Can you believe we’ve come to the end of our month-long celebration of love and engagements? I can’t because it FLEW by!! But I couldn’t think of a sweeter way to end than with this warm and fuzzy engagement shoot and love story!! Kim J Martin Photography always does such an amazing job photographing her couples in love. Looking at an engagement shoot like this one always gives me the warm fuzzies :) And the love story? Well, it may just be the sweetest one I’ve ever told on this blog. I teared up the whole time I was writing it. From how they met in grade school (when cooties were still around) to their first Valentine’s Day date that included Chipotle, tailgates, and dancing under the starlight. I love the way they interacted in their engagement shoot. It’s a perfect representation of their love story. But you’ll have to read it to find out for yourself. Trust me, it’s the sweetest thing you’ll read all day!!

Zach and Natalia met in the second grade. He thought she had cooties and she thought all boys were gross. How adorable! And yet they somehow managed to strike up a friendship on the bus rides to and from school. By high school they were great friends with a flirtatious streak. She thought he was pretty cute but never thought he’d be interested in her as anything more than a friend. He always had a crush on her but thought she was too good for him. I love the mixed, non-verbal miscommunications going on here.

They lost touch after high school but were reintroduced at a friend’s party a couple of years later. The spark they’d always felt for one another, but had never acted on before, ignited. Now we’re talking ;)

Their first date was dinner and a movie with ice cream afterwards. Natalia remembers she was nervous as Zach was the first guy to ever take her out on a date. The evening was wonderful and had the perfect ending. He walked her to her door and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Aww!

Their first Valentine’s Day together also happens to be her favorite. Zach had planned to take her to a nice restaurant, but they lost their reservation and there was a 2-hour wait for a table. Instead of letting it ruin their night, they went and got Chipotle instead. Zach drove them to a lookout and they ate dinner on his tailgate by starlight. He even danced with her a little. Sounds utterly and completely romantic to me.

Zach told Natalia that he loved her about 2 months after they had started dating. They were sitting on the porch and she remembers feeling so relieved that he’d said it first! She’d known he was someone special from the very first date. Even though they’d been friends for so long, dating was still so new, and it showed her a completely different side to him. He was (and still is) respectful, kind, caring, and hilarious. His favorite thing in the world to do is make her smile. He treats her like a princess and is also completely capable of calling her out when necessary. He opens the door for her. He respects her parents (who absolutely adore him). He’s her best friend. And even though she knows she could live without him, she realizes that that isn’t the life she would ever want to live. She still doesn’t understand why he would choose her, but she’s so incredibly happy that he does (every day).

They’d been talking about marriage (and him proposing) for a long time, so that when it finally happened, it needn’t have been flashy or overdone, it just happened. In a parking lot. In the middle of one of their dates. And it was perfect.

{Behind the Lens with Kim} I LOVE doing engagement sessions. First and foremost because they’re just fun. It’s an awesome time for me and the couple to just hang out, get comfortable with each other, and get some fun images. I get to see what they’re like in front of the camera, and they get some experience working with me so they know what to expect on the big day. Plus the images created are always a more natural representation of what the couple is like on a day to day basis.

I’ve known Natalia and Zach since we were all 11. It’s kind of nuts, and it was such a huge honor when they asked me to photograph their big day after knowing them for so many years. We had kind of grown apart and didn’t hang out as much, but we were still friends on Facebook so we still kind of knew what was going on in each other’s lives. These two have been together for years and I would always see them posting such adorable pictures, and I always thought they seemed like such a cute and happy couple. When I saw Natalia was engaged, I was thrilled. And when I got them in front of my camera for the first time, I couldn’t even believe the dynamic between them. I barely had to pose them, or give them any kind of guidance. Zach would lovingly brush Natalia’s hair behind her ear, she’d nuzzle in to him and giggle, etc. It was ridiculous, in an incredibly awesome way. I’m normally guiding my couples and giving them cues for what to do next, but if they seem to be rocking it on their own, I just shut up and photograph the adorableness that ensues. Let’s just say I didn’t do much talking when I photographed Natalia and Zach. They just took it away on their own, and I could FEEL it…this beautiful sense of two people who had so much history, such an incredible story together, and who were so excited to spend forever together. They didn’t just exude this on their wedding day, Natalia and Zach show each other that kind of love story every day of their lives together, and it’s a beautiful thing.

