We love weddings, but it’s extra-special when we get to shoot a wedding for a family member. In this case, it was for Ken’s cousin Laurie and her now-husband Sandi! They chose to have the wedding at Laurie’s family’s church, McEachern Memorial United Methodist.

Laurie’s mom (Ken’s aunt Martha) said her only request was to have her grandson — Laurie and Sandi’s baby Cameron — as her escort. He’s such a handsome little guy! I want to SQUEEZE those cheeks!

Meanwhile, Sandi and his groomsmen were looking good, too!

Laurie’s niece was the flower girl/ring bearer, and took the job quite seriously.

Sandi and Lauri picked up their little boy Cameron to join them in their recessional.

I love the bridal party’s bouquets, which were all made by a family friend…

Of course, after the group portraits, we took time for photos with just the bride and groom.

Then, onto the reception, which was held in the fellowship hall at the church.

Laurie and Sandi’s gorgeous cake and all the catering were provided by Diane at Original’s Catering. Though their wedding was small, the bride and groom’s friends and family certainly kept the party hopping! DJ Mike from Avalanche Entertainment made sure there was plenty of dancing, and even joined in the fun. ;)

Laurie and Sandi (and Cameron!), we pray all sorts of blessings on your marriage and your family. Thank you for letting us be such a big part of your wedding day!

Margaret and Allen met on orientation day at Georgia Tech, and hit it off as friends because of the many interests they had in common. Soon, they were doing pretty much everything together, and had become much more than just friends! They are now alumni, and it made sense that Georgia Tech was a recurring theme throughout their wedding day, in everything from the bridal party colors to the Ramblin’ Wreck as their getaway car. The sparkle and elegance of all that gold and black was also a perfect fit for an elegant New Year’s Eve wedding!

We started out with Margaret while she was having her done at Douglas & Co Salon, where she and the bridesmaids snacked and got even more gorgeous than they already were. The girls kept Margaret company and showed off the adorable gold shoes they would be wearing with short black dresses in the wedding. Each of the girls had a different dress and different shoes; I love the individuality that allows!

Margaret joked that while she was spending all this time getting ready, Allen was probably somewhere playing frisbee; when we met up with Allen later, we found out that was exactly what he really was doing! Here he’s making an extra copy of his personalized vows — just in case something happened to one of them.

Margaret’s two sisters served as maid and matron of honor, and her sister Beth made all the floral arrangements and bouquets.

The other bridesmaids are all long-time friends. They were fabulous, stylish — and gorgeous, all while helping Margaret get into her dress, do her make-up, and keep calm!

Did I mention those fabulous gold shoes? Plus Margaret’s wine-colored shoes!

I love this photo with Margaret, her father, and her grandmother; her grandmother is a beautiful lady!

Margaret and Allen’s “stomping grounds” are in midtown Atlanta, so they chose the beautiful and historic Peachtree Christian Church for their ceremony. The sanctuary is simply breathtaking, with amazing stained glass windows and huge organ pipes! Margaret and her father shared a few sweet moments before he walked her down the aisle.

Margaret was eager to reach her groom. I love the joyfully intent look on her face as she walks down the aisle to Allen.

Margaret and Allen’s ceremony was sweet and meaningful, and included the lighting of a unity candle, the exchange of rings and personalized vows, and taking communion as their first act as husband and wife.

It’s official!

Of course we did “traditional” wedding party photos, but I like this one best:

We took time for a few photos of the newly minted Mr. and Mrs…

Then, onto the reception!!!
The couple chose another beautiful historic midtown Atlanta location, Magnolia Hall in Piedmont Park.

After toasts and quite a bit of dancing, the couple cut their cake — which was topped by “Just Married” mountain hikers; hiking is one of Margaret and Allen’s favorite things to do, and they have hiked some pretty amazing places! (The groom’s cake was stacked Oreo cookies! Fun!)

Besides being Margaret and Allen’s wedding day AND New Year’s Eve, this was also Margaret’s father’s 60th birthday! The bride and her sisters surprised their dad with a cake, and everyone at the reception sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

Throughout the night, the guests enjoyed silliness and fun in Margaret and Allen’s PhotoBooth!

Margaret and Allen, we hope you have a fabulously romantic honeymoon in South Africa! Thank you for letting us be part of your wedding day! It was truly a pleasure!

One of the highlights of Margaret and Allen’s wedding was their PhotoBooth!

Want to see MORE photobooth fun from Margaret and Allen’s wedding? Visit their Photobooth Album on our facebook page! If you were a guest, please feel free to tag yourself!

Margaret and Allen are honeymooning in South Africa, so they may not have internet access, but we’ll have their wedding posted tomorrow!

