INTRODUCING JE HEDGES PHOTO BOOTHS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Our Studio will be Closed Saturday, December 19th through Sunday, December 27th. As always, our email, Julie@JEHedges.com, and voicemail (706-563-1761) will be available for your convenience. Both email and voicemail will be monitored and replies made at our earliest convenience throughout the Christmas Holiday week. We have studio appointments available starting the first week of January. We would love to speak with you about your Wedding, Maternity, Baby, Family, or Special Event. Also too, don't forget to check out our photo booth division, JE Hedges Photo Booths http://www.jehedgesphotobooths.com/ for fun entertainment at your next party! We hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe holiday! Merry Christmas from the Hedges Family & Staff!

Clayton Hodge and Brittany Clark

It was cold and overcast on October 17th, but that didn't put a damper on the mood at Wynnbrook Baptist Church where Brittany Clark and Clayton Hodge had their big day! Brittany and Clayton were married by Kevin Calhoun, who also married not only Julie, but her brother Keith and her sister Gracie!

Brittany looked beautiful in her strapless dress with embroidered floral detail on the bodice. She carried a dramatic, deep red bouquet of roses. Her bridesmaids looked great in their deep red dresses with white sashes! They carried bouquets of white roses and baby's breath.

The reception was held in the fellowship hall at Wynnbrook. Reception Décor did a great job with the linens and chair covers! There was a special moment at the reception when Brittany's father sang a song for her.

As the bride and groom made their getaway, it started to sprinkle...but they left happy as can be through horns blowing!

Congratulations Clayton and Brittany! We hope your life together is as special as your big day!

Matt Sawyer and April Dorrill

Wedding Bells were ringing at Summerville Baptist Church on October 10, 2009 when Matt Sawyer and April Dorrill tied the knot! Matt and April have been together since they were just kids, so you can imagine... it was a very romantic day!

April was absolutely beautiful in her strapless gown and long veil! Matt wasn't the only one grinning from ear-to-ear to see April for the first time in her dress! April's dad waited to see her in the dress until her big day! She carried a unique mix of fall flowers in oranges, reds and purples. Her bridesmaids carried similar bouquets that looked stunning with their deep purple dresses! April got her maids a very unique gift for the big day. Chocolate brown robes for getting ready that had their initials embroidered on them!

April was another very "personalized" bride! They had a beautiful aisle runner with their names printed on it...and a customized initial cake topper to go on top of the beautiful cakes that our friend, Fran Papenfuss, made. April and Matt also had the table runners embroiderd with their initials! This looked great with their centerpieces that were handmade by a family friend!

April's wedding reception at the Trade Center was also the debut of the JE Hedges Photo Booth! This came as a total surprise for April and Matt, who had no idea that Julie was bringing the booth to their reception! All the guests had a GREAT TIME having their pictures made in the booth with all the fun props! MBS Entertainment kept the mood fun by playing great music all night! Except for when her sorority sisters serenaded the couple with a song!

April and Matt made their getaway under the light of sparklers! She always had this vision of herself driving off on her wedding day with her veil blowing out the window... so she made it come true! As the couple drove off to their Tennessee mountain honeymoon, her veil was blowing in the wind!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer! We wish you all the best in your new life together!

Be sure to pick up Columbus and the Valley's Holiday Gift Guide... because we're in it! JE Hedges Photo Booths is featured in the Holiday Gift Guide section of this month's issue. We're smack in the middle of a two page spread on good ideas for holiday fun! Columbus and the Valley can be found at Barnes & Noble, Publix and other locations. More info on JE Hedges Photo Booths can be found at www.JEHedgesPhotoBooths.com.

Romance at the Rankin

On October 18th, we had the pleasure of participating in the Romance at the Rankin Bridal show. We were the only photographer chosen to be a part of the show and enjoyed working near the only baker selected for the show, Fran Papenfuss! It was a small intimate gathering with a very romantic feel. We met a bunch of great couples and see a few of our brides that were looking for other vendors! If you're stopping by our site to check us out because you met us at the Rankin, be sure to let us know and say hello!

Cliff Robinson and Holly McMahan

Oakhurst Farm was a beautiful setting for Holly McMahan and Cliff Robinson's big day! Holly and her mother made sure that every thing was meticulously planned out for October 2nd, so everything ran smoothly!

Holly was a vision in her off shoulder gown with gathered detailing on the bodice. She carried a bouquet of roses and wild flowers in fall colors. Her bridesmaids were very elegant in their floor length black dresses and carried matching bouquets. And speaking of flowers... Albright's did a wonderful job on all of them! They turned the inside of Oakhurst into a floral wonderland. It smelled so fresh and pretty in the reception hall. To add a personalized touch, all of the floral sashes were monogrammed with the couple's initials!

The ceremony was wonderful. It was very romantic and you could just feel the love by watching it! Josh Locklier, one of our grooms from October 2008 was one of Cliff's groomsmen! At the end of the ceremony, the couple released doves!

Everyone had a great time at the reception! The Tag Williams band got everyone in the mood to boogie! Girlfriend's catering made sure everyone enjoyed their meals and a family friend all the way from Tennessee made the cakes! Josh's cake was covered in chocolate bullets and deer... since he LOVES to hunt! Among the guests were Abbi and Dane Brown, one of our couples from earlier this year!

The bride and groom changed out of their wedding attire for some more comfortable honeymoon clothes and took off under the lights of sparklers to a waiting Navigator limosene!

Congratulations Holly and Cliff! We hope you have a fun and loving married life!

Andrew Smith and Kelly McClung

September 29th may have been wet and rainy, but the sun still shined on Kelly McClung and Andrew Smith! To give their wedding an intimate feel, they decided to have it on the property of their family friend, Regina Andrew. The rain started before the ceremony and didn't stop all day. Everyone was so happy for Kelly and Andrew that they happily stood in the rain to share their big day! It actually began to pour so hard during the ceremony, someone brought Kelly an umbrella--but the singers kept singing and the ceremony continued.

Kelly was beautiful in her strapless dress with lace detailing. She carried a bouquet of gorgeous fall-colored Calla Lillies. Her bridesmaids looked very trendy and stylish in coral colored "bubble" hem dresses. They carried long stemmed bouquets of fall colored wildflowers all designed by Jan Rogers. The groomsmen also looked stylish in chocolate brown tuxes.

It started pouring again during the reception...at one point the guests were calf-deep in water under the tent, but everyone just kept having fun and celebrating the day. RSC did a fantastic job setting up the tent and chairs for the reception. DJs Jennifer and Tommy Powell kept the mood happy and the good times rolling with great music. The guests enjoyed a famous southern favorite, Low Country boil! The beautiful cakes were done by Susan Worley. They also had a custom made three initial cake topper.

