Stories
When it comes to iconic wedding venues in Atlanta, few locations offer the charm of the Trolley Barn. Nestled in the heart of Inman Park, this historic gem is old-world charm that’s perfect for a summer celebration like a wedding! A wedding at The Trolley Barn provides a picturesque backdrop for a wedding that is both intimate and lively.
"For our engagement pictures we knew we wanted to take them in Atlanta. It is where our love story began. Everyone does the park and bridge pictures which are beautiful but we wanted something different to capture who we are. So, thinking back to our first dates, we always went to breakfast. Jarrett worked nights and I worked days and weekends so breakfast was usually the only time we were both free to meet. Homegrown is one of the greats I’m Atlanta, I mean the Comfy Chicken! We were there often.'“
The walls were traditional white marble, which served as an elegant canvas for decor. The focal point was a 15 ft tall archway, which was decorated with cascading greenery and florals highlighted with dozens of candles. The colors were fall inspired, with terracotta bridesmaids dresses and burgundy ties for the groomsmen, but with lighter colored florals with pops of bright colors, such as yellow and periwinkle, in order to keep the visuals bright and fun.
The grooms parents live on a ton of property in Alabama and they wanted to incorporate their home in our big day somehow. The bride saw tree stumps with candles on Pinterest one day and the idea struck her — "we should find a tree on their property, chop it up, and use them during our ceremony". The brides MIL really helped make it come to life in the exact way she wanted. And in doing that, it helped her get the reception decor vision together. They used wood rounds on all of our tables with loose greenery and candlelight that was *chefs kiss* simple and classic — exactly what they wanted.
There's something to be said for a romantic, surprise engagement, but a little pre-planning can go a long way. Because proposal planning is often so quick, I would recommend reaching out to photographers as soon as you have a rough idea of when you plan to propose. Depending on the day of the week or even the season you plan to propose during photographer can be extremely busy. Reaching out a day or two before you plan to propose might not offer an available photographer.
Never have I ever photographed a maternity session for a dog and can I say, bring on the pregnant puppers! This session was so stinking cute and so much fun. Nothing could have prepared me for the challenge it was going to be to get an uncomfortable mama dog to pose, sit still, and basically do what we wanted. Winnie had the vision of Bella’s maternity session in a shire, magical, whimsical - dreamy.
Engagement session, check! Wedding, check! Maternity, CHECK! Meeting clients who soon become friends is such an added bonus to being a photographer. From day one of the meeting with Hannah and Chris I knew they were great people. Being able to capture their life journey and all the new memories was even more special.
Imagine having to postpone your wedding in June of 2020 because of a worldwide pandemic. This, unfortunately, is something a lot of us wedding vendors and couples can imagine all too well. Ok, so you have imagined having to postpone your 100+ wedding day.. Now imagine the new date in June of 2021. There is a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Claudette, to be exact. Now, that second scenario might not be as familiar to most.
With so many gorgeous locations around Atlanta it can be hard to know what locations are free to use and which locations require a fee or if you are even allowed on the property at all. Before you decide on a location for your engagement photos it is always best to talk with your wedding photographer about the location.
What happens when your wedding location is your backyard and your backyard has rolling green grass and a huge pond and a wood bridge and dirt trails? You take your engagement photos there, too! Why wouldn’t you?! I couldn’t thank Christians' family enough for inviting me to their home and for letting me explore all the wedding day options.
Oakland Cemetery for engagement photos? I know, right?! Who would suggest that place? …me! I would! Anyone who has lived inside Atlanta for any amount of time has some familiarity with Oakland Cemetery. The grounds are absolutely stunning. Not only is Oakland Cemetery one of the largest green spaces in Atlanta, it also sits on six acres!
Located in the Historic West End of Atlanta, Monday Night Garage is the newest location for Monday Night Brewing focusing on sours, barrel aged and experimentation! The space is expansive and eclectic making it the perfect backdrop for a wedding day. From the brick, to the barrels, to greenery and let’s talk about all the mismatched chandeliers throughout - it was easy to see why Lenssa and Shelton fell in love with this space for their wedding day.
