The Venue in the Bluffs ~ Alexis and Michael

If you will, imagine a perfect Spring day, at The Venue in the Bluffs, in the foothills of Trenton, GA, a little chilly in the morning, but then the weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding. That was Alexis and Michael's wedding day this past Saturday. These two Middle Tennessee Wedding Photographers woke very early Saturday morning to make the 2 hour drive to Trenton and it was a beautiful drive through the Tennessee countryside.

When we arrived, we did our usual walk around checking out the location and looking for perfect areas for photos as the bridal parties were getting ready in the bride and groom suites. After Bill and I photographed the personal details of the day, I took the bride, Alexis for her bridal portrait's while Bill took the groom, Michael for his portraits.

First looks started with an emotional first look with her daddy, where she gave him a handkerchief that read "keep you s**t together" in which all that were present had a good laugh. Next was the first look with Michael and tears were flowing again for the both of them. They were high school sweethearts and had a long distance relationship while at college, so they were so happy for this day to finally arrive and become husband and wife. After the first looks we snuck in some time to take a few portraits of them before their ceremony started.

The bride and groom were wed under an outdoor canopy surrounded by twinkle lights and green foliage. A first for Bill and I was the, "Ring Warming Ceremony", where the ring was passed to the bride and groom's parents and grandparents, where they spoke blessings and prayers over the rings before Alexis and Michael placed them on each other's finger. The guests enjoyed a lovely outdoor cocktail hour on the front and side porch of the venue overlooking the bluff. Dinner was served in the main hall on different patterns of China, in soft pastel colors. Each table number had a photograph of how old Alexis and Michael were at the time. It was pretty cute!

All the details of the day were very well thought out, as you will see in her gallery of images, to lend to the garden party theme of the day. Her bridesmaids were dressed in the lightest shade of blue and sage and carried their flower bouquets in cute little woven baskets with an ivory ribbon tied for the sweetest touch. Alexis was a vision of beauty in her wedding gown. I loved the fabric material, texture of tiny flowers and vines and cut that were all perfect for the day. And her shoes were so delicate and to die for with a precious bow on top!!

I was thrilled to see she wore a veil that was cathedral length for most of the day. If you know me, you know that I love poses playing around with a gorgeous veil in the wind. The groom was dashing in his light gray suit, floral patterned bow tie with a pocket boutonniere and OTTER socks........I asked Alexis about those socks and this is what she said.

"When we were dating in high school we found matching otter socks and we were each others "significant otter". We matched at senior prom wearing our otter socks and it continued throughout the years. He wore otter socks for the important times in our life together: our senior prom, when he proposed to me, and then our wedding day. He loved the original socks so much he wore through his original pair AND my original pair so we happened upon a new pair one day and he was so excited to wear them to the wedding.

Michael's groomsmen wore a shade of medium gray suits, floral neck ties and each had a different floral boutonniere. Such a beautiful wedding party and wedding. One more thing we always enjoy are the speeches & toasts, and their were a lot of tears and laughs shared among all before the cake cutting and dancing into the night.

Each wedding we shoot, we are made to feel like we are part of the family and we were so honored to

document your amazing day, Alexis and Michael! We wish you all the best as you start your new life together.