We wish you all the best in your new life together Mr. and Mrs. Smith!

2009 Ultimate Guy's Expo

Come down to the Trade Center next, Saturday and Sunday, November 14th and 15th for the Ultimate Guy's Expo! We'll be down there with the photo booth, and there are plenty of other things to see and do! Our good friend Chef Jamie Keating of the Rivermill Event Center will be there doing a demo! If you haven't had some fun in our photo booth yet, this is your chance!

Admission is $6 and we'll be there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We'd love to see you!

Josh Weathers and Amanda Boatner

August 28th was a warm and beautiful day, perfect for "I dos" out at Oakhurst Farms in West Point, Georgia! Amanda Boatner and Josh Weathers could not have picked a better day!

Amanda looked lovely in her cathedral veil and a gorgeous v-neck gown. Her bridesmaids looked sophisticated and classy in their floor length black gowns. The bride and her maids carried beautiful bouquets of white flowers and greenery. Josh was a very happy man to see his beautiful new wife for the first time!

Julie has a family connection to Amanda! Amanda's Aunt Nita has been friends with Julie's family for 21 years. Also, Aunt Nita is part of Julie's sister's family by marriage! It is always nice when we are connected to the families we photograph.

To make her getaway, Amanda changed into a polo shirt monogrammed with her new initials, 'ABW'. The bride and Groom got a spectacular sparkler send off to start their new married life together!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Weathers! We hope your marriage is as fun and loving as your big day!

WTVM "Wedding of Your Dreams" Contest

JE Hedges Photography and JE Hedges Photo Booths has been selected as the official photographer and photo booth of the WTVM "Wedding of Your Dreams" wedding giveaway contest. Right from the Start and WTVM are giving one lucky couple the wedding of their dreams where each element of the wedding will be voted on by the community. Registration begins November 2 and goes through January 15, 2010. The "dream wedding" will be broadcast live on WTVM.

For more information, visit http://www.wtvm.com/Global/category.asp?C=176521 .

Wedding Trends: Personalization

Looking for another fun way to express your personal style at your wedding? Consider a personalized aisle runner! Our friend (and client!) April Dorrill Sawyer had one at her wedding, and we fell in love! You can have them personalized with your initials, a monogram, a phase ("...and they lived happily ever after"), a bible verse or a custom logo. You can get a ribbon border sewn onto the runner to match your color scheme. You can even get custom table runners and unity candles to match! Check out www.signatureweddingaislerunners.com for all the fun!

JE Hedges Photography's New Division!!!

We are excited to introduce you to the newest division of JE Hedges Photography………. JE Hedges Photo Booths!!!!

Photo Booths are the perfect complement to any and all events!

From Wedding Receptions, Family Reunions, Corporate Parties, Trade Shows, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, Fund-Raisers, Church Events, Grand Openings, Team Building, Birthdays, Sweet Sixteen, Proms, Homecomings, Slumber Parties, Engagement Parties, Graduations, Class Reunions…. YOU NAME IT!!!!

Photo Booths are perfect for any event in which the goal is FUN!

Your Guests will have the opportunity to get in and out of our booth all night long… making unlimited photos and having loads of fun! We have over 35 different props guests can choose from to make their Photo Booth experience even more enjoyable.

Each Photo Strip contains six poses with a customizable strip down the middle! Photo Strips are the one Souvenir your Guests will NEVER throw away!!!

Check out the new website: www.JEHedgesPhotoBooths.com

Sweet Planes, Pretty Girls, & Fast Cars

Members of the Columbus Georgia Photographers Group organized a “Shoot-out” at the Columbus Airport on September 1st, 2009. Several very generous (and brave) individuals allowed us use of their private planes and well polished cars to photograph! Throw in a couple of gorgeous models with some of the zaniest photographers in Columbus... and you’ve got yourself one crazy, super hot, and awesome photo shoot!

A special shout-out to John Helms who organized the event. A special thanks to all those who were brave enough to lend their vehicles, (air or land-based!), to Marco’s for the tasty pizza, to Stephanie Kelly, the very talented make-up artist for the evening, and our models who allowed us to abuse them! Great job everyone! Keith and Julie are looking forward to the next event! Side note: We are slowly processing the hundreds of images we made that evening. As we complete them, we will be uploading them to the JE Hedges Facebook page. You can view the images and become a fan of ours on Facebook by clicking here: http://www.fbook.me/jehedges

Jason Bagget and Leslie Thigpen

It was a typical warm and muggy August 1st in central Georgia, but that didn’t melt the mood at Oakhurst Farm in West Point! Leslie Thigpen and Jason Baggett were as cool as ever on their wedding day! Julie and Keith even brought along another set of hands to help capture Leslie and Jason’s day—studio friend and professional photographer, John Helms.

Check out Leslie’s pictures to see her great idea for a bridesmaid’s present! She got all of her girls yellow terry cloth wraps with their initials monogrammed in pink. She even got the flower girls tiny pink wraps, complete with their initials! They all wore them while they were getting ready so they’d stay cool and comfortable!

Leslie was beautiful in her halter-style dress with a beaded bodice. Her bridesmaids wore tea-length, chocolate brown, strapless dresses with white sashes. (Tea-length is definitely the way to go for your girls in the summer time, ladies!) All of these beautiful women carried bright-colored bouquets of daisies designed by Kimberly Nelson. Jason’s groomsmen looked (and stayed) cool in tan linen suits. (Another good summer time alternative to traditional wedding wear!)

The reception was a fun one! All of the guests had a great time dancing with the bride and groom to the tunes of the band, Mindblender! Jason even got up and entertained the crowd with a song! Burt’s Butcher Shop catered a delicious reception dinner for everyone! No one can say that Jason isn’t ready for football season! Fran Papenfuss made him a great chocolate groom’s cake, complete with an Aubie the tiger cake topper! Fran also did a beautiful job (as usual) on the wedding cake!

The evening concluded with a sparkling send off! Guests used “Morning Glory” sparklers. They give off great colors! (We recommend those for anyone thinking about using sparklers, they make for great pictures!)

We had the best time spending your special day with you, Jason and Leslie! Your wedding party and families were so much fun! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Baggett!

Rivermill Bridal Show

What a fantastic day we had on August 31st at the Rivermill Bridal Show! We talked to Almost 100 brides that day!

