Lauren and Brian Get Married

I’ve known Lauren for a quite awhile now. We actually went to the same high school but didn’t really know each other then. It wasn’t until she was hired at the first Starbucks I worked at (woot Turkey Creek!) in 2005 that we actually “met” and got to know each other. I will admit, at first I was a little intimidated by her. Lauren is completely her own person. When she would get stressed out or excited or happy, she would just journal. Furiously. I have never met ANYONE who journals with Lauren’s passion. And she went through all sorts of hair phases… I think at some point or another it’s been every color of the rainbow, and for a while she just straight up shaved it. But what I love about Lauren is that she doesn’t do these things to seem cool or alternative or to purposefully intimidate people. In fact, she’s one of the most authentic people I know. She just lives her life very… fully. She takes everything in and contemplates it and appreciates it. She does things spontaneously and really immerses herself in what she loves. When you talk to her, she looks you in the eye and really LISTENS. You can tell she’s not just thinking about where she would rather be or what she’s going to say next. The art of conversation is not lost on her for one second.

Since our Turkey Creek days together, we haven’t gotten to see much of each other. We moved on to different Starbucks, and she was busy with the architecture program she was in, and I was busy with school and getting married and stuff… but somehow, our paths would still cross, and I was pleasantly surprised when she contacted me not long ago about shooting her wedding. She told me I was the best photographer she knew and that she wouldn’t want anyone else to do it. And coming from Lauren, things like that MEAN something, and I was truly flattered and of course told her I would love to. I had never met her fiance Brian, but I felt certain that their wedding would be deeply personal and meaningful, if I knew Lauren at all.

And it did not disappoint. :)

The morning of the wedding was the first Saturday in October, which in East Tennessee is a pretty big day. In my opinion, there are few things more glorious than October in Tennessee, and this morning was no exception. The air was crisp and cool, the leaves were JUST beginning to turn, and there was a noticeable excitement in the air as people got ready for football games and tailgating and being outdoors. So after I stopped by Starbucks for my pumpkin spice latte and began to drive the curvy mountain roads toward Gatlinburg, I put on some Patty Griffin and sang at the top of my lungs with the windows rolled down and was just so full of excitement and thankfulness that I could say that THIS was my job. And I just had a feeling it was going to be a fantastic day for a wedding.

And it was.

I don’t feel like there’s any way I can really do the day justice without diving right on in to the images (which, let’s be honest, is what most of you are here for anyway!), so let’s do this.

We started out at the Glenstone Lodge, where everyone was getting ready. Floor to ceiling windows? Yes please!

These are Lauren’s vows… if that gives you any idea just how amazing she is with words, and how transparent she is with her feelings.

Audry, one of the bridesmaids and another old Starbucks friend (basically, it was another one of those weddings that felt like a Starbucks reunion to me!), made the most awesome getting ready playlist.

Those awesome grey suede shoes? Yeah, the bridesmaids wore those. So great.

Audry was also the hair and makeup extraordinaire, and I was really impressed with how good she did! A girl of many talents, I guess. :)

I love freckles. :)

This is Lynn, Lauren’s mom. She has also been so sweet throughout this whole process, always leaving me nice little Facebook messages about how excited she was that I would be doing the photography. And the photo on the right? One of my favorites.

Then I made my way across the hall (yes, literally, across the hall- very convenient!) to hang out with the boys for a bit.

They got married at the Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion up in Gatlinburg. It was absolutely perfect for their personalities, and for the time of year in Tennessee.

And yes, there was some Tarzan-style branch swinging going on before the ceremony. I think I heard that the boys told Brian he had to do one last fun thing before he got married.

How gorgeous is Lauren? Seriously. I think she looked just like a little Anthropologie model. [ps guess where these next photos were taken.... in the bathroom. Ha! But it was absolutely perfect gorgeous light in there, and the white tile was a perfect background. So boo ya.]

And speaking of amazing light…. yeah. ‘Course it helps to have such smokin’ hot ladies as these to photograph. :)

And this is one of my favorite shots EVER. Kelley, thanks for obliging my crazy requests!

How stinkin’ adorable are these two?! I mean seriously.

So before the ceremony, Brian was all, should we turn the Christmas lights off? Someone said they might make light blobs behind us if we leave them on. And I was all, are you kidding me? I LOVE LIGHT BLOBS! (technical term: bokeh. ha.)

Such a sweet moment between Lauren and Brian after the ceremony.

love. love. LOVE.

Nothing better than a “hey you’re married!” high-five.

Everyone tossed leaves at them as they left, which I thought was very appropriate given the setting. :)

Lauren and Brian, thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of such an awesome day.

To see more of their wedding, check out the slideshow below, set to The Bird and the Bee’s cover of “I’m Into Something Good”: