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this post for HOURS. Every time I blog a wedding I tell myself “narrow down your images Katelyn! You can’t blog them all!”.  I’m seriously trying to work on it. I’ve found a little trick that is helping me blog fewer images but I’ll share that later on the in post! So this past weekend was my first double wedding weekend of the year! Whew! My feet are still recovering! However, I have never felt more loved than I did at these two weddings.  So many guests and family members were so encouraging and very excited to see these images! That’s so amazing for me. It’s a great reminder that what I am doing is such a huge part of the wedding day

backyard wedding virginia

and these images are such a gift to my couples.  Alex and Nikki are amazing people. I loved them every since their engagement session back in the fall with their dogs! I got a little peek into their life and I knew as I left downtown Richmond that day, that their wedding was going to be wonderful.  Alex is one of the friendliest guys I have ever met and he can make ANYONE laugh and Nikki is the type of girl that you meet and immediately wish she was your best friend!  They were married this past Saturday and their backyard wedding was ACTUALLY held in the FRONT yard of Nikki’s parent’s home in Goochland, Virginia. (loved it! Of course, I’m a little partial to having weddings in the backyard:) The wooden chairs were lined up perfectly and the trees were just large enough to cover all of the rows with shade.  It looked perfect… until the thunder rolled in. We hurried  through bridal party pictures and then ran inside to wait out the storm. After 45 minutes of nervous pacing and radar watching, the clouds cleared and the sun was shining. Guests grabbed towels and started wiping down chairs. Their ceremony was so beautiful and the rain helped diminish the heat! As Alex and Nikki vowed to be best friends for a lifetime and to always put each other first, I snapped away and was reminded of how awesome it is to be surrounded by ALL of the people that love you most. Weddings are such a crazy experience. There is nothing like it. As a bride and groom, you feel so LOVED and everything is just perfect… even in the rain.

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Alex and Nikki, from the First Look to climbing on top hay bails at your reception…. I had a blast with you guys. I’m so grateful that I had the chance to work with you and get to know both of you. What an amazing couple you are!! Enjoy your honeymoon and I can’t wait to show you ALL of these images!! Congratulations!!!

 

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingI SO wish I had been wearing TOMS on Saturday! Nikki, you’re a smart bride!

toms wedding shoes

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia wedding photographer purple weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-wedding

 

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There he is! He pulls off a tux really well! Super classy.

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I have figured out that if I do “triple” image displays, I can show MORE images!! So let me know what you think of them. If they’re really not cool, just let me know.:) LOVED their first look! Alex’s reaction was priceless!

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingThat pic on the right is the “Whew! Girl you look GOOD!” expression from Alex.

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingThose charms on Nikki’s bouquet have pictures of grandparents inside!

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virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingI seriously can’t get enough of these! Nikki and Alex, you’re wonderful!

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingget it girl!!!!

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Gahh!!! Is it weird that I want this hanging in my house?

Ya’ll are killing me! Probably one of the most genuine images I’ve ever shot.

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingAlex, WOW! Your model face is impressive. It’s gotten more intense since the e-session!

Nikki my dear, there are no words….

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virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingvirginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingEveryone in this bridal party is on my “I owe you one” list!  The rain was starting and we had about 4minutes until the downpour and they made it happen!

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Ceremony location in the front yard:)

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingAfter the rain stopped, the ceremony began and it was perfect in every way…. even the light was awesome!

virginia-wedding-photographer-handmade-weddingbackyard weddingNikki this is going to sounds so incredibly cheesy… but you looked like an angel… you were like, GLOWING!

backyard weddingbackyard weddingMarried!!! and super excited about it!

backyard weddingbackyard weddingbackyard weddinghow cute are these two?!

backyard wedding

backyard weddingLove this!!!

backyard weddingMost of the centerpieces were potted plants! Such a great idea!

eco wedding centerpieceseco wedding centerpiecesgreen wedding centerpiecesgreen wedding centerpiecesTheir guests received “Seed Bombs” in the shape of a heart and included instructions on how to make them grow.

green wedding favorsgreen wedding centerpiecesCookie bar! There were different cookies made by different family members and friends. Nikki made recipe booklets that had recipes for all of the cookies on display!

green wedding centerpieceswedding cookie barOne of my favorite cake toppers…

wedding cookie barIf you’ve been following the blog for a while and STILL don’t know who these two are…. something is wrong!! Loved having Jared and Lauryn there!! Jared MADE the Mr&Mrs signs and the cake topper!

wooden bird cake topperIt wasn’t easy getting up there…. It was worth it guys!!!

I know I show so many PORTRAITS… it’s my favorite part of the whole day! However, there are so many other images that I skip sometimes. I’ll try to get better at posting more images like this:

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VIEW MORE OF ALEX AND NIKKI’S BACKYARD WEDDING HERE!

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FLOWERS | Louisa Flower Shop

DRESS | Bella Rosa

VENUE | The Melton Home! Business in the front, party in the back:)

DJ | Choice Entertainment

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES | JCrew

INVITATIONS | Etsy

FAVORS | Seed Hearts from Etsy

 

 

 

 

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I’m a photography educator, business builder, podcaster, and entrepreneurial cheerleader, I equip entrepreneurs to create a business and life they love—all while being a wife and momma to four, plus one in heaven.

Hi, I'm Katelyn

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