How a Wedding Photographer Plans Her Own Wedding
I am so happy to share today's guest post with y'all. I've known Amy Wallen for as long as I can remember -- our families have been friends and neighbors for generations. It's kind of amazing that the cute toddler who played in the yard with my little brother is now a beautiful bride-to-be with a unique and creative eye for photography and a business of her own! Amy agreed to share with us a few of the pro tips she's learned along the way and that she is working into her own upcoming ceremony. You can see more of Amy's awesome work on her website and her Facebook page. -- HCW
I just love the fact that my life is engulfed in weddings!
What can I say? I love love, and I love photographing it! I still can't believe
that I've created this business doing something that I'm so passionate about.
My fiance and I are coming up on our own wedding day, June
22. Being on the other side of weddings,
mixed up in all of the hype of planning, has truly given me a better sense of
what a couple goes through when planning a wedding.
As a photographer, I never got to see behind the scenes
during the planning process. I would
come to a wedding and instantly get excited. The venue is beautifully
decorated, the bridesmaids are tending to the bride, the vendors are getting
place. It all seemed so fun to me! But
now that I am so close to my own big day, I've realized just how much hard
work, effort and MONEY goes into planning this monumental day.
One thing that I like so much about shooting weddings, is
the fact that each and every wedding is different from the last. A ceremony on an airport runway, in a castle,
at the church where her parents were married. Horseshoe favors, signature
drinks, sparkler exits. Everything about
all of these little touches just gives me the warm fuzzies. I'm all about
letting your personality shine through everything that you do. And when my
clients show off a family heirloom, have a special father daughter dance, or
incorporate a high school letterman jacket, I feel as if I'm right in the
middle of their love story.
When I began planning my wedding day, I knew that I wanted
it to be unique, and very true to Sam and me.
We are laid back, goofy, country and a little bit old school. We love Sunday drives in his '83 Chevy truck,
fishing at Jenny Wiley Lake, dancing in the kitchen, and laughing constantly.
Our breezy outdoor field ceremony fits perfectly with our personality. We both love being outside, and spending time
with our friends and family. The woods were the perfect venue.
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| Amy and Sam |
I love the idea of not being matchy. You can throw in SO
many personal touches nowadays, there's no reason to try to blend in! Mismatched bridesmaids dresses also pulled
our big day together. Light peaches and pinks with breezy fabrics surely fit
the bill.
Being a photographer really almost makes me overanalyze my
decisions. “What if it rains like it did at x’s wedding? What if we run out of
food? What if???” So many things run through my mind, just because I’ve seen so
much of it before. At the end of the day, every single wedding I have shot has
been beautiful, due in part to the bride and groom being head over heels in
love. Isn’t that the most important part?
Sometimes I feel like we forget the reason for a wedding.
It’s meant to share the love between two people amongst family and friends. I
can’t wait to have my own wedding. Regardless of everything else, I’m marrying
my soul mate. That’s good enough for me.
{all images courtesy Amy Wallen.}
{all images courtesy Amy Wallen.}
Our Night to Remember
They say that June is wedding month. I'm not sure I've ever been to a wedding in June, though! After yesterday's near 100 degree temperatures swept across the Commonwealth, I think I know why.
Almost four years ago, we scheduled an October wedding. My husband and I are fall and winter people. I love Central Kentucky in the fall - the sharp chilliness of the mornings that blossom into beautiful blue skied afternoons full of a backdrop of brilliant leaves.
Our outdoor wedding was billed as a backyard barbecue party that just so happened to have a wedding thrown in. My husband had already done the wedding thing once before, so he gave me a few of his "must-haves" for our wedding/party and left me to go crazy. Funny enough, I was never a girl who spent her adolescence planning her nuptials. I had no idea what I wanted, but I knew I wanted something that felt authentic to us - fun and casual with touches of sentimentality that reflected our individuality.
While my wedding may have taken place before Pinterest, it did not take place before Martha Stewart Weddings, Rock n Roll Bride, or Weddingbee. I may not have had pinboards galore, but I had Google docs full of links, pictures and lists of ideas! Since we wanted to keep our wedding small and personal, I decided to do quite a bit of DIY. I also had lots of help from my wonderful family and friends. These are just a few of the personal touches that I feel made our wedding special for us.
