutique.  Gemma’s aunt helped her into her sari.

Not every gal gets to have twice the bling.  Since she had two different outfits she got to have twice the jewlery.  The necklace on the left of the Indian Jewelry is the mangal sutra (sacred necklace).  It is a symbol of his commitment to her. Traditionally, the black beads are believed to shield the bride from evil spirits, envy and sadness.  Gemma and Matt also have an adorable dog.  Of course she had to have some wedding jewelry too and this collar seemed appropriate for a dog named Coach!

The beautiful bride

They  both have dimples for miles.

Matt was lookin’ pretty good too!

These shots remind me of their engagement session. . . Gemma and Matt are always cracking each other up!

Love this one!

Of course we had to get some shots with Coach, the dog!  And Gemma gave her bridesmaids Coach bags, so we had to get those in too!

A sweet moment before the ceremony

The Indian ceremony is symbolic and full of tradition.  The bride and groom carry coconuts down the aisle instead of flowers to symbolize fertility. The bride is escorted down the aisle to the mandap by her father and uncle.

Check out the heart shaped hole in it!This guy could really sing.

The dropping of the veil (Antarpat).

The couple exchanged flower garlands to represent the beauty and love they will bring each other.  Then a Varmala (auspicious cord) is placed around their necks to protect them. The priest then ties the ends of their scarves together, which symbolizes the bond of marriage and the couple’s everlasting and flourishing love and friendship.

Gemma’s grandmother is so adorable. 

I had to take one with my polaroid!

The couple’s guests enjoyed a cocktail hour while Gemma and Matt got ready for the next ceremony.

They waited to see each other until Gemma walked down the aisle.  It was a very sweet moment!

Gemma was stunning in both her bridal outfits.

And another.

Don’t be mad at me for posting these, Matt!  I’m so glad that you waited to see your bride when she walked down the aisle because these pictures are priceless!  P.S. you should see the ones I did not post. 

Exchanging the rings

Kiss the bride!

The happy family - Gemma, Matt and of course, Coach!

The wedding party

We took a few more romantic shots before the reception

I couldn’t resist snapping a few more with my Polaroid!  I accidentally double-exposed that last one, but I think it turned out pretty cool!

Off to the reception and the delicious food was served up by Trump’s Catering.  They had traditional meat and potatoes and some delicious Indian food! 

First dance. Where DJ, David Osborne kept things running smoothly.  He not only arranged the music for both ceremonies, but also did a fab job with the reception.

Even Gemma’s mom and dad had to exchange an Indian sweet  - kansaar.

Gemma and Matt were able to sneak out and get a few gorgeous romantics at twilight. 

Gemma and Matt had a really fun photobooth provided by Athens Photo Booths. . . We had to get a couple of shots together. 

And of course, my lovely assistants, Amber and Kerinsa!

Gemma’s dad made a sweet speech thanking everyone.

Finally, the couple ended the evening with bubbles!

Gemma and Matt, I had such a good time capturing all the details of your day.  I can’t wait to share all the rest of the images.

Jenny Evelyn

The couple is still away on their honeymoon and I have had a crazy week.  I am just now getting a first look at the wedding I got to photograph last weekend up!  Here are just a couple of photos of the lovely couple!

Can’t wait to post more!

Jenny Evelyn

When I first met Lauren I had no clue that one day I would have the honor of shooting her wedding.  She was always so sweet to me when I would bring my dog Kenzie to the vet and for a while I think Lauren thought my name was Kenzie!  hahaha! We got all cleared up and she found out that I was a wedding photographer and here we are now!  Her wedding was held at the beautiful Pineola Farms where Paul and Delise Knight make every event a unique and special one.  Lauren and Keven’s day was just perfect for them and represented this country loving couple’s love.  They had some amazing details that I will share with you here in their blog preview!  Delise is not only one of the owners of Pineola Farms and the Cotton Barn, but she is also an amazing floral designer.  I love how she used the blueberries in the guys’ boutonnieres.

Lauren’s beautiful lace dress.

Peacock feathers were one of the main accents of the day.

A few more bridal details. I especially love the bumblebee pin that Lauren had pinned on the back of her dress in honor of her granddaddy that she lovingly called Bee.

She is such a beautiful gal, she is totally channeling the princess bride here (Robin Wright Penn).

A beautiful bridal bouquet by Delise Knight.

Keven was a dashing groom.

I mean how cool is that… blueberries in the boutonniere.

First Look.

Ah, sweet embrace.

A few romantics around the property.

No wonder she picked blue as her wedding color, look at those eyes!

I love these with the old cedars.

Out in the pecan grove.

Again, what a lovely bride.

Nothing like a romantic swirl in the orchard!

The two ring bearers carried pillows that were made with bride and groom’s childhood binkies on the back on the pillows… so sweet.

They had a fun group of friends along to help them celebrate.

Time to make it official! They had their programs hang from blue ribbon from the backs of every chair, a real bumblebee came by and buzzed around one of the bridesmaid’s bouquets, and then they rang the bell in honor of their family that could not be with us at their wedding celebration.

I mean who would not want to get married here?  It’s absolutely lovely.

The little guys did a great job.

Both Lauren’s dads escorted her down the aisle.

keeping it in.

so sweet.

Almost forgot this kiss but we got it in there.

The tree inspired cake & all the yummy fixin’s were by the talented Kelly Hamsley of Kelly’s Katering.

First dance.

Instead of a grooms cake, Keven opted for his favorite dessert of chocolate chip cookies and milk.

