Ponce City Market is the “go to” location for locals and visitors alike to get a sense of what is Atlanta. Also it’s a great place to go have your engagement photos taken if you’re looking for an indoor place on a rainy day.
Although Ponce City Market is a busy location (located in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood along the Atlanta BeltLine, across from Historic Fourth Ward Park, and walking distance from Virginia-Highland, Poncey-Highland, and Midtown), if you know the area and its unique nooks and crannies well, it can yield a lot of creative images. As photographers, we need to quickly think on our feet for this to happen and for couples like Kristen and Seth to have an amazing experience. Enjoy our lovely couple’s engagement session at Ponce City Market!
Taking advantage of the unique murals along the way.
Finding a quiet stairway for some alone time in a busy place as Ponce City Market.
Atlanta is full of artists and we get so excited when new ones show up and how we can play along.
Come bring us along for your engagement photos and experience what we and Atlanta have to offer. You will be asking where “did the time go”?
According to BRIDES magazine, a micro wedding is an intimate affair, typically with no more than 50 guests. They still feature time-honored traditions that make a wedding but on a much smaller scale. Why would a couple decide to forego a larger traditional celebration with that of something at a smaller scale? Well that was an easy answer for both Flor and Marino. For them this was a second marriage for both and although they wanted to celebrate it with friends and family, they didn’t want the reason for their union to get lost in a more grand or elaborate production. They wanted a more personal and intimate afternoon of good food, great wine and lots and lots of laughter.
First up was deciding on a venue. That was a no brainer. They both immediately decided on their favorite Roswell restaurant, Foundation Social Eatery off of Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell. Then who would design their intimate reception? None other than Marjorie DiFiore of Atlanta Stylish Point. Along with The Flower Garden created the most beautiful space to celebrate Flor and Marino’s love with their most special of friends and family. Come see for yourself how this beautiful wedding came together.
Some last minute prepping of our groom before the intimate ceremony.
Here comes the bride!
Nothing traditional here. Our couple entered together to let the guests know the ceremony is about to begin.
There was lots and lots of laughs during the ceremony by both the officiant and the couple.
Did we just get married? Both Flor and Marino couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
Flor surprised Marino with a commissioned piece of art depicting themselves for their intimate micro wedding day. Little did Flor know Marino would shave his beard for the wedding. It’s a great story nonetheless.
If they couldn’t see each other, they were constantly near each other not letting go. It was so sweet to witness.
As the event was winding down, we took Flor and Marino a few feet away to take some creative portraits and take advantage of their love for each other.
Let’s have an adventure
Flor and Marino wanted to have a post wedding adventure session. You don’t have to tell us twice. We were excited to photograph in Cloudland Canyon in Rising Fawn, Georgia. It’s a beautiful national park up in the northwest corner of the state. It’s a bear to get there with so many steps and stairs, but the view was well worth it. These two were up for anything we wanted, to the point of diving in and enjoying each other in the water by the waterfall. Talk about a couple that are game to do anything for the photo. They did not disappoint.
Both Flor and Marino love riding their BMW motorcycles that they’ve driven cross-country several times and were preparing for their next cross-country ride for their honeymoon. Is adventure in their blood? I think so.
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.
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
Weather in Georgia for an engagement session can be…
By Georgia standards Atlanta had a very strong winter. Temperatures stayed unusually low throughout the spring and rain seemed like a constant fixture almost every other day. Then out of nowhere we get a day in the low 90’s with scorching sun for Michael and Grace’s Ponce City Market and Beltline engagement session. That’s okay since this couple has all the warmth to match the setting.
A chance meeting
Grace and Michael met through their church. She had recently moved to Atlanta and really didn’t know many people. Thankfully her sister-in-law arranged a big lunch with many friends and invited her to come along. That’s where Michael came into the picture. They bonded immediately over the terrible Chinese buffet food they just had and how much they loved talking trash about each other’s favorite NBA teams. The rest is history as they say.
The details on their proposal
So, when the time came, how did he propose?
“He proposed at the Garden Lights, Holiday Lights show at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in front of the lighted trees that changed colors according to the musical arrangement. It was magical and I was shocked (had no idea it was coming)!”