Heather Williams of the Ledger-Enquirer, Jamie Keating and Mary Luby of the Rivermill Event Centre did a fantastic job on the show, and Judy Wilkinson of Formal Elegance put on a fun and energetic fashion show full of great gals and great gowns!

If you're stopping by our website to say hello because you met us at the show, be sure to drop us a line! We love making new friends!

A Fun Wedding Keepsake

Most likely, if you invite your favorite actress or the President to your wedding, they won’t attend. However, they may send an official letter of congratulations! Wouldn’t it be great to read the letter at your 50th wedding anniversary?! Julie and Cary did it when they got married and they have a fun keepsake to treasure!

You can get addresses for your favorite celebrities from their official websites. The President’s invitation should be sent to:

The Honorable Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama

The White House

Greetings Office Room 39

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Be sure to send the invite to the President at least six weeks in advance, as they handle as many as they possibly can on time!

YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED

Friends,

I ask for your prayers and well wishes at this time for two our past brides:

Serena Mills became severely ill right after her wedding in February of 2008. She was in and out of the hospital, leaving doctors baffled, as her symptoms did not fall into a clear cut catagory.

After many doctor visits and tests, she was diagnosed with Chron's Disease. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, which results in many serious symptoms and pain. Unfortunatley, Crohn's can be managed but not cured. Serena was placed on heavy hitter antibiotics, and over time, developed Clostridium difficile Colitis (aka C. diff).

Serena was just released from the hospital last week after a lengthy stay. After speaking with her mother, it looks as though she may be on the road to recovery. Serena did receive some partially good news, although she is still waiting for confirmation. It appears that she may not have Chron's afterall, but Ulcerticultis (sp?)... which is an improvement. Of course, we wish Serena didn't have to have either.

Katy Carroll-Moncus was recently married, April 18th, 2009. Shortly after returning from her honeymoon, she discovered a lump in her breast. Her worst fears were confirmed on July 13th. Katy has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Katy is one of the most physically fit women I know. She is active "Aflac Iron Girl", participating in triatholons - Swimming, Biking, and Running. Katy is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but no doubt, Katy's iron-tough body will fight and win this battle. Please visit Katy's website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katycarrollmoncus

Serena and Katy, we will continue to pray for your healing and send you loving wishes on your road to recovery. Big hugs! Jules

Mindy & Jamie Turnbull

Oakhurst Farm
July 10th, 2009

One of the Most Fun Things About Planning a Wedding

Part of the fun of planning a wedding is getting to register for gifts! It actually wound up being a fun bonding experience for Joel and me. He thought for sure he wouldn’t have any fun, but as soon as they handed him the scanner, it was like the Wild West. He was shooting at EVERYTHING with it!

One of the things to remember about registering is to give the guests a lot to choose from. You should have a variety of items in different price ranges. That way, Great Aunt Zelda can get your china and your little cousin Sallie and get your salad tongs!

Also remember, wedding etiquette dictates that the information about where you’re registered goes out with SHOWER invitations, not the wedding invitation.

Columbus is growing and changing! There are lots more places to register now then ever before! Here are some ideas about where to register and what to register for:

Wal-mart: if you and the fiancée are just starting out, Wal-mart is the place. You can register for everything from cleaning supplies to big screen TVs there! Wal-mart is great because you can have a wide array of gifts and price ranges to choose from.

Target: Another great place for the basics. Target also has really stylish small furniture items like bar stools and ottomans!

Bed, Bath & Beyond: Good for “everyday” china, cookware and other kitchen supplies. Also, they have home décor and awesome fluffy towels!

Kohl’s: (my personal favorite!) Kohl’s is great for the Food Network lover and kitchen geek. They carry the entire line of Food Network dishes, cookware and accessories, as well as Kitchenaid mixers! It is also a good place for décor, towels and bedding.

Dillard’s and Macy’s: both great for your special occasion china, sliver and crystal. You know… the more traditional gifts.

The Sample Shop: Located in the Landings, the Sample Shop is great for china, silver, crystal and unique home décor. It’s the best kept secret in town.

One other option you have is to register with us! That’s right! Do you want a beautiful museum-quality canvas gallery wrap of your favorite wedding image? You can register with us, and friends and family can purchase gift cards that can go toward a purchase of a large wall portrait!

For more information about our Wall Portrait Wedding Registry, email Julie (Julie@JEHedges.com) or call the studio at (706) 563-1761.

Tom and Typre

A busy schedule didn’t put a damper on the day for Tom Beasley and Typre Murphy when they tied the knot on June 27th! They had their ceremony at the Infantry Chapel on Ft. Benning. When we are contracted for an Infantry Chapel wedding, we must use a separate location as the Chapel does not permit us enough time for creative images before the wedding. By utilizing a separate location, Julie is able to spend plenty of time with the couple capturing their formal and fun images. Tom and Typre chose the Marriott in Downtown Columbus for their photos. The historic hotel is a beautiful place for photography and provides the bride a comfortable room to prepare for her wedding day.

Typre was lovely in her strapless gown. Her bridesmaids wore deep purple and pewter dresses, and all of the girls carried pale purple flowers designed by florist/wedding planner and director, Annette Earnest.

Annette also did a wonderful job decorating the Officer’s Club for the reception. Everyone had fun getting to spend time with the bride and groom after the ceremony! The groom’s cake was a spectacular masterpiece of chocolate and strawberries, and the wedding cake was beautiful and echoed the design of Typre’s dress. Of course, our good friend of the studio, Fran Papenfuss, made them—so you know they tasted good, too!!

We wish you all the best Mr. and Mrs. Beasley!

Joseph and Kristina

You could feel the love in the air at the Rivermill Event Center on June 28th, 2009 when Kristina Fehlings and Joseph Hein exchanged vows. The weather was pretty up until the time of the ceremony… then the sky opened up and we had severe thunderstorms. That was okay though ‘cause rain on a wedding day is good luck!

Kristina was absolutely beautiful in her strapless dress with simple detailing on the bodice. Her bridesmaids wore tea-length dresses in a great summery blue. All of the gorgeous ladies carried bouquets of light blue hydrangeas with green, white purple, dark blue, and white wild flowers. The bouquets and all of the wedding arrangements were designed by Kimberly Nelson. The floral arrangements throughout the Rivermill were all summery blues and greens! It was a beautiful sight!

As usual, Jamie Keating and the Rivermill staff did a great job on the reception catering. The reception had a very nice romantic feel. Our buddy, Benji Shepherd, of MBS Entertainment provided the tunes for the evening.

The groom’s cake was a delicious chocolate creation with strawberries on top. The wedding cake was beautifully designed by Pat-A-Cakes bakery to match the colors of the flowers and dresses.

