KARI + RYAN [murfreesboro TN]

One hot, muggy spring day, I took Kari + Ryan’s engagement pictures next to the bay in Florida.

One hot, muggy June afternoon, Kari + Ryan got married in Tennessee. <3

These beautiful two were the first couple for whom I had the privilege of shooting both their engagement pictures and wedding day – and I LOVED getting that chance!

I’m so grateful that I to got to know Kari at college – as acquaintances, then coworkers (at two jobs!), then friends. We worked a pretty difficult job together, but Kari always met her class and work challenges with a smile. Plus, she gave me chocolate for no good reason, wrote silly notes to make me smile, prayed with/for me, and went out of her way to make my day a brighter place.

I was SO excited when I heard about her and Ryan’s Christmas-time engagement — and even MORE thrilled when she asked me to be their engagement photographer and wedding photographer!! I can’t wait to share these images with you, because they’re bursting with sweetness.

See full post below…

I loved all these details – blue wedding shoes, a gorgeous lace veil… the end.

When the bridesmaids are thoughtful enough to bring DUNKIN for the photographer… I think we have a serious case of friendship on our hands!

Can I just say that I was in LOVE with her hair?!

I am a HUGE fan of first looks, too – and theirs was so precious!!

I hadn’t been to Tennessee in the summertime in at least seven years, and I’d forgotten how GREEN it is!! Yay for old parks and walking trails and early summer heat.

Somehow they rocked the whole hot-sunshine-wedding-dress-and-suit thing.

M’kay, so let me tell you something that’ll make you cry.

Kari’s father passed away a few short weeks before the wedding, so Kari wanted to remember him somehow in some special way. She asked her mom for her dad’s wedding rings, but her mom kept putting it off…

BECAUSE, unbeknownst to Kari, Megan (Kari’s older sister, who happens to be married and go to church with my family in Washington, how random is that?!) and her mom worked behind the scenes to get Mr. N.’s wedding ring – and Air Force name tag – on her bouquet for her special day.

In a way, her Daddy did walk her down the aisle.

Seriously, guys. I almost cried.
Actually, I did cry. Which is very unusual for me.

One of my favorite moments was right after the ceremony, when the bride and groom headed upstairs to sign the marriage certificate. It was a chance for the two of them to just be together and breathe – and kiss. Maybe once… or more than once.

Mr. and Mrs. Elder… I love you two!! <3

I just love the way she looks at him.

It’s so cute.

Watching these two get married was definitely a highlight of my summer. They’ve been best friends for years and now they’re man and wife and I’m SO thrilled for them.

Kari and I have kept in touch since graduation and the wedding. Today we traded emails, and when I asked how life was going: “Married life is a blast, I highly recommend it. Being able to be with your bestest best best friend every day for forever is ah-mazing!”

AND for one of my favorite series of images from the wedding day…
I’ve definitely saved some of the best for last.

who says Pinterest ideas can go wrong?? THIS one sure didn’t, peeps. —>

notes from the new Mrs. E…
wedding venue: Franklin Road Baptist Church
portrait location: Old Fort Park
hair + makeup: friend of the bride (“who I think might be part magician!”)
bride’s dress: StoreDress
bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal
wedding rings: Overstocks
groom’s tux: Men’s Warehouse
flowers: ordered from Sam’s Club, styled by “my every incredible seeeester!”
cake: Publix Bakery
hand lettering: groom’s cousins
music: playlist by the bride – “I put that bad boy together!”
decorations: bride’s “patient, out-of-this-world” family

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