A Lively and Modern Wedding at Annesdale Mansion | Memphis Tennessee | The Hatches : Wedding + Elopement Photographers

A Lively and Modern Wedding at Annesdale Mansion

Kaley & Wes had known of each other for a while through Kaley's brother but one day when Wes came over to Kaley's house to hang beams from her ceiling, something clicked. She kept finding new things for him to come over and fix and then one day, Wes asked Kaley on a date. 

Fast forward to when I met Kaley and Wes at a Starbucks and we hit it off SO well. We bonded over Katy Perry and our love of things old. Speaking of KP, Kaley is actually Katy's first cousin. Yuh, THE Katheryn Hudson now known as Katy Perry. 

How FREAKING cool, right? 

We met again to tour Annesdale, because we had never been to this venue before we definitely wanted to see the venue and get familiar with the grounds. Annesdale is one of THE most beautiful venues here in Memphis and we were completely blown away at all of the detail and history inside! 

On their wedding day, Kaley got ready to all the albums of Katy Perry, even though Katy couldn't be there for family, we kept her there in spirit ;) Kaley was relaxed and enjoying the morning with her girl friends and awaiting the anxious moment of becoming Mrs Belote. <3

Jacob and I were so honored to have been able to witness Kaley and Wes's marriage with their closest family and friends. We are beside ourselves that this is our job and that we get to see joyful moments like this just about every weekend! 

Here are some of our favorites from their STUNNING wedding! Congrats Mr & Mrs Belote! 

Venue: Annesdale Mansion

Photographer: The Hatches

Caterer: CFY Catering

Cake: Cakes by Mom and Me

Flowers: Lynn Doyle Flowers

Hair: Tiffany Wilson

Makeup: Mallory Burnett

Band: The Sensations Band

Officiant: Chad Hampton

Best of 2017 | A Year In Review | The Hatches - Tennessee Wedding & Elopement Photographers

@thehatchesphoto - 2017 Best Nine - Instagram

Where do we even begin? 

It's that time of the year where we reflect on our past year and reminisce on our memories. I don't know if many other photographers felt this way, but I had this overwhelming feeling, that I really didn't do much this year. (I know call me crazy, I was always somewhere doing something) I don't know why I was stuck in this mindset but I'm glad I got stuck there because it pushed me to start going through all of my images from 2017 and prove myself wrong. 

Well that was a mistake. Not a mistake as in that I couldn't prove myself wrong, (because I surely did) but a mistake as in - "shit, how am I going to narrow this down?"

I didn't get all of my stats together this year like I did last year with how many states we visited and how many weddings we shot and yadda yadda because, if we're being honest, the only people who genuinely are interested in that are other photographers so they can figure out how to "one-up" someone else.

JK. (only half kidding) LOL

This year we focused on feelings, emotion and how to sustain images that make you feel like you were there. We really wanted to put into perspective how intimacy meant more than something sexual, but being completely vulnerable with your partner in a way where empathy and adoration poured from your body language. Judging by the images below, i think we did a pretty good job. 

Our main goal was to find ourselves in our work. Meaning : to become what we wanted our images to interpret. Romantic, Fleeting, Intimate and Adventurous. Marriage is a commitment and a journey within itself, just embrace it. 

One of our biggest accomplishments in 2017 (besides bringing our 3rd baby boy into the world) was The Real Workshop. My dear friend, Elizabeth Hoard and I had the chance at hosting our own wedding workshop back in August of 2017. We held it at Petit Jean State Park with 9 incredible speakers, 50 new and established photographers and a rugged trek to a waterfall while 8 and 1/2 months pregnant. Didn't really think that last one through. But we made it out alive. Barely.

I'm not going to sell you on why we started this workshop or how we came across the idea but if you are interested, click the link above and read allllll about it.

We danced, laughed, ate, traveled and saw more this year than we ever have. We learned from mistakes and we broke new grounds. We couldn't be more grateful for 2017 than we already are. Especially, with the amazing clients and new friends it brought us. 

We have SO much to look forward to in 2018. Here's to this past year and all of its glory.

*cheers*

A Waterfall Engagement | Rock Island State Park | Tennessee | The Hatches Wedding + Elopement Photography

ALISHA & SPENCER

Intimate Waterfall Engagement Session at Rock Island State Park

First of all, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Kaila Lassey from Klassey Productions for introducing Alisha to me. THANK YOU. 

