As I came up to the gates of Hightower Falls, the rain was light but steady. The cloud cover did make for some amazingly soft window light as Mindy got into her beautiful, custom-made wedding dress as the rain continued outside.

Since the threat of severe weather had passed, they decided to have their ceremony under the tent in the original spot...rain or not. Mindy arrived by horse drawn carriage on the other side of the falls and used the beautiful "Bridge of Love" that crossed the stream as her aisle.

After the ceremony the bride and groom wanted to make use of the amazing grounds regardless of the wet grass and slight drizzle. I was ecstatic! We did portraits in front of the falls, inside the beautiful ruins of the grist mill, by the dance hall and even went off-site to a quaint tree-lined lane Mindy had spotted on a previous visit.

After shooting outside for quite a while, we scooted indoors to warm up, dry off, and enjoy the reception!

I had a blast photographing their wedding. It's really something when you encounter two people who have such a passion for beautiful photographs and will do whatever it takes to get them. :) A little rain never really hurt anyone anyway! I hope you guys enjoy your images as much as I have already. I might have looked like a ragamuffin when I left, but I sure had a great time getting soaked! :D

Click here to see the entire gallery of wedding images.

Thanks for choosing me and letting me be part of such a fun, special day. :)

Mary Beth, Wes, and I are all from the same hometown. I met Mary Beth so long ago that I can't really remember for sure. At least 15 years ago, maybe more. Although we're only five years apart in age, at the time she was just the cute little neice of my best friend. Wes and I went to highschool together. Do you remember that kid in highschool that was really annoying and you just wanted to strangle them? Yeah, that was me. Sorry Wes. LOL However, years later when he proposed to Mary Beth, I was so honored, thrilled and touched that they chose me to photograph their day.

This was THE wedding of weddings. Wes and MB got married in Point Clear, Al at The Grand Hotel. The bride wore a beautiful ivory, v-neck lace gown and the groom sported a cool beige linen suit. The amazing floral were courtesy of Daisies Florist in Thorsby, Al. THORSBY, people! Do not underestimate the abilities of these ladies! This gorgeous couple gave me AN ENTIRE HOUR of time for portraits of JUST THE TWO OF THEM!! A photographer's dream come true! A couple who loves pictures as much as I do!

Here are a fewa whole bunch of my favorites. Also, click here to see the entire gallery.

Every single detail of this wedding was meaningful. From the bride's grandmother's brooch on the bouquet...

...to the pink flamingo in the father of the bride's bout, every item had a story.

The couple decided to do a sneak-peek and see each other prior to the ceremony so we arranged a very special moment for just the two of them. There was a beautiful spot just outside the hotel where two paths came together as one. Not only was it a beautiful spot with beautiful light, I thought it represented what was happening today so perfectly...two paths becoming one. :)

Their reactions were so real...full of love and emotion.

It's so obvious how much Wes loves Mary Beth. I absolutely adore the look in his eyes when he looks her. He literally LIGHTS UP!

The wedding colors were champagne and brown which created the perfect canvas for the bold florals and the lush surroundings at The Grand.

Wes placed a delicate calla lily in the chair where his mother would have been seated. Sunlight spilled through the oak trees literally bathing the entire ceremony in beautiful, soft afternoon light. I can't help but believe that JoAnn was there watching over us.

Each groomsman handed Wes a gummy bear as they walked down the aisle into the ceremony...who knows why, but it created a really cute photo op later in the day :)

The sun set over the water as the guests arrived at the reception.

The bride's cake topper was yet another of those incredibly sentimental touches that made this wedding so unique. This topper has been on every family wedding cake for over 60 years. Yes, SIXTY YEARS.

As evening set in, Mary Beth wore her grandmother's mink stole as she and Wes made their entrance into the cool night air.

We quietly slipped away from the reception to capture the incredible evening light on the pier.

Mary Beth, Wes, Rhonda, and Sibley: Thank you so much for choosing me to share your day. I am so very honored to have been invited to witness this most special of occasions.

Special thanks to Rebekah Weldon for second shooting with me. She did an amazing job. Thank you so very much.

Let me just put this out there: I love the mail. Yes, the mail, as in the US Postal Service. I love to open my mailbox and see a sweet little surprise smiling back out at me. I acutally remember fighting with my sister over who got to check the mail. *hehe*

So yesterday, I pop into my local post office, skip over to my box, fling it open and SQUEAL WITH JOY!!! It's here! The May/June issue of Cooking with Paula Deen.... I rip open the envelope careful not to tear the cover, flip through the pages and there.... on page 74.... are MY PHOTOS! No not photos OF me, but photos from a wedding I photographed in the Spring 2009.

Kamin and Cory got married April 11, 2009. Being a photographer herself, Kamin put soooo soooo much thought into the details of her wedding and it really shows in all the photographs. She and Cory had one of the most uniquely beautiful wedddings I've ever had the joy to experience.

A few months after the wedding, Kamin contacted me to let me know that the magazine Cooking with Paula Deen was interested in showcasing her wedding. I was thrilled, of course.....but I had NO IDEA that Kamin was going to write such amazingly kind things about my work and about her choice to hire me. As I sat in the parking lot reading the article, I was so surprised and touched that I just spontaneously started crying. LOL