409 South Main is such a magical venue. The natural light that pours into the bride’s room is sure to make any photographer’s heart skip a beat, and don’t even get me started on the exposed brick.
Do you guys remember Molly + Austin (and lets not forget Teddy- who DOES make an appearance below?) OF course you do. Their wedding day was just as magical as their rustic engagement session, and I am SO excited that I’ve finally found time to blog this wedding.
Molly and Austin’s wedding day went a little like this: Molly and her girls got ready at 409 South Main which was amazing. There was enough room for her large bridal party in the bridal suite. Molly and the girls both got their hair and makeup done by queen Emily Cohen and Kasey Acuff. They all looked flawless for the entire day. Maggie Louise provided Molly’s gown that was absolutely breathtaking with the most amazing train. Molly and Austin had their first look and bride and groom photos done at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, then their bridal party and family met there for photos after. The ceremony was held at Christ United Methodist which was decorated beautifully by Lynn Doyle Flowers, who also provided all the florals for the day. After the ceremony, Molly and Austin danced the night away (and even got to meet Santa) at 409 South Main. It was a magical night that was executed beautifully with the help of The Hardin House. We also got to work alongside Justin of Message in a Bottle which is always a special treat. Speaking of special treats, Molly and Austin’s stunning wedding cake was from The Flour Garden and it was the talk of the evening (rightfully so.)
A giant thank you to all of the amazing vendors who contributed to Molly and Austin’s amazing wedding day. Thank you M+A for allowing us to be a part of your most special day!
This Nashville engagement session is SURE to leave you swooning. Meet Maddie + Elliott. The first time we met them was at our house. When the meeting was over we both agreed Maddie + Elliott seemed like ridiculously fun people we’d love to go explore or share a cocktail or 4 with. We were hopeful they felt the same about us, and that was entirely confirmed when they hired us to photograph their wedding.
From the very first meeting, Maddie informed us that having her engagement session done at her aunt’s farm in Lebanon, Tennessee was a top priority. We were entirely down for an adventure, and we got lucky with incredible weather. (Side story- we actually drove all the way to Jackson earlier that month in hopes to do their session and unfortunately had to turn around because bad weather came out of NO WHERE. I am super thankful that happened though because we got the MOST gorgeous sunset Lebanon has ever seen.)
I feel like both Maddie + Elliott and John and I have so much in common. Maddie + Elliott are high school sweethearts like John and I. They both enjoy being outside, love a big breakfast complete with champagne, and honestly just being next to each other.
I can’t help but get a little teary eyed when I think about how Elliott proposed to Maddie. I found myself reading and re-reading about it from Maddie’s perspective. I’ll let you read her version:
“When I talk about Elliott’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail to gift me the very best…wow! There was a 2 week streak in Nashville last February where the rain kept coming down…it was gray, yucky, cold, winter days. For Elliott and I being the outdoorsy people we are, we were eager to be able to get outside again. You could say we had cabin fever. We decided one weekend to go to one of our favorite places that is near and dear to our hearts, a place where we can go and relax, escape the Nashville city lights, and not have a to-do list…this place is my Aunt Jamie and Uncle Bill’s farm, Lock Five Farms. Located about 40 minutes outside Nashville, this special place always provides us with a much needed breath of fresh air when we need rejuvenate. Throughout the weekend, the rain continued to come down and finally cleared up late Saturday night. Elliott made a big bonfire, and we were able to enjoy being outside, under the stars. Elliott suggested we wake up to watch sunrise since we weren’t able to witness a killer Lock Five sunset because of the weather. Elliott and I have a lot of strengths, but being morning people is not on our list! I thought to myself, sure, I’ll set an alarm for 5:30am, but no way I’m getting out of the warm bed to go out into the February frost. The next morning comes…That 5:30am alarm came early. I thought I turned it off before Elliott could hear it, and I quickly went back to sleep. When I had gone back to sleep, Elliott had sneakily gotten up to go see what it was looking like outside. He quickly ran back into the room right before 6am demanding we get up because it looked, “SO COOL OUTSIDE! It’s finally not raining!” I quickly got up and grabbed my coat to go on our morning sunrise walk. Elliott had his phone playing Jack Johnson (my favorite) on his phone, which I didn’t think twice about because we usually have music of some kind playing on our walks. We walked the front of the property, and Elliott suggested we got to the top of the drive where we could get the best pictures from the sunrise. Once we got there, that’s where he asked me to spend forever with him. Blabbering through my happy tears, I was able to squeak out a YES. We spent the rest of the morning at the farm walking the property and calling loved ones. We wanted to focus first on celebrating with each other, so naturally, we made a big Sunday breakfast with Lock Five fresh eggs, sausage, and biscuits, and of course, CHAMPAGNE! When I picture how I fantasized that day in my head…I thought I would have brushed my teeth, or heck, had a bra on, but I could not imagine a more perfect morning to spend with my best friend. Elliott engraved “Better Together” in cursive print on the inside of the ring…the song that was playing when he popped the question.”
I just love that Elliott kept it super private and intimate. I’m a sucker for music and lyrics and I love that the Jack Johnson song lyrics “Better Together” is engraved in her ring. How ironic is it that the proposal involved a gorgeous sunrise and the engagement session involved a gorgeous sunset?!
