Elegant Garden Wedding | Emma and Brandon

Emma and Brandon | 2024 | Birmingham, AL

Dearest Gentle Reader,

Between catching up on the latest season of Bridgerton and editing this gorgeous backyard wedding, my cup runneth over this week! Emma and Brandon gathered their closest friends and family at Brandon’s lovely family home for an intimate, faith-focused ceremony filled with personal touches. The very first thing that caught my eye when we pulled up was a beautiful, bespoke cross archway at the altar of their ceremony site. I quickly learned that Brandon- a man of many talents- had made this cross by hand- and it lights up! He also hand-painted the back of his Bronco, set up all of the lights around the property, and made several other design elements for the reception.

Emma’s beautiful high-collared floral lace gown was a great complement to the garden party setting, and paired with her up-swept hair, vintage jewelry and soft pastel florals, it was the perfect touch of elegance to complete the overall look of their day. One of the wedding trends that I’ve loved seeing lately is that brides are throwing out traditions that don’t resonate with them, and keeping only the ones that feel personally significant. For Emma and Brandon, not having a traditional bridal party allowed them to focus on their faith, their families, and one another throughout their wedding day.

It was impossible to be around these two and not see that they are one another’s perfect match, and their joy was contagious. We wish you guys the absolute best!

Intimate NYC Elopement | Lauren & Austin

We had an absolute blast exploring New York City with Lauren and Austin. From their private vow exchange at 620 Loft and Garden at the Rockefeller Center, to watching the sun set beneath the Manhattan Bridge, this was a day we'll never forget!

“We had the best experience with both Ted and Heather. They flew with us to New York City and traveled around the city capturing amazing photos. I have received so many compliments on our pictures such as "magazine worthy". I am so thankful we chose to hire Ted and Heather to travel with us versus hiring a photographer in NYC. They both made the day even more enjoyable!”

-Lauren and Austin

Being a little bit wedding obsessed, I truly do get excited about every wedding I attend, whether I’m a guest or a vendor. Some weddings just tick EVERY SINGLE box for me, though, and Lauren and Austin’s New York elopement did just that!

Let’s start with the dress- I love all things dark and moody, so when I saw Lauren’s fitted black gown, I literally gasped! There’s something so timeless and elegant to a chic satin sheath silhouette, and it fit the vibes for New York perfectly.

Speaking of New York, I was over the moon to return to one of my favorite cities and to create art there! I love everything- the people, the hustle, the architecture and street art- it all just makes me feel alive! I knew there’d be no shortage of beautiful background scenery, and Peter with Filmcars was the best possible tour guide we could have asked for! Not only did he ferry us around in the coolest vintage yellow NYC taxi, he regaled us with as many tales as he could from his times driving celebrities and working with his vintage cars on film sets, and his knowledge of the city and suggestions on locations to film were absolutely priceless.

We started the day with Lauren and Austin helping each other get ready in their room at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, and made our way to the iconic Rockefeller Center for the couple to exchange private vows at 620 Loft and Gardens, with a breathtaking view of St. Patricks Cathedral and all of 5th Avenue below us. We then joined the couple for a celebratory lunch at Norma’s- a delicious Italian eatery chosen by Lauren because it shares a name with her grandmother. From there, we made our way across the most iconic sights the city has to offer, from Central Park all the way back to Brooklyn for a sunset view of the Manhattan skyline under the Manhattan Bridge. This whole day still feels like an absolute fever dream to me. Even with a little bit of rain, it was absolutely perfect from start to finish, and we’ve got the pictures and video to prove it!