We are just beyond blessed with the amazing weddings and couples we get to work with. When we met Heather and Josh we knew they would be down to earth and genuine, and getting to work with them throughout this year did not disappoint. We ran around Apalachicola with them for their engagement session, and getting to explore the gorgeous Quail Branch Lodge for their wedding was so much fun. Rain clouds came in and out all afternoon making it a little tricky to go outside for pictures, but Heather was a total trooper. It started sprinkling once we got them out to the pine trees, but instead of freaking out (like I would have), she just snuggled in closer to Josh and gave us the prettiest rain pics I’ve seen in awhile! Everyone’s families were warm and wonderful to us, and continued to make our job joyous and easy. Thanks so much for that you all!
Let me give a huge shoutout to Melissa at the Quail Branch Lodge really quick. We had never been out to this venue (it’s near Valdosta, so about 90 minutes from Tallahassee) so everything was new to us. Heather had put Melissa as the on-site coordinator, but people with venues are usually pretty hands-off. But not Melissa. This girl was the full planning package, and even went the extra mile to display all of the details on a cute tray before we arrived (pictured below) and just had everything running so smoothly. We really hope to get invited out there again soon because we had a blast!
Venue: Quail Branch Lodge
Coordinator: Melissa Boatenreiter
Floral Design: Southern Occasions Florist
Caterer: Rico’s Tacos (holy moly so good….homemade flour tortillas and guacamole, need I say more?)
Cake Artist: The Cake Fairy, Thomasville, GA
Disc Jockey: Lights, Sound, Action
Makeup Artist: Jamee Wright Makeup & Style, Tallahassee
Hair Stylist: Brittney Nolan of Salon Bloom, Valdosta
Bridal Gown: Something New Boutique, Colorado Springs, CO
Heather had her grandmother’s rosary beads woven into her bouquet:
Gotta get that setting spray! Jamee always does such a great job:
The tray of goodies that Melissa had waiting for me:
Josh’s mom was keeping her little granddaughter occupied on the pool table:
Soooo many first look pictures, but when it’s good, it’s good!
The Lodge had cafe lights literally everywhere, so every angle was pretty magical!
Storm clouds rolling in!
Heather only had a few specific requests, and their rings with a fish hook and the lake in the background was one of them. I think we got it!
Maybe my favorite from the day. I just love how calm they are despite the sprinkles:
All the different angles of Heather coming down the aisle with her dad:
And two different angles of Heather’s dad handing her off. I loved both of them:
The rain cleared up for the ceremony and even gave us some much needed blue in the sky:
How gorgeous is this arbor and chandelier at Quail Branch Lodge??
Waiting out a little bit more rain on the porch:
Then Melissa loaded us up on a golf cart and drove us to this long, skinny dock. Forgive the million shots from this setup, but I couldn’t choose. They were all slightly different and I had to share them all!
Would you believe this next picture was taken AFTER all the dark ones above? We’ve got camera tricks! 😉
The Lodge had so many large, beautiful rooms to utilize. This was the main dining room for dinner:
Their “guestbook” was a paddle that everyone signed:
And also prepare for first dance overload, because the string lights made everything so fun!
What a perfect day you two! Thanks so much for letting us be a part of it. It’s one we’ll never forget!