I’m still in shock that it’s now January and 2011 is over! It was the best year yet as far as growth in my business and I can’t thank all of my clients enough for being a part of that. I got to document so many beautiful memories this year and I started scrolling through all the weddings and remembering the fun details. Then I decided I think we should all take a trip back through the year to see some of the best things and give 2012 brides some inspiration in planning their weddings! I tried to just keep 3-4 pictures in each category although some categories could have been filled up!

We’ll start with my favorite details…in no particular order

Best Bridal Bouquets

Heidi’s bouquet designed by Tom Williams and Jeffery Highers, Panama City, Florida:

Jessica’s bouquet designed by Bonnie Melin with Ruby Reds Floral Jacksonville, Florida:

Natalie’s bouquet designed by Missy Gunnels Flowers, Tallahassee, Florida:

Best Florals

Erin and Mitch’s wedding, florals by Nature Scapes Florist:

Sara and Cyrus’ wedding, florals by Missy Gunnels Flowers:

Heidi and Kevin’s wedding, florals by Tom Williams and Jeffery Highers:

Best Bridal Gowns
(This was a tough one, but I seem to have gravitated towards lace and ruffles!)

Christen’s custom made antique lace gown, by Cheryl Taylor of Taylor Clarke Bridals in Atlanta, Georgia
:

Erin’s gorgeous ruffled dress by Martina Liana from The Collection in Winter Park:

Jessica’s vintage-looking dress from Melissa Sweet by Priscilla of Boston:

Best Dressed Bridal Parties

Leah and Dan’s crew in tan suits and the girls wearing Tom’s shoes:

Jessica and Kyle’s dapper group in suspenders and bowties, and the girls in their own choice of black dress:

Erin and Mitch’s beachy elegant crowd in navy dresses and blazers (along with Sperry shoes for the guys):

Heidi and Kevin’s huge group with the guys in tan and the girls popping in bright blue:

Cutest Flower Girls
(again, this was a hard category to choose because a flower girl by definition is cute.)

Jennie and Jarret’s little girl, Emilia, stole the show in her sweet blue dress:

Leah and Michael had Brooklin steal their show as well!

Heidi and Kevin had their friends’ two little girls in their wedding. I just can’t get over their sweet smiles!

Jessica & Kyle also had two flower girls, and when you add in their dog, Tilly you had a winning combination:

Best Cakes

My favorite cake from the whole year was Sarah and Michael’s that looked like a birch tree for their Colorado wedding. Created by Schmidt’s Bakery in Loveland, CO

:

Another favorite was from Sara and Cyrus’ wedding. Not only was the cake from Katie’s Cakes beautiful, but I loved the way they displayed it:

It will have to be a tie for my favorite groom’s cake. Either the golf ball cake from Susie and Chris’ wedding by Metro Custom Cakes:

Or this amazing globe cake from Leah and Dan’s wedding that has a map of where Dan has been throughout his life, made by family friend Dan Smith {capsmitio@aol.com} :

Best Overall Details

Jessica and Kyle’s details were amazing! She designed each centerpiece individually, and had tons of other cute things around the reception area:

Christen and Bob’s beach wedding had so many beautiful details:

Lindsey and Kenny had an awesome candy bar for their guests, and I loved the hanging flower balls and fan programs for their ceremony:

For Sarah and Michael’s reception, Sarah used homemade succulents to decorate the tables. They were just the prettiest little things!

Best Ring Shots
I love the bling! I always give myself a few minutes with just the rings so they get their proper close-up. I always love seeing the unique designs that the gentlemen are picking out these days! Lucky girls!

My favorite ring shot all year has to be from Lindsey and Kenny’s wedding. I stuck them in a bowl of gumdrops on their candy bar!

One of the most unique designs I saw all year was the ring Nick had made for Carolina:

And I love the chocolate diamond that Michael got for Sarah, after first losing it in an antique store and then later tracking it down!

Best Shoes

Another fun detail to photograph is always the bride’s choice of shoe! I can’t figure out how they manage high heels all day, but they sure are fun to take pictures of!

I’m partial to pink so of course I looooved Sarah’s hot pink heels!

From Lindsey and Ben’s wedding I loved her navy heels!

And from our New Years Eve wedding, I loved Crissy’s sparkly white, sky high heels!

Best Hair and Makeup

I love when I get to work with people over and over at weddings cause I know what to expect! One of the weddings I worked on with Jenifer Breedlove-Kinsey this year was Christen and Bob’s wedding. I just thought Christen looked stunning with her long curled hair and makeup, along with her two sisters that Jenifer dolled up also:

I also loved the beachy look of Leah’s side-swept do, and her makeup was pretty awesome too! Hair Stylists, Lindsey George & Ashley Lovett and makeup Artist, Bre Bradford

And for my last wedding of the year I also got to pair up with Jenifer and she did a beautiful job on Crissy’s hair and makeup!

