Katie + Brent’s wedding at The Atrium at Overton Square was actual WEDDING GOALS. To save myself embarrassment, I won’t tell you how long ago this wedding was, but hey, better late than never, right? It’s true, sometimes blogging does get put on the back burner, BUT that will change in 2019, and I can think of no better wedding to start with than Katie + Brent’s.
Something you need to know about Katie + Brent….. John and I are mildly obsessed with both of them (and their two adorable pups.) Since day one of working with Katie, I just knew she and I would click, and be friends even after their wedding. She’s extremely kind, genuine, so loving, absolutely beautiful, and one of the most supportive humans I know. She (and her sister Karlie) are the FIRST to “like,” comment, and share our work, and for that, we are forever thankful.
These love birds got married at their home church in Mississippi, which had the most beautiful columns we’ve ever seen. Their church also had a long grassy area in the front which was amazing for photos. I’m pretty sure we saw every type of weather imaginable on their wedding day, but we still managed to do all of their photos outside!
Katie + Brent’s reception was at The Atrium at Overton Square and it was the most fun “party” we’ve ever been a part of. I mean, the energy was at a level 100 from the MOMENT Katie + Brent walked in the door. Their reception photos just make us want to dance and sing the night away. The beautiful flower arrangements + wedding day coordination was provided by Lynn Doyle Flowers. The arrangements at the reception were absolutely breath taking. Kasey Acuff did Katie’s makeup, and Rachel Douglass did Katie’s hair. Katie wore the most flattering gown from Maggie Louise (I’m still talking about her back muscles to this day, haha.) CFY provided the most delicious food (per usual) and don’t even get me started on their flawless presentation. Deep Blu Entertainment kept the dance floor packed, and Frost Bake Shop kept all the guests completely satisfied with their delicious and beautiful cake.
Katie + Brent, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your day, and for keeping us around even after. You’re stuck with us now!
A lot of bride and grooms find themselves asking the exact same question, “Should I do a first look?” Recently I had the opportunity to talk with over 20 different brides about their thoughts on first looks. Several of the brides who took the time to chat with me, were not KGP brides, but they’ve all given me permission to include their name and advice/thoughts on why you should do a first look. I will actually start with my thoughts on doing a first look, but first, let me take my photographer hat off and put my bride hat on.
Before I was a full time wedding photographer, I was a bride. Over seven years ago, John and I got married and we did not do a first look. *GASP* I know I know, but let me explain why we didn’t, and then elaborate on WHY I wish we had. John and I got married on October 22nd, 2011. It was the our five year anniversary (the exact day) and both John and I had waited a LONG time for that day. We faced what I like to call “Romeo and Juliet” trials early on in our relationship, and our wedding day felt like what I would imagine crossing a finish line in a marathon would be like. I’m sure our wedding photographer warned me about how late in the day our ceremony was, and as you know, those October days aren’t as long as the summer days are. No one, not even Taylor Swift herself could have talked me into a first look with John. I wanted to see his face as I walked towards him down the aisle. His face did NOT disappoint, trust me, BUT after photographing over 200 weddings, I know his face would have been like that during a private first look, and most likely once again during the ceremony.
If your ONLY reason for not wanting to do a first look is because you’re concerned you won’t get a reaction from your bride or groom during the ceremony, you may want to reconsider.Don’t believe me? That’s fine, take a look at the following KGP couples who did a first look, had amazing reactions, and THEN STILL reacted during the ceremony:
Ashley + Drew’s First Look:
Ashley and Drew’s reaction during the ceremony:
Karlie + Mark’s First Look:
Mark’s reaction during their ceremony:
Stephanie + Radley’s First Look:
Stephaine + Radley’s reaction during their ceremony:
Hailey + Morgan’s First Look:
Morgan’s reaction during the ceremony:
“Ok, Kelly, we get it. Some bride and grooms react during the first look AND during the ceremony. HOW ELSE DOES A FIRST LOOK BENEFIT US AS A COUPLE?” I am so glad you asked:
1. Something I never thought of as a bride, that is so evident now- I was only with John for about four hours on our wedding day. I spent over 60% of my day without him. It was OUR wedding day, yet we spent over half the day separated. If I could go back, 2019 Kelly Ginn would shake 2011 Kelly Ginn until she was blue in the face. I would spend every second of my wedding day with John.
2. I can’t speak for all photographers, but I know a lot of them would agree with me when I say- You’ll actually get more photos of just the two of you if you do a first look. Why? Because you are less rushed and you actually have more time to spend on couple portraits. More time means more variety in photos, i.e. you can utilize all the gorgeous locations your venue has to offer because you have the time to do so. If you were to compare a full wedding gallery of a couple whose wedding I shot that did a first look, and a gallery of a couple whose wedding I shot that did not do a first look, the couple that did, WILL receive more photos. It’s an additional event that was documented.
