Oh goodness. I went a little overboard today, friends. It’s one of the hardest posts to put together and one of my favorites! It’s all my wedding highlights from 2015! Last year, it was a whirlwind of favorite images that taught me what to look for as a photographer, it was a whole post full of firsts.

And this year’s experience as a wedding photographer was vastly different. It was knowing my craft well enough to be able to catch what I would’ve missed before. It was about being confident enough to ask for more and notice the tender in betweens. Today’s wedding post is all about the moments that made me (barely) choke back tears. The moments that made me love people even more. And the moments that had me smiling from ear to ear. And some pretty details thrown in along the way :]

This year we shot 14 weddings. That’s 28 people that we had the absolute privilege of being a part of their wedding stories. That’s incredible. What an opportunity. It’s one that we don’t take lightly and one that we are continually thankful for. It makes the long hours and hardships of small business ownership all worth it. To every couple that allowed us into your lives in 2015, thank you times a million! You are our favorites!

And here’s all of my favorite images. Along with some commentary, because I just can’t help myself!

Will and Courtney. They kicked off our wedding season bright in early in January. It was a romantic day full of rolling fog and gorgeous blush details. Most of all, it was the excitement and giddiness that bled throughout the entire day, and it was “I love you back forever.”

This was one of my favorite getting ready times ever. Courtney was so calm and elegant and her girls fell silent when she stepped into her gown.

Just the sweetest. Still brings tears to my eyes a year later.

On the right, sometimes you’ve got to go with the grain :]

Everyone was still as Will pulled his bride in close for their first dance.

One of my favorites of David’s shots! So fun!

Andrew & Kendahl. This day was special because I got to see Kendahl grow so much as a college student and seeing her go from a single woman to a wife was breathtaking. The day was so joy filled and the word that kept being said was “finally.” They hadn’t been together long, but that was the feeling agreed upon by all of their guests. Because they are perfect together.

A proud moment for both of these. On the left, David’s shot of Andrew and his faithful pup. And on the right, mommas reacting to their babies getting married. What a sweet moment.

Loved this little bridal party 😀

This is what I mean when I say FINALLY!

Two people coming together in marriage means a family of THREE when there’s a puppy involved!

Adam & Lauren. We didn’t get to meet these two until their actual wedding day and it made it even sweeter. We got to see their relationship with fresh eyes and see their love for the Lord in the way all of their guests spoke of them. It was a day that passed with such clarity. They’d been waiting for so long. And it all came to a head as their guests sang out praise to Jesus in the sanctuary.

One of my favorite floral shots :]

Sometimes a first “not” look is better than a first look could ever be. Watching them pray together brought me to tears.

And so. did. this. A proud father hugging his little girl.

The fluffiest details 😀

Such a great first dance. Love how Adam holds his girl close.

Nathan & Haley. Again, a super special day because I’d gotten to be in Haley’s life consistently for three whole years and see her grow in her relationship with Nathan. Most importantly, also grow to fall deeply in love with Jesus. The day was a perfect end to the goodbyes that Nathan and Haley had dealt with living a whole country a part from each other. Haley is all about the joy, so to see her at full joy that day was amazing. Also, she’s gorgeous.

Biggest, most fun group of “best men”!

Not every photo needs the best scenery :] This moment between Haley and her father in the church’s nursery was beautiful.

See? All about that joy!

Love the image of Haley walking back to her reception. She grew up in the Virginia mountains and seeing them all behind her was so sweet!

Chris & Stephanie. Stephanie was all laughter and giggles and high pitched squeals on her day. She’d watched so many friends get married and it was HER turn now. Her and Chris have the cutest love story. Watching Chris hold back tears as she walked down the aisle ensured there were no other dry eyes at the ceremony. Also, this was the craziest dance party I’ve ever experienced.

Steph and her momma have the sweetest relationship.

Those four in the middle? KPP brides :]

A quiet moment of tear filled prayer before going to meet her man.

YAY!

Teddy & Molly. This day was all about friendship and all about Jesus. Teddy and Molly are clearly the best of friends. They laughed together all day and flitted around to all of their guests, seemingly adored by everyone under their reception tent. The day reflected their love for each other, the Lord, and bright red details :] And this amazing bow!

One of my favorite floral shots on the right!

So fun! They all looked amazing in the modcloth dresses that Molly picked out!

That time that getting the “after the aisle” shots became a new priority. So much sweetness happens in these few minutes.