For our session, Natalia really just wanted something rustic and outdoors, and I had the perfect spot in mind. Our first session was actually on her birthday (she loves pictures so this was like a birthday present!) and although I love so many of the images we got that day, it was overcast and I knew we could rock it out further on a sunny day. So we scheduled another session about a month later, and the sun was out in full force. So they have this range of kind of moody rainy day images, as well as some light and sunny ones, which I love. They look adorable the whole time of course.

{Advice for Couples} I feel that a lot of people view love and marriage as something that should be easy all the time. My love for Zach makes me incredibly happy and whole. But that doesn’t mean that at some times, our relationship isn’t messy or hard. We make a choice every day to love each other. No matter what the day brings. Not just by saying it to each other but by showing it through the things that we do for each other. Love isn’t just a fuzzy feeling that comes with butterflies and rainbows, it’s the most satisfying dirty work you’ll ever do in your life.

Congratulations, Natalia and Zach, and thank you so much for sharing your love story with us! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together, and a beyond beautiful wedding day too! And so concludes our month-long celebration of love and engagement shoots!! We couldn’t think of a more lovely way to end it, can you? :) Many thanks to Kim J Martin for providing us with sweetness today!! xoxo

Natalie Franke Photography. What is there to say about Natalie Franke Photography? Only that her work makes us swoon. I mean we are completely swept off our feet when we see pictures from her. She’s ridiculously talented and just the sweetest gal we know. Her ideal bride will bring tears to your eyes, so be sure you read that, too!! She believes in soulmates, can’t live without doggy kisses, makes every effort to be a true part of her couples’ lives, and has this incredible ability to fit a couple’s love story within a single, beautiful frame. Is it any wonder why we love her so? It’s needless to say that we believe Annapolis brides and brides worldwide will love her too!! She trully cannot wait to connect with you!!

{Who is Natalie} She is a photographer, an artist and a free-spirit. She spends most of her time photographing, cooking, blogging, playing with her adorable pups, and living the Chesapeake life with her amazing fiancé, Hugh!

{How She Got Started} Her very first portrait session was in her senior year of high school, nearly five years ago. She started just as many other photographers do — begging her friends to pose for her as she fell more and more in love with the craft. She photographed her first wedding four years ago and never looked back!

Photo by Love by Serena

{Her Photography Business} “The power of photography has never ceased to amaze me. The ability to fit a couple’s love story within a single frame, to shape the way we see one another – it’s quite a magical thing.

I use the dynamic duo: natural light + colorful scenery in order to capture something unique and refreshing. By the end of a session, I can trully call my clients – friends.

My photographic style is designed to be fun and comfortable. I aim to create images that are modern enough to grace the cover of a magazine, but timeless enough for you to cherish forever. It’s a delicate balance that stands at the center of my philosophy.”

{What She Loves Most About Weddings} “The emotions! I live for the tears, the happiness, the overwhelming joy when a couple says I do!”

