In November of 2020, I had the opportunity to photograph a marvelous wedding at The Homestead Venue, part of the planned community at Cloudland Station in Chicakmauga, Georgia. It was the marriage of Deanna and Colton, a lovely couple. I was brought to the party by planner extraordinaire, Deborah Poe.

First, let me say something about the venue. I liked it for its simplicity and how nicely everything is contained in a beautifully appointed area. The old farm house provides an excellent place for “getting ready” (as Deanna and her bridesmaids used it) and the large barn is a great reception area , as well as an indoor space if the weather does not cooperate. The day for Deanna and Colton arrived bright and sunny, and was warm for mid-November, with some fall color still available.

Now let’s talk about Deanna and Colton - a class act, to be sure. I love laid back people and these two, as well as their friends and family, made the day easy for me. What made the photography even easier was the attention to detail that Deanna (and hey, props to her mom, Denise) put into planning the wedding, as well as the fact that the couple was stunning. Just look at them!

Let’s look at some of the highlights of their wonderful day! The colors were a perfect match for the season - bring on the warm tones and gold!

Something beautiful and sweet, maybe even bittersweet. Both had grandmothers who were widows, so special corsages were made for them that carried lockets with pictures of their late husbands. It was emotional for the women, to say the least, but made them feel so cherished.

I say a champagne spray is a must at any wedding - what say you? Deanna wanted to toast her bridesmaids with a bottle of bubbly (and you know, it can be sparkling anything, even juice if you’re a teetotaler). The porch of the farm house was a great backdrop for this!

I love seeing “reveals” to Dad by the bride. I had a special relationship with my Dad and I wish I could have had a moment like this. Deanna’s father carried a lot of emotion in his heart that day!

Deanna and Colton opted for a “first touch” in lieu of a “first look,” choosing to exchange notes to one another.

Okay, this was my favorite moment of the day - the wink that Deanna’s father gave Colton as he escorted her down the aisle at the ceremony! Let me tell you, you can have a perfectly composed and lit picture, but gesture and emotion will always trump that! It is the unscripted moments like this that we love to look at!

And no wedding is complete without a LIT reception - which Deanna and Colton hosted like rockstars! A cake cutting to start and then it was on to getting the dance floor packed.

What a great day! Let me tell you, what makes a wedding great is not necessarily the food or the decor - it is the attitude of the bride and groom. When you have a couple like Deanna and Colton, and loving friends and family around them, the atmosphere is electric! I know a lot of brides sweat the details before the big day but ultimately the goal is to have FUN!

Congratulations to Deanna and Colton! May your life together be a happy one!