Tellico Village Yacht Club Wedding | Molly & Zach

This wedding. Its been one year since I shot this incredible fall wedding at Tellico Village Yacht Club on the Little Tennessee River and these two amazing souls became husband and wife. This wedding has stuck with me for the last year. There have been times in my photography career when certain clients, certain weddings, certain days just stick with me a little bit more. This is for sure one.

Molly and Zach were a unique couple for me. I had never met them before their rehearsal dinner. Crazy! Totally not my normal cup of tea, but Angie Froemel of Absolute Wedding Perfection was their day of coordinator and when Angie is on board…so am I! 😉 Molly and I totally hit it off over our phone call and I knew we’d be the perfect fit! Two cross country moves (she and Zach moved from Austin to Atlanta and I moved from Knoxville to San Francisco) added some extra adventures to our schedules but everything was set and I couldn’t wait to head back home to East Tennessee for their wedding. I was SO nervous for this wedding. Sure, I always have little butterflies before a wedding; its exciting, there’s pressure and I want this to be my clients’ best day ever! But for Molly & Zach…I had dragons in my tummy…not butterflies. I arrived on the wedding day to a little bit of a stressful morning. Let me be the first (really, no, not the first, but let me add to the list) that wedding days are not rosey, sunshine filled, on-time days. They are crazy, hectic, smeared makeup, lost boutineers, missing groomsmen, etc. They are crazy…but come one…that’s what makes them pretty spectacular and memorable! Molly & Zach’s day was actually going very smoothly…there was just something different in the air that I couldn’t put my finger on. Details were photographed, and I had some spare time so I went to photograph Zach. Zach is quiet, I am not…and I think he has a striking resemblance to Tom Hanks although that was disputed. 😉 I remember walking back to the bridal suite and saying to Brandi (my second shooter) “Oh no. He hates me. We totally don’t click. My dragons just started breathing fire in my tummy.” I was terrified…its no lie. But I needed to suck it up and continue with the day. I’d work on Zach, I told myself. I ran back upstairs and began to photograph Molly putting on her finishing touches. At one point, Molly had a very serious expression and she seemed like a thousand miles away. I pulled my camera away from my face and said, “Molly,  you’re getting married today.” That’s it. The day completely changed. I’ve never seen light come out of someone like that before.

Once we were ready for the first look, the day was set. Even when the day turned a little brisk and windy, I simply had Zach wrap up Molly to keep her warm and those may be some of my all time favorite images. The feeling that was missing in the day, the air that didn’t feel quite right, all came together once Molly and Zach had their first look and I’ve never been a part of a more magical wedding day! 

Ps., after reading Zach’s first look impression, I realized it wasn’t me. Whew!

Let me also state that Molly has incredible style! Her Nicole Miller dress is probably one of my favorite to date. Coupled with her personalized jewelry and Kate Spade bracelets this girl just oozed style. I remember styling her details and thinking to myself, the black, gold, cream, and white just screams Chanel. It kinda made Molly giggle when I told her, but it was so classy and elegant.

 See what I mean…glowing!

Such a sweet Father/Daughter first look! There was not a dry eye in the room.

 To read about why this First Look was so special, please go check out Molly & Zach’s section of my First Look Series. And see what I mean about Tom Hanks..no? Just handsome!

My second shooter Brandi Major absolutely was amazing! She captured some dreamy and beautiful photos that are some of my favorites!

Molly and her father, Mark’s, dance was incredibly emotional! Mark sang to Molly as they danced and I was behind the camera just wiping tears away so I could attempt to see what I was doing. I remember Molly’s maid-of-honor saying during her speech that Molly’s best friend was in fact her mother, so it was only fitting that Mom joined Dad and daughter out on the floor for a moment together.

Then Zach pulled his mama out on the floor for a very fun and vivacious number! I just LOVE how they captured their personalities and relationship in their dances!!!

This adorable little group of ladies in their sweaters were…wedding crashers! I just died when I saw them creeping down the stairs from dinner upstairs at the club and casually strolling out onto the dance floor! They had a fun little dance that they said “Made their night!” Loved it!

 

Molly and Zach, I know the first year of your marriage has been magical, and I hope that the next 60 are even more so! Thank you two for trusting me to capture your special day! 😀

Smiles,
Kayla F

Vendors:

Reception Venue, Caterer, Bar: Tellico Village Yacht Club

Ceremony Venue: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Wedding Coordinator: Angie Froemel, Absolute Wedding Perfection

Florist: Echelon Florist

Hair: MOPS Hair Designers

Makeup: Suzanne Clayton Makeup Artist
Dress: Nicole Miller from Unbridaled in Austin, TX
Garter: Southern Ever After (Etsy)
Invitations: Paper Source
Save the Dates: CardCandy by Reginald Whicker (Etsy)
Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang for David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid Sashes: Lovelikestyle (Etsy)
Groom & Groomsmen Suites: Vera Wang for Men’s Warehouse
Guest Book Poster Tree: HarveyGrey (Etsy)
Bridesmaid/Bride Robes: JustCottons (Etsy) 

Table Numbers: ilLUMIEnate (Etsy)

Wedding Programs: Simply Modern Design (Etsy)

Chattanooga Musical Engagement | Diana & Ben

Sometimes, when you meet and fall in love with a couple (yes, I fall in love with my clients), you completely understand why the universe brought you together. Ben and Diana are so incredibly smitten with each other that when you are around them, you feel every ounce of it! They remind me incredible amounts of Robby and I, which only leads me to loving them even more! We also had beers and burgers after their session…I mean…really!?