Gorgeous arrangements at the reception.

In keeping with their tree theme the couple gifted their guests a crepe myrtle seedling to plant in memory of their day.

We snuck out from the reception for a couple more romantics at sunset in the orchard.

One word Lauren, stunning!

Thanks so much Lauren & Keven for letting me in on  your big day. It was an honor to photograph it, and I can’t wait to show you more.  I don’t have the greenest thumb so I will try to keep your tree alive!

Jenny Evelyn

Just got home from an incredible weekend at beautiful Hilton Head Island for Jenn & Rob’s wedding. We had a blast with their friends and family documenting their special day.  We also got to take a little mini-vaca of fun in the sun for the 4th of July!  Thanks so much Jenn and Rob for inviting us into your wedding we are so blessed to know you both!  Enjoy your first look of a couple of my fav romantics shot at Honey Horn Plantation!

Have an awesome honeymoon!

Jenny Evelyn

Hi there,  It’s Jenny back with another awesome wedding to share with you.  I have gotten a little behind on blogging, so please bear with me!  Lots of weddings back to back, ’tis the season!  I am so excited to share Amy & Mike’s wedding with you now!  The day was a wonderful reflection of this couple’s commitment as well as their family, culture and personalities.  I had a blast working with some of my favorite wedding vendors.  Carmen Johnston with Nectar and Co. did an incredible job with Amy’s Filipino inspired florals & decor.  Kevin Nichols with DKH Entertainment kept the party hoppin’ at the Armory Ballroom.  Teddi Wohlford made lots of tasty goodies.  Amanda’s Cakery fed our sweet tooth with cake.  Foley Productions created an amazing highlight clip of their videography you can see by clicking HERE.  Ok so now onto the awesome photo goodness!

The ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Amy wore two dresses for her day!  Her ceremony dress was actually her mother’s dress that was handmade in the Philippines.  Her reception dress, or dancing dress as I like to call it was from David’s Bridal.

The detachable hand beaded train made the dress.  It was just perfect in St. Jo’s.

Some of the bridal details.

Amy’s MOH, also a Jenny, helped her into the dress.

And a few bridals.  I was in love with Amy’s bird cage veil.

We shot their first look in the courtyard.

Just a few tears were shed.

The lovely couple.

The gals being girly and rockin’ their cute parasols.

Guys being guys.

This was a fun group!

I snagged these three shots in the ladies bathroom right before the ceremony they are three of my favs of Amy.  Sometimes the most unlikely places are perfect for a bridal.

The wedding bling.

A few ceremony details including the unity coins that are part of the traditional Filipino wedding tradition.  The ring bearer carried the coins and then the priest blessed them to symbolize the couple commitment to mutually support and share the responsibilities of their marriage and family.

Amy’s daddy took her down to the altar as the choirs of St. Joseph’s serenaded them down the aisle.

It is really one of the most beautiful churches in Macon, GA.

Vows.

Another part of the Filipino wedding tradition that they incorporated is the “Placing of the Veil” that symbolizes the Lord’s presence to protect the couple from sorrow and harm that could break the foundation of their marriage.  Then there was the “Placing of the Cord” that symbolizes the eternal bond that the couple has sworn to respect.  I love the cultural  take that their customs displayed in honoring their marriage vows.

Married!

We took a quick shot right after the ceremony of the newlyweds with all of their wedding guests in front of the church!

Then over the the Armory Ballroom to celebrate the couple and their new marriage.  Amy’s Filipino vibe was perfect! Her wedding coordinator, Jessica Stadtmiller (478.957.3658)  really kept things running smoothly for the reception.

Some of the reception details included Hershey’s Kisses, fans, lots and lots of orchids, paper lanterns, and a unity candle.  Amy even found a Filipino bride for her cake topper.

Amy and Mike made quite the entrance into their reception. I love the spot light DKH provided for extra dramatic effect!

First dance to Dave Matthew’s, “You and Me.”

Then a sweet father daughter dance to follow.

The lovely cake in Amy’s theme and colors by the awesome Amanda Meadows of Amanda’s Cakery.

All the yummy tasty food by Teddy Wohlford with Culinary Creations.

There was lots and lots of dancing.  This group could really boogie down.

During the reception Amy and Mike snuck off with me for a little alone time and a few extra romantics.

I love this series and I also posted a few from this shoot in their first look HERE.

I love this shot.  Amy has a tiny heart tattoo on her wrist.

I also had to break in my Polaroid 600 at this wedding.  I will have to post a couple of the scanned images in another post.

I just could not get enough of that perfect window light.

The last dance will go down as one of my favorite last dances EVER.  The whole group joined in along with Whitney Houston singing “I will Always Love You”

As they exited only Amy would stop to pop a bubble!  I just love this couple.

Thanks so much for having me as part of your day!  It was such an honor to witness your vows and celebrate along side of your friends and family as you start your marriage.  I can’t wait to share more of the memories of  your day with you!

Jenny Evelyn

I am still recovering from Sarah and Toby’s awesome wedding yesterday!  I just had to get a first look up for them today before the leave for the secret honeymoon destination!  I just love these shots of the couple.  Sarah is often referred to as  McCranie by friends and so since yesterday was her last day as an official McCranie I wanted to post her monogram pics!  Have fun being a Layson now!

One last one of the lovely couple!

Thanks again Sarah & Toby and to your friends and family for having me along to document your special day!  I really had so much fun, and I am so glad we all made it through the heat unscathed!

Woooo hooo! Have fun on your honeymoon!

Love, Jenny Evelyn