Alex and Carlie traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to

say their vows by the sea. The bride and the groom both serve in the United States

Military and their ceremony was really special. It was so amazing to see so many in uniform in attendance.

Jon and Lynsey were married in East Tennessee at

The Side Porch. This wedding had a southern charm to it unlike any

other. The couple even made their signature vanilla as a favor for each guest!

Matt and Katie asked me to fly to Cincinnati to capture

their wedding day. I was so honored to photograph their special day! They

said their vows at the beautiful Timeless Charm Weddings and Events in Ohio.

 

When Fancy and Randy planned their wedding day they envisioned a tropical

wedding in Jamaica. However, COVID19 had other plans. Fancy and Randy had to quickly

cancel their Jamaican wedding and find another way to get married. They searched various places and

finally settled on Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, SC. They had an intimate ceremony between the two of them,

their officiant, and God. It was so special to witness such a special union between this sweet couple. I am so happy they chose

Charleston and chose me to capture their special day. It was an honor to photograph it!

 

Venue: The Gadsden House

Event Planner: Bouquets and Bowties

Hair and Makeup: Lashes and Lace 

Florals: Pretty Petals of Charleston 

Rentals: Eventworks

 

Cameron and Madison were my last couple for 2019. They were so laid back and easy to work with. I just love a super

fun couple like these two! They stayed calm even when it POURED on their wedding day. We were limited to taking all of their photographs

inside, but they were still just as beautiful thanks to an amazing venue. Best wishes and congratulations to the happy couple!

 

Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation

Event Planner: Bouquets and Bowties Charleston

Videographer: Surrender Films

Florist: Pretty Petals of Charleston

Cake: Patrick Properties

Hair: Lashes and Lace

Makeup: Callie Vega

Lighting: Lowcountry Entertainment

Rentals: EventWorks

 

 

 

Jon met Lynsey while touring with his group, The Taylors. The two dated for just

four weeks before Jon proposed. Hey, when you know, you know!!! They tied the knot just six months later at The Side Porch in Gray, Tennessee.

Jon and Lynsey spent over a month traveling Europe and Greece for their honeymoon, and they love to travel together. These two are #couplegoals for real!

 

 

xoxo

Ellie and Chris Baxa tied the knot at The Pavillion at Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant.

Elevants and Co helped Ellie and Chris create a spectacular event that will be remembered forever! 

The couple had the cutest photo booth by Little White Box Photo Booth. It was a huge hit for their guests, and we highly recommend

them for our other couples! 

 

Vendors

Planning: Elevants and Co

Photo Booth: Little White Box Photo Booth

Hair and Makeup: Vanity Salon

Transportation: Pineapple Tour Group

Catering: Salthouse Bar and Catering

Dress: Bridals by Jodi

Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

Stationary: Minted

 

 

Jon and Lynsey - what can I even say? I am SO excited for these two!

I have never been more thrilled to photograph a couple in my life! They hold such a special place in my heart, and 

I am just so excited for their upcoming wedding. Jon told me back in the spring that he met the girl of his dreams and she was absolutely the one. 

 

My husband and I met up with Jon and Lynsey in Charleston for dinner one evening. I knew right away that Lynsey 

was 100% the girl for Jon. She was so funny, sweet, and had just  enough sassiness to handle him!!! I have never seen Jon so 

in love - it was like we were not even at the table! We would talk to him but he was not even paying us one bit of attention. Lynsey is all that he notices now!!!

 

Over the summer I have gotten to see their love grow for one another as they plan their wedding in Tennessee. 

They are truly perfect for each other in every single way. When they asked me to photograph their engagement session, I tried my very 

best to talk them into an Iceland Styled Session. BUT... not every dream can come true, I guess (1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SESSION?!?!)

However, they agreed to fly with me out to Utah and drive all around Arizona, Utah, and Nevada in 110 degree weather. No big deal, right? We 

somehow convinced my parents to chauffeur us and feed us the entire trip! 

 

Lynsey and Jon went along with my crazy ideas, and we ended up with so many amazing photographs! They climbed

cliffs, hiked in the dessert, and walked through the sand dunes. Lynsey was afraid of heights, but she was a champ! 

 

Styling: Leslie Perkins

Hair and Makeup: Lynsey Vicars | Leslie Perkins

Wardrobe: Red Dress Boutique | Express

Florals: Sandra Taylor

Locations: Zion National Park | North Rim Grand Canyon | Snow Canyon

 

Katie + Eric were married on February 24th at The Riverhouse at Lowndes Grove in Charleston, SC.

This laid back couple enjoyed the most beautiful weather that February had to offer! It was sunny and almost 70 degrees

for their outdoor celebration! 

