I'm fairly certain that at this time of year, I probably spend 64% of my time snarling, "I hate Spring!!!".  I am already an allergy riddled person, as is Steven, so there's that.  But then we have the part where I have to reschedule just about every single shoot I have because it storms.  Grrrr.  I was particularly excited the day of Larra's bridal session, because, according to numerous weather reporting outlets, there was a zero percent chance of rain.  Nil.  Nada.  Awesomeness all around, because I rarely get to feel that relaxed.  

So, OF COURSE it rained from the minute we arrived at Furman until long after we were done.  Larra and her mom deserve so much praise for staying so calm, as I was angrily shaking my fist towards the sky, because COME ON WEATHER!!!  

Seriously, how beautiful/graceful/serene does she look?  Love her.

Okay, everyone, buckle up.  It's a bridal bonanza on the blog today!  I'm pretty sure you'll agree that I work with pretty much the loveliest ladies in all the world.  Ever.  

First up is the new Mrs. Megan Michael, who had a fabulous shindig at Zen just a little over a week ago.  She gets double super bonus points, because she trekked all over Falls Park and the West End in her 4-inch Badgely Mischka heels like it was more or less the easiest thing ever.  I, on the other hand, tripped a good 7 or 8 times in my tennis shoes.  Because that's just how I roll.  

Is this dress not positively stunning?? 

Megan had one request of her bridal session: a shot that showed off the amazing back of her dress.

^ That's just Kari.  Standing there all fierce and stuff on a mountain.  No big deal.

Bald Rock is one of my favorite places in the world to take photos...there are so many great spots out there, and the views are unbelievable.  It also has the benefit of those sweeping dramatic views without there being a need to do any real hiking, and without actually having to stand on the edge of a cliff.  I always use a little extra caution out there, though, because Steven fell off of it one time.  

Yes, you read that right.  My hubby FELL OFF A MOUNTAIN.  He was out there with a school group, and it had been raining, so the rocks were slick.  One of the girls in his group slipped, and when he tried to catch her, he wound up falling with her.  They slid about 30 feet, and then had to wait for rescue crews to come get them.  Pretty sure that somehow makes him the next Bear Gryllis.  Anyway, they were both completely fine, but still...STEVEN FELL OFF A MOUNTAIN AND LIVED.  I married the Most Interesting Man In The World.

Back to Kari...how much do you love that Enzoani dress??

This spring has been having quite the identity crisis.  It doesn't know if it wants to blazing hot and clear, or if it wants to be soggy and dreary.  And let me tell you, there are fewer things more fun than trying to schedule bridal sessions around it.  For the most part, with the help of excessive weather monitoring, we've been really lucky.  

But sometimes the weather zigs when you think it's going to zag, and it starts hailing as soon as you're supposed to start shooting.  Such was the case with Cassie Jo's bridal session.  And it wasn't just a quick hail storm...I was fairly certain that I was going to have to build an ark in order to get home.  So we waited.  And waited.  And then determined that we were just going to have to come up with a plan B.  A few phone calls, prayers, and sweet-talking a security guard later, we were able to use the Cliffs at Glassy Chapel.  

After we'd been hunkered down in the chapel for 45 minutes or so, the rain tapered off a little.  It didn't stop, mind you, but it slowed enough that the subject of chancing it came up.  And really, Cassie Jo is a dance in the rain kind of girl anyway, so much to my delight, she went for it!

I honestly have no idea how Cassie Jo looked so beautiful the whole time...by the time I got back into warm dryness, I looked like a drowned rat, and that's really not an exagerration.  She, on the hand, looked like she was just made to frolic about in storms.  :-)

A couple weeks ago, Steven and I went to visit our dear friends, Trey and Leslie, in their brand-spanking new home in Texas.  We ate excessive amounts of Mexican food, slept in a lot, and I rocked my awesome cowboy boots with shorts because that's what people do out there.  Or at least that's what I told myself because I really wanted to wear those boots.  With shorts so people could see them.  It was a truly fabulous and much needed experience.

And then we had to come back.  

I'll be honest...I really do like flying as a means of travel, but I'm not great at it.  Every time the plane takes off, I pretty much break Steven's hand.  And then I do it again every time there's a bump.  And then I enjoy pretending that it didn't happen and I was great good brave girl.  It's not exactly something to brag about, but I am at the very least courteous and respectful of my fellow flyers.  I keep my seat upright, avoid smelly foods, and the like.  The gentleman in front of me or our 2.5 hour final flight from Houston?  He pretty much spent the entire flight breaking the number one commandment of flight etiquette: Thou Shalt Not Fart On Your Fellow Passengers.

This plane we were on was small.  Tiny, have to walk onto the tarmac to board kind of small.  Kneecaps get a little bruised by the seat in front of you kind of small.  Melissa hits her head on the overhead bin every time she sits down kind of small.  So imagine my dismay when the man in front of me seemed to be in a gas-off competition with, well, there were no other competitors.  Just this guy, and SBD wafts every.  Single.  Time.  He.  Shifted.  Position.  And, as I have mentioned, the plane was tiny, so he may as well have been doing it in my lap.  I was honestly expecting the air masks to drop down because there was a pretty serious carbon monoxide situation going on.  

So, in closing, if you plan to be flying any time soon, please think of your fellow travellers.  Maybe save that burrito until after you land.  At least if you're sitting directly in front of me.  Pleasethankyouandyourewelcome.  :-)

Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I have quite a bit of blog catching up to do!  Let's start off with Amanda and Michael's fabulous Alice In Wonderland themed day at the Gassaway Mansion.  Marc and Colleen do such a phenomenal job with their weddings, and I could have spent the entire day just shooting the details.  True story.  

Ceremony and Reception : Gassaway Mansion

Dress : David's Bridal

Cake : Holly's Cakes

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THE DETAILS???  ^^^

When the aisle is attached to the dance floor, pretty much everyone has to do this.  I'm sure it's a law written down somewhere...

So, tell me that ^ isn't the prettiest arrangement of fruit, veggies, and cheese you've ever seen.  And I would love to boldly announce to the world that it's my work.  But it's not.  I mean, I took the picture, but I just stood there getting hungry while someone else set it up.  Someone who probably wishes I wouldn't give them their due credit.  But I can't help it...it was Steven!  And now, sweetie, if you're reading this, you might just want to stop now, because I'm going to expand upon this story...

When we had been dating for a few months, we found ourselves at a restaurant with a salad bar.  I get that that's not exactly revolutionary, but at this point in our short relationship, it was a first.  For me, a trip to the salad bar involves randomly plopping things that look good on my plate.  There's never a plan, and I pretty much always make a mess of things because salad plates are entirely too tiny.  Such is life.  So imagine my surprise when Steven returns to the table with a work of art so lovely, it's honestly a shame that it has to be eaten.  We're talking perfect symmetry, color coordination, and even the dressing added just the right amount of sparkle.  I'm pretty sure I guffawed, considering that I had already thrown a small pile of lettuce on the table because I was not thinking of symmetry when I fixed my plate.  And his response, delivered without a hint of irony or embarrassment?  

"This might be the least manly thing I will ever say to you, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed a career as a professional food arranger."

And then I leapt across the table and made out with him.  Actually that part didn't happen, because I try to keep things classy in public, but had we had been alone, it SO would have.  Not because I had always dreamed of a man with pride in his food presentation, but because it was equal parts adorable and hilarious, and rather than pretend he didn't consider salad a visual medium, he just owned it.  One of the many reasons I married him.  :-)

So anyway, when we were photographing Marissa and Justin's rings on their wedding day, we couldn't help but make use of the super yummy displays that were still hanging out from the cocktail hour.  And in case you're wondering, I totally demolished that plate after that picture was taken.  And it was good. 

What was also good was pretty much every part of Marissa and Justin's wedding day.  A beautiful couple and super sweet families, and everyone just thrilled to be coming together.  I teared up no less than 8 times during the ceremony...

Ceremony : Cliffs At Glassy

Reception and Catering : Marriott

Flowers : Mill Street Florist

I want to live inside this chapel...

Marissa and her father danced to I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers, and it was amazing! 

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your day...I hope married life is everything you hoped for and more!

The above photo was taken approximately 5 minutes after these guys told me they didn't know what they were doing.  Seriously?  I wish I looked that good not knowing what I was doing in front of the camera.  All I would do would be take pictures of myself and then look at them.  Guess that's why God gave me the gift of awkwardness, huh?  :-)

Larra and Daniel's wedding is going to be extra fun for Steven and me, because they're getting married at the same church AND having their reception at the same venue we did...I might have squealed when Larra told me.  There is going to be so much spring-y goodness I just can't stand it!  Also, wait till you see Larra's bridal portraits.  I'm fairly certain she has the prettiest eyes you have ever seen, and I'm equal parts in awe and jealous.

My original plan for this engagement shoot was to go to the Poinsett Bridge, but when I drove by earlier in the day to make sure everything was good to go, there was massive amounts of construction going on, and every path to the actual bridge was beyond sludgy.  Not something that conjures up ideas of romance.  So, I (in a mildly panicked fashion) drove on and found this abandoned campsite that made a perfect backdrop...and was pretty creepy in places.  I like to think of it as a rustic/Friday The 13th themed shoot.  Just kidding.  Only not really.

Over the weekend, it became glaringly apparent to those around me that my shooting season has begun with a flourish.  I am literally covered in bruises.  Like, in a way that almost made me reconsider my Easter dress.  Almost.  It was a really cute dress.  And my shoes I got to wear with it were super fun.  But I digress...basically I spent all last week photographing fabulous people and I have lots of rad battle scars to show for it.  

Since almost everything I'm shooting right now are bridal portraits, and I can't show those off until the lovely ladies get married, I thought I'd continue this rousing game of catch-up that I've been playing by blogging a few of their engagement sessions.  First up are Charliann and Stephen.  We actually spent a good portion of our time together discussing my favorite subject: Steven Lee Ragan.  It turns out that he was actually her admissions counselor way back in 2008 when she was applying to colleges.  We started out at a random and awesome little bridge just outside of Huntersville.  Random, but quite popular...I felt like I was filming an action movie, jumping out of the way of moving cars.  Pretty sure this is how I get all these bruises...

I want you to notice that guy totally NOT NOTICING ME.  I was not using a zoom lens here, people!

After getting our fill of nearly becoming roadkill, we decided to head over the beautiful town/campus of Davidson.  I love little college towns like this...so many great little nooks to snuggle in!

Stephen loves to make Charliann laugh.  It's such a beautiful facet of their relationship, and it makes me super happy.

To say I'm excited about photographing their wedding would be the understatement of the century.  Just look at them!  

I just got a text from Steven wishing me a happy Hunger Games.  And then I wished him one right back.  And then felt vaguely dirty about the whole thing, seeing as how I think that technically makes us from the Capitol.  Yup, that just happened...I think that's a sign of pretty good day. I would be lying if I said I wasn't more or less counting down the seconds until the midnight showing tonight.  Because I am officially the COOLEST KID EVER.  

So to distract myself from checking the clock every 7 seconds, I'm going to blog a massive honking wedding featuring 2 people that I absolutely adore.  When I first met Jill and Brett, I already knew I was going to be roughly 3 hours away in Georgia for Mike and Mattie's wedding the day before, so I would be getting back to Greenville at late-thirty AM after another high energy wedding day.  In the photographer industry, we have a term called a wedding day hangover, which is the bleary eyed, sore everywhere, swollen hand, "holy cow, did anyone else see that 18 wheeler that ran me over and then backed up and did it again" feeling that is entirely induced from the adrenaline rush and full day of standing/running while holding heavy gear, and not booze.  So basically, I knew I was going to be worn out and in pain, and I still all but begged them to let me spend the day with them.  Because they're that fabulous and wonderful to be around.  