3. (This one is super important) For brides who are getting married in the colder months (think time change, when the days are shorter) You can still have an evening ceremony *IF* you do a first look, because all of your photos can be planned to be completed before the ceremony starts, since you won’t need daylight after your ceremony is over. Can you give us an example of what you mean? Yes, of course: Let’s say you’re thinking you are wanting to get married in late October. On October 26th of 2018, the sun set at 6:10 pm. If you wanted to have your ceremony at 5:30 (a common ceremony time) you would only have about 10 minutes left of daylight to complete the following portraits (assuming you didn’t do a first look): 1. couple with both sets of families separate (minimum of 2 sets) 2. bridal party all together, combined. 3. couple portraits (bride + groom, bride + bride, or groom + groom) which is our biggest priority and where we spend the biggest chunk of time. I can speak for ALL photographers when I say, those three sets of portraits cannot be done WELL in 10 minutes, because there simply won’t be enough available light. So doing a first look can allow you to still have an evening ceremony, even when the days are shorter and even during the time change months
4. A first look can calm nerves and relax you so that you’re able to actually enjoy your entire day, not just the last four hours of it. I’ve seen grooms be so nervous minutes before the ceremony (because they didn’t do a first look) that they had zero reaction as they watched their partner walk down the aisle. 200+ eyes all on you can be a bit overwhelming, and they can’t always react the way they want to because their bodies are in shock.
5. If your goal is to get as many photos done before the ceremony, so that you can enjoy your reception, a first look is your answer. There are times when our couples decide to do a first look, that they don’t have to take a single photo after the ceremony, because we got them all done before the ceremony started. Other times we just have to spend 10-20 minutes max doing extended family photos after the ceremony. If you don’t do a first look, you can spend up to an HOUR’s worth of time (maybe more) finishing up the photos that couldn’t have been taken before.
Hey Kelly, thanks for your input on a first look, but could we hear from a bride who ISN’T a photographer? Duh.
Emily, a past bride of ours didn’t do a first look and regrets her decision. Here’s what she has to say:
“I decided not to do a first look with Reagan because I wanted to be traditional and see him for the first time as I walked down the aisle. Looking back on it now, the moment was so overwhelming, and while I wanted a sweet reaction from my future husband as I walked down the aisle, all I could see was him mouthing “I will not cry I will not cry” over and over. It’s a very vulnerable moment and unfortunately we had to share it with 400+ of our closest friends and family (LOL). We didn’t get to feel all of the emotions and have true reactions that we could’ve had if the moment was shared between the two of us! I did do a first look with my dad though, and it’s was one of the most special moments of my life. I will forever hold onto his face and that moment we shared. I loved it so much and it always makes me think “what if” I would’ve done the same with Reagan.”
Don’t worry, I have more thoughts and advice from REAL brides.
Though I didn’t photograph Chelsea’s wedding she messaged me her thoughts on how her biggest regret was not doing a first look:
My husband, Joe has the reputation of being a “jock”. He’s a gym junkie, former minor league baseball player, and all around athlete kind of guy. He’s SO sweet and sensitive, and he isn’t afraid to show it. I thought, “let’s not ruin the magic of my walk down the aisle with posey photos that feel less than authentic.” Unfortunately our experience was just the opposite. I thought for sure I’d have a crier on my hands. (I’m not the one to cry in front of people) but due to his nerves and his deep fear of sounding stupid by repeating his vows wrong, he basically froze when I walked down the aisle. I ended up being the crier. The pressure of being up there with all eyes on us totally got to him. We immediately took photos in the field across the street from the venue after the ceremony and they were so beautiful, but I always regret not having photos of him seeing me in my dress for the first time without 150 pairs of eyes on him. MY. BIGGEST. REGRET! It still pains me nearly 7 years later.
Don’t think for one second that I am done. I have more advice/thoughts from other brides.
I didn’t photograph Riley’s wedding, but she was kind and honest enough to tell me her thoughts on first looks, and how she wishes she would have done one:
“We did not do a first look and I kind of wish we did. My husband is very traditional and did not want to see me before the wedding (totally fine), but we had to rush and take all of our pictures after the wedding. Our wedding started at 6 and we did not enter the reception until 8. As we were eating inside the house, I saw some of our guests leaving and I didn’t even have a chance to say hello or thank them for coming!! I wish we would’ve done a first look and did most of our bride & groom photos beforehand. A few more at the golden hour is still nice, and then you’re back with your guests. I recommend first looks to all of my friends!”
And of course, I want to provide you with the perspective of brides who DID do a first look, that recommend it:
Mekenzie and Seth, a past couple of ours, DID do a first look and here are her thoughts on it:
FIRST LOOKS ARE SO IMPORTANT. If you think it makes you lose any special- emotional- walk down the aisle- moments…. My groom didn’t cry during our first look, and cried like a baby when I walked down the aisle. AND *IF* you do a first look, you have a whole set of photos of the two of you seeing each other for the first time on the most special day.
Lastly, I have Lacey, a past bride of ours who also has thoughts on a first look and why she is so glad she and Andrew did one:
First looks are the best! It’s so nice to have that moment with just you and your future husband without everyone there watching you. The moment you have waited and planned for when they see you for the first time is priceless!
