A Beautiful Backyard Wedding in Dahlonega
Wedding date: September 13, 2014
I met Beckey at Dahlonega Marketplace http://www.dahlonegamarketplace.com. It was my first time displaying photos at a bridal show, and I'm glad I did. Thanks Nicole and Chad!
Beckey remembered I also did pet photography, so having 4 of her own (+2 kids), we were a great match to work together! Beckey and Todd had a sweet wedding right at home, though the air conditioning went out the same afternoon and it was hot & humid this lovely Saturday, but that didn't change their cool attitudes. These people were awesome to work with!
Todd greeted me first, warned about the air conditioning, and told me Beckey was getting ready in the heat, about to move downstairs. I was worried she'd be frantic...
Nope!
Snickers greeted me at the door first thing
Seth at the floor
Molly... comatose
Rayne supervised the getting ready process
By the way, none of these dogs barked at me, they were completely cool too.
Molly on the bridesmaid dress, I loved these people already
Beautiful flowers by Marci Weatherford, delicious cake by Publix
Shenanigans creating Shenanigans in the kitchen, getting some freakin delicious food ready. Smellin up the whole house with yummies!!
Mom and Daughter getting beautiful together
the air conditioning savior
They had to reinact a nose smoosh photo : )
Beckey's son seeing her in her wedding gown
This guy started cracking up during the ceremony! Had everyone laughing! Greek people... they know how to have a good time!
This guy again!!
Gorgeous flowers by Marci Weatherford
The groom was taking tips...
Catering by Shenanigans, mmm mmmm mmmm mmmmm!!
Tunes by "Bad Habits"
Lots of frogs around their place, so a ring shot had to be.
Just in case she doesn't like frogs...
They let the dogs back out!
Sarabeth and Rob's Wedding at The Cator Woolford Gardens
Wedding Date: September 6th, 2014
My friend Kellet Junker referred me to this very lovely couple and I'm so thankful. Kellet (former photography major, turned occupational therapist) even assisted in the photography and it was a wonderful evening, I love weddings like this...
Leanne Kidd was the wedding coordinator, keepin it tight!
The fan was Sarabeth's "something blue" from her brother. She held on to it the entire night!
Cator Woolford Gardens is at the Frazer Center in Atlanta, Ga. It's a gorgeous venue for weddings and events, and easy to travel to. I'm not crazy about navigating through Atlanta, but from Athens, 78 takes you pretty much right to it. http://www.frazercenter.org
Nieces and Nephews were flower girls, ringbearers... so absolutely sweet seeing this whole group of kids enter the ceremony.
Sarabeth and Rob were awesome to work with, not wanting too many formal shots, just to capture the evening with family and friends. The beautiful flowers were done by Christin Bruce, and Sarabeth's mom got crafty with the boutineers for the groomsmen and children, and for the table decor. Sarabeth also contributed her touch with wine bottle vases and candle holders.
Flowers by Christin Bruce
Tussy Mussy's for the Mothers
Sarabeth's Mom's crafty boutineers
And Sarabeth's wine bottle candle holders /vases
The reception was in the atrium, with food catered by Sun in My Belly. The food looked, smelled, and tasted delicious (thanks Leanne for my awesome vendor meal!) The catering staff was also very friendly, which I noticed and appreciated.
Sun in My Belly Catering, http://www.suninmybelly.com/
The kids had their own buffet with mac n cheese, apple juice, chicken nuggets, goldfish and fruit... per the smiles.
Wedding Cake by Rhodes Bakery, http://www.rhodesfamilybakery.com/
Sarabeth and Rob did their dance to "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel, awesome choice!!
Sweet Tunes DJ'd by Dave Chait, and by the way, he played some really good music... not your typical reception music, but the best old school rap, and a mix of other awesome songs to get the crowd dancing. EVERYBODY danced during this wedding thanks to him. Even the kids had a special time of singing to a song from the movie Frozen... it was adorable.
Reception selfies
And a Bubbly exit
The Wonderful and Never Boring Barber Family
Well, I'm finally getting to some blawging since I've switched my site over to Zenfolio. For my first entry (that has taken me about half a year to start...) I'd like to spotlight a very special family, the Barbers. So, step up to the fence with me and meet some of the current crew (play the video below).