{Who is Her Ideal Bride} “My dream bride wants a marriage more beautiful than her wedding. She dreamed of her husband as a little girl and found a man who surpasses him in every way. A man who isn’t perfect, but is perfect for her. A future husband who encourages her to follow her dreams, to be a better person, who inspires her to perservere through all of life’s challenges. He carries her heart, always. My dream bride will never forget the look in his eyes, the tremble of his hands, when he proposed. She imagines her wedding day with tear-stained cheeks, as she says ‘I do’, surrounded by the ones that she loves the most. She doesn’t fear the future because she knows that she has a foundation to build her life around. Her best friend, her soul mate, is the puzzle piece that was missing all along. She loves the way he treats her, the way he holds her hand, how their fingers so perfectly intertwine. She adores his silly antics, his softer side that he shares with no one in the world… except for her. When life hands her challenges, she knows that he will be there with open arms and encouraging words. And in his moments of weakness, she too will remind him of the strength that has held them together over the years. As her hair turns grey, she will look back together on the life that they have created. She will flip through the images of their wedding album, smiling as she remembers her flowing gown, her tear-stained cheeks, the day that she became his wife. And in this moment she will realize that her wedding day was only the beginning. She has a marriage, a life, that is far more beautiful than any single day could ever be. And the beauty lies not only in the accomplishments that they share, but in the challenges and struggles that they have overcome together. My dream bride is unbelievably excited for her wedding. What excites her even more, however, is the promise of spending forever with her best friend.”

{A General Wedding Planning Tip} “Always remember that your wedding day is about your love and the beginning of a new life together! Never let wedding stress cloud the reasons you fell so madly in love; never let worries get the best of you! When the big day arrives, sit back, relax and smile! You’ve found your soul mate and that is a beautiful thing!”

{Wedding Photography Tip} “Book your photographer as soon as you have a venue and a date! The most sought after photographers book up quickly!”

{Most Frequently Asked Question from Brides – What can we do to make our wedding pictures amazing?} “Book an engagement session with your photographer! At engagement sessions, the couple has the opportunity to work one on one with the photographer and begins to feel more comfortable in front of the camera! When you’re comfortable – your personalities shine through and that’s when you capture images that you will truly love!”

{Her Favorite Love Quote} “No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leave some mark on it forever.” – Francois Mocuriac

{Need to Know} Wedding Collections start at $3200 with Full Coverage beginning at $5000. All collections include at least eight hours of wedding coverage, online viewing and ordering gallery, and high resolution disc of photographs. Natalie offers pre-established collections that aim to bundle the most popular services and products for a couple’s convenience. Clients are welcome to add items to any collection at the ‘ala carte’ price. Natalie is an Annapolis, Maryland based wedding photographer but is willing to travel wordwide for your special day! She accepts a limited number of weddings each year to guarantee that each couple has her complete creative attention!

If you would like to know even more about Natalie and her photography services, please visit her website and blog!! Loads of oh my gorgeous images are waiting there for you to view. Natalie would love to chat with you about your special day via email, she is also available on Twitter and Facebook (Pinterest, too!), and happens to be co-editor of the sweet Bayside Bride wedding blog, too! We honestly can’t say enough about this sweet, talented girl!! We know you’ll love working with her almost as much as we do (probably more)!! xoxo

Ah, gold…where have you been!? We’re so excited that you’re back in style!! Have you noticed?? Gold is back and better than ever!! Take a look at what we found for our pink and gold wedding inspiration board.

Colors: Peach Blush, White, Gold, Pink

My heart just about leapt from my chest when I saw this gorgeous gold sparkle dress – ah-mazing – wouldn’t you agree? A bride would certainly feel like a princess indeed. Gold leaf love letters make the perfect decor for a head table and would make an awesome DIY too! Gorgeous gold shoes? I’d definitely feel like Cinderella with these on my feet! I’d be dancing on clouds all night. A beautiful gold cake with sugar peonies are to die for. A little dab of Coco Chanel will always make you feel like a perfect lady, and that’s exactly what you want to be on wedding day. Gold table settings with all the most beautiful trimmings will make your guests feel welcome and oh-so-sophisticated. 

Are you as excited as we are that gold is back in style?

xoxo

Row 1: Isadora Gown by BHLDN, Gold “Love” Letters by J. Layne Photography via Grey Likes Weddings, Shoes by Erin Hearts Court via Inspired by This

Row 2: Cake via Lael Cakes, Coco Chanel by Melissa Tuck Photography via Glamour and Grace, Table setting by Will Shilling Photography; Design by Bliss Event Design via Capital Style

I remember when I first started blogging. I couldn’t wait to feature my first real wedding. I get a little thrill each time I see a new submission in my inbox or come through on Two Bright Lights. In the beginning, I took everything that came my way. Real weddings, styled shoots, engagement shoots, whether they fit my brand, were outstanding, or not, I took them. I didn’t really have a defined brand then. I didn’t really have a style of photography that I preferred. All I knew that I wanted to do was feature a couple’s love story alongside the photographs. So that’s what I did.