The bridesmaids found dresses off the rack within the color scheme (green and brown) and rocked their favorite boots while groomsmen wore button-down shirts and their most comfortable jeans (as did the groom). I made my own wedding dress - wonky hem and all, I loved it.
photo by Clay Jackson
I made our bouquets - sheaves of wheat with brown ribbon - from supplies in the bargain bins at the craft store.
photo by Clay Jackson
The wedding took place in the backyard of my parents' home. We decorated with handmade votive
lanterns along the fencerow - my family and friends saved all their
salsa, peanut butter and spaghetti jars for months!
photo by Clay Jackson
Luckily, we had a tent with walls that kept out the chilliest October day in recent memory (boo!). Also luckily, my parents had a supply of firewood for a late-in-the-reception bonfire. Of course, that bonfire was the site of quite a few rounds of bourbon passed around the circle - something of a family tradition. I, eventually, donned a pair of blue jeans underneath my dress because I got so chilly.
photo by Clay Jackson
Inside, the tent was filled with lanterns, votives and table decorations that were simply squares of fabric topped with centerpieces that featured photos from our travels and favorite quotes.
photo by Clay Jackson
With the help of the internet, our officiant (who also happened to be my cousin) and my own flair for the dramatic, I wrote the marriage ceremony and our vows. In true Jason-and-Lydia inappropriateness, we first sealed our marriage pronouncement with a high-five (we got to the more traditional kiss later).
photo by Clay Jackson; I also made the banner in the background here
Food was handmade by my awesome aunts, uncles and friends of the family. We had some authentic, kick-ass, best-in-the-whole-world Western Kentucky barbecue (St. Augustine Catholic Church recipe) made by my uncles paired with potato salad, pasta salad and appetizers made by my aunts and served buffet-style. No one needs fancy flatware with that menu, so I made easy-to-carry and cute flatware packets.
photo by Clay Jackson
My handy dad crafted a dance floor for the reception. On the backs of our RSVP cards, I asked our guests to write three songs that they'd request from a wedding DJ. I used those, plus our own favorites and family traditional wedding songs (we do an awesome number to Shout! but aren't big on The Chicken Dance) to construct a 3+ hour dance-til-you-drop playlist.
photo by Clay Jackson
Our wedding was a labor of love for me. I relished choosing and crafting all the little details. During one of our dances together, my not-always-enthusiastic-about-the-details husband whispered, "This is perfect. I'll never doubt any of your crazy ideas, again! Thank you."
In the end, of course, it was one day - one awesome day - but only one day of so many that make up a marriage. For us, it was the perfect way to publicly commemorate our commitment to one another and to share the love with our families and friends.
If you're planning a wedding, you don't have to DIY everything or have the biggest and best of everything for your day to be special. Look for ways to make sure that you and your relationship shine through. Make it meaningful, make it real and you won't go wrong.
Our Friend Liz
Y'all remember our fabulous friend Liz, right?
She went went to school. In Italy. To study shoes. I mean, how amazing is that?
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| That's M. Louboutin. With our friend Liz. |
Um, it gets better. She's met Christian Louboutin. And she's married to a dreamy doctor. The best part? She's completely sweet and cool.
So cool, in fact, that back in December she offered to custom-design one of her signature handbags for one lucky HerKentucky reader. She and the winner, Brandi, exchanged emails, worked together on the design, and came up with this darling design.
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| Western KY-based attorney, HerKentucky reader, and aspiring purse model Brandi. |
Brandi is a convert to Elizabeth Elfen Designs. She says:
"Liz was so wonderful to work with. I have NO EXPERIENCE in design and was excited I won such a neat giveaway but was apprehensive about what I possibly could contribute. Liz took the lead and sent me samples and gave me options and ideas. She was very supportive and her fabrics were so beautiful. When I received the bag I was blown away. I was really impressed with her skill and care at the creation of my bag! It represents my style (classic with a touch of flare). It will definitely become a staple in closet. Thank you for such a wonderful experience Liz, I truly will remember it fondly….and I have the bag to prove it!"
Liz has lots up her sleeve these days. She and Dr Hotpants are leaving Brooklyn to embark on a Midwestern adventure (not. even. kidding. They had a Green Acres-themed cocktail party.) She has started a fabulous new blog, The Fanciest Chicken, where she talks food, fashion, and fabulousity. I am seriously so amazed by this, y'all. She found vintage Chanel earrings. On eBay. And shares her shopping secrets on her blog.
Oh, and one more big announcement: Liz is joining the HerKentucky team as a style corespondent! How fabulous is that?
