Weddings - ALTMIX Photography

May 29

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elizabeth & david are married!

By Kate Altmix | Weddings | 12 Comments

after ten minutes of sitting on our couch, typing no words, let me start with just this- elizabeth & david are classy with a little bit of saucy and massive amounts of fun. they like jazz and theatre, art and film, literature and… the colbert report, the outdoors and all things batman. how could we not immediately LOVE these two!?

we met for a few pictures of hair and makeup before heading to le jardin blanc to meet the other bridesmaids and finish getting ready. after spending the last few hours laughing and chatting with elizabeth i was so excited to meet her best friends- they were all so sweet and so focused on helping and encouraging their friend- it made shooting their relationships such a pleasure! when it came time to put the dress on there was a pause- everyone knew elizabeth was planning on wearing her grandmother’s dress from the 1950s and there really weren’t words for how special that was. we all quietly oooed and ahhhed over the delicate vintage lace and the timeless shape of the dress- it was perfect for elizabeth. as she put it on and zipped it up, it hugged her figure- so similar to her grandmother’s sixty years ago- i looked around at teary eyes and big smiles and fell in love with my job all over again.

after a few moments of absorbing the fact that she was indeed in a wedding dress and getting married in a few short hours, elizabeth was ready to see david. they planned on taking some time to connect before the ceremony and it was the perfect time for us to grab some images. but first! the stunning elizabeth as her mom placed her veil- i just love how she looks so peaceful and happy:

they were both beyond excited to finally see one other but it took elizabeth a few seconds of recomposure before she could start walking down the stairs. i love witnessing these first few moments- the emotion is so beautiful. first up, matt’s view from downstairs:

and my view from upstairs:

we took some time to explore the gardens and found some great spots! the rain came down lightly but neither of then cared in the least! here are a few of our favorites:

don’t you love how this bluish metal contrasts with her stunning red hair!? i’m in love:

back inside david and elizabeth shared notes they’d written to each other for their wedding day. i love this series of elizabeth reading, and, sidenote: HER DRESS IS AMAZING!

i love how dramatic the lighting in this image of elizabeth peeking out as guests start to arrive:

laura, elizabeth’s sister and best friend, stole a look back before walking out to the garden and down the aisle.

how perfectly adorable was their ceremony?! shaded by a huge tree that acted as a bit of an umbrella and backed by a vintage window salvaged just for this purpose, i love everything about it!

‘for the first time!’ love the excitement here:

we took just a few more minutes for portraits after the ceremony- how could we resist!?

the rain held off for the outdoor reception and the party started right away! a few toasts were given before the cake cutting, and the rest of the evening was marked with crazy dancing and laughter atop a perfect black and white checkered dance floor! it was a great evening! but first the toasts:

ahhh, the mother/son dance. so emotional and sweet:

here, elizabeth’s parents hug the new couple just before they danced to the final song. elizabeth’s mom is such a funny person, always ready with a joke or quip but i love her emotion in this shot:

and the last dance. love this shot- the expressions, the colors, the clarity- everything:

elizabeth & david, thank you so so much for asking us to be part of your day. everything and everyone was so genuine and natural and beautiful, we were so happy to be capturing it all. best wishes to you both in marriage and grad school!

May 25

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lindsey & stephen are married!

By Kate Altmix | Weddings | 11 Comments

we first met lindsey & stephen over drinks last may. we talked about life, careers, weddings, honeymoons & a little about photography. ;) we left with a suspicion that we had just met two of the most genuine and talented people ever…

…but nothing could have prepared us for the amazingness that was last weekend! we arrived at the rehearsal dinner and immediately started shooting details- everything was stunning! when the guests had finished dinner and settled into their desserts the toasting began. we loved the toasts. it was incredible to hear all about lindsey & stephen and the many ways they have impacted the lives of so many. we smiled with the guests at the stories of their relationship, their individual successes & the unique and perfect couple they are together. by the time we left we felt very attached to the marriage we were going to photograph the next day and the families that would be watching- we couldn’t wait!

the wedding day dawned…overcast and rainy. they say that’s good luck though, right!? a large white tent was placed over the outdoor ceremony location and no one’s spirits could be dampened! there was a general excitement throughout the house- the ladies were all laughing and chatting as they grabbed lunch in pink towel wraps and navy heels with pink polka dots. while they relaxed and helped each other with makeup, matt and i grabbed a few images of the many stunning details that helped to make lindsey’s day so perfect. here are a few of our favorites:

when the ladies were ready we looked out the window (something we’d all been avoiding!) and realized that the rain was coming down too hard for outdoor portraits. we cleared out an amazingly light and beautiful area of the house and grabbed some killer indoor portraits. as soon as we were finished the rain cleared up and since everyone was so energetic and excited we took some extra portrait time to grab a few in the stunning pine forest in front of the house- i am so glad we did! love this:

sometimes a more traditional, straightforward image strikes our fancy- this is one of them. classy:

the dark clouds returned and from the ceremony tent we could see a storm making it’s way across the landscape- it really was such a awe-inspiring sight:

after a few finishing touches it was time for the ceremony. i love lindsey’s dad’s expression & how she is peeking around the bushes to see the ceremony in this image, too cute:

also too cute- the little ring bearer! lindsey and stephen both grew up swimming competitively so what could be more fitting than their rings coming down the aisle on lindsey’s old kickboard!? what a unique idea and so appropriate for them!

during the recessional the flower girl and ring bearer couldn’t stop laughing as they ran back up the stairs, what sweet siblings!

after the ceremony we took some time to grab couple portraits of lindsey & stephen who were absolutely thrilled to be married and ready to celebrate! while we were shooting stephen suggested a shot where they both look up and it turned out to be one of our favorites! stephen, you rock:

a couple more details for you, we couldn’t resist! how perfectly southern is this!?

the finesse band kicked the reception into high gear- no one could resist catching their excitement! i love this first image of lindsey’s two sisters and mom as they watched lindsey dance with her father, so sweet!

oh yes that IS an ice cream cone! later in the night when everyone was warm from dancing, ice cream was brought out and served to the guests- what a great idea for a summer wedding!

just before the exit, it was time for the garter and bouquet toss on the front porch. everyone was cheering and happy and they tossed and exited in a haze of smoke and sparklers- what an awesome way to end the perfect night!

lindsey & stephen, you had the most amazing wedding! it was wonderful getting to know you guys better and your friends and families as well- you couldn’t be a more perfect fit for one another! hope you’re loving married life and we hope you love your pictures!

May 05

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lesley & michael are married!

By Kate Altmix | Weddings | 7 Comments

there’s something so beautiful about small southern towns. everyone knows one another- nothing goes by unnoticed, uncomplimented or without a hug. it’s a comforting environment- generations of families reside less than a mile from one another and friends are close and numerous! …and when everyone comes together for a wedding, the love and support is tangible.

when matt first dropped me off to start shooting at lesley’s bridal brunch the door was immediately flung open and my purse was taken to another room. i was introduced to the hostess and then to a few of her friends who had also arrived before the bride and her ladies. they sat around and chatted about family and friends while i photographed the table settings and chatted with the sweet older couple who was catering the meal. the ladies arrived full of smiles ready to start the day. and they started it right! with ice cream parfaits to be exact! how awesome!? :)

we arrived at the church and even though we’d shot there before i was again surprised at how much this church aligns with any crayon picture of a church i would have drawn as a kid. to me it’s the quintessential southern ‘church’ and it’s so beautiful!

once we were settled inside the bridal room the girls had a few minutes to relax before the getting ready fun was to begin! as they chilled out and talked about makeup and marriage i took a few minutes to grab some details of lesley’s wedding jewelry. and we all know how i LOVE doing that! this mini chandelier made for a unique backdrop which i loved!

the ladies slowly started getting ready and lesley was torn between leaving her makeup very natural (michael’s fave!) and adding extra mascara. she decided to compromise and add just a touch! perfect!

placing the veil is usually when the reality of what’s about to happen really sets in. i love lesley’s calm and peaceful expression here:

before the ceremony tears sprung up in the eyes of lesley’s older sister. she was so happy for lesley and so helpful the whole day, it was a sweet moment:

just before lesley and her dad walked down the aisle she stole a glance at her reflection in the foyer. i remember this from my wedding day too- i kept forgetting that i looked like a bride and was really caught off guard every time i saw my reflection with the veil and white everywhere! surreal for sure.

in case i forgot to mention it in the last five seconds i LOVE working with matt. we are able to separate and capture two very different aspects of the action and when i saw this picture he made from the front of the church as lesley and her dad walked just past her mother and grandmother, i fell in love.

after the ceremony we took lesley and michael out to the front of the church to grab some portraits under the massive oak trees. trees work so naturally as frames in an image- i love how matt’s portrait came out!

and of course i’m up close grabbing little details! ;) the wind created some nice movement in this shot, so romantic!

so i decided to experiment a little and see if i could create a romantic (INTENTIONALLY) out of focus image. and i love how it came out, maybe i’ll be trying this again!

michael is a rather stoic guy but i love this little smile we captured! this image is just about happiness and love:

i love the way lesley clutched michael’s jacket during the first dance, their personalities compliment each other so well:

this is a family portrait taken by matt. this moment just happened and he grabbed it- and i LOVE it!

we noticed the wedding party slowly disappear which usually only means on thing…yup! the car. here michael’s brother watches as their dad stretches over the top of the car to leave them a message for the getaway!

and they’re off!

lesley & michael, thank you so much for including us in your wedding day! we had a great time capturing your friends and families as they loved on you guys. best wishes!