Then I rebranded. My eye had matured when it came to photography. I now knew that I preferred gorgeous, natural, light-filled, minimally processed photography. I appreciate it as much as I appreciate a meaningful love story and sweet, personal details that bring that love story to life. The submissions and features part of my brand is based around those three things (out-of-this-world photography, a meaningful love story, and personal details that bring that love story to life) and this: the emotional punch.

My brand is a very, very personal one. It’s based on my love of love, my desire to share the love story of every bride and groom, and my heart. It doesn’t get more personal than that! When it comes to my looking at submissions, I hate saying no. I mean it. I hate saying no. It rips my heart to pieces and I feel really, really awful about it. Because I know what that no feels like. But I had to learn to say it. And I had to learn to tell people why (that’s been a recent development in the last six months or so). And you know what? That last part? It’s really not so bad. People have come back and thanked me for the constructive criticism and that they hope to submit something that better fits my branding and what I’m looking for the next time. Oh, happy day!!

For me, the emotional punch is a big, big part of my submissions process. Many times it happens within the first 30 seconds of my looking at a submission. I’m serious. It’s as much as a heart reaction as it is a gut reaction. When I get a warm and fuzzy feeling over the photos, when my heart skips a beat or lurches in those first thirty seconds, it’s an almost immediate yes. There are other things I have to look for though like great, consistent photography and lighting. I’m very particular about the layouts on the Heart Love Weddings blog. Thoughtful consideration and care goes into the placement of every photograph based on lighting, coloring, and a balance between the lovely couple and the fabulous details. That’s another thing: balance. There are some wedding blogs that are only all about the details. But I’m into BOTH the swoon-worthy details and the oh my gorgeous couple shots. I look for a nice 50/50 blend and if I don’t find it, it’s not a fit at this time. Because it’s those swoon-worthy, oh my gorgeous shots that keep me (and my readers) coming back for more. It’s those photos, where the love jumps right off the page, providing an emotional punch straight to my gut, and my heart, all at the same time. And if my pupils take the shape of hearts over the details too – well, that’s just the icing on the cake.

Interested in submitting something swoon-worthy to Heart Love Weddings? Or have specific questions related to submissions? Check out our Submissions Page!! Please read carefully, answers to most frequently asked questions can be found there. We also accept submissions through Two Bright Lights and Dropbox!! xoxo

Photo by Luminaire Foto from this very favorite, modern glam Chicago wedding we featured from them last year.

There’s really nothing I love more than a fun loving couple. Pair it with a flirty, romantic, slightly goofy engagement session on the most beautiful of fall days and well, we’ve got it made! The best part of this engagement shoot from Cariad Photography is the love story. Kelton and Zac each remember how they met and got started together differently (which is rather funny). But both had such sweet things to say about the other (which is rather swoon-worthy). And I just love them.

Kelton has been looking forward to this ever since she met Zac!! She was a senior at Clemson, and had already decided that she would meet the man of her dreams after college. But then she went to a friends’ house and saw this amazingly handsome man standing in the kitchen and his smile blew her away! At first she thought he was really cute, but the longer she talked to him the more she respected him and wanted to learn more. They started out as just casual friends at various parties, and then, in November, Kelton finally asked Zac, “Are we going to be girlfriend and boyfriend or not??” He said he’d been wanting that for a while and that was the beginning of that.

Out of the three senior years Zac was fortunate to have due to a lengthy major, he was lucky to have met Kelton during the first one. After spotting her across the room, he remembers thinking, “Dang. It would be nice to meet her.” A couple of months went by and day after day Kelton did nothing but beg for him to date her. After he tasted her cooking, he thought he would give her a chance. Funny how it goes from a few dates to a relationship that will last a lifetime.