Okay, this was a first! Portraits on a swing set :]

Favorite cake shot of the year and another of my favorites of David’s on the right.

Give me ALL the porches 😀

Anders and Emily. Their day was full to the brim of guests who had traveled far and wide to make it to their Virginia wedding. There was such a sense of family and community on this day. Anders and Emily share a quiet, confident love and watching them melt into each other all night long was the best. And so was this vine covered venue!

The cutest first look.

Learning to love those wide shots. Virginia mountains certainly help with that 😉

Emily, painstakingly, put together all of these details! It’s tough to plan a wedding from Texas, but she made it beautiful!

Tre & Megan. This day was all about bidding those goodbyes, goodbye. Tre and Megan spent their entire engagement with an ocean between them, only to be reunited a few weeks before their big day. The small, thoughtful details that make up their relationship were placed throughout the day, but not to be matched by their big reunion. The beginning of a life together.

Megan wore lace slips as “shoes” and it was SO fun to shoot her rings on them.

David’s shot on the left. Quiet moments before walking to her first look.

He couldn’t stop gushing over her!

Getting to see prayer on a wedding day is always one of my favorite things.

They were just so happy to be together!

Clay and Alison. The perfect way to end the summer season. Between the beautiful venue and all of the southern charm from Clay’s Alabama roots and Alison’s sassy sweetness, we had emoji heart eyes all day. Clay and Alison were adventurous. They chose a first look surrounded by greenery and climbed out together into a field after the ceremony. It was a day with beautiful southern details and lots and lots of dancing.

I love how bold Clay went with his and his groomsmen attire. It was perfect! David’s shot on the left.

They made SO much time for portraits and it showed big time!

MARRIED!

I don’t know why, but this is my favorite family portrait! Alison and her nephew have the cutest relationship.

😀

Charlie and Brittany. Affectionately known as the hurricane wedding. But the weather didn’t matter. They both still had a stillness because they were getting married no matter the forecast. It was such a simple type of beautiful that day. The rain beat down on the same church that Brittany’s parents were married in and Charlie beamed about his bride all day long.

They were SO excited!

That time we gathered enough umbrellas to fit the entire wedding party! It made portrait time fun!

Ryan and Victoria. I think adventure accurately describes these two. From the way that Ryan gifted Victoria converses for all their new adventures as a married couple, to the way they battled the fierce October wind. Everyone there was in mutual agreement that they were better together. They danced with their guests and cuddled near outdoor heaters, and gave us a seriously memorable wedding day.

Those in between moments :] Victoria admiring her dress and tearfully hugging her father.

Vicki’s deep burgundy shawl was my favorite!

Favorite shoe shot 😀

Mike and Adrianne. We counted down to this day for so long. These two felt like friends way before their wedding day. And the wedding day only affirmed this. The sparkly details and expertly planned day were wonderful, but we left cherishing their friendship. And their super unique and tear inducing vows. We got a front row seat to their love and it was a privilege.

I couldn’t stop loving these bridal party shirts even if I wanted to.

Adrianne provided me with the most beautiful, sparkly details! Including the MRS box!

Loved this angle for the groom shot!

They’re MARRIED! I was beaming from behind the camera!

I think this was my favorite bridal party portrait time. So classy and fun!

Love the cake shot :] And it was delicious!

Adrianne has a love of brick walls and SO DO I!

Lawrence and Brittany. Every minute of this day was breathtaking. Law and Brittany share a special, swept off your feet type of romance and I remember tearing up all day long. From her father’s precious toast, to the way that Law spoke of his girl, it was just plain lovely. And Shadow Creek did not disappoint. These two are a classy couple and they threw a classy and FUN party to celebrate their love.

Also they’re both stunners.

One of my favorites of the year. Unposed…and cows in the background 😀

Love this perspective.

Law’s custom suit was a dream!

Taking a page from Justin and Mary’s book and shooting through the guests :]

George and Carolyn. They finished up our 2015 season and our last wedding before baby boy comes. It was an intimate day with only the friends and family who knew them best. Carolyn exuded confidence all evening and George could not keep his eyes off of her. They transitioned easily from fiancés to husband and wife in the blink of an eye. George’s gasp as she headed down the aisle said it all.

We fought for light in this getting ready room, but once we had it, we had it good :]

Some more in between moments :]

Falling in love with backlighting all over again!

David’s shot right after the ceremony! They made it!

2016, we’re ready for ya!