Please join us in welcoming Liz to HerKentucky, and go check out The Fanciest Chicken today!
Seven Things Your Wedding Minister Thinks (but Doesn't Say)
June, as we all know, is the traditional "wedding month." Our sweet friend Erin, whom you may recall as the Kentucky gal who preaches in the desert, and who learned it all from her days as a sorority rush chair, was kind enough to share a few words of advice for all our readers who may be walking down the aisle this month. As always, Erin's essay had me laughing and crying and just being so proud to claim her as my sorority sister and my friend. Y'all can find more of Erin's beautiful writing on her blog, Irreverin.-- HCW
Some Stuff the
Minister is Thinking as you Plan your “Perfect Wedding”
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| Erin loved getting to marry her brother Chris... |
1. We roll inward eyes a little when you say you want 1 Corinthians 13 read in the
ceremony. Yes, love is patient, love is kind. We get it. But we have to
actually SAY things in the service other than ‘do you take this man/woman,
etc,’ and well…that little gem of scripture has done been said. It’s been said
a lot. Give us something to work with, other than the magic of your love.
2. We
die a little inside when we say, ‘the church will provide a wedding coordinator
for the rehearsal,’ and you say, ‘oh, no, my mother’s going to do it!’ Trust
us. That will not end well for anybody.
3. You
are not going to shock us with your family drama. No matter how many crazy
siblings, inappropriate uncles, or unconventional marriages you bring into the
church, we have seen it all. Oh, and also? 9 out of 10 of us could care less if
you are living together. And even if we did, we know you are lying when you talk
about ‘my apartment.’
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| ...and her other brother Chris! |
4. No,
you cannot take down the purple Advent décor in the sanctuary and replace it
with red and green stuff that ‘matches the dresses.’ Baby Jesus doesn’t care
‘what it looks like in the pictures.’ You want a church wedding? This is a
church.
5. If
your cousin ‘who’s a preacher’
insists on reading something from Genesis, we get to approve which translation
he’s packing.
6. We
triple dog dare you to question our fee. If you do, we will ask you how much
you are paying the caterer, the band, the wedding planner, the hairdresser, the
bartender; and then we will gently
remind you that while our services are the cheapest of any of these, we went to
more school, and spent way more time planning for your perfect day. Grace is free, but our time isn’t. Also—eye rolling and inward groaning aside—from this day forward, til death do you part, we are invested in your marriage. We want it to succeed, and that’s why we’re blessing it. I don’t think the bass player feels the same way about the sanctity of this whole business.
“Perfect” is a dangerous word. For life in general, and for
marriage in particular. Chances are, if you have unrealistic expectations of
this day, you likely have some unrealistic expectations about marriage, as
well. Expect that there will be a big family meltdown, a major
hair malfunction, and/or something in the neighborhood of a bird flying into
the sanctuary and dropping an unwanted gift on your grandma’s corsage. Likewise,
accept that you will gain a few
pounds over the next 50 years, and so will your spouse; you will fight, you
will lose money, you will face disappointment—possibly in each other. Life will
get messy, and even the most perfect-est, magazine-worthy, color-coordinated
and professionally choreographed wedding in the world will not keep that from
happening.
So put down that Southern
Living wedding edition, step the ^!%* AWAY from Pinterest, and get ready to
actually BE married. For better, or for worse. If you go into your special,
perfect day in full awareness of all the ways that the wheels can come off,
then you will actually have FUN at your own wedding. You will see every little
hitch and hiccup as a welcome and introduction to the full, joyful, and
unpredictable life you are about to enter, with the person who is your soul’s
delight. Their shoes will not always
match you hair accessories… in fact, unless you are getting married in high
school (please, don’t) and you still have prom to look forward to (just,
please, no) then your attire will probably never
match again. And yet… a life shared in love—in all its sacred messiness—is
so much better than even the most ‘perfect’ day you can imagine.
Because ultimately—even if we can’t read it without rolling
our eyes a little—love gives you life. It bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things.
Love endures all things. Even the perfect blush and bashful wedding.
Love never ends.
Mark Twain and Lincoln
I have the privilege to work in our beautiful State Capitol building in Frankfort and walk by this statue of Abraham Lincoln each day. Whenever I find myself in the presence of this great Kentuckian who takes center stage in the Capitol Rotunda, I cannot help but agree with Mark Twain. Yes, indeed, Lincoln "belonged just where he was put."
