Emily and Jesse planned a celebration that not only included all of their family and friends, but also a lot of their personality and Georgia roots. The location was filled with tons of great scenery including a lake, mountains, fields, and plenty of trees. Their wedding was extra special to me since I’ve been honored to be a part of weddings for other members of their family over the years.
Their day started like many with Emily getting ready with her bridesmaids. Jesse and his groomsmen were already ready and spent their time relaxing and watching various hunting shows. They were so inspired by the shows that they even got out a bow just for fun. What else would you expect from southern Georgia boys.
Once everyone was ready, we all headed to the venue in the Roswell, Georgia area. I don’t think Emily and Jesse could have asked for a more beautiful day for their fall wedding. The sky was clear and the temperature perfect. Not too hot, not too cold…..just right. The ceremony and reception location were filled with very personal details and touches that truly represented them both as individuals and as a couple.
I’ve shot A LOT of weddings all over the country and a few outside the US, but this was the first one where the ceremony was almost delayed due to the bride’s mom being locked in the bathroom! At this point, you might be thinking that Emily’s mom purposely locked herself in the bathroom, but you’d be wrong. The handle literally broke, so she couldn’t get out! The more time that went by, the more and more people gathered into the hallway to check things out for themselves.
A number of people made attempts to free her. It even got to the point of kicking the door down. Unfortunately, the frame was metal, so the next step was to crawl through the ceiling to take the hinges off. Eventually, she was liberated by busting the handle off and prying it out. Needless to say, it was pretty hilarious and will always be a unique memory from their day.
After the bathroom fiasco, the ceremony started and on time. The bridal party made their way to the ceremony site passing through the rustic double doors that sat in the field then began dancing. After the display from the bridal party, Jesse followed closely behind making his way to the altar. Emily was walked down the aisle by her father…at first, then they broke out skipping all the way to meet Jesse. During the vowels, Emily was asked if she accepted Jesse to be her husband and she responded with an enthusiastic, “Heck YES!!”
After the ceremony was over, all of the guests made their way to the reception as Emily, Jesse, and myself shot portraits. We took advantage of the setting sun and the surrounding scenery as we made our way around to various locations before heading back for their introduction. After a few short speeches and prayers, it was time to eat some awesome chili. Once everyone was finished eating, they made their way inside for some dancing and more celebrating.
Congratulations to Emily and Jesse! Here are a few of my favorite photos from their country Georgia wedding.