As I look through my wedding pictures for probably the millionth time, I realize that a lot of people took time out of their day to make mine and Corey's wedding the best DAY of our lives. So this, is my thank you blog. Not only is this my thanks to all of the people who helped, but a chance to let those reading check out how amazing these people really are!
Andrew and Erin Photography.
Before I even began planning for my wedding, I chose Andy and Kayla to take our engagement pictures. I had researched photographers and ask around to see who could make the best recommendation. My favorite part about their work was the fact that they thought outside the box. I'm not a photography pro by any means, but the way they capture the moment isn't awkward or boring. It isn't "you place your hand here" and it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. (Let me explain it by telling a story.)
When we ask Kayla and Andy to take our engagement pictures, Corey and I knew exactly where we wanted them taken. (Buffalo Mountain and ETSU) These two places were and are very special to us. When we were in college we used to hike a lot together and our favorite place was Buffalo Mountain. Our favorite spot is a little difficult to get to, but when you get to the small clearing on top of the mountain you can see all of Johnson City. It's absolutely breathtaking.
The day of our session it was a little foggy to say the least. We trudged up the mountain, with a blanket my mom had given me and Kayla and Andy followed. I felt so bad because I had never realized how long it took to get up the hill, but they didn't complain at all. When they began taking pictures, it was like we were on the mountain by ourself. (kissing, holding hands, laughing, talking, hugging) It was the same when we went to ETSU to take the other half of the picture. I mean come on, we hit each other in the face with leaves. I also made Corey wear nerdy glasses. Kayla and Andy were laughing with us, encouraging us to just be ourselves and we have the pictures to prove it. They captured our relationship perfectly! Here is their blog of our engagement session and a few of my favorite to go along with theirs.
I still love looking through these pictures. It was an absolutely amazing day! So, since we both loved their work (I probably did more than Corey, because I love pictures), we chose them for our wedding day! We couldn't and wouldn't have chose anyone else. It was a perfect day and they both captured every little bit! I've probably looked at them every day since we got them in the mail.
Corey cried when he saw this picture.
I love this picture, and I don't know why.
My mom loves this picture.
Probably my favorite "me" picture.
Definitely captured our relationship perfectly.
My favorite dance picture. It definitely makes me laugh.
I would recommend Kayla and Andy to anyone. I love their work and they are super nice people as well! So, if you're looking for someone to capture a special day in your life, an engagement session, a family session, a wedding day, I recommend Andrew and Erin Photography.
Next:
Probably the most important part of wedding planning besides photographers would be where to have the ceremony and reception. And boy did we find the Perfect place.
Swinging Bridge Farms
As we began planning the wedding, I knew that I wanted an outdoor wedding. We looked at several venues. Almost all of the ones we looked at were overly priced and the owners were all "business". (friendly enough, but over all they showed you what they had to offer and that was that.)
It had to be God, because one day at work, I was searching for outdoor wedding venues. (Preferably with a barn and pretty scenery) and BAM, seriously out of nowhere, I find Swinging Bridge Farms. I told my mom about it and we decided to check it out.
It was perfect, for two reasons. The owners: Kernie and Connie Timmons were and are some of the sweetest people and the property is absolutely gorgeous!!
The big black barn with the christmas lights was definitely one of my favorite parts.
My family and I made several visits to the farm before the wedding. Kernie and Connie listened to my ideas and made my wedding day a reality. They even helped set up the day of the wedding and Connie even helped out in another process.
Next:
I'll combine these two: Flowers and Catering. (Mainly because of the picture I'm about to post)
Connie Timmons
(Floral Designer)
&
Gadabouts Catering
(Owned and Operated by Bill and Eileen Gaddy)
(Eileen, Me, Connie)
These two ladies were outstanding.
Let me point out that I am not a "flower" pro (I like to look at flowers, I like receiving flowers, but I do not know the names of flowers, besides your basic rose or sunflower) So, when it came time to tell Connie what I wanted my bouquets to look like, I showed her pictures I found online. She used those pictures and her amazing talent and created some beautiful wedding bouquets. She made all the flower arrangements for my wedding too. Connie is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Every time we made a trip over to the farm, she would give me a hug. It was like she had known me my whole life.
We met Eileen at a Pink Bridal show in Kingsport. Her sweet potato rolls had me hooked the first time I tried one. They were so good and so unique. She was also great to work with. I think we changed the menu several times before we knew what we wanted. Eileen worked with us every step of the way. I wish I had pictures of the food but here's the menu. The roast pork loin with the cranberry orange relish was DELICIOUS! The mashed potatoes were real (something I had to have, because I hate fake mashed potatoes), the rolls and the biscuits were great! I had several of the guest tell me how amazing the food really was!!
Appetizers:
Main Menu:
Roast Pork Loin, Carved to Order…Cranberry Orange Relish
Southern Fried Chicken
Mashed “Real” Potatoes with Gravy and Butter to side
Seasoned Green Beans—Southern Style with Country Ham
Sweet Potato Biscuits, Yeast Rolls, Butter, Apple Butter, Honey Butter
Iced Tea, Water
So, after the wedding was over, the wedding party took off to take pictures. The sun was really bright (thank you God, I'm not complaining) but we had to head to the shade to take group pictures. My favorite part about Gadabouts, they had some of their workers bring the wedding party glasses of tea and water. I was super impressed!! They also congratulated me and told me how pretty I looked. (I knew I had picked the right group of people to feed us at our wedding).
And here's the best part of the whole catering experience: we had a coffee bar!! (with syrup and creamer and coffee, the whole works) We actually toasted with it, because yes, that's how much my husband and I love coffee.
Next:
Someone who probably doesn't want me to introduce her to the world wide web, but I'm going to anyways because she is like a second mom to me and her creativity and baking skills deserve this.
Becky Vanhook
(The Cake Boss of Big Stone Gap)
One more:
Libby Mumpower
(Wedding Coordinator)
(Hopefully she doesn't kill me when she see this)
I have also known Libby my whole life. She used to live right down the street from us on Maple. She's more like family than anything. My mom and dad have always had a group of friends that are more like a group of aunts and uncles to my sister and I, and their daughters and sons are more like cousins. We've gone on vacations with them, had slumber parties at each others houses, gone to church with them, all of them play a huge role in my life. Libby is also the family "wedding coordinator". She takes it seriously, she puts people in their places, she's bossy and she can be mean, which I love about her. She even came with us to the farm to check things out and to help me decide where everything and everyone would stand. She was a great help!
Here's a small list of others I would like to thank:
Norman Clark (our pastor)
Our wedding party
My parents
Earl Mumpower
Gary Sexton
Sara Stacy
Tiffany Hammonds
Our guests
Ken and Joel Sprinkle
Matthew Brock
Those that helped park the guest
Ken and Joel Sprinkle
Matthew Brock
Those that helped park the guest
Those who helped set up and who stayed late to clean up.
&
Most importantly, Thank you God for the beautiful weather, and the opportunity to share a day with those I love so that I could marry the one you picked for me.
(All pictures used were by me or Andrew and Erin Photography)
(Grammatical errors and such, should be overlooked)
God is Good
Love never fails
Laughter is the best medicine
(Grammatical errors and such, should be overlooked)
God is Good
Love never fails
Laughter is the best medicine
Love Always,
Callie McCarty Presley
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