Blending two cultures—Chinese and Vietnamese—comes with a number of special ceremonies and traditions. Emily and Jimmy’s private ceremonies along with games involving the groom proving himself worthy of his bride blended perfectly on this cool spring day. You might remember them when we photographed their engagement session at Stone Mountain Park.
After we spent the morning at each of the family’s homes, we headed to Heritage Sandy Springs, where the official garden wedding ceremony followed by the reception were to take place. Emily and Jimmy opted for a first look before their wedding. We love when couples decide to go this route. It gives just enough time to create wonderful portraits of just the two of them without the stress of rushing through it during the short time allotted for cocktail hour. If you find yourself on the fence deciding whether to have a first look, we can help talk about the pros and pros (no that was not a typo). But don’t feel pressured. We will definitely work with what makes the two of you most comfortable. Take a look at just a few of the images we captured that beautiful spring afternoon at this quaint historically located garden.
Can’t you just see how giddy Jimmy was. He couldn’t contain his joy!
Look how romantic the wisteria covered trellis/pergola frames our lovely bride and groom.
Emily here is enjoying the last few minutes in the bridal suite provided by the venue along with her bridesmaids as they make sure every last detail is complete. She’s ready to go!
The firs dance song “Better Place” by Rachel Platten was sung a capella by the bridal party. What a special moment for our bride and groom.
Let them eat cake!
Let’s get this party started. Core Elite Entertainment had everybody on their feet.
Special thanks goes out to the amazing vendors that made this Heritage Sandy Springs wedding come together.
There’s a great love story about to be told. It’s a story of love/hate and it goes a little something like this. Nadine and Reza met through a mutual friend at Emory. It was the first day of classes of junior year and actually walking between classes through campus. It didn’t start off well as Nadine recalls but her friend suggested they ask Reza to help them with homework, something happened. Could they actually bond over something as simple as similar music style? Nadine accepted a date with Reza and they went out for dinner, ice skating and star gazing via a star projector on the ceiling. Seven years later, here they are!
What better place for their engagement session than where it all started. And we can’t agree more.
How did Reza propose?
In November, Reza whisked Nadine away to Chateau Elan for two nights as a “decoy” to make her think that’s where he would propose. As they headed back to Atlanta, Reza rented out the ice skating rink where they had their first date, flew her family in from Los Angeles and proposed to her on their 6 year anniversary. Nadine described it as incredible.
What are you most excited about for your wedding?
Nadine said she most excited to see their friends and family from all around the US and Canada come together for the first time and celebrate with them. And then they’re REALLY excited to escape it all and go on their honeymoon adventure! Where could that be?
Has this session got you wanting more? Check out a little video slideshow.
How was your overall engagement session experience with Viridian Images Photography?
Nadine confessed they have so little time where they get to hang out for 2-3 hours uninterrupted so for them it was an amazing bonding experience at minimum. “We really loved your energy and patience with us.” She continued saying “your ‘photographer’s mind’ was always churning and you were so creative with us and the final photos are truly incredible”. Awwww, words like these makes us work that much harder for all our couples. This is exactly what our aim is.
Nadine and Reza, you two are an absolutely unbelievable couple and we can’t wait to photograph your wedding at the Four Seasons Atlanta.
For over a decade, wedding photography has opened a path towards meeting and working with so many great couples. Those opportunities have also led to working in so many great locations across Georgia, especially metro Atlanta. This state truly has a wide array of choices to select from when it comes to photo shoots. Mountains, lakes, architecture, sporting venues, historical spots and lots of art. Without a doubt we also have some of the best wedding venues on the east coast. Intimate resorts like Barnsley Gardens or the sheer elegance of the Georgian Terrace or perhaps the modern and breathtaking views of Ventanas. However, we also enjoy the simple carefree moments spent with couples on engagement sessions. Recently Redfin approached us as a regional expert on photography to highlight some of the best spots across the city for a photo shoot. Wondering what we chose? Check out our selection and many other fantastic suggestions from our peers across Atlanta for your next photo shoot here.
Stone MountainPark is usually crawling with tourists and locals on a spring afternoon. However, with rain in the forecast the park was surprisingly empty as we decided to move forward and meet up with Emily and Jimmy for their long-awaited engagement photo session.
With 3200 acres of scenic views, a colorful shopping and dining village, a covered bridge, a historic old mill and of course, the mountain; this is one of the best locations for an engagement shoot in Atlanta. Not to mention a great place for wedding photography overall.
We had already spent some time getting to know this couple before today’s session and it was clear from the start, they had an unbreakable connection. How they met is an interesting story.
Jimmy messaged Emily on eharmony.com and she agreed to meet up for a coffee date. They immediately hit if off. She laughed at all his stories and Jimmy was simply thankful to have met a southern gal. Later that day when Jimmy got back home; he changed his eharmony profile and never looked back. They dated for several weeks before officially becoming a couple and the rest is history. We hope you enjoy this spring engagement session in Atlanta, Georgia. Please be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram for updates on the latest with Viridian Images Photography, Atlanta’s premier wedding photography. If you’re recently engaged and ready to create unique images for your wedding journey; contact usnow to secure your dates!
When we last spent time with Michael and Grace it was during their spectacular engagement session at Ponce City Market and the Atlanta Beltline. It was there where we quickly came to appreciate their unique energy as a couple. Not to mention the fact that they love to travel the world as much as we do. So immediately we hit it off. Fast forward several months and here we are. Ready to document their big wedding day and we couldn’t be more thrilled to do so.
The wedding venue
Historic 550 Trackside was the scene of this memorable day. 550 began as a cotton warehouse in 1904 but across its storied existence it has also been known as The Langley General Store, The Mercantile Exchange, the Grinder and the Goldkist Building.
Made from granite pulled directly from Stone Mountain and 100-year-old wood it provides an elegant space perfect for occasions like this.
Tell me about the vibe
Really the word that best sums up the feeling for this wedding is relaxed. From the moment we arrived at the venue both the bride and groom were totally calm and enjoying the company of their closest friends. Not the usual nerves you see with so many other weddings. Since 550 Trackside has ample room, everyone was able to get ready at the venue. Guests arrived on time and even participated in helping put together the final touches on the decorations.
Nonetheless, a visual storyline will communicate the feel and beauty of the couple better than we can with our words. So please sit back and enjoy a few favorites from this fantastic wedding. Also, be sure to check us out on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the latest with Viridian Images Photography, Atlanta’s premier wedding photographers.
The team that made this wedding the fabulous event it was:
A while back we introduced Isabelle & Charlie via their wonderful engagement session at Lake Lanier. You might recall their PineIsle Pointe shoot included a labradoodle, a romp through the high grass fields and shoreline stroll that ultimately ended up in the water. Now we get a chance to share the other side of their journey as a couple. The wedding!
It was a perfect October day in Georgia. Not too cold, but just right for tying the knot. Isabelle & Charlie had just recently purchased a home at a country club. But not just any country club; it was TPC Sugarloaf!
Golfers in the South will immediately recognize that name. It has long been a prized member of the PGA TOUR’s acclaimed TPC Network of premier clubs. Designed by the Australian professional golfer Greg Norman and situated on 1,200 acres of Georgia’s countryside; it’s first class all the way. So a portion of their lovely 60,000 square-foot clubhouse would serve as the setting for both their ceremony and reception.
The day begins
As usual our storytelling style of coverage begins with the getting ready portion of the day. Isabelle chose to get ready at the clubhouse while Charlie hosted his buddies at their house. Since they had just recently purchased the house, they didn’t have much furniture. However one key piece was their gorgeous grand piano in the center of the house against a huge wall of windows. Charlie actually had a little extra time on his hands to play a little bit. Meanwhile Isabelle was going through her hair and makeup session as she was surrounded by loved ones. Once they were ready we moved right in to the couple’s first look in the center courtyard; next to Charlie’s favorite red Japanese maple where he stood patiently as she made her approach. After a few minutes of privacy we jumped into their bridal portraits, which included shots by the garden and a gigantic oak tree.
First look in the courtyard
Let the ceremony begin
The spot for the wedding was actually situated just outside the clubhouse on a perfectly manicured lawn with a trellis that overlooked the lake and the golf course. The ceremony was a simple but relaxed affair with a nice soft breeze comforting the couple as they exchanged their vows. After a few moments to greet family and friends we took them right back out for some additional portraits with the tall feather grass gardens by the lake.