Trolley Barn Atlanta is another favorite wedding venue of mine here in Atlanta. Not only is this wedding venue full of history and 19th century architecture, but the venue has a stunning garden! Tara and Paul’s wedding day at the Trolley barn was beyond stunning utilizing all areas of the reclaimed venue letting the grounds tell the story of their wedding day. After photographing many weddings at the Trolley Barn I can say this is the first wedding I have photographed there where the ceremony was INSIDE! So exciting.
Tara and Paul opted not to have a first look before the wedding ceremony, leaving the surprise for their friends and family to witness. You all know me, normally I stress the importance of doing a first look to ensure enough time for all the portraits that have to be accomplished during a small window - but Tara and Paul made more than enough time for all the portraits even during a little rain sprinkle!
How stinking cute is the inside!? LEGIT I have photographed so many weddings at this venue and like I said, and never had the pleasure of photographing the wedding ceremony inside! I have to say, I loved it. The intimate and cozy vibe was special leading right up to the ring warming.
The idea behind a ring warming includes all of your guests. Guests take turns, during the ceremony, hold the wedding rings and bestowing prayers and wishes onto them for the couple. A warming ceremony is a really lovely activity to have all your guests participate in at your wedding ceremony.
Atlanta Wedding Photographer
Atlanta Wedding Photographer
And with a quick flip of the room while your guests are outside enjoying a nice cocktail in the garden, the inside is transformed into a reception space where you will have your first dance together, your first meal together, your first party together as husband and wife. The rest of the evening can be spent on the dance floor, or outside if you need some fresh air, or from the second story watching the party unfold from above!
Let me preface this next series of images with this song: If I had a million dollars - Tara and her dad sang it together, but Tara’s dad had a fun surprise for her! Ok, now you can see the rest of the images! There is a line that say, “ If I had a million dollars (if I had a million dollars) Well I'd buy you a monkey (haven't you always wanted a monkey?)” and let me tell you… monkeys flew! This was a surprise to me and the bride … and most of the guests! Not to mention they made a great guest gift for everyone to take home at the end of the evening.
…and finally BUBBLES! This group of people really know how to celebrate. There was so much joy and love inside the Trolley Barn that night and that kind of celebrate truly does last a lifetime.
Wedding Planner: Peachy Keen
Wedding Florist: Peachy Keen
Wedding Photographer: Krisandra Evans Photography
Second Wedding Photographer: Betsy McPherson
Wedding Venue: Trolley Barn
Cater: Fox Bros
Donuts: Sublime
Cake: Publix
DJ: Sifi Ent
When Holly asked me if I travel for weddings, of course, my response was Y E S! Because Holly and Adam’s wedding would be in Charleston we racked our brains to come up with an engagement session location that was travel friendly for me and something a little different for them. After much googling, we found Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
The DeKalb History Center is one of my favorite venues to photograph weddings at. From the grand windows, the marble throughout, and just all around vibe of the wedding venue. If you aren’t familiar with the DeKalb History Center you may know it as the Historic DeKalb Courthouse! ..and if you aren’t familiar with either of those names let me give you a little history about the building.
The building use to serve as the old courthouse! Now it houses permanent and temporary exhibits relating to the County’s history along with a lot of wonderful weddings! Alesha and Nick complimented the venue with greenery and blush colors in the florals along with the bridesmaids in sage and the groomsmen in classic grey with sage ties really sets the stage for this summer wedding.
Alesha and Nick were ready when it came to portrait session time. They also booked an engagement session with me, so they knew my mumbo jumbo wording when it comes to posing and the different cues I like to use. This made it so easy to get a lot of different wedding portraits for their wedding day.
During their engagement session we went to Piedmont Park and then we literally just walked around the streets of Atlanta letting the vibe come to us. See more of their engagement session HERE. Exploring the city and letting the city come to us for their photos really allowed us to get to know each other. They really got a chance to see how I photograph in ALL situations and I really got to know them as a couple.
