Katie + Nick // Wedding // St. Henry’s, Nashville

I know I say this all the time, but I LOVE my job!

My first chance to shoot with Katie and Nick involved their entire family and a bunches of their friends!  They invited me to hang out with them during their rehearsal dinner.  Once they mentioned Puckett’s Grocery in Franklin, I was sold!  Everyone was in high spirits from what must have been a flawless rehearsal.  There was music, drinking, dancing and, of course, GREAT Southern food!

The next night, I couldn’t wait to get started shooting.  St. Henry’s church is a BEAUTIFUL Catholic church in Bellvue.  Their old sanctuary (now a large narthex) has some of the most beautiful and unique stained glass I’ve ever seen.  I REALLY wish it hadn’t been the dead of night in December.  I’d have LOVED to get shots with them.

At any rate, the guys were holding down the fort in a little cubby hole of a room while the ladies got dressed in the well-mirrored Bride’s room.  Why is it that the groom & groomsmen always get’s the shaft?

We didn’t have much access to the sanctuary for formals so we got to improvise (I LOVE that kind of challenge).  We ended up using a gorgeous mosaic and a big brown wall in the multi-purpose/dining room.  K+N both showed complete faith in me by letting me do this and I’m SO glad they did.  Also, now would be a great time to mention that the amazing Brittany Nelson did the hair & makeup for the bride and bridal party.  Her eyes = WOW!

Then it was time for the big event.  The Priest was SUPER accommodating and allowed me to sit in a pew right in front and just to the left of the altar.  Unfortunately, I chose the pew the bridesmaids would eventually come sit in.  DOH!  Being that getting up and moving would have caused a distraction, we just all sat nice and cozy!  Awkwardness aside, it did provide me with a great perspective of the bridesmaids as well as the bride and groom.

The reception was at the Old Natchez Country Club and had great food (as usual), a gorgeous cake and a killer band.  My favorite moment of the whole night HAD to be the bouquet toss.  Katie scoped out where her sister (Blair) was standing while acting like she was about to toss over her head as most brides do.  At the last moment, she turned and hurled it straight at Blair.  It was FANTASTIC.

A big “thank you” to Debbie Valentine with Copper Kettle Cafe & Catering for getting me in touch with N+K to begin with, and an even BIGGER “thank you” for your general awesomeness!

Katie & Nick, thank you SO much for letting me be a part of your big day.  It is for the joy working with folks like you that I do this.  May God bless you ever so richly with all the joy marriage can bring!