From the time they met to June 9th, 2012 when Zac proposed, Zac knew there was something special about her, and that there was no one else that could make him feel the way that she does. To have someone love and care for him like that is more than he could have ever asked for. He cannot wait to spend the rest of his life with her.

Back in March or April, Zac asked Kelton if she would like to go to the Jimmy Buffet concert on Saturday, June 9th. It was one week before one of her big exams, but she said yes anyway because it sounded like a blast!!

A week before the concert, one of Zac’s buddies called and asked if they could pick him up at Clemson on their way to Atlanta for the concert because his truck had broken down. It wasn’t exactly on the way but Kelton didn’t mind taking the long way.

They left for Clemson early on the day of the concert. When they were thirty minutes out, Zac called his buddy to figure out a meeting place. They arrived at the agreed upon meeting place (Tillman Hall) a little early. Zac asked if Kelton remembered reading Thomas Green Clemson’s statue. It’s tradition to read the plaque after you’ve graduated. Legend says that if you read it before it adds a year on to your schooling! They’d read the statue together after graduating the previous May, but she agreed to read it again with him after he asked. And read it she did, but he did not. He got real quiet before grinning sheepishly at her and pulling out a mahogany box. Thinking he was being funny (that her concert ticket was inside) she didn’t immediately react. Not until he got down on bended knee and simply asked, “Will you marry me?”

Kelton cannot wait to be Mrs. Zachary Neal Wigington :) Anyone who knows her at all knows that this is all she’s wanted for the last four years! She believes that if God helped them make it through her years in medical school, He can help them get through anything.

Zac says that it’s been a great 25 years and that he cannot wait to see what the future holds. April 6th, 2013 cannot come soon enough. He wasn’t sure what it was the first time he met Kelton. It’s hard to know what it is or how to explain it when you have never truly felt what love is. It’s the most satisfying feeling anyone can experience. No one could show him what it is more than Kelton has. She says that she’s the lucky one in this whole experience. He says that that’s simply not true, that he’s the lucky one, and will be for the rest of their lives. I told you it was sweet and swoon-worthy.

{Behind the Lens with Cariad Photography} Kelton and Zac booked us for their wedding after a phone conversation we had. We did not meet face to face until their engagement session and we were immediately taken by their personalities and had an instant connection. 

My husband and I love shooting engagement sessions. It gives us the time before we actually shoot the wedding to get to know our clients personality and how they photograph. And when the wedding day arrives, it also makes our clients more comfortable with us since they got to know us in the session too. 

Cariad Photography is the preferred photographer/s at Chota Falls so I asked permission to use the venue and suggested to Kelton and Zac that we do the session there. I live right next door to this beautiful, private estate, and know every corner of the land and it’s charm.

We met on one of the last beautiful November days as far as fall splendor goes. I asked Kelton to bring whatever is special to them for a prop and Zac decided to bring his Remington. He’s really into skeet shooting so it was a must to do their ring shot with this beautiful (not loaded) gun.

I brought a bottle of wine, I just had to. I fell in love with the label which said “Be Flirty.” I thought it would be perfect for the shoot, especially since I had already decided to take them up on the mountain to the vineyard, which is always a beautiful golden color in the fall.

With Kelton and Zac, we could not miss. Everywhere we went, they had a good time with each other — loving, fun, and sometimes even goofy. They are simply a photographer’s dream.

{Advice for Couples} Most men don’t feel comfortable discussing adult “marriage” topics while dating. They say, “Why worry about this now?” Our best advice would be to make sure you have those conversations about important, grown-up topics prior to the engagement!

Congratulations, Kelton and Zac, and thank you so much for sharing your love story with us! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together, and a beyond beautiful wedding day too! Many thanks to Steffi Smith for sharing their love story and engagement shoot with us today!! xoxo