 

Event Planner: Party Perfection Weddings

Florals: Bearded Florist

Hair and Makeup: Paper Dolls

Cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group

 

Steve and Lindsey tied the knot at Vesuvius Vineyard in Lincolnton, NC on September 9th. 

This couple was so in love and so sweet! I love getting to see a romantic couple interact throughout the day. Steve's reaction to Lindsey

walking down the aisle is simply precious! I had so much fun capturing these images!

Oh my goodness! How are we already celebrating our sweet girl's very first birthday?!?

Time, please slow down! It seems like last week that I was checking in the hospital to give birth to our little princess. I cannot believe she is already

a year old. Giuliana's birthday is still two days away, but I want to celebrate her all week! She is the sweetest and most ornery little one! She has so much spunk

in her little body. She adores her older brother and tries her best to keep up with him. 

 

We prayed so hard for our little Giuliana. We went through so many months of disappointment and heartbreak before 

God blessed us with her. She is everything I hoped for (minus all of the screaming she has done over the last 12 months)! 

 

We hope you enjoy some of her cake smash photos!

 

Cake Design: Coccadotts

Jewelry Designer: Premier Jewelry

Location: Market Common - Myrtle Beach

 

 

A mother and her son share an incredibly amazing bond that none other share.

Capturing the love between Heidi and Lucas was such an honor. He adores his mommy and she adores him.

 

Daniel and Candace had an incredibly beautiful blush and gold wedding ceremony at The Magnolia Estate in Miamisburg, Ohio.

These two are so in love, and it is evident in their relationship. The most special aspect of their day was how they centered their ceremony and marriage after their relationship with God. It is always so sweet to see a couple put Christ first in their marriage. That's the way to make a marriage last!

 

Hair and makeup by Reign

Floral designs by Little Bit Of Green By Lisa

XOXO

This week's Marriage Monday post is going to be a little different. I had so many ideas on what to share with you, but I decided to save that for next week. I just could not let last night go by without telling you about it. I truly hope this blog post will help you treasure each moment of your life. We go through life running from one thing to the next without truly enjoying the moments we are in. We get caught up on the next big thing that we forget to treasure the "lasts" that are right in front of us.

Last night Aaron and I treasured a bittersweet moment with our son, Isaiah. We cherished the moment of giving him his last bottle. Ever. The last baby bottle I will ever hold to his lips. How are we already to this moment? It seemed so incredibly far off in the future just a few shorts months ago. I delayed it as long as I could because I knew this moment would be so hard. I didn't want my baby to grow up too fast. 

But he did.

Before my very eyes my sweet baby has grown into the sweetest little boy. I looked forward to the day that he could feed himself, but now I regret wishing it here so fast. I asked Aaron to capture the moment on camera because I want to remember it forever. I never want to forget this. I want to live in each and every moment like it is our last. 

My mommy heart wants so badly to hold on to my sweet infant baby. My heart wants to hold this sweet gift as close and as long as I can. My heart wants to cherish this precious gift that I was trusted to care for.

Don't let life steal your moments. Cherish every single day, because you can never be sure of the lasts.

​"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of first. But one day you will leave me to your past, and I will be thinking of a lifetime of your lasts...

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips. The last time I held you on my hip...

Precious, simple moments from your past - would I have held on longer if I had known they were your lasts?

Silly, scattered images will represent your past. I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts...

I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass.

But as I do, I sometimes miss today's sweet, precious lasts...

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.

I want to hold on longer - I want to recognize your lasts...

I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass.

If I could freeze the hands of time, I would hold on to your lasts.

Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last."

-Karen Kingsbury

 

 

 

 

Monday has quickly become one of the busiest days of my week. Laundry always seems to be piled up, my son always wants to get up at the crack of dawn, and I always seem to need 6,388,279 billion more hours in my day. It has been easy to let life get too busy and to forget to cherish the little moments. I want to slow down and use my Monday as a time to reflect on my week, cherish the memories, and focus on making my marriage as loving and spirit-filled as possible.

 

I want to use this blog as a way to inspire women to strengthen their marriages on a daily basis. I feel God is leading me to encourage other women to cherish their husbands. It is my prayer that you can find some inspiration and encouragement as you read my (now) weekly Marriage Monday Blog! I will be posting ideas, recipes, and fun date ideas for you every week. 

 

Over the weekend I was reading in Proverbs from my favorite study Bible and was inspired to make something special for Aaron (AKA - Handsome Hubs).

"She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family…" Proverbs 31:15 - NCV.

Now… I am still working on that whole "get up while it's still dark" thing… but this verse really hit me. I should be showing my husband that I love him by preparing food for him and taking care of him to the best of my ability. 