It was an elegant celebration of Kristina and Joseph’s love! We were glad we got to share it with you! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Hein!

Heather & Dave - July 18th, 2009

Tori & Marcus

Engagement Memories

Mindy Beauchamp

Bridal Portraits

Callaway Gardens’ Memorial Chapel was the perfect setting for a summer wedding when Sara Quick and Michael Scott exchanged vows on July 25th! Sara and Michael found Julie through a referral from Leeann at Callaway Gardens. The Atlanta couple chose Callaway’s Memorial Chapel for its close, intimate feel. Sara and Michael did not have a wedding party or a big guest list; they invited only close friends and family to share their special day. They even had college friends come all the way from Ohio!

Sara’s beautiful summer wildflowers were designed by a friend of hers that owns a flower shop. They were great shades of yellow, orange, pink, purple and white! She was stunning in her strapless dress! Pastor Emory Gilbert performed the ceremony. Their reception was a sit-down dinner at Callaway’s lovely Piedmont Dining room.

Congratulations Sara and Michael! Thank you for choosing us to share your special day! We wish you all the love and happiness in the world!

June 21st was an extremely hot, but perfect day for wedding bells. Tori Coleman and Marcus Floyd celebrated their love at New Birth Outreach Church. New Birth Outreach, which has made a new home on Veterans Parkway, had never hosted a wedding before Tori and Marcus’. You can bet that the church’s Senior Pastor was excited for this day to come, he’s also Tori’s dad—Farnsworth Coleman! Tori’s mother, Patricia, is also a pastor at the church, and Tori and her brother work there, too!

Tori and Marcus were just meant to be! They dated for a long time, and he proposed to her—but at the time, she just wasn’t ready. They continued to date, and when she got ready… she proposed to him! Marcus is in the military, and is currently deployed. He got a break from his deployment to come home and marry his sweetheart!

Tori looked beautiful in her strapless mermaid-style dress. She carried a bouquet of red roses, and her bridesmaids wore red dresses to match! They carried pretty bouquets of white roses. Mayumi Hashiyama designed the flowers and did a fantastic job as usual!

As the day rolled along, Julie got to have a reunion of sorts! Some of Tori and Marcus’ guests were friends of Julie’s from her corporate past! She got to see a lot of faces that she hasn’t seen since leaving the insurance business.

Tori and Marcus were chauffeured over to the reception at Green Island Country Club in a limo. The hall at the country club was beautifully decorated in Tori and Marcus’ colors. It was a romantic place for a wedding reception! They had a candy buffet that included dark Hershey Kisses that had their names on the bottom… very unique!

Tori’s wedding gift to Marcus was a song! She has a gorgeous singing voice and serenaded him with their special song at the reception. Afterwards, Tori introduced a couple that was celebrating their wedding anniversary, Dr. Gary Dawson (who also takes care of our Julie's back - he’s her doctor!) and his beautiful wife. They shared a special solo dance!

Virginia Stadnick did a great job on Tori’s cake. The groom’s cake was a delicious chocolate cheesecake! The food was great and everyone had a good time!

Tori and Marcus, we wish you a lifetime of laughter and love! And we wish Marcus a safe return home back to his beautiful new bride!

Tori Coleman & Marcus Floyd

New Birth Outreach Church
& Green Island Country Club

Abbi Barr & Dane Brown

Hilton Garden Inn

Some of Our Recent Favorites

Oakhurst Farm - Through the Eyes of JE Hedges

Lanie & Steven Presley

March 28th, 2009

David and Amanda

June 13th was a lucky day for Amanda Booth and David O'Brien--they tied the knot at the Callaway Gardens Discovery Center! Amanda was beautiful in her lace-bodiced dress with a keyhole back. She carried a bouquet of solid white calla lillies. Amanda chose a trendy color for her bridesmaids to wear... bright pink! They carried bouquets of roses, peonies and daisies that were pink, purple and orange. As usual, Mayumi Hashiyama did a wonderful job on the flowers!!

The groomsmen had a great time cutting up during their pictures. They chose to go the route of the poker hats for their fun pictures! The cutting up continued as they retreated to their resting area while waiting for the ceremony to start.
Perhaps the cutest member of their wedding party was their bulldog. She was an active participant in all the festivities!

The reception was also held at the Discovery Center and was beautifully decorated with Mayumi's flowers! Everyone had a lot of fun getting down on the dance floor with the bride and groom!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien! We wish you many happy days ahead!

Hassan and Kathleen

Love was in the air on June 12th at Oakhurst Farm when Kathleen Henderson wed Hassan Kamara! It was a warm, beautiful day... perfect for a wedding.

Kathleen was a vision in her halter-style gown with cathedral train. She carried pink and purple roses and peonies in her bouquet, and the bridesmaids bouquets were just like hers, but smaller. Their dresses were a great sage green color that was perfect for a summer time wedding. But, Kathleen wasn't the only one who looked great! Hassan was very handsome in his military dress blues!

Oakhurst's main hall was beautifully decorated for the reception. All the tables were candlelit, which made for a very romantic feeling. Everyone had a great time with the bride and groom. Hassan and Kathleen gave away some very cool personalized coffee mugs to their guests as favors... one of the most unique we've seen this year.

We wish you a life time of happiness and love Kathleen and Hassan!

Weddings of Georgia July Extravaganza

This year's Wedding of Georgia July Bridal Extravaganza was bigger and better than ever! We had a great time meeting the over 100 brides that stopped by our booth. Speaking of the booth...did I mention that it was the biggest booth we've ever done?! It was 4 booths long! We had plenty of space to step out and get to talk to everyone that stopped by.

If you missed the show... you missed out! Our good friends from the Green Sage Wellness Group were there giving away massages! They're so good at what they do--I had to go first! You can learn more about Green Sage at http://www.greensagewellness.com/.

We really enjoy meeting new brides at Wedding Extravaganzas! If you're stopping by the blog for the first time because you met us at the Trade Center, comment and say hello! We love making new friends!

Feelin' Hot Hot HOT!!

If you're planning your wedding in the warmer months--(and let's face it...aren't ALL Georgia months "warmer" months?!) this blog is for you! I know wedding day is for the couple, but you also have to consider your family, bridal party and your guests. Great Aunt Bertie and Grandpa Herbert may not be able to take the heat! Here are a couple of things to consider when planning a summer (or in our case, late spring/summer/fall) wedding.

First, if the wedding and reception is indoors, make sure there is a working air conditioner. Test it ahead of time to make sure its not so loud it drowns out the ceremony, and turn it on as early in the day as possible to get the room nice and cool for arriving guests!

