Where there any unique traditions that made the reception or ceremony memorable?
“Yes! For the final dance of the reception, they did the Redovy. This was the first time I have had the opportunity to photograph this Slavic tradition, and I loved it! The last “dance” (which was a solid 20 minutes long!) was to traditional music, and all the guests (literally, EVERY ONE), took a turn dancing with the bride. The maid of honor made a little basket out of her veil and each guests contributed a bit of money to the basket in exchange for having the chance to whirl Mary around the dance floor before she left. Everyone, that is, except the groom! Hank had to wait on the outskirts, and after their dance, each guest was given a special drink from a miniature shot glass and then joined arms to form an ever-growing circle around the bride. By the time everyone took a spin, Mary was surrounded by a human chain that was three deep! At this point, Hank had to literally break his way through the chain in order to claim his bride – Mary has six older brothers, who were all very active in keeping Hank out of the circle, so it was a pretty energetic, fun, and hilarious end to the evening! Fortunately, he made his way to Mary and all ended well.”
What was unique about the bride and groom’s attire?
“Obviously, Mary looked amazing in her lace gown – but I loved that Hank took the time to really think through his suit as well! It was navy and gray, with beautiful detailing, and he was definitely a perfect match for Mary!”
What made the wedding venue special?
“Live Oak Plantation is always a dream. It sits on acres and acres of land, with ponds, forests, fences, and fields. There are trails that weave thoughtfully throughout, and I loved exploring the property. Mary and Hank were game for anything, so we went everywhere! My favorite ten minutes was spent in “the field” (I named it, very creatively, of course!). Since it’s winter, the long grasses were golden and wispy, and we all trekked through them until we found the spot we wanted. The jokes about wildlife (I’m not a fan of snakes, and neither is Hank!) kept a smile on everyone’s face, and I think the experience we had making those photos is as special as the gorgeous photos that resulted from it.”
What was the couple’s session like?
“The couple’s portrait session was fantastic. Hank is a PGA golfer, so he is used to being in front of the camera; and Mary is super-photogenic, so they made my job EASY! Seriously, all I had to do was tell them to just “be together and be adorable!,” and they snuggled in ways that was adorable and somehow always showed their best angles to my camera.”
Principal Photographer: Aislinn