Maddie + Elliott are getting married April 27th at the Stratton House in Collierville, Tennessee. We are SO excited to be a part of their most special day. You guys enjoy!
Kirsten and Chris’ engagement session was one of our all time favorites. The sun just poured in like no other day, and Kirsten and Chris were literally glowing the entire day.
When we met this sweet couple at our house for the first time, it only took seconds for all of us to click instantly. Kirsten and Chris told us they initially met at church and all about their proposal.
Kirsten’s recollection of when Chris proposed is my favorite:
“Well first of all we had been talking about getting engaged for a while already. So of course, I had a few ideas or rules about how it should or shouldn’t go. This year on my birthday, February 10, we went to brunch with my family, did some shopping, went to the park, had plans for dinner and a movie after. We went to dinner at Stoney River and both had ordered our food then I decided I wanted to add something so Chris said “we’ll see if he comes back and if not I’ll get up and tell him.” He never came back so Chris went up to add my other side and little did I know told the waiter something else as well. After dinner we ordered dessert and when it came out the plate had written on it in chocolate sauce “Will you marry me?” Chris got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was in such shock that I only was able to eat like 2 bites of the chocolate cake (and I love me some cake.) We had already pre bought the movie tickets so on the way there we called our close family and friends to share the news. And to top it off we forgot all of our leftovers at the restaurant. Oh and Chris did everything I said not to for the proposal but it was perfect!!”
It’s funny, you can totally visualize exactly how you want to be proposed to, but when it comes down to it, you realize it really is special regardless of how it happens.
We’re fortunate that both Kirsten and Chris were recently in another wedding we just photographed. We’ve loved getting to know them throughout their engagement, and consider them both friends. Kirsten and Chris are getting married THIS MONTH at Mallard’s Croft, and we cannot wait to be a part of it. Recently, Chris was offered a new job in Atlanta, Georgia, so although these babes have to move, they are truly stuck with us, haha!
It’s no secret, I LOVE ANNESDALE MANSION. In all seasons, Annesdale is just so lovely, just to state the obvious. Of course, Bethany and Lance’s wedding is no exception, it was one of our favorites for several reasons.
If you’re an avid Kelly Ginn Photography blog reader, you may notice this blog post in particular, is a little bit different (in the very best way.) Bethany and Lance were so intentional about how they were going to spend their time on their wedding day. Bethany asked me if it would be possible to do their first look on a separate day, before their actual wedding. John and I were THRILLED at this thought. Doing the first look and bride and groom portraits on an entirely separate day allowed Bethany and Lance to really take advantage of all of the gorgeous Annesdale locations, as well as made their wedding day less stressful. Bethany said she wanted to enjoy her actual wedding day and not be bogged down by tight timeframes, which we totally respect.
Needless to say, Bethany and Lance’s wedding was just as perfect as their bride and groom portraits and we’re SO happy they let us be a part of their day. We got to work alongside Emily Cohen Hair, Kasey Acuff Makeup, and Malik Sharp so it is safe to say Bethany and Lance were in the best of hands.
Before I stop talking, I have to tell you a little bit about how amazing Bethany is. She and I spoke a lot during their engagement. John and I are very lucky because all of our couples become our friends. Bethany and Lance were no exception to this rule. Bethany and I were once talking about how John and I started dating, and I told her he asked me to be his girlfriend in our high school parking lot, in the rain, with yellow roses. On her wedding day, Bethany meets me with a basket full of goodies (I am talking, the best of the best) which nearly made me cry. One of the many items in the basket was a tiny gold bracelet with coordinates on it. Once her wedding ended, I googled the coordinates, and it came up as our high school parking lot, where John and I started dating. I won’t even try to lie….. I cried big ugly, Kim K tears. In a time in her life where everyone’s (including Bethany) should be focused on her and Lance, she took the time to make me feel more special than I ever have. For that, I will always be grateful for.
I feel like we will never deserve the amazing souls that walk in and out of our lives, but I will never stop being thankful we get the privilege to know such incredible people like Bethany and Lance.
Bethany and Lance, thank you for the honor of choosing us to capture your most special day, thank you for being our friends, and thank you for how completely special you made us feel. We love you guys!
Meghann and Cameron’s Overton Park engagement session happened on the most ideal, sunny day Memphis has ever seen. It was the kind of day any couple dreams of for their engagement photos, and we are SO glad they chose us to capture this special time in their lives.
I’ll start with a bit of a back story. Cameron is actually John’s cousin! I won’t lie, I claim all of John’s cousins as my own, because they are all amazing and I am thrilled to get to be a part of the family. We met sweet Meghann back in 2016 when John and I photographed Cameron’s sister, Kaitlyn’s wedding (our other amazing cousin.) I had seen photos of Meghann with Cameron before the wedding, and both John and I were so excited to finally meet her. Naturally, both John and I loved her from the second we met, and we are simply ecstatic we get to photograph their wedding THIS WEEKEND.
These babes are getting married at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Oxford, Mississippi and then having their reception at Castle Hill. We simply cannot wait to document their day while celebrating alongside them.
Meghann and Cameron, thank you so much for choosing us to be a part of this time in your lives. We love you both!