Second, if the festivities are outdoors consider giving fans as favors. Also, think about your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Think light colored (and light-weight) fabrics such as linen or polished cotton.

Third, offer LOTS to drink. Remember, alcohol dehydrates, so make sure you have a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages... maybe even during the ceremony. I went to a beautiful outdoor wedding once where the bride and groom had an old fashioned ice bucket with sodas in glass bottles and waters for the guests to sip while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Finally... the food. Be careful of serving dairy or anything that can spoil or is served in heavy sauces. Make sure you keep food at the appropriate serving temperatures.

Follow these few tips, and you'll wind up with a fun, beautiful summertime celebration!

Amanda Booth - Bridal Session

We're going to start trying to post more videos from our sessions. Here's a recent Bridal Session with our Bride - Amanda Booth. You looked beautiful Amanda!

Dane and Abbi

It was a beautiful summer day on May 16th when Abbi Barr and Dane Brown tied the knot at Mt. Zion Baptist Church! She looked like a goddess in her Greek-inspired wedding gown! Even Dane looked great in his tan, summer-style suit.

Abbi's bridesmaids all wore dark blue and carried coral colored roses. Abbi's bouquet had a special element, it was wrapped in lace made from her mother's wedding veil!

The couple took a stretch Navigator limousine to the reception at the Hilton Garden Inn. Both Abbi and Dane are Auburn fans. (The reason for their color scheme, I suspect!) The groom's cake was the Auburn University logo!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brown! We wish you a lifetime of laughter and love!

Josh and Meagan

May 9th was a pleasant summery day out at Oakhurst Farm for the wedding of Josh Fryer and Meagan Lee. Meagan was a beautiful bride with a spunky spirit! She carried a bouquet of spring wildflowers in pinks, yellows, and purples. Her bridesmaids carried similar bouquets and wore coral-colored dresses.

At the end of the outdoor ceremony, Josh took Meagan into his arms and dipped her back for a romantic kiss! It was very unique, creative, and fun!

The reception was also held at Oakhurst and everyone had a great time. Meagan left out no details! She was the first one of our brides to decorate the fireplace with a portrait from their engagement session! Our good friend Benji of MBS Entertainment played the tunes that kept everyone dancing into the night. The cakes were made by Taylor Mack and were absolutely gorgeous!

We got wonderful pictures of Josh and Meagan in front of the beautiful Oakhurst sunset... we get to witness the most colorful sunsets at Oakhurst! At the end of the evening, Josh and Meagan had an awesome sparkler exits... running through them three times! It was a blast! Best wishes to you Josh and Meagan! We hope your life together is as fun and full of love as your big day!

HOLIDAYS ALREADY?

I know it sounds too early to be thinking about the holidays... but they're right around the corner!... As you know, our family always has Christmas on the mind. My Father and Brother will begin to hang Christmas Lights in just three short weeks so the "Ludy's Christmas Light Spectacular will be ready by Thanksgiving". (http://www.ludychristmas.com/) Crazy stuff, right?

October is Family Portrait Month. We have already filled up many time slots. We're sending you this message as a reminder if you or someone you know are considering a Professionally designed family portrait Christmas Card this year, or thinking about giving Grandma a priceless gift of the entire family in a Professional Portrait, NOW is the time to make your appointment.

The Creation Fee for Family Portraits is only $85 for small groups (nine or less) and just $140 for large groups (ten or more) within the Columbus and Phenix City area. A small travel fee may be added for other locations.

PLEASE NOTE: Our cutoff for Family Portraits delivered to you in time to gift for December 25th, 2009 is October 28th. All portrait sessions must be completed by this date in order to ensure arrival to you in time for gift giving. Call the studio today to reserve your appointment as slots are very limited - (706) 563-1761.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Have a great weekend!!!

Thank You Everyone!

The Ledger-Enquirer just called and notified us that our studio has won and been selected as the "Favorite Photographer" in their "Readers' Choice Awards". This is our third year winning the award and we are so very grateful.

Thank you so much for voting us as your favorite photographer. Each of you mean so much to us, our business, and our families. We really can not thank you enough for your patronage and friendship. Our success is a reflection of your satisfaction and the many referrals you have given us.

All winners from all categories will be announced in a few short weeks in the Sunday issue of the newspaper... so be on the look out.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!!!! We look forward to spending time with you and your families again soon!

Our Clients are the Best!

We are extremely grateful to work with so many great couples and families! We would not be the successful studio we are today if it were not for our awesome clients! Even though Julie has been in this business for years, she never gets use to the kind words our clients share with her. She appreciates and hangs on to every kind word our clients share with us for the "Raves" page on our website. It's not unusual for Julie to cry while reading them. Thank you to all of our clients for all of the great reviews you've given us!

Roger and Stephanie

May 3rd, 2009 was a special milestone for Roger Hogan and Stephanie McCown as they tied the knot at Oakhurst Farm in West Point, GA. Prior to the ceremony start time, a huge rainstorm blew in with tornado strength winds. The ceremony was moved indoors in front of the gorgeous Oakhurst stone fireplace, with the lights dimmed and candles aglow. It was a very romantic and intimate service to say the least.

Stephanie was ABSOLUTELY gorgeous in her one of a kind wedding gown designed and hand-made by her sister. Can you say talent? Stephanie and her bridesmaids carried bouquets of wild flowers and roses designed by Kimberly Nelson.

Of course all weddings are special. However, this wedding was extra special as it marked a significant milestone in Stephanie’s life. Just a few short years ago, Stephanie was involved in a near-fatal car accident that led to a long road of recovery. Roger served the phrase “for better or for worse” as he stood by her side day in and day out, encouraging her on the road to full recovery. Roger is a wonderful, caring, and loving man who exemplifies the title Prince Charming and Stephanie is a beacon of strength, beauty, and grace. Together, they are one amazing couple who have an exciting future ahead of them.

Even though Julie has photographed over 300 weddings, special couples like these still bring tears to her eyes. Julie was unable to hold back her emotions and tears when she shared a few private moments immediately after the ceremony with the couple in the bridal room. The love these two have for one another should be an example of what every marriage should be built upon.

The reception was fun for everyone! The meals were catered by the Yogurt Shoppe café (yum!!!) and beautifully decorated with chocolate browns and summer-y colors! Our pal and Benji’s sidekick, Drew, of MBS Entertainment DJ'd the festivities and everyone had a great time dancing!

