When I first met Hannah, we instantly bonded over our shared love of Jane Austen, music, and everything classic! Hannah is a classically trained pianist and her now husband, Riley, proudly serves our country and is currently stationed at Fort Hood.
When I met Hannah for her walk-through at the venue, she expressed to me that she wanted her wedding to reflect more “classic English garden” than “rustic”, and I was pretty excited because that was right up my alley!
I surprised her with a beautiful copy of Sense and Sensibility, one of her favorite Jane Austen novels, after I used it for a few secret detail photos. (Ya’ll—I even brought an English tea cup from home, and a silver English spoon that Hannah didn’t know about…I was excited to get creative…I took the Jane Austen idea and ran with it!) Hannah dressed upstairs in the white farmhouse, and her dress was just classically beautiful—the perfect dress for Hannah.
From the first day I met with Riley and Hannah, Riley answered everything I asked with “yes ma’am”. That hadn’t changed, and he was an absolute gentlemen during his pictures.
After a sweet first look with Riley, we photographed Hannah. After capturing her outdoors in the gorgeous light, we shot a few inside the farmhouse. In the dining room there was a picture of a woman playing the piano…so it was quite fitting that we snapped a photo of Hannah there to reflect her passion.
Hannah’s ceremony was God-centered, classic, and beautiful. She and Riley lit a unity candle, and Hannah’s piano teacher sang a beautiful prayer to bless the couple. After the joyful couple sealed their vows with a kiss, we whisked them off to an adjoining field for some golden hour shots!
Hannah was a trooper walking into the tall grass—and the sun setting across the field reminded me of some of the scenes from Pride and Prejudice…so we had Riley walk across the field to give Hannah a “Mr. Darcy” shot! You know that one ladies….the one where Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFayden) walks across a misty morning field and professes his love for Elizabeth… “You have bewitched me body and soul..” but I digress.
After their golden hour photos, we headed back for the reception where Hannah and Riley had their first dance, and Hannah and her father surprised everyone with a fast swing dance to Glenn Miller’s In the Mood…which happened to be the exact same song I danced to my father with at our wedding! (I told you Hannah and I connected!!)
All in all, Hannah and Riley’s day was just perfect, and will always be a memorable wedding for me. I had so much fun incorporating things I am passionate about into Hannah’s and Riley’s day. This couple was just so special and sweet…I am beyond thrilled I was able to capture these memories for them. Riley and Hannah—thank you for your service, and may the Lord bless you and keep you all the days of your lives.
Venue: John Oliver Michael House
Second Photographer: Kristal Whitley
Videography: Silver Drum Productions
Florist: Bud and Bloom, Athens
