When I hear “backyard wedding” I start envisioning so many different possibilities. But none of what I was thinking about was enough to prepare me for Lauren and Katherine’s backyard wedding. They set the bar really high when it comes to having a wedding at home. Being an Atlanta Wedding Photographer and well, wedding photographer in general, I have seen a lot of backyard weddings, but this Atlanta wedding was one to write home about.
When I asked the couple what their inspiration behind their big day was they said, “We wanted to enjoy our wedding venue for more than one night, so we built our dream backyard”. How GENIUS! When you have your home as your venue its great because you can incorporate special touches that having a wedding at an event venue you might not be able to do.
For Lauren and Katherine details like having their dog as the ring bearer was one of these important touches. They also loved the idea of being able to relieve the wedding and memories simply by walking outside. They saw this type of wedding on The Fosters and it sealed the deal for them. I feel like I am pretty up to date when it comes to movies and tv shows that have weddings in them, but I haven’t seen this one! I am definitely going to have to look it up.
But how did they get to this point? I have to share their proposal story. So romantic! After 2 years of dating, Lauren took Katherine on a bucket list trip to the Yukon to see the northern lights. After a two mile hike in -10 degree weather, Lauren proposed to Katherine at a frozen lake without a soul in site.
She of course said YES.
They decided to have their first look in their good friends’ backyard and I am so glad they did. This backyard for sure put my backyard to shame. It was so beautiful with trails and fountain and so many different flowers. I was told I should see the backyard in the Spring. I really couldn’t even imagine it being more beautiful. This was so special.
Katherine and Lauren shopped for their dresses seperatly with their families. Lauren found her dress rather quickly while it took Katherine trying on over 20 dress. Lauren’s dress was linen fabric with vintage accessories while Katherine’s dress was styled with sparkly beads in a leaf pattern with glittery Toms. The brides stayed warm through the autumn night with custom purple and gold varsity jackets.
A lot of their decor for the wedding day was contributed by friends and local businesses. They have talented landscapers, electricians carpenters and florist friends. One friend helped them implement their backyard dreams from thrift store finds to pallets to petunias. Another friend helped them build a farm house table to keep! Their floral friends helped make the bouquets and table arrangements. “We were able to light up the evening because of Victor’s electrical skills.”
What an amazing group of individuals that surround this couple and having them help carry this amazing couple into the next journey of their life is just so amazing. This is what makes me cry at weddings… and yes, I cry at every wedding I attend.
This amazing Maple tree was planted by Katherine’s grandfather in the 1980’s. This set of photos was such an honor to create for the couple. I was just completely mesmerized by this amazing tree. How special to be included in this type of memory.
Lauren and Katherine closed with a quote from Mister Rogers. “Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like “struggle.” To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”
Atlanta Wedding Photographer