Being a Wedding Guest

So on Saturday my lovely daughter was a bridesmaid for the first time. I planned on sitting on the side lines and enjoying the event. It's a rare occasion for me to not be the photographer, and being the Mom of the brides maid was a sweet treat.


Turns out I wasn't on the sidelines for long though. I ended up helping out the photographer, (on request, believe me when I say I would never step in!), as well as I was asked by the father of the bride to que the bridal party as when to start their turn walking down the isle. I enjoyed helping out very much, because even though I was ready to sit on the side lines I really don't know what to do with nothing to do at a wedding! ha


From my vantage point I did get to snap a few images, as I had intended to photograph my daughter somewhat anyway. So here are my 'guest images' from Aubrea and Barry's Saturday wedding.


My daughter is the shorter one. :-) The other lovely bridesmaid is her most excellent friend Kat. 



















In the middle is Melody the gutsy 16 year old friend of the family that photographed the wedding. She earned my respect with her nerves of steel. ;-) Great to know you, your going to go far.


After the day was pretty much over, and before best light disappeared over the horizon. I requested the bride allow me a few minutes to take some bridals for my own enjoyment. Considering she has had a long day and already worked with Melody, I was happy she said yes. ;-) So here is my take on bride.

















The blissful couple will be moving to Oklahoma after their honeymoon. Best wishes on their new life.





The other lovely surprise I had was a sweet friend just returned from a trip to Ecuador, she was a volunteer in a bible education work for 3 months. She literally flew in just in time to make the wedding. I had so much fun visiting with her and some other friends during the reception. A treat for me to visit at a reception! tee hee








That's all folks. ;-)

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Denise and Ramon // Engagement Columbia, TN

Denise and Ramon are so beautifully in love. I swear Ramon is walking on a cushion of air when he is with Denise. It's a goose bump treat to see their love. A fun fact about them is theirs is a long distance relationship. Yes there is hope for that special one who seems too far away to make things work. They are getting married in July.

They have a link to two of my past weddings. I've had the pleasure of photographing them within bridal party's. This for me makes their choosing me as their own wedding photographer even more special. I believe it's an even higher compliment when your clients come back to you. So of course I always end up putting more of my heart into my work for them.


We didn't let the rain, gloom, and chill scare us off. We enjoyed beautiful historic Columbia, TN. We had a blast and with more than a little help once the rain picked back up from the MOB, we got their story! Enjoy their teaser:




One of the fun things I did with them was let them write their own messages on my chalk boards. I had them do it where the other could not see what they wrote, so this is the BIG reveal! ;-) Now Denise knows why her Mom and I were swooning over what Ramon wrote. I just love his message to Denise. Denise knows her forever is the real deal.








Last and not least was my helper, Denise's Mom. She was waiting in their vehicle, and we had to bring her out when the rain started. She was a trooper, you would have thought the woman had 4 arms. tee hee I don't know what we would have done without her. 

Nashville Zoo

I know it's hard to believe with all this freezing cold rain and gloom that it was beautiful and warm enough for a trip to the zoo in shorts just a few days ago. Which is exactly why I grabbed the kids and took a spontaneous trip to get in a good walk, and see the animals. ;-) ha

I tend to love the same few animals, as far as my photographing them goes. The kids, the cats, the meerkats, the flamingo's, and a monkey or two when I can get a good one of them.
The meerkats were so cute, they have some babies or maybe they are juveniles? They were spunky and fun to watch.



I think this is so cute the up and close view for the kids of the meerkats. 

Harrisen had to get on his knees to be the same height as Nevin and his friend. He has grown SO much this year it's mind boggling.



As you can see I'm loving the cats this day...


Only one of the Monkeys turned enough to see it's face. Such beautiful and comical creatures.

The Flamingo's were having a one on one tiff, which was fun to photograph and watch.

Which ended quitely in a stare down.



The petting zoo is always a hit, no matter what the age. Nevin was so tired we sat on the bench outside the area, and just observed the others.

Finally back past the meerkats for one last glimpse of their antics.

My favorite subject...

The monkeys that go home at closing time. ;-)

I know a bit typical, but hey it was fun, good for the body and mind to walk, get sun shine (we sorely are missing the sun today), and be close to the animals.