it’s almost impossible to imagine a more charming southern wedding than jessica and joseph’s. you may remember they rocked their much more urban engagement session, here in athens, ga — the funky little college town where our studio sits. apparently, jessica and joseph are those kinda cats who can pull off cool in any genre. i guess if you got it, you got it. i love the whole “rustic meets elegant” vibe of deep south weddings. and this wedding was definitely putting out the vibe. the trees were positively dripping with spanish moss, the tables were covered over in white linens and antique canning jars; wooden coca-cola crates held wine lists for merlot and pinot grigio, and the smell of sweet southern barbecue hung in the warm evening air beside the sound of sweet southern accents. timeless.

at the time of this writing, it’s 2:30 am at the studio, and eileen and i are packing for another trip to south georgia for a wedding in dixieland. this time, savannah. so we’ll leave you to peruse the rest of jessica and joseph’s wedding images on your own. but remember, don’t hurry yourself. just take a slow southern stroll through this day’s unforgettable moments. that’s how you savor life and love here in the south.

congratulations once again, jessica and joseph! i can’t look at your photos without getting a huge smile across my face every time. we were so happy to be a part of your big day, but even happier to get to know the two of you and your families — your energy, your humor, your warmth — during this crazy-exciting time in your lives. enjoy your photographs!

a quick shout-out to the good folks at alcyone plantation! truly, we’ve never encountered such a beautiful venue and such perfect southern hospitality in one place. if you’re looking for a location for your wedding, check this one out. then call us; we wanna go back!  all the beautiful flowers and character-rich table settings were perfectly arranged by clay tillman, and the delicious food prepared by carter’s catering. again, some of the most professional, hospitable folks we’ve had the pleasure to work alongside. (and i still occasionally dream about their amazing baby back ribs. mmm!)

the guys’ white suits impressed me very much, i must say. i definitely need one of these to keep cooler while shooting summer weddings: stylish and functional. i need.

as seen in this coat pocket and beneath the glass jar, jessica and joseph’s invitations were printed on scarves — each with its own unique pattern and print. have you ever heard of such a clever invitation idea? and absolutely perfect for the wedding’s ambiance, too.

joseph’s father officiated the wedding ceremony — an especially nice touch to an already perfect wedding day.

tears were running down my face during all the toasts — at times because i get so darn sentimental, but mostly because of the hilarity. ah, the stories jessica’s and joseph’s friends can tell.. i can hardly believe these two angels ever got into the scrapes they described. still, it all made for some terrific yarns to tell the kiddies one day. (err.. on second thought, maybe not so much to tell the kiddies.) 😉