A few more bridal portraits during cocktail hour
It’s time to get this party started
Finally the reception arrived. It was brisk and to the point. Introductions, the first dance and their cake cutting. All designed get to the most important portion of the evening, dinner and some fun on the dance floor. The night concluded with a fantastic sparkler exit.
Let them eat cake
Time for farewell to our lovely couple
All throughout this journey we had a great time getting to know Isabelle and Charlie and we are truly grateful to have been chosen to document this time in their life. We can’t wait to see how they continue to grow as a family in the future!
The team that made this wedding the fabulous event it was:
Venue coordination by: Elizabeth Smith — TPC Sugarloaf
The start of 2020 will hopefully mean a chance to catch up with posting on our website but in the mean time we decided to do something we haven’t done in a long time. A year-end summary of our favorite images from 2019. It’s not just a “best of” compilation. But a collection of images that have a little extra meaning to us. A big thank you to all the couples that partnered with us in 2019 as well as those whos weddings take place in 2020. We can’t wait to document new memories and create visual art for you.
If you like what you see here, please share with friends and loved ones. So, with further delay, here we go. Check out the video slideshow first as it will include more images beyond the stills posted here. Enjoy!
It was a blistering hot start to this beautiful sunny day in June. Summer had arrived as evidenced by the beads of sweat forming on our foreheads as we take inventory of our gear in the car. Yet the moment we arrive to the setting of today’s wedding you totally forget the high temps.
After all, today we get to work in Rockmart’s dreamy In the Woods wedding venue! A 250 acre of lush woodlands surround a modern-rustic ceremony pavilion and a peaceful lake. A total gem in Georgia’s vast northwestern landscape.
The only thing better than shooting at this location is spending time with Casi and Kyle themselves. Such incredibly friendly people; it’s easy to lose track of time just hanging out with them. You may remember their lovely fall engagement session at Piedmont Park. If not, now might be a good time to check out their engagement blog post to get a better feel for how they met and who they are.
After several hellos and hugs, we split up to begin our getting ready coverage for the day. The groom and his buddies have their own private spot by the pool near the entrance of the venue. While Casi and the girls enjoy the bridal suite cabin overlooking the lake and the chapel.
Kyle, a pilot, enjoys a very
relaxed but animated conversation with his groomsmen on a fluffy couch over
drinks. Some are in the same industry and others are just close friends. A
varying array of topics are on display with most sentences beginning with “remember
when”. Then ending with side-splitting laughs.
Meanwhile Casi is having her own fun with the girls as they finish up their hair and makeup. With all the ladies in colorful matching robes moving swiftly around the suite; it’s almost like watching a painting in motion. They enjoy a little champagne as we breeze through some quick group portraits. Finally, the time comes to get dressed. Casi’s dress arrives hand delivered by mom and her maid of honor. A beautiful strapless ball gown from Stella York Design purchased at Suite Bridal. It’s perfect! She’s in the dress and ready to go in almost record time. By now the guys are almost done getting dressed. Their last hurdle is getting those tie knots perfect. This is one of our favorite parts of the day to shoot. There’s nothing like watching several guys cramming over a mirror as they flip long silky pieces of fabric around as if it were a synchronized event at the Olympics. Success! Kyle looks like a million bucks. So, we quickly take some group shots with his groomsmen outside by the pool and on the way the way back to the cabin. In about 10 minutes we return to their room, so they can enjoy the comfort of some air conditioning on this very hot day.
The first look
Just about that time the phone rings and we get word from
the coordinator that Casi is ready for the first look. So, Kyle is quickly
shuttled to the dock on the lake and we get him set up for her approach. What a
trooper. The sun is beating down on him as his bride makes her way from the
cabin. Nonetheless he patiently waits.
Something made much easier when your view includes a glass-like lake,
blue skies and trees that wrap this scene up in a million shades of green.
At last! She taps him on the shoulder and he gets to see his beauty. A very tender moment; so, we give them a little time alone as we photograph from a distance.
