Social Circle, Ga Engagement Session | Tara & Tommy

Look how amazing these two are together! Tara and Tommy met me at my little farm, Creekview Farm, for their engagement session! We had such a fabulous time in the unreal warmth we were blessed with! I met Tara through her mother, Kathy. Kathy is an exceptional painter and wall paper hanger! We hired Kathy to paint the interior of our home when I was pregnant with Olivia, over four years ago! When Kathy found out I was a photographer she brought her granddaughter, Bella, to my annual Santa mini sessions. Her session was ADORABLE! I remember during her session she had on the cutest little pj’s and she was so excited to meet Santa! The very next year, Kathy brought along her entire crew for Santa sessions and I got to meet Tommy, Tara, their daughter Remi, Bella, Amelia, Amelia’s momma, Vaneta and Bella’s daddy, David. They are the most fabulous blended family and I loved photographing them ALL! 

So, now that you know how I got to meet Tara and Tommy, let me tell you about how they met each other! Waaaaay back in eighth grade, Tara was the “new girl” at her elementary school. Tommy was the “cool guy” that hung out with a crew that he had known most all his life. While they both attended the same school, they didn’t really get to know each other until their Junior year of high school! Tommy would walk Tara to her 6th period class every day. They never dated but remained friends.

Tara ended up moving to a different high school for her senior year and once Tommy graduated he became a soldier in the U.S. Army. After two tours, Afghanistan and Iraq, a big move to New York and several huge life changing events, Tommy found himself on this new site called Facebook! As he was navigating through, finding old friends, he sent Tara a message, “Hey, we went to school together, right?”

Back in Georgia, Tara had just put her sweet daughter, Bella, to bed and was looking forward to some quiet time. As she pulled up her Facebook page, there it was! Tara was one click away from falling in love with her future husband! They chatted through messages for months and got to know each other all over again!

One day Tommy sent Tara a message letting her know he was moving back home to Georgia! Tara felt a rush of excitement and butterflies! It had been years since they had seen each other in person! After Tommy moved back it didn’t take long before they were dating and falling in love! Tommy accepted Bella, Tara’s daughter, and loved her like she was his own. The two moved in together and got the surprise of a lifetime - they were pregnant! Although they were scared, they were also very excited!

Just last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, while our Atlanta Falcons were doing their best to beat the Patriots, the halftime show was on and Lady Gaga was doing her thing! Tara was totally stoked and glued to the TV watching her performance when all of the sudden the TV gets muted and a different song replaces Lady Gaga! Jason Derulo, Marry Me starts playing and Tommy walks into the room. Shaking, he kneels in front of Tara and he asks her to marry him!!! Her response, “YES, YES, YES!!!” 

As Tara put it, “We go together like peas and carrots. Okay, I wasn’t a fan of that combo growing up - let me try this one more time, we go together like sweet peas and mashed potatoes!”

Makayla + Tyler | 9 Oaks Farm, Monroe, Ga Wedding

My very last wedding of 2017 before becoming a mommy of THREE! While I am very excited for some time off to prepare and get used to being a mommy of three, I am quite the emotional mess that my photography season is over - just until next year that is! But, what a way to end it! It was SO fabulous to work with this couple, Makayla + Tyler AND their families! They were all so sweet and kind. Makayla’s family is part owner of the Social Circle Ace Hardware, which is my local hardware store. I take my girls there for their cute little fairy garden section AND they have a home decor section, too! So, I am in there pretty regularly and get to chat with Makayla’s mom, Mrs. Angela. Mrs. Angela and I met while I was photographing a wedding at Gather Plantation for my sweet couple, Jessica + Alex. She asked for my card and contacted me shortly after about her daughter’s wedding.

Makayla + Tyler are fabulous people! It’s been incredible getting to know them. Their 9 Oaks Farm wedding day was pretty spectacular and I was honored to photograph it!

Congratulations Makayla + Tyler!

Vendors: Venue: 9 Oaks Farm, Monroe, Ga. Wedding Derector: Jacki Garrison Florals: Flowers by On Hair + Makeup: The Southern Way Salon and Gifts, Social Circle, Ga. Catering: Bleu House Catering Cake: Stephanie Barnes Grooms Cookie Bar: Amy Davis Ceremony Entertainment: Brandon Stubbs DJ: Classic City DJ, Jamie Duvall, ClassiccityDJs@gmail.com

Kaylee + Will | Athens, Ga Wedding

Last weekend, I met Kaylee at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Athens, Ga. When I walked into their hotel room her and her ladies were having a fabulous time chatting and laughing. She has the best group of friends a girl could ask for! They had nothing but her best interest at hand ALL day long! Once the ladies were dressed and ready they headed to the hotel’s bar for some more fun and giggles. We then hopped on the trolley and made our way to the wedding site. Kaylee’s fiancé’s family, has a beautiful piece of heaven where they built a barn, created a ceremony and reception site for their big day! It was spectacular! Will’s family really knocked it out of the park! They created the perfect ceremony site, lining the isle with pea gravel that lead to a large oak tree that was back lit by the sun and just on the other side of the tree is a cute little wooden marker with Kaylee + Will’s names and wedding date to memorialize the special day. They built a beautiful bar under the overhang of the barn for guests to enjoy and the reception site was tented with a checker board dance floor, chandeliers and a large stage for the live band that kept the party going all night long.