Mike and Sarah met in college, and he was smitten from the first day he laid eyes on her. When he actually drove all the way up to her house in the mountains to pick her up for their first date — and then drove all her way back home at the end of their date (something most guys hadn’t gone to the trouble of doing) — she began to think there really was something pretty special about this guy.

Even before Mike popped the question, Sarah already knew what her wedding colors would be: black and white polka dots with hot pink accents. When Mike did ask her to marry him, he did so by decorating her living room with posters he made with her colors, spelling out, “Will You Marry Me?” You’ve gotta love a man with such attention to detail! ;)

Sarah grew up attending this church when it was just a little chapel (at left).

Sarah did a beautiful job of incorporating her colors in fun ways throughout the ceremony and reception.

While the girls were getting ready, the guys were goofing around, playing foosball to keep Mike from thinking about how nervous he was!

Just before Sarah’s bridesmaids helped her into her wedding dress, her daddy surprised her with a little gift: a Yogi Bear & BooBoo Hallmark ornament because his nickname for her was always “Booboo.”

Sarah’s aunt Tracey (second from left in photo below) was the bride in the very first wedding Ken and I ever shot, a little over five years ago!

Cute alert: ring bearer and flower girl, who seemed to know how doggone adorable they were…

Finally, Sarah’s father walked her down the aisle toward her groom…

… and Mike eagerly waited for his bride.

Sarah and Mike exchanged tearful vows, rings, and smiles… and were pronounced husband and wife!

After some formal family portraits, we took the bridal outside for a few fun photographs.

And then onto the reception, complete with a dancing introduction of the bridal party…

Sarah and Mike’s first dance involved kissing. :)

Sarah is Daddy’s little girl, and several times during the day I heard her tell him, “Don’t cry!” because if he did, she would.

Mike and his mom shared a sweet mother-son dance.

Toasts from the best man and matron of honor brought laughter and tears.

One very focused gal caught the bouquet, even though Mike’s grandma tried to intercept it at the last moment. ;)

Before the end of the evening, we briefly kidnapped Sarah and Mike for a few portraits of just the two of them.

L-O-V-E the polka dot ribbon in Sarah’s bouquet and her hot pink satin flats!

Sarah and Mike, it was a joy to be part of your wedding day!

Paula and her friend Jill worked together, often went to lunch together, shared stories of life as single moms, and commiserated about their love lives — or lack thereof. Paula joked that she and Jill had so much in common that if Jill was a man, she’d marry her.

Jill’s brother Mark sometimes came to the office to take his sister out to lunch, and one time he showed up on a day when Jill had already made plans to have lunch with a couple of girls from work, including Paula. So he tagged along with the girls, and after lunch, Paula said to Jill, “Why didn’t you ever tell me your brother is so good looking?”

Paula discovered that Mark is a lot like his sister, and just so happens to be a man. ;)

Soon, Mark was coming to the office to take Paula to lunch — and their romance took on a life of it’s own…

Paula and Mark’s early afternoon ceremony and reception were both held at The Marlow House, a Victorian-style home just off the historic Marietta Square. This home was originally built in 1887 as a boarding house.
Paula got ready in the bridal room, with the help of her bridesmaids (including daughter Tiffany) and Mark’s sister Jill, who kept fighting off the urge to cry with happiness.

The ring bearer was the son of a friend, and such a handsome little guy! When he found out he had to wear a tux and be in a wedding, he asked if he was getting married. Not yet, little man! ;)

Paula and Mark’s children were all involved in the wedding. Paula’s daughter Tiffany eagerly helped her mother plan all the details, and I think she was just as excited as the bride! The boys helped Mark get ready, and Paula’s son Tyler walked her down the aisle.

When Mark said his vows, he began with his pet name for Paula: “Girlfriend…”
This seemed really humorous in the midst of a wedding ceremony, so it generated quite a few giggles. But Paula and Mark are seldom seen without a smile on their faces, so laughter was a natural part of their day.

While the guests enjoyed punch and the venue quickly transformed the ceremony area into the reception area, we took Paula and Mark outside for a few photos of just the two of them. This is always one of our very favorite parts of the day. With Paula and Mark, our hardest task was getting them to stop dancing to the music coming through the speakers onto the porch!

Paula loves Elvis almost as much as she loves Mark. So naturally, their first dance was to Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

Mark’s oldest son gave a toast to the couple, and said he knew this was one of the happiest days of his dad’s life, and therefore, it was one of his own happiest days as well.

After cutting their beautiful cake and doing a little socializing with their guests, Paula and Mark happily headed out to enjoy their first day of wedded bliss!

We wish you a fantastic honeymoon, and a joyful marriage!

For more of Paula and Mark’s story, enjoy their slideshow: