This is going to be a long one, buckle up!  From start to finish- this wedding was absolutely incredible.  Karen, Matt, their families, friends, and team of vendors put together an AMAZING day.  Karen is a wedding planner herself, owner of Pretty Southern Events.  There were definitely some nerves when thinking about photographing a wedding of someone in the wedding industry. Along with the nerves though, I was also super excited because I knew Karen would be organized and be up for any picture adventures I had- boy was I right.  She made my job SO easy!  Karen and Matt decided on a Southern theme for their wedding.  You will see touches all throughout the pictures.  It made complete sense that they chose to get married at Berkeley Plantation– site of the very first Thanksgiving here in America.  It felt so surreal to walk the grounds of the plantation and see the character that this site brought to life.  Good find Karen & Matt!

Karen and Matt are most definitely a match made in heaven.  They compliment each other so well.  Karen supports Matt’s love of fishing and everything outdoors and Matt supports Karen’s wedding planning business and love for everything southern.  I felt so welcomed by their family and friends.  You can tell everyone has been waiting for these two to get married and they were SO ready to celebrate their love.  I will let you get to the pictures, this wedding is held so dear to my heart.  Every corner turned was a new surprise.  Thanks for everything Matt and Karen!

The details of this wedding were unreal.  I had some time alone with all of Karen’s accessories and I had so much fun styling them on the old wooden floors at the Berkeley Plantation House.  Each piece she wore had deep meaning.  I mean come on- she even had a bag of magnolia leaves for me to style with.  





Wiley’s Florist knocked it out of the park!










Karen- you are so so beautiful.  You were radiating joy all day…I hope you see that through these memories!

Matt had a megabass fishing lure in his boutonniere.  It was done so well, super stylish!


Each bridesmaid picked their own outfit.  It was super cool to see how beautiful they all came together and how each dress truly represented the girl wearing it.  They all felt comfortable and it made for great pictures.  I got a little carried away photographing this stunning group of girls if you can’t tell.







I had a spectator right before Karen walked down the aisle…

This. This is why I do what I do.  Matt’s older brother had all eyes on him as Karen walked down the aisle.

A wedding that honors the parents…Karen & Matt- so well done you two! 

Karen and Matt tied a fisherman’s knot to signify their love with each other and God and it brought Matt’s love of fishing into the ceremony.  Again- so classy!






Continuing with the southern theme, Matt and Karen buried a bottle of bourbon at the site of their venue to dig up after they were married.  I think it really did give them good luck- we had a beautiful day!













Since Karen is a wedding planner, the details of this wedding were unreal.  I even had someone in the wedding industry reach out to me and say “real candles lining the tables, that’s genius and so well put together.” I really did feel honored to photograph this wedding.







This was so special.  Karen decided to include her father and step father in her daddy daughter dance.  Karen’s sister and her took turns dancing and it was such a special family moment, hence the group hug at the end.










More southern touches gracefully woven into the day.  The favors for guests were a bag of grits and the guest book was a beautiful plantation book that guests could sign.







When the maid of honor makes you cry and the best man makes you laugh…success!



















Matt and Karen- THANK YOU!  Thank you for choosing me to capture your day.  Hope you two are enjoying married life!

An INCREDIBLE team of vendors:

Venue: Berkeley Plantation

Videography: Tyler Q Tucker

Florist: Wiley’s Florist

Planner: Pretty Southern Events

Coordinator: Illumination Events Studio

DJ: DJ Diesel 

Hair: Elle Style Studio

Makeup: Brideface

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Catering: White House Catering

Bakery: Ukrops

Lighting: The Lighting and Sound Company

Dress: Watters

Groomsman: Tiffany’s Bridal Groom’s Corner

Rings: Diamond’s Direct

 

Thanks for stopping by!  To see another wedding, check out Taylor and Katie!

-Ashley