The bride's cake was one of the most unique designs we've ever seen. One day while flipping through a bridal magazine, Stephanie laid her eyes on the cake of her dreams… she excitably shared the image with Mrs. Fran Papenfuss, who recreated the design exactly. You’ve got to go to the gallery and view that yummy creation!!

After the rain cleared out, the sun reappeared just in time to make a beautiful, purple, pink, and blue sunset. Julie and the couple literally RAN outside just in time to get a few pictures before the sun set completely behind the hill.

Mr. and Mrs. Hogan, We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness and your wedding is not one we’ll soon forget. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of such a special time in your lives! Hugs! Julie Hedges

Tate and Becca

A little bit of drizzly rain was not going to stop Becca and Tate's big day at the Rankin Gardens and Atrium on May 2nd! It lightly rained off and on all day, but it certainly was not a spolier to the fun! We had a BLAST working with Becca and Tate!!! Both are so incredibly funny and entertaining and not to mention awesomely photogenic! Becca was a vision in her strapless dress with sparkling detail on the waist. She chose an ocean blue color for her bridesmaids dresses. Becca carried a beautiful bouquet of springtime wildflowers and her girls carried bouquets of wildflowers and roses... all designed by the one... the only... Mayumi Hashiyama of Designs by Mayumi. Mayumi's floral designs are always magazine picture perfect!

This wedding had an extra special bridesmaid. Julie and Keith's cousin, Felicity Ligon, drove in from North Carolina to be a part of the wedding party and activities. We miss you already Fleecy!!!

Becca and Tate's families and friends had a great time at the reception, which was catered by the Rankin Quarter. Becca took some time out of reception mingling to boogie down with her bridesmaids. Becca has quite the moves and Tate's not too shabby either! :)

Tate entertained the guests with a mock "strip tease" dance while taking off Becca's garter! Everything was going great until while removing his jacket, he swung it around, and accidentally smacked Becca in the face with it. Umm... not a great way to start the marriage Tate. Ha! It was a cute quick moment that of course Julie captured so Tate can be reminded of it forever. Hee hee.

Congratulations Becca and Tate! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your awesome day! We hope you had an awesome honeymoon in Jamaica! Hugs! Julie Hedges

Bill and Irene

Wedding bells rang in Downtown Columbus for Bill and Irene Burkett on April 25th! It was a fantastic day for a wedding at the Rankin with picture perfect weather!

Irene wore a beautiful dress with the most unique feature... it had pockets! Why didn't they have wedding gown pockets when Julie got married??? Finding a place for your wedding lipstick can be a challenge... but not when you have pockets! Very cool. The dress was a simple and elegant design with one gorgeous Irene in it! She carried a bouquet of peonies that she designed herself. Irene's veil was Julie's favorite as it was Cathedral length and made for some beautiful photographs. Irene was a complete package with well thought out attire.

The wedding was a small and intimate affair with Bill and Irene's family and closest friends in attendance. Irene and Bill chose a beach theme for the wedding with sand, seashells, and ocean blue adorning their wedding cake and centerpiece decorations.

Here's wishing you ocean waves of happiness! Congrats Bill and Irene! Hugs! Julie Hedges

Rollins and Katy

April 18th, 2009 was a warm and windy day, but after all the rain we had the past week... we were find with some wind! Rollins Moncus and Katy Carroll chose Sweet Home Plantation as their venue location with that sweet Southern heritage.

No sense in us stating that Katy was absolutely stunning in her fitted gown... I mean... that's just a given. When you hear the name Katy Carroll, you naturally think "SCHMEXY". Katy's dress design was perfect for her hourglass shape which fit her all the way to her knees. It was detailed with sparkling beads at the waist. When we photographed the couple's private moment, Rollins was speechless and was grinning from ear to ear like a boy on his birthday.

Katy's fashion forward sense carried over into her bridesmaids' dresses as she chose one-shouldered purple dresses for all the girls. All the girls were gorgeous with Katy shining through as the Bridal Diva. Katy's bouquet tied in all of her wedding colors with purple and white calla lilies.

To add to the fairy tale feeling of the day, Katy, along with her Flower Girls and Ring Bearers, rode into the ceremony on a horse drawn carriage! (Just moments prior, one of her ring bearers gave Katy a kiss telling her how pretty she looked... melting heart.) Katy looked like a Princess arriving at the ball with Prince Charming Rollins teeth sparkling as he smiled upon his bride walking down the aisle. At the end of the ceremony, Rollins and Katy released doves, but one dove decided to stay behind and perch himself a top of the altar. Everyone got a laugh when a groomsmen shouted "Shoot It!".

The reception rocked with the tunes from our good friend, Benji Shepherd, and everyone had a blast dancing, eating and wishing the couple well! Guests also enjoyed an awesomely sweet candy buffet all decked out with Katy's colors-purple and white. Rollins' grooms cake was quacked up with his employer's mascot ready to be eaten!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Moncus! We look forward to many years of photographs with you two and THANK YOU for all the laughs we've shared! Hugs! Julie Hedges

Amanda Holland & John LaJoye

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Anna Anderson & Daniel Faulk

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Katy & Rollin's Wedding

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Becca & Tate's Wedding Video

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How Much Do our Clients Love Us??

The answer is... a whole bunch!!! These are just a couple of snapshots of Julie hamming it up with a recent couple on their wedding day!

Vincent and Natascha, 4/11/2009

It was a very sunny Easter Weekend in Downtown Columbus for Vincent Kelly and Natascha Jackson. They were married on April 11th, 2009.

The day started off in an “alarming” way when one curious little family member pulled the fire alarm during the pre-ceremony photographs. You could hear fire truck sirens screeching as the Fire Department evacuated the building and had trouble getting the alarm turned off. Julie, the crew, and the couple hid out in the courtyard to avoid the evacuation so they could continue with photographs. It worked! We had the entire Atrium and Gardens to ourselves.

Natascha was beautiful in her wedding gown! It had a sweetheart-style neckline with detail on the bodice. Her bridesmaids looked classy and elegant in their simple black and white dresses. Natascha carried a beautiful bouquet of dark pink flowers, while her girls carried dark pink roses to match. Mayumi with Designs by Mayumi did a STUNNING job on all the flowers. Mayumi is incredible!!!

The day carried on with the reception held at the Rivermill Event Centre. When the couple and the JE Hedges crew walked into the reception, we thought we had stepped into a bridal magazine layout. Mayumi had transformed the room into a magical array of unmatched beauty. Dave Arwood got the guests up and out of the chairs for some wild dancing on the dance floor, from the young to the old, everyone was cutting a rug.