 

I want to be a wife that my husband is proud of. I want him to be blessed with a wife who loves to spoil him and cherish him. What better way to make him happy than to make him food! Anyone who knows Aaron knows that all he needs to be happy in life is the Lord and some yummy food. I will be honest - I have been slacking in the cooking department ever since our son was born… a year ago. Poor Aaron has had to fend for himself a lot when it comes to food lately. God laid it on my heart to change my actions and show my husband how much I love him by cooking for him every day. It may seem like a silly idea, but it means a lot to my man because he is a food junkie.

I decided to make his favorite desserts; Eclair Cake (SO easy and SO yummy) and Blueberry Muffins. Now… the Eclair Cake is his mom's recipe and I am not his mom. Needless to say, mine doesn't even come close to being as good, but I tried! I included her recipe at the end for you to try! The Blueberry Muffins are my very own recipe and were made with blueberries that I picked from my backyard - true story. 

I was so busy trying to get the Eclair Cake right that I almost missed a special moment: Aaron and Isaiah playing together. I quickly glanced into the living room to check on Isaiah when I noticed Aaron on the floor with him. This is definitely not a rare sight, but it made my heart so full in this particular instance. I was filled with so much thankfulness and gratitude to the Lord. He has truly been good to me!

This week I challenge you to do something kind for your spouse. Use the Eclair Cake Recipe and surprise him with yummy dessert. Cook his favorite meal or leave him a love note by his coffee maker. Do something out of the ordinary that shows how much you truly love your spouse. Give an unexpected hug and kiss! Don't let a single day pass that you don't tell him how much he means to you. 

Cherish. Every. Moment.

xoxo

 

 

Rachel's Eclair Cake 

2 Pkg French Vanilla Instant Pudding

3 C. Milk

1 (8 oz) Cool Whip

1 Box Cinnamon Graham Crackers

Topping

2 oz Baker's Unsweetened Chocolate Squares

6 TBS Butter

1 and 1/2 C. Confectioners Sugar

3 TBS Milk

2 TBS White Corn Syrup

1 TSP Vanilla

 

Line bottom of 9x13x5 pan with graham crackers. Mix pudding, milk, and Cool Whip together. 

Add 1/2 pudding mixture on top of crackers. Add another layer of crackers and remaining pudding. Top with one final layer of crackers.

Melt chocolate, butter, sugar, milk, syrup, and vanilla. Spread on top of graham crackers (will be runny). Chill for 24 hours - serves 12-15.

 

April 3rd, 2015 was my very first blog featuring my amazing cousin, his beautiful wife, and their 7 month old baby girl. You could see how incredibly happy Wesley and Jessica were. Their family was complete, and their daughter brought so much joy to their lives.

Wesley was taken from us far too soon. He passed away just 3 weeks later on April 28th, 2015 at the age of 25 in a terrible accident that never should have happened. Wesley was a kind, loving, and amazing man. He loved his wife with all of his heart, and he loved his baby girl more than anything in this world. This is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen my family go through. The unexpected and sudden loss of Wesley can never be explained or made right. It will leave a hole in everyone's heart, and we will always miss him and his crazy, fun personality.

I ask that you pray for his wife, Jessica. Pray that God will give her the peace that passes all understanding. Pray for her as she struggles to understand why. Pray as she picks up the pieces that she will keep her eyes on Christ, and rest in His promise that he will never leave her or forsake her. Pray as she raises their daughter. Pray for her broken heart. 

Sweet Jessica, words cannot even begin to tell you how incredibly sorry and heartbroken I am for you and Eden. You have become as close as a sister to me, and my heart is shattered for the pain that you are going through. I have been blessed to watch you become an incredible wife and then a mother. I cannot even begin to explain how much I care about you and Eden. You are the strongest Christian that I know. You have shown just how strong you are through all of this.

I promise to always look out for you and Eden in the days, months, and years to come. You are my sister, and one of my dearest friends. I am praying for your heart, and that you will cling even harder to your heavenly Father through this nightmare. God has not brought you this far to forsake you. He said that He will never leave you or forsake you. He is here. 

Wesley, I love you. I didn't tell you enough. I didn't hug you enough. I didn't spend enough time with you. I miss you, and I will honor your memory by thinking of you often. I will tell Eden about you, and make sure she knows just how much her daddy cherished her. I love you.

 

Lord, ease the pain of Jessica and our family. Touch everyone with the peace that passes our understanding. Hold everyone in Your loving arms, and ease the pain. Thank You for the time we had with Wesley, and thank You for Your promise to bring us through.

 

Wesley Thomas

February 1, 1990 - April 28, 2015