Here’s the deal. I can only speak for myself as a past bride and a photographer. My views don’t represent every other photographers, which is why I included five different bride’s direct quotes/ thoughts on first looks. Honestly, the decision to do a first look is YOURS, and yours only. As a photographer, I feel it is my job to educate you and inform you on what a wedding day timeline looks like with and without a first look. What you do with the information I give you as a professional, is entirely up to you. John and I respect your informed choice, regardless.
The sunflower fields in Memphis are such a popular attraction. John and I were so excited that they were still in bloom for Megan and Richie’s engagement session. Megan absolutely loves sunflowers, so we’re so happy they were incorporated in this exciting time of their lives. We got the pleasure of meeting sweet Rita, Megan and Richie’s sweet pup. We love dog people, and we REALLY love when they bring them along for their photos.
We actually met Megan and Richie at a wedding we did last April. Megan was a bridesmaid and I could not stop obsessing over her hair. She has #hairgoals FOR SURE. We are SO very excited to be photographing Megan and Richie’s wedding this February at Avon Acres. We have never shot there, and are SO very excited to do so.
M + R, we had so much fun frolicking through the sunflower fields of Memphis with you both! Y’all be sure to leave Megan and Richie some love!
2018- you were one WILD, BUSY, FANTASTIC, CHAOTIC, BLISSFUL, INSANE, LOVELY, hell of a year. John and I shot 47 weddings this year, and as we’ve gotten older, we can’t help but become more attached to all of our couples and their sweet families. I’ll never stop pinching myself over the fact that we are chosen to document the most special day of these amazing people’s lives. What an honor. I’ll say that again- WHAT AN HONOR. 2018 taught me a lot of things, but the most important thing it taught me was to be present. Be present in all the moments I’m surrounded by, to (as Taylor Swift would say) “capture it, remember it.”
There are SO MANY IMAGES in this post, at least one image from every single wedding we were a part of. I also added in five other significant moments- in the order they happened: 1. My best friend of almost 27 years became a mother, and I got to document her precious newborn. 2. Another best friend launched her very own wedding blog which has completely taken off in all of the right ways. 3. Another best friend opened her own law firm (and she’s under 30) talk about a #girlboss. 4. My sister had her last child, Matthew Bennett Whitworth who completely stole our hearts. And last but surely not least #5. We brought on Madi (who started as an intern) as our full time family associate photographer. This time next year, she’ll have her own 2019 year in review- watch out Memphis, everything this girl touches is pure gold.
I never like saying much in these year in reviews, the images speak for themselves, so I’ll leave you all with these words:
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of our 2018 couples and their families. Thank you for choosing us, for trusting us, for loving us, and for supporting us. John and I are so thankful that YOU have given us the opportunity to live out our passion, hand in hand. To our social media friends, THANK YOU for double tapping all of our posts, pretending we’re funny, and commenting on our images so we don’t get lost in the ever changing Instagram algorithm. Y’all are the real MVP’s.
The Memphis Botanic Garden was SUCH a perfect location for Kelsey and Brian’s engagement session. This girl LOVES flowers, and we knew JUST the spot.
Meet Kelsey and Brian, aren’t they ADORABLE?! Believe me when I say Kelsey may actually be a long lost sister of mine. Haha. Kelsey and I clicked instantly when she and her precious mom met with us initially. I just wanted to be her bestie for life. Throughout their engagement, Kelsey and I have become great friends and I am so thankful for that. Kelsey is SO stylish. She’s one step ahead of all the trends, and always has been. I just drool over her wardrobe. If Kelsey looks familiar to you, it may be because she is the new owner of the Memphis Bella Bridesmaids. I can’t think of a better fit for such an awesome company. Kelsey is so knowledgeable on all things fashion, she is so kind, confident, and a joy to be around. Bella Bridesmaids is SO lucky to have her.
When we started Kelsey and Brian’s engagement session, you could tell Brian was a bit nervous. Let’s be honest, most guys don’t “love” having their photos taken, but I promised him it would be fun. John happened to bring up video games and Brian came alive! Now when John has free time he actually gets to play PUBG with Brian. Don’t ask me what PUBG is, cause I surely have no idea, haha!
We always love asking our couples about how the proposal went down. We loved hearing it from Kelsey’s perspective:
“So every year my grandmother’s WHOLE family goes to Caruthersville, MO for a family Christmas party and parade. This year we just went to a lunch before the parade. All of my cousins left early. I was jealous because they were “putting on a show in the parade for my grandma.”- I wanted to be part of it. Little did I know what they were planning. I looked up and here they come walking with a banner that read “All I want for Christmas is you… will you *Merry* Me?” When I realized what was happening, I dropped all the good candy I had just picked up and he was down on his knee. IT WAS A FAIRYTALE!”
It’s only fitting that Kelsey and Brian have a winter wedding to go with their winter proposal. Kelsey and Brian are getting married THIS weekend at The Cadre, and we CANNOT wait to be a part of it. Sweet Kelsey truly treats us like family and we just adore her and Brian both.