After their ceremony and family formal photographs, the wind started picking up. Kaylee’s bridesmaid’s were encouraging her to make her way back to the barn. They were so concerned that the rain would ruin her dress. Her and Will rushed away as the rain started to drift in and my heart started to break. There were so many locations I had in mind for their sunset photographs as husband and wife and I knew with the rain we just weren’t going to make it to any of them. However, the rain ended up not “ruining” anything. In fact, it made their photographs more gorgeous and as romantic as ever!

With the quick change up in their wedding day schedule, Kaylee + Will made their way into the tent for their introduction and first dance as husband and wife. This is about the time I started asking anyone and everyone if they just happen to have an umbrella - not a soul had one. The plan was, once they finished up their dances, we would go back to the barn for photographs. So, my husband, who came along to help this eight and a half month pregnant photog chick out, grabs the lid of a trash can and holds it over my head to keep my camera and I dry from the rain so I can photograph Kaylee + Will under the overhang of the barn. I am SO thankful for my man! He got soaked in order for me to do the best job I could for this sweet couple.

Kaylee + Will thank you so much for having us as your wedding photographers! You two (AND your families) have been such a pleasure to photograph! Congratulations!!

Vendors: Wedding Coordinators: Shelli Sibert and Sherri Brown Hair Stylist: Jessica Szabo of District Salon Bride's Hair Stylist: Julia Alligood (also a bridesmaid) Makeup Artist: Hanna Dean Rental Company: Oconee Events Rental Ceremony Duo: Will and Koy Manget Reception Band: Soul Project Catering: Jim N' Nicks Bar-B-Q Florals: Everett's Florist, Laurel Prince Cake: Cecilia Villaveces Cakes Groom's Cake: Jane Bagby

Kaylyn + Brett | The Mill at Yellow River, Porterdale, Ga Wedding

When Kaylyn, the event coordinator of The Mill at Yellow River, asked me to be her wedding photographer, I was beyond honored!!! Her and I have worked together on several beautiful weddings at The Mill and getting to photograph her marry her love, Brett, meant the world to me. Brett and Kaylyn have incredible families and they made us feel so welcomed. When I was photographing Brett, before their first look, he was asking about Kaylyn. The smile on his face was from ear to ear when I told him just how stunning she looked. The love!!!

Now, the decor! Todd + Jakob, owners of The Mill at Yellow River and Beyond Details, really went above and beyond to make Kaylyn and Brett's day stand out above all! Kaylyn and her mother both work with Jakob and Todd and you can just feel the love these folks have for one another.

There were so many special moments! During their ceremony, just before they were pronounced husband and wife, the sky let out the sweetest little fluffy white puffs. I have no idea what they were, but you will see them in the photographs. It gave me chills and the guests looked amazed too!

To end the night, Brett, Kaylyn and all their guests formed a circle with arms around each other and they all sang and swayed side to side before heading out to send them off.

Kaylyn and Brett, thank you two from the bottom of my heart for having Arlissa and I as your wedding photographers and allowing us to be such a big part of your special day! I wish you two the best!

Vendors: Venue: The Mill at Yellow River Wedding Planner: Tailored Events, Joshua Smith Florals, Decor + Catering: Beyond Details Hair: Toni&Guy Westside Ironworks, Kiya Makeup: Hannah Yessick Videography: For Him Films, Will Braswell DJ: Spectrum Entertainment & Events, Lou Guzzo

Lauren + Matt | Lake Oconee, Georiga Wedding

I totally started freaking out about a week before Lauren + Matt's wedding day. . .The rain! Oh my, there was a high, high chance of rain scheduled on the day of their outdoor wedding. When we arrived at De Casa Banana II, a beautiful home located on Lake Oconee,  it was all sunshine. . .and smoke! lol The fire department was called and the flames from the yard down the road were extinguished before the smoke effected any of the events of their beautiful day! For Lauren's decor, she incorporated subtle hints from the movie, Beauty and the Beast. Lauren is a huge Disney fan and it was the perfect touch!

Vendors: Venue: De Casa Banana II, Greensboro, Ga. Coordinator: KB Weddings and Events, Katherine Bruce Hair artist: Rheanna Lowery Makeup artist: Destiny Rentals: Goodwin Events Florist: Britt Wood Catering: Trumps Catering DJ: Black Tie Events