Alisha and I met at Barista Parlor in Nashville over some delish coffee and got to know each other a little better after emailing back and forth for a while. Needless to say, within the first 10 minutes, I was obsessed with her and Spencer's relationship. Dreamy McDreamboat. Mostly I just wanted her hair. 

We talked about everything! Interests, hobbies, favorite wedding details, her dress, her venue, Spencer's family, her job and of course, her videographers... Kaila and Jay. Whom just so happen to be our very best friends. 

Fast forward to a couple months later when we all decided to get together so that Kaila and Jay could film their Love Story. (If you don't know what a Love Story is, hire Kaila and Jay and you WON'T be disappointed) We decided on Rock Island State Park because DUH, look at that waterfall!

As Klassey Productions filmed the ever flowing beauty that was radiating from Alisha and Spencer, Jacob and I were steadily documenting the still moments. Alisha and Spencer dove right into their feelings for each other and gave us some of the most inspirational images we could have gotten in a short amount of time (it was HOT). Their chemistry was one for the books. We were so in love with the romanticism that was pouring from their bodies. 

UGH be still my heart. One thing I love the most about my job, is the different stories that come from each couple that we work with. No two stories or couples are ever the same. And that is something that blows me away every time I work with someone. I am a hopeless romantic, so getting couples who are just as hopeless as I am, make me squeal with excitement.

We are so honored to be with Alisha and Spencer on their wedding day at Mint Springs Farm in Nashville, Tn this fall. Even MORE honored that we get to work alongside Klassey Productions.
CONGRATS YOU TWO. 

Here are some of our faves from their Love Story! (Also, be sure to check out their video below!)

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A Bohemian Inspired Waterfall Wedding | Gatlinburg, Tennessee | The Hatches : Wedding + Elopement Photographers

MR & MRS CHURCHILL

When I first had my meeting with Brianna, she had already filled me in on how determined she was to have us photograph her wedding day. This girl stole my heart from the very start. I couldn't get over her precious little family and her gypsy heart. She was my free spirit bride. Heck if it wouldn't have been 28 degrees during their engagement session, she would have gone barefoot. 
(Note : I looked out for her safety haha, no frozen piggies here!)

Brianna, Kelsey (Connor & Co.) and I all sat down at Muddy's in Midtown and began planning away. The more Brianna talked about her wedding, the more I fell in love. With her, the idea of her wedding and her ADORABLE family. Just wait until you see them, SO CUTE.

It was calling for rain all day for her wedding. Yet there wasn't a cloud in the sky on the day of. We got so much sunshine. It was glorious! Most of everything for their wedding was done by friends and family, and the florals were bought wholesale and put together by Kelsey. I even had the pleasure of helping and donated some decor and made Brianna's floral crown for her. 

This family quickly became my family, too. They're WHOLE family, yes WHOLE, was so inviting and so caring and made sure that Jacob and I were more than comfortable during our stay. We spent the whole weekend with them!

During their reception, Brianna made a special video for Cody. I won't spoil it, I'll let you see as you scroll down ;) But their daughter also had some news that she was too excited to share. So during Brianna's mom's speech, Aubrey announced that she was getting a little baby sister or brother. It was PRICELESS! And a surprise to their guests!

Unfortunately, after a couple of weeks, Baby C was born sleeping. My heart shattered in two for this family. I am so glad that they have become so dear to me and my family. I know that I am attracting the right clients for me because they all become my family by their wedding day.

Brianna and Cody are some of the most genuine hearted people I have ever met. I am honored to call them friends and humbled to have been able to document their milestone in life. 
 

Here are some of our favorites from their wedding day in Gatlinburg! See their awesome vendors at the bottom! <3

Brianna's gift to Cody was simply priceless. She gathered up pictures from all over the world that had notes on them from strangers on Facebook saying how far Brianna's love reached for him. He cried. She cried. Their parents cried. It was so moving. 

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Venue : Serenity Falls Cabins & Rentals

Dress : Coco Medley

Flowers : Kelsey Connor

Floral Crown : Emily Hatch

Coordinator / Planner : Connor & Co.

Photography : The Hatches Wedding + Elopement Photography