We met inside Ponce City Market which has quickly become a favorite spot for most Atlantans. Located on the Old Fourth Ward, this old Sears, Roebuck & Company building was renovated into a contemporary marketplace with a focus on food that reflects many of the flavors of this great city. The Atlanta Beltline connects right up to the market providing quick access to 45 great neighborhoods such as Virginia-Highland, Midtown and Inman park. The Beltline itself is a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, parks and streetcars – all based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta. It runs right through Piedmont Park(Atlanta’s version of Central Park) and it is packed with murals and sculptures from an eclectic mix of artists; becoming the largest temporary outdoor art exhibition in the south. As you can imagine, a location like this feels like a gold mine for both art-loving couples and photographers.
Our session began inside the market so we could take advantage of the backlit colored windows located throughout the Central Food Hall. Not to mention the air conditioning was cranking! A perfect way to kick off an engagement session with a couple so they could ease into the process. This couple truly has a blend of modern style with timeless elegance. Michael was rocking a navy bespoke suit with Allen Edmonds wingtips. His suit was a surprise gift from his future father-in-law during their most recent trip to Taiwan. Grace was glowing in a bohemian hunter green dress with Clarks Spiced Ava sandals. Both providing great contrast against all the backgrounds we used across the afternoon. From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture. The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla. Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture. Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on. Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.
Before we knew it almost 3 hours had gone by since we first began the shoot. A testament to how much fun we had with this couple and their incredible disposition. They were willing to go along with every crazy request we threw their way to obtain the most artistic imagery we could create on the spot. Battling large crowds, long walking distances and blistering temperatures in a suit and dress, no less. Thanks Michael and Grace for allowing us to share our love of artistic photography with you. We can’t wait to continue our adventure with you this summer at your wedding, where we look to document so many friends and family coming in from various destinations from around the world to share in your special day!
From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture.
The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla.
Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture.
Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on.
Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.
It’s a small town or better yet, a small world. I first met Michael through where we usually meet our couples, through our online contact form. It so happens we have a mutual friend in common and I hadn’t seen our friend in a while. It’s so refreshing to have connections between people. There’s not enough of that in the world right now. In any case, we set up a time to invite them over and talk about their upcoming wedding. Elisabeth came first after work that evening and asked how her drive was. I was surprised to hear that it wasn’t so bad. She actually works right outside our community at a local dentist office. Talk about small world. A few minutes later, and Michael arrived. Well let me tell you, she lit up as soon as he entered. It was beautiful to see these two together. They are so kind and genuine. We talked and talked about their plans and the venue and how they envisioned the beginning of their new lives together. So much talk that we lost track of the time. We’re so happy to have been a part of your day!
So Michael and Elisabeth decided they wanted to have their engagement session in downtown Roswell. It fit just right for them since they’re familiar with the area and their wedding was being held at Primrose Cottage.
They just light each other up. Adorable.
We walked around a bit and ended up at Primrose Cottage and decided to take some photos here. Although it was a cold and cloudy day, they seem to bring out the warmth within each other.
Continuing our walk through downtown Roswell, we took a break and stopped by Provisions.
Can’t help but get excited with a solid blank wall. And they were having a ball being goofy with each other.
We’re so happy for you. Your wedding did not disappoint. Want to see their engagement slideshow. Well, wait no more.
From the very start Michael and Tyler always wanted something different for their engagement session. While they appreciate images of couples on a beautiful countryside or next to a glimmering lake, they were looking for something that could offer a unique visual experience. Something with rustic character, able to offer a wide array of scenes with varying textures and uncommon colors. In the past the Goat Farm Arts Center always fit the bill for similar requests with other couples. However this time around that venue was not available and we wanted to try something new all together. So where to go? Thankfully we came across Joe Silva and the Lindale Mill!
Is it a Mill or is it a movie studio?
Dating back to 1896 this structure served as a textile mill providing hundreds of jobs for Floyd County for roughly 105 years until the mill closed in 2001. During the next 9 years these buildings slowly began falling apart until a family from Seattle moved across the country to give this special place a brand new start in 2010. Currently the Lindale Mill is quite relevant again but with a brand new purpose. Providing spacious industrial locations, the mill is now used for wedding celebrations, stylized photography shoots and film projects including music videos and motion pictures. Most recently the Mill was used to film several scenes of the The Divergent Series: Allegiant
In particular the Mill provides cavernous rooms filled with rusted scaffolding and machinery, endless walls of original brick, a creek that can double as a moat and over 100 years of paint textures in vibrant shades yellow and teal.
This was the perfect spot to give Michael and Tyler the look they were envisioning. Talk about searching for that industrial vibe and hitting a home run!