I met Dr. Renee Barber through a referral from Sara Epstein, owner of the former and wonderfully missed Z-Dog Bakery. Dr. Barber was one of my first in home session visits in 2010, and as soon as I walked past the white picket fence and saw this peanut gallery of dogs bounding out of the house literally rolling, darting, shyly creeping, and trotting excitedly toward me, I knew I had chosen the right niche and I was immediately in love.
Above: The first four I met from left to right... Bailey, Bumble, Jilian, and Hanah Banana Elizabeth Smith Barber.
Bailey is hell on wheels, and Bumble always keeps her distance as not to get stepped upon
The Barbers currently reside here in Athens with a crew of 9 dogs, 5 cats, and 2 guinea pigs. Right now Dr. Barber is a DVM resident at UGA in Neurology, and Jamie works with the UGA Department of Infectious Diseases. Pretty smart people... with enough research behind and in front of them to deserve a comedy at home! Anyway, what I think is so endearing is that most of their dogs have come from different shelters or vet hospitals with serious surgical needs. So the family keeps growing... and apparently Jamie is the softy. Almost always clad in colorful crocs (& scrubs), the Barbers sweetly match their equally colorful living space and animal activity.
A most recent family photo,
Chickpea, Bumble, Cindy Lou Who, Bailey, Spinky, Charley (a foster - white one in the back), Rooster, Felix, Flounder, and Gilian
Rooster (Cogburn) in his Halloween costume one year
Bailey's Ride
Rainey Lynch - my favorite and most awesome and over-qualified pet wrangler, helping with a Christmas photo
Jamie always offers a delicious craft brew before and after photo sessions, this is Rainey getting shnockered but by dogs
I asked Renee several random questions out of curiosity on what life is like at the animal house... I'm gonna do this question & answer style:
Me: When/Where did you and Jamie meet?
Renee: We met at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Jamie had been living on a sailboat for 12 years.
Me thinking: (...and now he lives with on land with 9 dogs, 5 cats and 2 guinea pigs? Wow, it must be love!)
Me: Who were your first dogs?
Renee: Jilian and Hanah
During Hanah's last days... I was allowed to bring her a double cheeseburger which was shared with everyone
Me: In what order did you gain the dogs?
Renee: Bailey was the 3rd, Bumble the 4th, then I lose track.
Me: How often do you go on vacation?
Renee: Rarely
Me: How do you split up the kids?
Renee: We split them up between people and one or two take to the kennel.
Me: Do you want kids one day?
Renee: Would love to.
(I always wonder this about people with lots of pets... pets OR kids, or pets AND kids, etc... regardless... I have a feeling Jamie and Renee would be excellent parents)
These are hats she made one Christmas for the dogs...
Me: Do they all snuggle with you at night?
Renee: Not really, they sleep in dog beds, kennels, etc.
(Would be killer to snuggle with all these dogs, but then again maybe not)
Me: When you lose one, would you say coping easier since you have so many?
Renee: Yes, it's hard to be sad when you're surrounded by so many dogs.
Me: Do you notice if they miss Hanah and Jilian?
Renee: No, I haven't appreciated that any of the dogs notice when one goes missing. They're very routine oriented and only seem to notice change if the routine is disrupted.
Me: Do they tend to pair up together like high school cliques?
Renee: There are definitely cliques. Bumble and Chickpea love to play. Felix likes Bailey. Cindy Lou Who loves Squid the cat. Spinky hates everyone except Cindy Lou Who. Rooster and Flounder are playmates but interestingly, Rooster hated Flounder for a long time and they just recently started hanging out together. None of them play with each other as much as Jilian and Hanah used to - they would wrestle all the time. Maybe there are just too many of them. Often if two dogs start playing another dog (usually Rooster) will try to break up the party. Whenever we try to take them all to Sandy Creek to run around and play, they all just stare at us instead of playing.
Me: What about feeding time?
Renee: They're pretty calm until dinner... then they all get separated, some in the kitchen, some in the kennels, some in the bathroom, etc.
(I'm picturing Shark Week)
This isn't feeding time but close enough
Me: What would you say about living with so many dogs?
Renee: They're a great security system! I'm always amazed at how different their personalities are...