During the garter toss, Natascha's mother played a little trick on Vincent, and surprised the guests! She blindfolded Vincent, sat down in the bridal chair, and had Vincent attempting to find a garter… that of course was not there. Everyone laughed as he attempted to get the garter from his Mother-in-law's leg... then they removed his blindfold! Julie captured the only image of Vincent’s SHOCKED and EMBARRASSED face as he saw that he had been feeling up his mother-in-law. Ten cool points go to Mom because that was HILARIOUS!!! Please go out and see the image of Vincent’s look of horror. That moment will go down in the books!

The night ended with Vincent and Natascha exiting down the stairs of the Rivermill to a sparkler send-off! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Kelly! May your marriage be as classy and timeless as your wedding. Hugs! Julie Hedges

Southern Views Wedding Issue

The Southern Views 2009 Wedding Issue is on newsstands now... and we're in it! Photographs from three of last year's weddings are on page 52 of the issue. Pictures from the weddings of Greg and Kendall Allen, Will and Brooke Nolen and David and Brook Machin are featured in the section of the magazine called "Wedding Shots".

You can find Southern Views Magazine at Barnes & Noble, Books a Million and many other locations around the city!

Alan and Anna Marie

The purple azaleas were in bloom on May 4th for the wedding of Anna Marie Barrett and Alan McWilliams! The couple married in their hometown of Richland, GA!

Anna Marie was a beautiful bride in her strapless gown with sparkling detail on the bodice. She carried purple roses to match her bridesmaids purple dresses! Purple was the theme throughout the ceremony and reception... even the azaleas were in on it!

The couple was very happy to see each other on their big day! The families were all happy to come together for the wedding!

It was a beautiful day for a spring wedding! Congratulations, Alan and Anna Marie!

Steven and Lanie, 03/28/2009

A little bit (... well, a LOT) of rain wasn't going to dampen the day for Steven Presley and Lanie Montgomery! Originally, Steven and Lanie planned an outdoor wedding at her Grandmother's house, but, it just happened to monsoon for two days leading up to their big day. There was literally FIVE INCHES of water in the spot where the ceremony was to take place. Lanie and Steven scrambled to find an open church that day, and they did: North Highland Assembly of God... the church that they grew up in.

Lanie's dress was a gorgeous strapless empire waisted gown. She carried yellow roses, and her bridesmaids carried sunflowers. Their dresses were dark blue, which made for a great summery color scheme!

This had to be one of the most fun wedding parties we've worked with! They cut-up and joked around with Julie and the crew so much, they went home with sore face muscles from all the smiles! They built pyramids, posed around the piano and danced in the coffee shop for pictures! They were awesome!

Lanie and Steven wrote their own vows to each other and read them during the ceremony. (Of course... Julie cried!)

As they were announced into the reception, Lanie and Steven danced all the way from the door to the dance floor, then cut a rug there, too! The families, the entire wedding party and the bride and groom had the best time dancing the night away!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Presley! May your marriage be as full of laughs and love as your big day was!

Michael and Emily

Wedding bells rang at the Trade Center on March 14th for Michael Hamilton and Emily Heath! The weather was a little drizzly, but it was still a perfect day! Emily looked absolutely beautiful in her strapless dress with sparkling details on the waist! She chose a pretty spring color scheme of pale blue and white! She carried white roses with pale blue accent flowers. The bridesmaids all wore coordinating pale blue dresses and carried blue hydrangeas.

Emily and Michael were so excited to see each other! When Michael saw his bride for the first time, it nearly took his breath away! They were such a fun couple! They have special matching tattoos on their feet!

The reception was also held at the Trade Center! It was beautifully decorated to match the color scheme of the wedding. The families and all the guests had a great time dancing with the bride and groom!

All the best to you Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton! We hope your marriage is full of fun and love!

Melvin and Amy

March 7th was a beautiful spring day for Amy Cotten and Melvin Steed! They got married at the Virtuous Living Chapel in Columbus. Amy looked beautiful in her strapless dress with sparkling detail on the bodice. She chose a pale, springtime blue for her flowers and bridesmaids. Both her and her bridesmaids carried blue hydrangeas.

The wedding party and both families were very excited for the big day. To make it even more special, Melvin's father, a pastor, officiated part of the ceremony, welcoming Amy into the family.

The reception was held at the Rankin Quarter. All of the guests and wedding party had a great time dancing with the bride and groom. At one point, Melvin's groomsmen talked him in to doing the 'kickworm' dance from the 80's!

We wish you all the best, Amy and Melvin!

Brooke and Matthew

February 21st was a beautiful day as far as weather goes! It was also a beautiful day because Brooke Ackley and Matthew Walker tied the knot at the Garrett Bullock House in Downtown Columbus. Matthew grew up here, but being military, wound up in Connecticut. He met his dream girl, but really wanted to come back to Columbus for his wedding. The couple chose the Garrett Bullock House because of its connection to the history of the city.

Brooke looked fabulous in her strapless dress that had pretty scroll detail on the bodice and waist. She carried a bouquet of blue hydrangeas and white roses designed by Mayumi Hashiyama. She chose the hydrangeas to match her color scheme..."Tiffany" blue and white. Everything from the bridesmaids dresses to the wedding favors and the cake matched! It was truly unique and beautiful!

The wedding party was super fun and excited for the couple. They all had a great time getting ready and taking pictures! Matthew and his groomsmen were all die hard Auburn fans...except for one. To celebrate the day, they all wore buttons inside of their jackets that said "Beat Georgia". Needless to say, the Georgia fan in the bunch was not happy about that at all!

The bride and bridesmaids had some laughs while taking the "fun" pictures before the wedding! They made a "train-train" where all of them lined up and carried each other's dress trains! They also did the "Charlie's Angels" picture and the "Diva" pictures with the pink feather boas. Not to be outdone, the groomsmen took "Diva" pictures with the boas, too!

The reception was also at the Garrett Bullock House. As usual, Kimble's did a wonderful job with the catering and food set up. Friends of the studio, Benji and Drew of MBS Entertainment kept the mood fun and romantic with their DJ-ing! The wedding party, families and the guests all had a great time dancing at the reception!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Walker! We wish you all the best as you start your new life together!

A Learning Experience

Last Tuesday, Julie and I attended the Tots 2 Teens seminar with Sandy Puc'. Sandy is a successful photographer and studio owner from Colorado. The seminar covered everything from marketing to posing. Julie regularly attends seminars like this so she can stay on top of all the newest photography trends. This was only the second seminar I've been to and by far, it was the most informative. Sandy gave us tips on how to pose kids from toddlers to tweens. She also talked about lighting and working out marketing calendars.

