Ever since the first meeting with Amber, it felt like I had known her for years. Every time we would meet up, we ended up talking for no less than three hours. I remember think at that very first meeting… “wow, we have so much in common”. There wedding day unfolded at Selah Springs Farm in Riner, VA.

Amber and Dustin are high school sweethearts! They’ve been dating for over six years and have been through so many life experiences together, similar to Nathan and I. I think that’s why I can relate to this sweet couple so much. During their engagement portraits, I got to meet Dustin and really get to interact with him and Amber (you can see their engagement blog post here). These two were just made for each other.

Another thing that really stood out to me during our time talking was how much family means to them both. Amber is extremely close with her Dad and that bond was so prevalent on her wedding day. Not once but twice did you find my eyes filled with happy tears watching Amber and her Dad throughout the day. During his toast to the new Mr. and Mrs., Amber’s dad said never once had her heard her say something negative about Dustin.   In six years, she

          Where to start?! The beginning of my fifth grade year, we moved and I changed schools. That’s where I know the “the girls” from. They lived right up the road from us and their mom and my mom became friends and have been ever since. About a year later we all ended up moving to Love Valley, North Carolina. Never heard of it? A lot of people haven’t. It’s a horse town. Most people own a horse, or five. You can’t drive a car into town, you either walk, drive up and park outside of the town or ride your horse and tie it at the hitching post outside the “General Store”.

          “The Girls” as my mom and I call them, are triplets and I grew up thinking of all three of them as my big sisters. The Jenkins family is our family. Even though we don’t see each other very often anymore, they are still our family and we pick up right where we left off. Their older siblings, the girls, their mom, my mom and myself can pick up as if we saw each other yesterday.

         Whether or not I got to shoot Kara’s wedding day, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I am so glad that I was able to be there for her and Jacob. They are truly such a sweet couple...

When I first met Emily and J.C. last year at Starbucks for their consultation…I knew immediately that I couldn’t wait for their wedding day. They were telling me about the music that they wanted to play and it was right up my alley. Over the last year Emily and I talked about all the details of her wedding and I have been so impressed.  Emily handmade so much of her burlap wedding décor is still amazes me. Boot bands, centerpieces, bouquets and bouts all made by her and her mom…I have to say that I honestly don’t think I have the patience for that. But she did it and it looked beautiful!

Emily and J.C. had so many personal touches to the day. Their pre-wedding gifts to each other…um, wow! I didn’t get to see it since he gave it to her at the reception dinner but J.C. hand crafted a hope chest for Emily to keep mementos from their new life together in, can you say sweet? But on the day of the wedding, she gave him a beautiful personalized key chain and customized his tie with a sweet little note. And he gave her a bracelet that captured a part of their life together…a policeman’s hat. You see, not only is J.C. handy with creating wooden chest but he is a State Trooper that serves and protects. 

            Oh Hannah and Cameron…your DIY rustic wedding day at Diamond V Farms was beautiful! I’ve known Cameron since high school and I was so glad to meet Hannah when they initially contacted me about shooting their wedding. And I was so excited about not only their big day but their engagement session and Hannah’s bridal portraits (Click here to see their engagement shoot and here to see Hannah’s bridals).
           Something I was looking so forward to, was getting to shoot at a new venue. I got to see it first at the bridal session for Hannah and I couldn’t wait to go back and shoot the wedding. Diamond V Farm in Blue Ridge, VA is gorgeous y’all! A beautiful rustic country venue facing the mountains, sigh…I would love to call that home.
            Cameron and Hannah’s wedding day was filled with amazing “diy” touches, tears and so much happiness...and a little rain. Throughout the morning, Hannah and Cameron exchanged gifts to one another and it was great to see the others face when they realized they both were secretly planning little surprises throughout the day. Once it was time for the “first look”, they were both so excited to see each other. Cameron wrote a letter to his future bride and she gave him two pins with pictures of his grandparents in memory of them. It was beautiful!
           By the time the ceremony rolled around it had started to drizzle rain, but that didn't stop their friends  

            Three whole weeks have gone by since I shot Hannah’s bridal portraits and a little over a week ago she became a MRS! I had looked so forward to seeing her in her dress and for their big day, neither disappointed! Since they were getting married at Diamond V Farm in Blue Ridge,VA she decided she also wanted to take her bridal pictures there. One of her bridesmaid, Megan and her dog, Gracie joined us.  Just as a side note, thank you Meagan for all your help that day! Brides…if you are having a bridal session with me or anyone else, it is always a good idea to bring someone with you. While I was shooting, Megan helped “fluff” the dress, fix Hannah’s hair, held the bouquet when we didn’t need it and held the dog.

            And another thank you to Diamond V for letting us come out and shoot. Send them some love today on their Facebook page.

           Make sure you check back later this week to see Hannah and Cameron’s wedding day!