Rachael & Ryan: Lexington Wedding

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As soon as I met R & R over a year ago I knew two things: 1. That they were going to get married.

2. That I wanted to photograph their wedding.

So glad I was two for two in this case.

Vendors:

Getting Ready Venue: Hilton (Downtown Lexington)

Ceremony Venue: Gratz Park

Reception Venue: The Carrick House

Coordination: Morgan Withrow

Florist: Ivory Rose

Dessert Bar: Pam Vernon

Transportation: Thoroughbred Limo

Gown: Ruth's Bridal

Bridesmaid's Dresses: J.Crew

Suits: JC Penny

DJ: Matt Hogg

Caterer: Lundy's

Videographer: Neal Gregory

Hair & Makeup: Emily & Molly

 

 

Christina & Lucas: West Virginia Wedding

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I could sing praises about my experience with Christina and Lucas (and their family) all day long.  From the time they booked us (meant to be!) to their after-party (heck, yes we went) we had the best time and felt right at home with everyone. Christina chose The Greenbrier for her wedding because it was her second home growing up.  It is beautiful.  My jaw dropped when Gabe and I rounded the corner to the country club in White Sulpher Springs.  So pretty and so huge!  The grounds, the restaurants, and the rooms are classy and filled with southern sophistication.  Whoa.  I just might write a review for The Greenbrier on trip adviser.

We spent the evening before the wedding scouting locations.  I found about 100 places.  We narrowed it down to ten or so.  I love the wallpaper, floral patterns, and bold colors.  Between this and Christina's sweet taste, I am so happy with the photos.

PS - Yes, you did see the Greenbrier on The Bachelorette.  Emily dissed a guy in the room where Christina and Lucas had their first look.

PPS - Yes, I watch The Bachelorette.

Gabe is really excited about the great pictures he just took above and below.  There were so many great moments with Christina and her dad throughout the day!

Vendors:

Ceremony: The Greenbrier North Lawn

Cocktail Hour: The Greenbrier North Parlor

Reception: The Greenbrier Cameo Room

Wedding Planner: Kathy Shingler

Florist: Gillespie's Florist

Cake: The Greenbrier

Gown: David's Bridal

Suits: J. Crew and Men's Wearhouse

Band: Power Play Band

Caterer: The Greenbrier

Hair and Makeup: Pam Matney and Tina Steele

Kathleen & Clay: Richmond Wedding

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Happy Monday!  We are on the other side of a two-wedding-weekend and it feels good.  As summer and wedding season move along, I am more and more excited about the rest of the year.  Our brides and grooms are the best!  We have a great time with you all and your weddings are so creative.  This weekend we saw details from glow sticks to vintage records.  Love it.  That said, I (Mary) encourage you to have fun with your wedding.  Especially the details.  They can be unique to you and yours.  Maybe you already know this and have too many details (shout out to Pinterest).  Hire a planner to help you sift through them and come up with something creative and truly your style. Kat and Clay are below.  A few things I love about their wedding:

1. Venue - White Hall in Richmond.  Beautiful.

2. Kat's dress - David's Bridal

3. Air Force - We have an AF connection with Clay.  He was in for the full 20 years.

4. Sunset light - We took most of their pictures before the ceremony but wanted to take a few more after while the sun was a little lower.  The guests were at cocktail hour, so it worked out perfectly.

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: White Hall

Recpetion Venue: Cardome Center

Wedding Coordinator: Melissa Jones

Florist: Crist Creona

Cake: Martine's Pastries

Transportation: Gold Sheild

Gown and Bridesmaid's Dresses: David's Bridal

Suits: Geno's

DJ: Tommy Johnson

Caterer: Dupree Catering

Year Two. Still Dancing.

