Hellllloooooo! Long time no blog! It's amazing how the lack of routine that goes along with summer seems to impact every facet of life, and along with the BRUTAL heat we've been having, I figure it's amazing anything is getting done at all! Anyway, despite nearly two weeks of internet silence, I have quite a bit to share with you, but just couldn't sit on these any longer! Julia and Thomas' wedding at the Swan House in Atlanta was an extraordinary event, not only because of the gorgeous grounds, the spectacular weather, and the amazing and meaningful details they incorporated, but also because they're such a great, laid-back couple. They were so much fun to work with!

But I'm getting ahead of myself... let's start at the beginning :D

I met up with Julia and her fantastic bridesmaids in the early afternoon at the hotel. Katesha, Julia's fantabulous long-time hairdresser from Zee's Salon in Roanoke, VA was there both to do the bridal party's hair and as a guest, so as she rolled and pinned and curled and sprayed, everyone else chatted and ate and drank. Whereas lots of brides get kind of panicky at this point, Julia couldn't have been more relaxed, and it was clear right from the start that we were going to have a fun day.

While everyone hung out, I got to work documenting some of the little details... and Julia had some gorgeous and very personal ones! Her wedding ring belonged to her grandmother, and her shoes were the ballet slippers she wore as a dancer in high school... Something old? Check and mark!

What I didn't know (and maybe you didn't, either) is that the saying goes "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, happy is the bride with a sixpence in her shoe." Note the sixpence: I love it!

Another bit I loved was that Julia and her mother took a flower arranging class together in the spring and then worked together to make the bridal party bouquets the day of the wedding... and only THEN did Julia start getting ready!

It was around this time that my second shooter - the lovely, Atlanta-based photographer Caryn Oxford - met up with Thomas and his groomsmen at the Swan House. Thomas and Julia's families both have Scottish heritage, and Julia's family in particular is very involved in the Scottish communities of both Roanoke and Atlanta. Many of the wedding elements included Scottish traditions, but perhaps none were so prominent (or handsome!) as Thomas and his groomsmen in their full regalia:

In the last few days leading up to the wedding, Julia got in touch with me to specifically request that we get a couple of "What do you wear under your kilt?" shots of the groomsmen, since each of them received a pair of Superhero boxers as one of their groomsmen gifts... and were thus dubbed Thomas' "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" :D

Thomas and Julia elected not to see each other before the ceremony, so when I arrived on site with Julia and her bridesmaids, we very carefully set up our portraits on the other side of the Swan House.

And then it was time for the wedding! I love this first one of Julia and her father waiting to make their grand(!!!) entrance:

From there, it was just one big party - first in the gardens beside the Swan House, then in the gorgeous ballroom in the Atlanta History Center next door.

Whew! That was a lot of pictures... but I still had to leave so many out! The slideshow really tells the story of the day better than a few pictures could, so take five minutes and enjoy! Julia and Thomas, if your gorgeous wedding is any indication of your future together, things are looking spectacular :D Thank you again for letting me document your big day... it was truly a pleasure!

xox,

annemie

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Hair: Katesha Rose-Tyler of Zee's Salon in Roanoke, VA Makeup: by Lindsey Morrissey of Aura in Atlanta DJ: DJ Rob Control of Atlanta Venue: Swan House Bridal Gown: Wedding Angels of Roswell, GA Kilts: Atlanta Kilts of Suwanee, GA Bride's and Bridesmaids' Flowers: the bride & her mother Other Flowers: Gitche Yah Yah of Atlanta Wedding Cake: friend of the bride and groom Groom's Cake: Highland Bakery of Atlanta Linens/Catering: Soiree Atlanta