Prep : Westin Poinsett

Ceremony, Reception, and Catering : Greenbrier Farms

Hair and Makeup : Cotton Rouge

Dress : Nicole Miller

Shoes : RSVP

Flowers : Greg Foster

Bridesmaids Dresses : Louise Hedley

DJ : All The Right Grooves

Cake : Art Eats Bakery

Chuppah : Will Hinson

Second Shooter : Lauren Miller

First look...

Once again, yes, my couples are the best looking people on the planet in the history of people being attractive.  :-)

A fun story about the formals.  I knew it was going to be a little tougher than normal because I didn't have Captain Efficiency, Steven Ragan, himself to run them.  Lauren and I did pretty good with Mike and Mattie's wedding party the day before though, so I had gone to bed feeling reasonably confident.  I woke up with NO VOICE.  Lauren sent me a text saying that she also had NO VOICE, because apparently, we decided to share the Double Wedding Weekend Plague.  So we wound up having to direct 2 rather large families using nothing but spastic hand gestures.  Thankfully, I happen to specialize in spastic hand gestures, so we got through it, much to the entertainment of all involved!

Jill put a tiny cardinal in her bouquet so that her Grandma Kate could be with her during the ceremony.

This was my first Jewish wedding, and let me tell you, it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've ever seen.  It might have been the cold meds, but I cried through the whole thing.

I think Jill and Brett secretly paid Greenbrier Farms extra for the Perfect Light Package...

Okay, so if details don't interest you, then I suggest you skip on down a little further because they were awesome and I went nuts...pun entirely intended!!!!

We snuck out right before the reception officially kicked into high gear for a few more pictures right before the sun set.

Brett's family organized a flash mob...love it!!

And then it was time for the hora, which was one of the most ridiculously cool things ever.  I told Steven we needed to get married again so we could have one.  So far he's saying no, but I think I'll wear him down...

I might have been a little high on 5 Hour Energy when I did this...

And one more of Jill because I love her, and she's hilarious!

Yeah, I know.  I said this was coming "tomorrow" 4 days ago.  But, in my defense, look at these guys!  For real...how in the world was I supposed to choose images in a timely manner?  

Before I get to the pretty pictures, and I promise I will, I need to take a second to issue a public service announcement about my dog.  Because it has come to my attention recently, that she's sweet and innocent and skittish like a FOX.  All this time, I have been thinking, "Oh my sweet little shelter rescue baby, so timid and tender.".  Right.  That dog just stole my food, y'all.  And I have learned, since becoming a dog mommy that you don't just leave things sitting where they can get them, so it wasn't my fault.  I actually have developed a habit of sitting any food item I'm preparing on the center of the island in our kitchen so that she can't reach it.  Which is what makes it all the more surprising that she robbed me blind today.  My sandwich was sitting in the middle of the island.  The literal, unreachable center.  I left the room and came back to an empty plate, and a very guilty look on my dogter's face.  Guilty and satisfied.  

With this in mind, I have no choice but to assume that my furbaby is actually a ninja who does moves that evoke The Matrix when it comes to getting some turkey in her belly.  And that she's intent on fooling us all, as she's the same dog who run out of the room and hides whenever I shake out an empty  .  Steven and I are going to have to start watching our backs around here...yeesh...

Okay, back to much anticipated business.  If everything was gorgeous and beautiful before the wedding, Mike and Mattie together are pure perfection.  As are all of their family and friends...I'm not even kidding when I say that I would gladly have hung out and just kept photographing the lot of them all.  DAY.  LONG.  Love them all...and long docks.  I like those too.  :-)

The staff at Great Waters was impeccable.  They found out in advance where we were going to be taking portraits in advance, and met us there with drinks and snacks for the wedding party.

Be just a little cuter, Mattie.  :-)

Right at the end of the night, Mike and Mattie snuck back out for a few more pictures of just them.  :-)

Thank you so much again, Mr. and Mrs. Santowski...I can't wait to see your beautiful faces again in a few months!!!