It’s hard to describe just how much we loved this day. It was authentic and genuine and full of the best kind of emotion! Branden was in tears a large majority of the day and it melted everyone’s heart. My favorite part of their ceremony was when the priest explained that Branden wasn’t crying just because Briana looked beautiful, he had seen her dressed up before! Branden was in tears because of what it meant for his bride to be walking down the aisle to him. She was coming to commit her life to him… for better or for worse… whatever happens… her love isn’t going to change. After being married almost 8 years and walking through some pretty hard seasons of life with Michael, it makes me realize just how powerful those vows are.
Every couple will have valleys in their marriage where they have to cling to one another and remember the promises that they made. It’s not always perfect and pretty, but it is beautiful. Branden watched Briana walk down the aisle knowing that he would never face life alone without his companion and best friend. It makes sense why the tears flowed freely!
Branden and Briana were married in Gordonsville, VA and it was an amazing day! I found willow trees, old barns, mountainous backdrops, and rolling hills to shoot in! It was a photographer’s dream!! These two newlyweds were the ones who asked ME if we could get on the UTV and drive through the property to find just one more portrait location! I happily agreed and the adventure was beyond worth it!! I’m in love with the portrait from that part of the day!
Not only did I love the sweet tears and the amazing portraits, I also loved seeing one of our past KJ Couples and their families! Linsey and Jason were married a few years ago and that’s when Branden and Briana started following along with our journey on Instagram! Years later it was their turn to be the bride and groom, and we were so honored that they chose us to capture it all!! We absolutely LOVE the Sledge family and it felt like one big reunion when we were back in their presence. We laughed, cried (well, I cried) and celebrated right alongside of them Saturday evening, and the joy was palpable!!
I can’t wait to share these images and allow you to get to know this incredible KJ Couple! I have dozens and dozens of favorites!!! Enjoy!
Dress Store | ANN’S BOUTIQUE
Florist | COLONIAL FLORIST
Ceremony Venue | ST. ISIDORE THE FARMER CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reception Venue | THE MARKET AT GRELEN
Wedding Coordinator |HANNAH DUBIT
Hair | Cindy Rose
DJ | KING STUDIOS
Cake | SWEETHAUS
Catering | EXCHANGE EVENTS
Invitations | ETSY
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
Ah! It’s our FINAL STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!!! This July post has been a long time coming but it’s HERE and it’s LIVE and I want you to help me celebrate these amazing photographers who are making their dreams happen!!!
This six month update feels like it’s weirdly disproportionate compared to other monthly updates! Why is that? Well, last month I posted a couple of sets of images that were actually at the beginning of his sixth month and THEN we photographed multiple weddings, had several trips away from home for a few days and the dads were for several days!
Hope and Jesse are the sweetest couple. You can just feel it when you’re with them! You can see it when you watch them interact. You can hear it in the stories that their family members and best friends shared about them. They are truly soulmates and best friends. They have an undeniable love for one another and that is why even a rainy, misty wedding day could be incredibly vibrant, warm and joyful!!
Rhett’s fifth month was full of fun. It’s crazy to me that I know I only take my big camera to about 10% of the things we do in a month and yet each month is SO full.
This beautiful wedding day took place in the rolling hills of West Virginia, just past the Virginia state line. Wild Goose Farm is a venue that I’ve never photographed before and let me tell you, it was a treat! We didn’t even have the sun join us for most of the day and yet we were able to capture beautiful portraits! Between the horses, old fences, stunning estate home, lily pad covered pond, old stone walls, rustic barn, open fields and a historic stone arch, I was in photographer heaven!
This session was just as sweet as it looks. We spent the evening with Megan and Tim in the country outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. We were tucked away in the rolling hills in between beautiful fields and family farms. It reminded me all over again why I just love Virginia. We really have it all… beaches, mountains, history, and great schools! JMU, while it did play a role in Tim and Megan’s story, isn’t actually where it started!
Top Personal Posts
Have a little time to read?
"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”
"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”
"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”
"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”
"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”
"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"
The KJ blog
must-reads
YOUTUBE