Best Favors
It’s always nice to thank your guests for coming with a personal little favor. These were my favorites this year!

The homemade beef jerky from Susie and Chris’ wedding made everyone happy! (including me, so yummy!):

I loved this really cool jar of flavored sea salt from Erin and Mitch’s wedding:

And my new favorite trend is a photo booth. They’re especially cool if you can print out duplicates of the film strips so your guests can take one home with your names and wedding date on them. Like these from Brittany and Mark’s wedding!

Best Exits (or Entrances)
Always a fun part of the day is if the couple has a fun exit planned from their reception or ceremony. So many fun options!

To exit from their fun, afternoon reception, Leah and Dan got away on a surrey pedaled by their friends!

I loved Lindsey and Ben’s bubble exit as they left the church right after saying “I Do!”:

Sparklers always make a fun exit, especially when you stop mid-way for a kiss like Brittany and Mark did:

This was technically an entrance, but I couldn’t help but post Jessica and Kyle as they walked into their reception for their First Dance:

I also love this entrance as Carolina walked down the staircase to meet her dad before he walked her down the aisle:

Best Ceremony Spots
Where you hold your ceremony is so important! It really speaks to you as a couple and sets the tone for the rest of your day. Here were some of my favorites, from all different walks of life.

Shawna and Jonathan’s sweet church ceremony at First Baptist Church was one of my favorites, in Jacksonville, FL:

I think it’s obvious why I love Sarah and Michael’s ceremony overlooking the Rocky Mountains in Colorado! Their wedding was held at Black Canyon Inn

in Estes Park, CO

And I loved Natalie and Robert’s ceremony overlooking the water at Golden Eagle Country Club:

Best Dance Crowds
There were some really hoppin’ receptions this year, but these stood out as the ones with the craziest dancers! (always fun for a photographer) 🙂

Lindsey and Kenny’s reception had people dancing before the last person had even made it through the buffet line! They couldn’t wait to get going!

Lindsey and Ben’s reception had some of the most memorable dancers. There’s a special song that when I hear it now, it takes me straight back to their party! 😉

Susie and Chris’ reception had a great mix of music, from her Arabic heritage all the way to Thriller, where everyone showed off their MJ moves. (here’s Chris trying his hand at some Arabic dancing):

And Brittany and Mark had the dance floor filled all night with some crazy stuff! Even break dancing and the WORM!

Best “Moments”
Every wedding has them. Those super special moments that make you realize how awesome your job is, because if that moment hadn’t been documented, it just wouldn’t be right. Here’s my favorite moment from each wedding.

Enjoying their first dance – Carolina and Nick 2.20.11

Another favorite first dance image – Jessica and Kyle 3.12.11

Natalie’s dad walking in to see her for the first time in her wedding dress – Natalie and Robert 4.9.11

A romantic First Dance – Lindsey and Ben 5.7.11

Sara’s brother toasting her and Cyrus at their reception – Sara and Cyrus 5.14.11

Dan having a quiet moment with his dad before he walked down the aisle – Dan and Leah 5.21.11

Sarah singing (and dancing) to “Midnight Train to Georgia” at the reception (complete with backup singers) – Sarah and Michael 5.28.11

Shawna and her mom putting the finishing touches on while she’s getting dressed – Shawna and Jonathan 6.4.11

Jennie and her dad having their own “First Look” before she walked down the aisle – Jennie and Jarret 6.11.11

Smiles during their recessional – Susie and Chris 7.23.11

Lindsey and Kenny heading back up the aisle (my favorite part is her little tennis shoe sticking out) – Lindsey and Kenny 8.6.11

Brooklin glancing up at her mom’s dress – Leah and Michael 9.10.11

Erin’s veil blowing in the wind – Erin and Mitch 9.24.11

Christen walking down the aisle with her dad – Christen and Bob 10.8.11

Brittany throwing her bouquet and it splitting into a dozen pieces – Brittany and Mark 11.11.11

Pronounced husband and wife! Heidi and Kevin 11.19.11

Crissy putting a rose on a remembrance chair for her mom – Crissy and Kevin 12.31.11

It was a complete honor to share in all of these weddings this year. I hope you will all keep in touch and call me when it’s time to document the next step in your life (some of you already have)! 😉

I plan on having one more little recap of all the couples who chose to do a First Look this year, and I will also be posting the full blog from Crissy and Kevin’s wedding soon, since their wedding was the very last day in 2011!