Now we can have some fun with portraits. This venue provides so many great photography spots it’s almost hard to decide where to begin. But we quickly make use of the dock, a dry creek bridge and the neighboring woods before heading into the honeymoon suite to cool down again and freshen up.
Time to get married
Next up is the ceremony. The chapel is already buzzing with guests and the groomsmen are doing their job. No, they’re not just welcoming friends and ushering folks to their seats under the cool breeze of the chapel’s monstrous airplane propeller ceiling fans. No, they are ribbing and making the groom laugh as he waits. Basically, making him feel relaxed and at ease.
Meanwhile the bride is on her way to the back entrance of
the chapel with her father. A large wooden gate and a stone pathway provides a
grand entrance for Casi. There’s a quiet moment before the music begins and
those large doors slowly open. We’re off! The bride and groom connect eyes
immediately as she makes her way to the front and the ceremony begins. The
bridal party flanks the couple on either side of the stage as the audience follow
the proceedings. About 30 minutes later it’s official. They’re married, and a kiss
seals the deal.
After a quick session of family photos, we sneak in a few more
bridal portraits before packing up our gear to head to the reception.
Time to get this party started
The reception hall is so warm and inviting! 5200 square feet of space designed with an elegant-rustic flair, befitting the natural setting of the country side. Exceptional landscaping surrounds the stone courtyard and the outdoor bar used for cocktail hour. Another highlight; the massive bar doors that lead guests into the building. Casi’s style is evident both with the details chosen to decorate this large space.
But everyone is hungry and ready to party. So, we roll right
into the start of the reception with the introductions of the bridal party and the
couple. This is quickly followed by the first dances and the toasts. As dinner
begins we utilize this down time for additional scouting and gear prep to set
ourselves up for some creative night time portraits. All the time we’re keeping
and eye on sunset and twilight times, so we can make the most of a colorful
sky.
As we make our way back in, the dance floor is ready to open. No shy folks here. With the first song there are 5 or 6 couples getting down. Covering the dance floor is another one of our favorite times at a wedding because we can document so many special moments as people let loose. Casi is right in the middle of it all with her bridesmaids. A little further along into the festivities we move to the cake cutting. A beautiful cake produced by Gabriel’s Desserts.
We peek outside and it’s just about the right time to take
advantage of the changing light as we approach sunset. So, we rush over to the
couple and ask for just 20 minutes of their time, so we can create some very
special images for them. By now we’ve also spoken to the coordinator and they
have a golf cart ready to zip us over to our pre-scouted locations. So off we
go. We head back to the water and the dock to get some romantic portraits using
some creative off camera flash work to highlight the couple in this setting. The
orange string lights add to the mood and feel of the moment. Then we rush over
to find the tallest hill on the property, so we can tower the couple over the
tree line against the colorful evening sky.
Before you know it we’re back at the party and we’re feeling stoked about having such a productive portrait session. Now it’s just about having fun and boy did they all have fun. The reception continued for a couple of hours before it was time for their sparkler-limo exit. What a spectacular day working with Kyle and Casi while meeting so many new folks. We highly recommend In the Woods as one of the top venues in Georgia to have your wedding unfold. Need more firsthand details about how to plan your photography for this venue? Contact us and we’ll be happy to assist!
The team that made this wedding the fabulous event it was:
Planning and coordination by the spectacular: Kathie Shramm — In the Woods
In our line of work as wedding photographers we are constantly meeting new couples each year. Each one of those couples, fantastic. Occasionally we come across people that totally embody sweetness at the purest definition of the word. Such is the case with Casi and Kyle. Both are smart and easy going with a great sense of humor.
Kyle was a pilot with Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Casi was a personal style blogger under howyouwearit.com and now represents Beautycounter as a consultant.
So, how did they meet? Well, this is how Casi breaks it down:
“Kyle and I met through Match.com, but later realized we were members at the same church. I knew Kyle was the one when I watched him get baptized. I had always prayed for a man who loved God with all his heart and seeing the man I loved get baptized was confirmation for me of that.”
The rest is history as they say.