June 1, 1980 -- A Guest Post by Allison Johnson of PinkLouLou
Do y'all read our friend Allison's blog, PinkLouLou? It's your daily dose of over-the-top pink decor, pugs, big hair, and all things Carrie Underwood. Allison, a Lexington native and UK alumna, was kind enough to share this adorable story about her parents' wedding. Somehow, their story of what may be the worst wedding day ever seems unique and precious. Thank you so much for sharing this sweet story, Allison! -- HCW
June is often thought of as wedding month, and since we are in wedding season I thought I would share a tragic, but very very sweet story. This story is about my sweet parents, who just celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. (They dated 7 years before they got married, mom would kill me if I left that out!) Anyways… My mom was oldest of 5, and grew up very privileged with nannies, and housekeepers and the whole nine yards. She grew up in a beautiful home, but always felt just very different from her brothers and sisters. She was interested in music, and saving baby birds etc. (ha!) and not at all into the froo-froo-ness of a wedding. She didn't want a diamond engagement ring (pause.. Insert gasp here) she just wanted to be with my dad. Dad had a break in between Med-school and his residency and I quote, mom said "I think this might be a good time to get married." and that was it.
The wedding was planned for June 1 (I feel positive my Nana was involved in this!) My mom had insisted on making her own wedding dress (which was beautiful, might I add) and everyone came home to Pikeville, KY for the wedding weekend. Wedding was planned for Sunday, and that Friday evening before the wedding, their neighbors were having a dinner for the wedding party etc. My mom remembers not feeling well, and wanting to stay home and nap, but of course no one in there right mind was gonna let the Bride get away with that, ha.
And then, it happened. Not sure exactly who discovered it, but my grandparents' house, that my mom and her siblings had grown up in, was on fire. There is still debate about the cause-I have heard many things over the years (you know how stories seem to change with time). Everyone ran next door and watched my grandparents' home burn to the ground. The city fire department would not come, as my grandparents' house was a few miles out of the city limits- so there was nothing to do but stand there, and watch all of their memories go up in smoke. My mom's wedding dress was inside. My Aunt Lucy was home from college, and all of her things were inside. All of the baby books, pictures, childhood memories that meant so much to my family- were inside. My mom's suitcase that she had excitedly packed for her honeymoon was inside. The family Boxer, Oscar, was inside. My mom tells me she remembers watching her brothers try and throw the iron pool chairs through the sliding glass doors to save the dog, but they wouldn’t break. The rest of that day, and the days to follow were a huge blur. My mom says she hardly remembers her wedding. The entire family had to go to Dawahares, who opened their doors especially for them early Saturday, to buy new clothes for the wedding, and my parents honeymoon. I know you are thinking, WHY in the world did they not postpone the wedding?? Well in all seriousness I think it is because my Nana was scared my parents would never actually get married if they did that, HA! ;) so they went on as scheduled. My parents left the next day for the Virgin Islands, and wouldn't you know the airlines LOST all of their luggage, so they had to go by brand new clothes all over again once on their honeymoon. Yep… serious. Icing on the cake right?
This next little thing I have to share, is my favorite part of the story, and I know could only be orchestrated by God. While my parents were gone on their honeymoon, the rest of the family spent time going through the ashes of the house. Guess what they found. A small little box. The fuzz on the outside was all melted away, and the hinge had broken. It was the ring box holding my dad's wedding band that my mom had gotten for him. The ring was inside, untouched, and untarnished. Just sitting there perfectly. To this day this little charred box sits on my mom's dresser in her closet, with the ring inside. Is that not the sweetest thing you have ever heard?
Another sweet little tidbit? After my mom got home from her honeymoon, she re-made her wedding dress that she lost in the fire. My sissies and I all plan to wear this dress on our rehearsal dinner nights, just the way she made it. (we might have to add some fabric... we aren't exactly 95 pounds, HA) Isn't it just beautiful and timeless?
Not sure what possessed Aunt Liz and Cam to pose for a pic in front of the remains? 'Awkward family photo' for sure, right? ha ha
I guess things worked out alright, because my parents have been together for 40, (married for 33) years, and have a wonderful marriage. They had us three girls, and I bet if you asked them, they would tell you that life has been pretty good. :) Some people have the perfect storybook wedding, and unfortunately don't make it. It really is about so much more than the "wedding." My parents had all they needed, and still do. Each other, and love.
Love you mom and dad!