It has been such a fun planning process with Diana and Ben, talking about their wedding day as well as thinking of ideas for their engagement session! When Diana told me that she would love to have their session at Ben’s parents’ house in Hixson, TN I was SO excited! There is something special about having a session where there is a strong connection. Ben’s mom was so incredibly sweet, bringing quilts and blankets for us to sit on (it was a little soggy) and asking if anything needed to be clipped or cleaned up; I adore strong knit families and both B&D have them!

Ben is also a musician. Music has always played a large factor in their relationship so when I brought up the idea of having his mandolin they were SO up for it. It also gave us the chance to hear Ben sing to Diana…lets just say I couldn’t stop smiling behind the camera! I asked Diana for a favorite song for their blog post…something I don’t normally do (like ever), but it feels perfect for them! She sent me three songs and this one just STUCK with me. So perfect…so THEM. I got chillies listening to it while writing this!

“There are way too many love songs, and I think they’ve got it all wrong.. Life is not the mountain tops, its the walking in between and I like you walking next to me.” – Ben Rector,  “I Like You”.

“Love is friendship set to music.” – Jackson Pollock

Smiles,

Kayla F

Baby H Coming Soon | Maternity

With the permission of Keely & Scott, I am beyond thrilled to share with you that these amazing two lovebirds will be welcoming a bundle in March 2015!

Keely & Scott were one of my FIRST weddings back in 2012 (see their post here) and I absolutely love them with crazy amounts of my heart. When Keely first contacted me, she said that they just wanted a sweet “love” session. After another email, she spilled the beans and told me she was pregnant and they wanted to use the session to announce it! I LOVE how couples are using photos to announce to friends and family! It makes me sooo excited to be in on a little secret for a few weeks and then I get all giddy when its revealed! eeek! Since Keely is now 12 weeks along, this session was to celebrate their continuing love and adoration for each other and their adorable puppers Dolly! Isn’t she the cutest?! I’m so thrilled to share these and see how wonderful of parents these two will be! 😀

Congratulations you two…three! 😀

Smiles,

Kayla F

elizabeth & john | engagement |

 

A game of scrabble, a school house, a blanket and music, and two of the most in love and FUN couples I have had the pleasure of photographing! I just adored watching Elizabeth and John have fun with each other during their engagement session one early Monday morning in East TN! That’s what they did…they had fun with each other and it was SO refreshing! They giggled, they kissed, they squished each others’ noses, they talked about the honeymoon they will be taking to Maine…they were adorable!

Elizabeth and I go back…like back to the days of high school. I was beyond excited when she reached out to me and asked me to be their photographer! I was ecstatic! There is something incredibly humbling about having someone from your past ask you to document their future (ohhh, that was kinda corny, but you get it). In talking with Elizabeth about her and John and where they are in their lives now, it came to me to have their session at a school house. After some research and some digging, we landed right back to where I had been before, Riverdale Elementary School out in Strawberry Plains, TN. One look at it and Elizabeth was in love! I was so happy when they decided on the school for their engagement location! I had a blast with Abby & Ben there back in December, and was excited to see the school in the summer with green all around it!

The ideas are all Elizabeth & John’s! They are avid scrabble players (Elizabeth even brought their score sheet), they LOVE music and John is a marathoner and has done 2 half Iron Man Triathalons so having his bike included was a great idea! There are times when you know that a couple has it in their cards…these two are definitely one of those couples!

  

 

Elizabeth & John…I’ll be seeing you in 5 weeks! Eeek! 

Smiles,

Kayla F

blake & lauren {the question}

My heart is happiest when I not only get to share this passion, but especially when I get to share it with those I love. Blake & Lauren are a very, very big part of mine and Rob’s life. Blake is Rob’s best friend. Lauren and I torture them about their “bromance” but it is honestly one of the most sincere friendships I have ever witnessed. They would do anything for each other, so when Blake told Rob that he was going to propose to Lauren (because they can’t keep any secrets from each other) I think I got just as excited as when Rob proposed to me. 😉

I was absolutely over the moon when Blake & Lauren took me up on my offer to shoot their engagement pictures. I was nervous…I mean butterflies in your belly, hand sweating while holding the camera nervous. I wanted them to have the best pictures I could possibly give them, not only as an engagement present, but because I know those will be images that they look back on for years!

I’m in LUST with these images! Ahhh, they honestly just make me super giddy! Not only was the weather absolutely perfect (it poured rain before the session and the Smokey Mountains totally lived up to their name) but backdrop was just to die for. I had never been to Cades’ Cove before, but after this visit, I would be more than happy to go again and again!

 This image makes my heart skip. I feel like it should be my poster child of Kayla F Photography I love it so much!

 Lauren is the free bird in my life. She is whimsical, thoughtful, and incredibly down to Earth. When she walked over and started picking flowers I think I even called her my little flower child. She eventually stuck them in her hair and it couldn’t have been more fitting.

Swoon! Seriously…

Lauren is such a beauty! I can’t wait to see how stunning she is going to be at their wedding!

 We ended our session and on the way out of Cades’ Cove we met this Momma and her adorable 3 (yes THREE) cubs! East TN never disappoints!

July can’t get here fast enough! Rob and I are more than excited to celebrate and enjoy their wedding festivities…tears will definitely be shed (at least by Rob and Blake). 🙂 

Smiles,

Kayla F