LYNN & JAKE

Summer is flying past so fast. Who would have thought that July would almost be practically gone! And yet we continue to have the most beautiful summer weddings! And last weekend we had one of our most beautiful…..

July 18 was an absolutely gorgeous day. The weather was perfect. Who would have thought it could be 79 degrees in July in Tennessee. Such a perfect day calls for a perfect wedding, and we had one. Lynn and Jake were married on July 18 at Calvary United Methodist Church, followed by a reception at Hillwood Country Club.

In case you don’t know, Calvary United Methodist is located next to the “Big White Church”, otherwise known as Woodmont Christian Church. Since I had always been intimidated by the “Big White Church”, I had never stopped to look at the awesome church sitting right next to it until now. What a gorgeous church! Calvary United Methodist is equally as intimidating as the “Big White Church” due to its size and grandeur. Since this was the first time we had ever had a wedding at Calvary, I had to spend an extra few minutes outside the church finding the perfect shot of this grand building. I especially thought the steeple was awesome! And what a beautiful day to be shooting the outside of a new church!

But it was equally beautiful inside. The florist was still bringing in the flowers and arranging them in the church when I arrived. The flowers were absolutely gorgeous! I loved the colors. Very soft pastel yet with patches of bold pinks and corals. Soft ivory roses and lilies. I just loved them! And they were everywhere! I had a few minutes before Jake and his groomsmen arrived, so I was able to take lots of shots in the sanctuary, which was nice. Sometimes there just isn’t much time to get a lot of shots of the flowers, and we all know that I love to take lots of shots of flowers!

While I was spending time in the sanctuary with the flowers, Lynette and Dawn were with Lynn and her bridesmaids pre-ceremony as they were getting dressed. Did I mention that Lynn and Jake had a huge wedding party? Well, they did. I think there were twelve bridesmaids and groomsmen, plus ushers and flower girls and ring bearers. Whew! My count may be off by a couple, but I know there were a LOT. Anyway, Lynette and Dawn were busy with the ladies as they were getting dressed. I wasn’t with them, since I spend my pre-ceremony with the Groom and his guys, but Lynette said that Lynn and the bridesmaids were having a really good time. I just know that everyone looked really nice.

I was still waiting for Jake to arrive when I first saw Lynn’s sister, who was Maid of Honor, and she looked so pretty!

I loved the color of the dresses and the pretty bows tied in front. Lynn’s sister’s dress had a pretty broach pinned in the bow, and turns out this broach belonged to Lynn’s grandmother.

Lynn was also wearing one of her grandmother’s broaches on her dress as well. Such beautiful touches!

I also loved that all the bridesmaids were wearing pearl necklaces, and Lynn was as well, along with a pearl bracelet that Jake gave her as a wedding gift. Everyone looked so pretty.

Jake and the groomsmen slowly trickled in one by one and finally Jake arrived looking handsome in his tux. Since Lynn and Jake chose to not see each other before the ceremony, they had separate photo shoots which meant extra time for the guys to hang out in a back room while Lynn was having her photos taken with the bridesmaids. I have to say that Jake and his groomsmen were a lively bunch! I was laughing the entire time because they were so funny!

While they were waiting, Jake and the guys played video games and ate and just generally had a good time joking around and keeping Jake loose and ready to get married. Jake was a little bit nervous, but the guys helped keep him relaxed and laughing. What a great bunch of guys!

I have to say that Lynn and Jake's wedding was one of the most fun weddings I’ve done this year. Lynn and Jake surrounded themselves with friends and family who were so nice and so easy to work with. Speaking as a vendor, the entire day was practically effortless because of how pleasant everyone was. Believe me, this really makes the day when everyone from the bride and groom, to their parents, to their wedding party and friends, are SO NICE. It makes for a very happy atmosphere.