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Hello!  Gabe here.  So today is our second wedding anniversary.  Last year I wrote a post on year 1, found here.  As it turns out, Mary and I made it through year two alive and kicking - and better for it. Mary has a nice little back-kick she learned at the gym.  Watch out, shins! We have been having fun remembering our wedding day.  Ironically, it was a day almost exactly like today - beautiful, bright, in the 70's. It was truly a lovely whirlwind of a day, and we had such an amazing time celebrating with our awesome friends. I plan to always keep that day, the people that were there, the people who helped make it happen, close to my heart.

So lately, I've been thinking a lot about marriage.  Not only because our anniversary was fast approaching, but also because I find myself at really incredible weddings from time to time.

From what I've read, not everyone thinks marriage is a good thing. Whaaaa???

The great poet Lord Byron wrote that, "Though women are angels, yet wedlock's the devil."  --Hours of  Idleness

(Sounds like he had a hellish experience.)

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "Marriage is like life in this - that is a field of battle, and not a bed of roses." --Virginibus Puerisque  

(Sounds like someone had a combative/violent wife...)

Oscar Wilde wrote, "Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious. Both are disappointed." --A Woman of No Importance

(Sounds like someone lowered their standards...)

Johnny Carson said once, "If variety is the spice of life, marriage is the big can of leftover Spam."

(Sounds like variety didn't work so well for Johnny in this case...)

You get the idea...it seems many people become jaded after a few years of marriage.  It seems like many have either had a bad experience themselves, or witnessed a bad marriage experience.

Which is terribly sad. People can be cruel sometimes - and marriage certainly isn't easy.

Something dawned on me a while back - marriage is kind of like the first dance at a wedding reception.  If the couple is anything like Mary & myself, they are excited, nervous, and incredibly happy when they step out on that dance floor at the reception. But that first dance can also be incredibly uncomfortable, confounding, terrifying, ulcer-inducing, and, well, awkward. You're out there all alone, you're sweating, everyone is looking right at you, you're trying not to get dizzy moving around in circles...it's tough for so many reasons.

The first dance at a wedding is, usually, a mind-boggling mixture of sweet sincere joy, and uncomfortable awkward nerves.

I think marriage is a little like that too: Exciting, uncomfortable, joyous, scary.

You just have to choose who you want to dance with and go for it together.

I continue to learn so much from Mary - her grace, her composure, her sense of humor. She continues to surprise and astound and brighten my every day.

Today I can say that, despite working together and seeing each other virtually ALL OF THE TIME, I love Mary more today than I ever have. And I know she feels the same because I've seen it and felt it. Some say that's a miracle - perhaps it is. This year we had adventures, trials, fun, tears...oh and we laughed a whole lot.

So I can't relate to those brilliant men I quoted above.  I don't know why their respective relationships didn't pan out, but I know that I feel incredibly blessed that I somehow ended up in an amazing place with an amazing woman.

We try to truly love each other with a love that's bigger than ourselves.  We love out of the love we've been shown from our God who loves more than we can ever know (1 John 4:7-14).

At our wedding, two years ago, our dear friends Tiffany, Neil, and Caleb sang & played this beautiful song by Over The Rhine

...and we like it for many reasons, but mainly because it communicates the intentionallity of love.  Many days, you choose to love the other - even when you don't feel like it.  That's what i've found love is many days - a choice.  I am a lucky man, because sweet Mary chose me.

Marriage is a covenant you're living in, you're dancing in, together.  I'm a terrible dancer, but Mary doesn't seem to care. And I couldn't imagine dancing with anyone else. Here's to year three.

 

 

Laura & Drew: Lexington Wedding

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This colorful wedding was a mix of Jewish heritage as well as Canadian and Kentucky cultures.  That typed, it was beautiful, joyous, and a whole lot of fun.

The Vendors

Ceremony Venue: Old Morrison Chapel, Transylvania University

Reception Venue: Carrick House

Caterer: Lundy's

Cake: Twisted Sifter

DJ: Charles Redden

Florist: Jeanie Gorrell

Gown: Mori Lee

Hair: Mickey's Salon & Spa

Invitations: Val Woerner with Southern Fete Creative

Make Up: Jennifer Banks