For their engagement session they chose Piedmont Park. A popular spot with many couples in Atlanta for its vast array of scenes, including an epic skyline view. If you’re interested in Piedmont Park for your engagement photos; look at some of our other sessions at this wonderful location. Sarah Lyn and Jef, Chinyere and Kyrone, Yaqui and Alex. You’ll notice that even though we’ve photographed engagement photos here many times, we can always find new ways to transform our images to make this location look fresh and unique. In the meantime, please enjoy Casi and Kyle’s session on a chilly fall afternoon.
We first met Isabelle and her mom as they begun their search for all things wedding related at our local bridal show. Isabelle knew exactly what she wanted regarding her wedding and engagement photography. After an extensive conversation discussing her vision for the wedding, we agreed to set up a second meeting to include Charlie, her fiancée. Coffee and tea at Café Intermezzo is always a good choice on a cool afternoon. So after getting a cozy table off to the corner we had our first chance to meet Charlie. What a delight it was to spend some time with him; very relaxed and laid back. A perfect compliment to Isabelle’s personality.
Meetings like these are always essential to our storytelling style of photography. Getting to know our couple’s back-story, how they met and what makes their relationship so unique really shapes the types of images we create down the road. So off we go.
Isabelle is originally from Quebec, Canada but moved to the United States with her family at the age of 12. After briefly “visiting” Denver, they settled in Seattle where she later earned her International Studies degree at the University of Washington. Shortly after, she decided to leave the Seattle rain for sunny San Francisco with her furry best friend. Little did she know, this is where her life would really begin when she met Charlie.
Charlie’s story began in China where he is from and where he grew up. His parents decided to sacrifice their careers and everything they had to bring him to the United States. They wanted to give him the chance to fulfill the “American Dream“. At age 11, they first settled in “Hotlanta” where he completed secondary education and received his degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. After graduation, he had a few setbacks. So he decided to move the “Golden City” for a fresh start.
So, how did they actually meet?
Well, it’s interesting to hear each one describe how this all came about.
Isabelle:
I had seen and talked to him before – casually. But I really saw him that day at the Venetian Expo. He looked good in his relaxed boot cut jeans and fitting white t-shirt – a welcome sight to the throng of solution architects, engineers and sales guys swarming the convention center floor. There ensued burgers, shakes, long walk and long talks. For me, it really was a combination of his raw confidence, his honesty, his unwavering loyalty, and the dimples when he smiled.
Charlie:
I had noticed her before. This young, beautiful, exotic and yet unassuming and down to earth woman with big eyes and luscious, thick brown hair. I was drawn to her mannerisms and way of speaking that was not quite American… but not quite European either. After spending some time to get to know her, I was amazed at how much we had in common, from our immigrant experiences growing up, to our sense of humor.
How did their relationship bloom?
Isabelle:
We got to know each other in the Golden City, through hikes on the cliffs by the sea and strolls and picnics in the wine country.
Charlie:
Our relationship blossomed in the city by the bay; our frequent trips hiking across the austere and majestic mountains by the pacific coast, the peaceful and often chilly Muir Woods (then again Izzie is always cold), and our relaxing drives through the wine country affirmed that our bond would be eternal. Through our times together, I also learned about her strong family values. Those same values led us and our little furry pup (not so little at 70lbs) to trek across the country and settle back in the peach state.
And then…?
Charlie:
For a frequent traveler with over three million miles, it seemed only appropriate that I make our engagement official at 39,000 feet.
Isabelle:
Yeah, it was a few months before we moved into our home on our way home from exploring the Christmas markets of Munich, in the middle of the Atlantic on a long flight, he asked me to marry him. It was probably the easiest question I ever had to answer.
The engagement session
They both knew they wanted to do something extra special for their engagement session. So they made arrangements at Lake Lanier to get access to PineIsle Pointe. This is one of the most popular wedding venues on the lake; but we had it all to ourselves! All week long we had torrential rains and the forecast was threatening more rain for the day of the session. However, miraculously the sun broke through and we had one of the most magnificent afternoons of the year.
Having a couple that loves the outdoors just lends to having a great photo shoot. The entire session was simply a delight to shoot. Running through the fields and jumping in the water for the sake of photography? No problem! Hey even their labradoodle Boomer got into the mix. Thanks Charlie and Isabelle for a super esession! We can’t wait to share their wedding next!