It also makes for an almost effortless day when we work with a team of vendors who are also pleasant, professional, and NICE. Marsha Husbands was the wedding planner and she is so easy to work with. We’ve done many weddings over the years with Marsha, and all her weddings are well organized and well planned. I can’t stress this enough, but a good wedding planner is VERY IMPORTANT! :--)

We were also so happy to be working again with photographer and friend, Derrick Pierce (and Lovely Laura) of D Pierce Studio. We’ve worked with Derrick and Laura so many times over the years that they seem almost like family, only better! We always have such a good time working with them.

Speaking of Derrick and Laura, their photo shoot with Lynn, Jake, and their wedding party was a fun one. Again, everyone was really having a nice time. Lots of laughing going on pre-ceremony. I like it when that happens.

It was during the pre-ceremony photo shoot that I first saw Lynn in her dress. She looked so beautiful! I absolutely loved her gown! It was ivory lace and it was gorgeous. Everything about this entire day was perfect, from the dress to the weather to the flowers to the happy couple to the happy friends and family…..just everything!

Before we all knew it, it was soon time for the ceremony. We were limited in where we could video during the ceremony, so Dawn and I were in the balcony, and Lynette was on the first floor with Lynn prior to her entrance, and then shot from the back of the church during the ceremony. Lynette, always creative, hid a camera at the front of the church so we could get Lynn as she walked down the aisle looking gorgeous.

And since Jake hadn’t seen Lynn before the ceremony, it was really important for us to get his expression when he first saw Lynn. I don’t think he stopped smiling after he saw her coming down the aisle on her father’s arm. It was perfect!

The ceremony was very pretty. Jake’s Dad officiated, which is always a nice touch. Dad got just a little emotional at the beginning of the ceremony, and this was really touching too. I love emotions! Lynn and Jake, as well as their parents, took communion during the ceremony which also made the wedding very special and touching.

After Lynn and Jake were pronounced Husband and Wife, everyone was ready to go to the reception and have fun!

After the ceremony, Lynette stayed behind for the photo shoot, while Dawn and I made our way over to Hillwood Country Club for the reception. I enjoy driving to the reception with Dawn because Dawn moves right along, unlike Lynette, who has this “thing” about obeying the speed limit…..!

Again, like the church, Hillwood Country Club was decorated beautifully. The flowers were once again gorgeous! All the decorations complimented each other perfectly. Guests were treated to hors d’eouvres prior to dinner. As guests were mingling, Dawn and I had the opportunity to get the reception room before guests entered. The tables were so pretty! I especially loved Lynn and Jake’s table where their chairs were decorated with flowers.

And of course, The Cake. It was beautiful! I loved how the cake table cloth was ivory lace just like Lynn’s dress. And the cake matched perfectly. It was a tall cake! And yes, of course I had a piece before the night was over. Actually, a couple of pieces. :--) It was Yummy!

Again, such a happy and fun reception! One of my favorite bands, City Lights, played at the reception. They always do a great job. Their vocalist has a voice that can raise the roof!

After Lynn and Jake made their entrance, danced their first dance, dinner was served and the cake was cut, the dance floor was opened and it became a mosh pit! The dance floor stayed full from the first moment the band started playing until the very last note was played.

Everyone was having a great time on the dance floor. They even did a limbo!

Just like the first part of the day, the reception flew by and it was soon time for Lynn and Jake to make their exit. Oh, but one last treat for everyone… donuts to go!

Guests tossed rose petals as Lynn and Jake made their way to the limo, but before leaving they stopped to hug everyone good-bye, which was really sweet. So many friends wanted to say bye before they left that Lynn and Jake could barely get into the car! And even then as the limo drove off, a group of groomsmen chased them as they drove away. Luckily, the limo driver out ran them!

What a fun day!

Lynette, Dawn, and I want to thank Lynn and Jake and their families for allowing us to spend such a fun and beautiful day with you. Thank you all for your kindness and friendliness throughout the day. You ALL made our day!

Best wishes always to Lynn and Jake as they start their brand new life together!

Rut Ro. Three’s Company is on in the other room. Either its 1977, or it’s 3:00 am and Nick at Night is playing re-runs again.  I think I prefer the latter!  And that means its time for this girl to go to bed!