There were so many special little touches this couple did for their wedding day that truly made it their own. Like you saw above, Alesha had each of her bridesmaids along with her mother help her into her dress. As you are going to see below, Nick had a very special ring security as part of his groomsmen.
The desserts! How fun and perfect the brushing on the cake and in the exact colors of Alesha’s color pallet and who doesn’t love a cupcake with sprinkles! Metrotainment Bakery really pulled out the stops here with this amazing display of wedding dessert!
GLOW STICKS! A wedding exit with glow sticks is a great option if you feel your guests aren’t responsible enough to hold a sparkler (yes, some couples do have that fear, ha ha), or if your venue doesn’t allow sparklers or if you are just looking for something different. There is no right or wrong way to exit from your wedding plus the glow sticks make for a fun reception time! Alesha and Nick handed out their glow stick close to their exit time, so their guests got the opportunity to dance with them and allowed me to capture a different type of dancing photos. When it was time to exit all everyone had to do was go outside. Easy Peasy!
Venue: DeKalb History Center
Photographer: Krisandra Evans
Planner: Wedding Belles
Florist: Candler Park Flowers
Beauty: Shadani Beauty
Caterer: Fox Bros
Desserts: Metrotainment Bakery
DJ: SE Events
When I think of wedding day bliss I automatically think of Courtney and Nick’s wedding day at Naylor Hall in Roswell, GA. From the rainy and foggy morning, getting behind on the timeline, the beautiful venue, and fun cake! Nothing could wipe the smiles and tears from the couples’ faces. There was even a tearjerker first look with Courtney’s dad that had us laughing and crying at the same time.
The wedding day first look with the couple is one of my favorite moments. Depending on the timeline for the day this may be the only chance the couple actually gets to be alone to enjoy the fact that they are finally at their wedding day! This first look was one of the sweetest.
Before this beautiful wedding day, I had never photographed a Naylor Hall wedding. This wedding venue is absolutely stunning! From the traditional southern porch (with blue roof I might add), to the giant windows that fill the rooms with light. There isn’t a spot on the property that is just, “eh” for taking portraits. This couple really filled every space like the venue was made for them and their day.
Weddings days for the most part run the same. There is the getting ready part, the portraits part, the ceremony, more portraits, of course the PARTY! With that being said, no two weddings are ever the same and I still get surprised with every wedding day I photograph. From little details to a full on horse and carriage for the bride to enter on! Yea, I said it, she entered via horse and frickkin carriage!
Check! I have photographed a bride entering her ceremony in a horse drawn carriage.
How fun is this grooms’ cake?! Little touches like this surprise me every time. This is just another way to make your wedding day your very own!
If you don’t follow me on social media ( CLICK HERE ) you missed the meaning of these last few photos. When I met with Courtney and Nick for our final meeting before their wedding day they had mentioned not wanting to have a formal exit, that they would rather enjoy the company of their guests.. I love this except from the photography standpoint. I wanted their gallery to have and end point and not just a photo of the guests and then nothing. We came up with a “fake exit'“!
Once the dance floor opened we pulled the wedding party outside with the couple and a basket of bubbles. Not only does it give the wedding party a chance to hang with the couple for a few more minutes, but they also don’t have me in their face until the very last minute of their reception. This is a fun alternative to ending your reception early to get all your guests lined up outside for a formal exit.
Whatever you decide to do on your wedding day - first look or not first look, formal exit or no formal exit, just make sure the day is yours. At the end of it all, that is what your guests are going to remember, the details that made the day unique showcasing your love story. That is all that really matters!
Photographer: Krisandra Evans Photography
Venue: Naylor Hall
Arabia Mountain is the northern of two peaks in the nature preserve, in DeKalb County, Georgia and literally down the road from my house. I had never been there before this engagement session with Shea and Cody, but had heard of the mountain many many times before. This location is special to Shea and Cody because they, as a couple, spend a lot of time here. When they asked if I would take their engagement photos there I was beyond excited. It’s always fun for me to get to explore a new location with an amazing couple. So, I left it in their hands to show me around the mountain and I was able to capture just how much they love Arabia mountain and each other.