Just as wonderful as the location, this couple was an absolute thrill to work with. Michael is smooth and easy going and Tyler is energetic and adventurous. Together they share a love for volunteer work and good food. They also share a love for cars. How can you not like a couple that love to race drift cars!
In any case our photo session was filled with so many options it almost went beyond 3 hours. Every time we turned a corner at the mill a new spot would appear with at least 5 different shot options. We are so thankful for the opportunity of working with Michael and Tyler on this engagement session. We also look forward to returning to the Lindale Mill with another couple sometime in the near future, as we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible at this fantastic location.
Need to see more? Take a look at their video slideshow.
Engagement sessions aren’t always easy for some couples. Some folks are camera shy or simply don’t enjoy being the center of attention in public. Thankfully just about all those people open up half way through a session when they see how much fun one of those shoots can be. Then you have couples with absolutely no inhibitions about letting loose in front of the lens. They could have a thousand eyes staring at them and they wouldn’t have a care in the world. Such was the case on a March afternoon when we caught up with Jef and Sara Lynn. This lovely pair are professional film, television, stage and voiceover actors. Jef has multiple 2018 TV roles in production and has worked on projects for Lifetime, OWN, Discovery, Audible and others. He is perhaps best known for his voiceover work with Scientific American and the New York Times. Sara also has various TV and film appearances including projects with NBC/Universal, HGTV, Lifetime. She is also a graduate of the distinguished Dell’Arte International. Currently they both run the Springer Film Institute based in Georgia. So, it’s easy to see how a couple of actors could make this shoot so fantastic. From the very start they were relaxed and up for any adventure as we navigated through Piedmont Park. Honestly though, the success of this photo session was truly based on their sincere love for each other. That was the star of the show. Mix in their wit and unique sense of humor and it was all we could do to keep up with them. This could have easily gone on for hours but unfortunately, we ran out of time. Thanks again Jef and Sara on such a wonderful afternoon!
We had so much fun with Jef and Sara Lynn at the park. They forgot we were even there.
Marc and Meghan first met in a Marketing class at Georgia College. Meghan was sitting in the front row, and when Marc walked into the classroom, he proceeded to sit down right next to her. Marc then introduced himself with a wide grin and let her know he doesn’t normally like to sit in the front row. That class sparked their friendship that grew into something very special.
After about a year of very close friendship, Marc had been wanting to take Meghan to dinner, so he asked her on a few dates. Not wanting to lose the close friendship they loved so much, she politely declined. However, that didn’t stop Marc from asking her out again. In May of 2013, Marc asked again and she finally agreed to dinner. Marc took her to Piccolo’s Italian Steakhouse. After that date Meghan was just kicking herself for not saying yes sooner, since she realized then how much she cared for Marc and was really falling in LOVE with him. Many more dates followed, and have been more madly in love with each other ever since!
Aren’t they the cutest?
Marc and Meghan are just naturals in front of the camera.
The Proposal
After almost three years of dating Marc knew he found the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It hit him while he was golfing with some friends after they jokingly asked when he was going to “pop the question.” He laughed it off, but then thought, he was really going to marry this girl! A couple weeks later he went to pick out the perfect wedding ring. Meghan loves surprises, so he had to pick out the perfect ring without any help so she wouldn’t find out.
For the next few weeks Marc planned the perfect rooftop proposal at a downtown club in Atlanta. Everything was on schedule until the day of the proposal…Marc received a call at 10 am that he could no longer use their roof.
On April 8th, 2016 while Meghan thought he was at the gym, Marc was frantically driving all over Atlanta to find the perfect spot. Around 1 pm that day Marc remembered another Midtown club with a rooftop terrace! He called the manager and told him his situation and they agreed to keep the club open for an extra hour for Marc to propose. Upon arrival, there was only a bartender, manager and one or two other people at the club. Meghan thought it was strange how empty it was for a Friday, but the bartender played it off casually and told her their table was being prepared in the other room. They were asked to wait out on the terrace. It was an extremely windy day and Meghan had asked if they should go inside to wait. Marc convinced her to stay outside and they got some champagne.
A few minutes later the manager came out and set a cake on their table while they were enjoying the beautiful Atlanta skyline. Meghan tried to let him know that they didn’t order any food, and suddenly looked down and saw “Will you Marry Me”…by the time she turned back around and Marc was on one knee asking her to marry him.
I know you want to see more. Click below for a video slideshow from their Roswell Mill engagement session.
We are so excited to see you two again in a few months along with your closest family and friends as you dedicate your lives to each other. Congratulations!
