backyard elopement with rachel + chris // covington, tn wedding photographer

Y'all, meet Rachel & Chris. These are some salt of the Earth human beings right here... The kind that you look up to; the kind you'd be proud to call a friend. They also happen to be incredibly talented musicians, both mid-masters degrees. And I'm SO honored to have been there to document this day and get to know these two a little bit.   

Their backyard wedding was an elopement of sorts because, well... life just didn't go according to plan (as if it ever does). I won't go into too many details here, but during their engagement Chris lost his father and within just a few months Rachel lost her mother, both to cancer.  Life was put on pause.

Flash forward a few months, and these two were over the grandiose affair of a huge wedding... They just wanted to be married. So that's what they did. In the backyard of Rachel's childhood home, under a tree, with their closest friends and family there with them. Simplicity was queen, just as Rachel put it in her first email to me.  I'll let the pictures speak for the rest. Enjoy! 

Wishing you two a lifetime of health & happiness together! 

matt + kate // mississippi wedding photographer

Kate & Matt's wedding was as good as it gets.  The whole day was any Mississippi wedding photographers dream come true: amazing light everywhere, a laid back and adorable couple that decided to do a first look (trust me, the whole day runs smoother when you do this!), tons of Southern charm, and plenty of big hugs, laughter and really sweet dance moves.  

It. was. perfect.

With the whole day unfolding at the new wedding venue in Taylor, MS - the Mill at Plein Air (possibly my new favorite location to shoot at, by the way!) there was nothing but relaxing, mimosa-sipping and horderve-munching to do before the ceremony.  

After the ceremony, all the guests moved upstairs for cocktail hour while the vendors (in lightning speed) transformed the downstairs to food, drink and dancing mode. Kate's bridesmaids performed a hilarious rap they made up that was mostly hilarious because... let's be honest... white girls can't rap. As it often goes, the bride & groom were kept busy catching up with and being congratulated by friends and family, but the wedding party & their parents more than made up for their absence on the dance floor. Cheers to you, Kate & Matt! 

(Steller) Event Planning: Ferriday McClatchy Events 
(Stunning) Florals: Oxford Floral
(Sweet & Southern) Details & Rentals: Details Speciality Rentals
(Drool-worthy) Cake: Mary McGuire's 
(Delicious) Catering: My Michelle's 

And of course, a big thanks and double high five to the (amazingly talented and super cool) Danny K for bringing me on as a second shooter! Check out his version of Kate & Matt's day here.