After the seminar, Julie and I played with her new 5D Mark IIs and she gave me an impromptu photography lesson. (She always says she's a bad teacher, but I learn so much from her. Not just about photography, but about running a business and professionalism. Don't tell her, but she's a role model for me. That sort of thing would make her all embarrassed:) She taught me about shutter speed, ISO and aperture. I learned about how cameras work and how to take scary ghost pictures by slowing down your shutter.

We wrapped up the night with cold french fries from McDonald's and watching Jimmy Fallon. Julie and I have a slight problem with chit chatting, and we stayed up too late talking about random stuff. I shared a silly story about jumping on the bed at a hotel and taking pictures of it while I was on a trip. It was like a light clicked on in Julie's brain. What's the best way to break in her brand new cameras? Pictures of us jumping on a bed at 1 a.m.! We're grown ups, you know?! You can check those pictures out on our page on Facebook! Here they are!

Holy Snow!!

What a crazy weekend in Columbus! On Saturday, severe weather and 70 degrees; on Sunday...SNOW! And not just snow, but SIX inches of snow! The staff of JE Hedges Photography all took a well deserved day off to play in the snow!

Our resident model and snow bunny, Miss London, dragged Mommy out in the snow to play and take pictures! Cute, don't you think? :)

We're on Facebook!

Please be sure to stop by our brand new page on Facebook, and while you're there, become a fan! We'll be updating it frequently with images, videos and what's going on in the studio! It's a great way to keep in touch and stay connected.

Click on the Facebook button below to visit the page and become a fan!

Bret And Rebecca

On a cool sunny day in early February, Bret and Rebecca wed on the sixth at the Memorial Chapel at Callaway Gardens. The weather was perfect for a Callaway Gardens Wedding!

Rebecca looked like a natural beauty in her elegantly designed dress with pretty beaded detailing on the bodice. Her bouquet was multi-colored sunflowers, which matched the sunny yellow dresses of her bridesmaids. Rebecca chose the color, but left it up to her girls to pick the style of dress they wore. This is a great way to let your bridesmaids showcase their individuality! Each of them carried a small bouquet of seasonal wildflowers.

Brett and his guys looked very handsome in their tuxes with black shirts! They were a fun bunch to work with, getting out their golf clubs at one point to take some fun getting ready shots!

We wish you all the best Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith! Best wishes for your new life together!

February Photographers Lunch

We met again with the our friends in the Columbus Georgia Photographers Group on Wednesday at El Vaquero. We always meet and talk about our businesses and share thoughts and ideas, but this time we had a great discussion. We had a question and answer period after we ate that covered topics from software to pricing. It is great to get to know everyone and get some great ideas to take back to our own businesses!

Brushes With Greatness

While Julie was in Phoenix for the PPA convention, she got to attend a seminar given by Anne Geddes. For those of you who are not up on the photography world, Anne Geddes is a very famous photographer known for her images of babies. If you've never heard of her, chances are you've seen her work.

After the seminar, Julie, Cary and London got to spend a few minutes with Anne and get their picture made with her. Also, she signed a copy of her book for London! It was an experience Julie, Cary and London are sure to remember always!

MY New Toy!

As Marketing Manager, I am on call 24-7. :) There is only one way to be 100% productive 100% of the time...a laptop. Sometimes these blogs come to me in the middle of the night, and poof! They're gone by morning because I'm to comfy in bed to get up and go to my office and blog. This is a problem no more!

With a lot of help from Julie and Technical Director Cary, I now have a laptop! When ever or where ever I get the notion to write a blog, look something up or check my email, I can! Maximum productivity! It is AWESOME, too!

For those of you who are interested, its an HP dv6t. It is super fast and really pretty!

Valentine's Day Heart Ball

Please join us on Saturday, February 14th for the American Heart Association's Heart Ball at the Rivermill Event Center. We'll be taking Valentine's Day Portraits and donating a portion of our package sales to the American Heart Association.

Tickets to the event are $200 each and proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. Please contact Gale Webster with the American Heart Association at (706) 596-2365 for more information and to purchase tickets!

New Toys!

Christmas came in early February for Julie this year! In order to stay on the cutting edge of the business, Julie invested in some new equipment! Warning: Technical camera jargon ahead!!

She got two new Canon 5D Mark II cameras with battery grips and a 50mm 1.2 lens. Keith and I (mostly Keith) have been complaining that the cameras are too heavy on the tripods, so she got two new Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Magnesium tripods that I swear weigh less than half of what her old ones weighed.

In order to accommodate her new 21 mega pixel bad-boy cameras, Julie had to upgrade her computer and some of the software she uses! It was a big deal to do all this upgrading, but she does it so she can offer the best to her clients! Look forward to new exciting things!

Michelle and Scott

The first weekend of the New Year brought wedding bells for Michelle Bayura and Scott Poley. The couple was married at St. Anne's Catholic Church on January 3rd. The couple is from California, so they chose St. Anne's as a substitute for their home church.

Michelle was beautiful in a simple strapless dress with a sweep train. Instead of a veil, she wore small red and white flowers in her hair, to match her bouquet. The maid of honor also wore red and carried a red and white bouquet.

The reception was held downtown at the Garrett Bullock House. The house was decorated beautifully with flowers by Mayumi Hashiyama. Also on display was a handmade gift, created with a poem and coins, dedicated to the couple by the bride's sister. Both families had a great time at the reception, which was DJ'd by our friend, Benji Shepherd.

It was a cloudy day, but the sun shined on the happy newlyweds! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Poley!

Scott and Maria

As the holidays were coming to an end, Maria Perales and Scott Taft were starting their new life together as husband and wife! December 27th was a pleasant and warm but very windy day for the couple and their families!

The bride wore a pretty strapless dress with sparkling detail on the bodice. She carried a beautiful bouquet of red roses and greenery. Her maid of honor's dress was red like the flowers and carried a bouquet like the bride's, but smaller. However, the cutest member of the wedding party was the couple's little boy, who was dressed in a tuxedo to match his daddy's!

Friend of the studio (and Julie's cousin), Wes Carroll, played a dual role in the Taft's big day. He officiated the ceremony and DJ'd the reception. Held at the Goetchius House downtown, the reception was very intimate and romantic. As the evening moved along, everyone had a great time dancing with the bride and groom. Scott and Maria had one of the best cake smashing fights we've seen lately! They both had more cake on their faces then they actually ate as they were feeding each other.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Taft! Best Wishes for a Happy Marriage!

Wedding Vow Magazine

The premier issue of Wedding Vow magazine it out...and we're in it! The semi-annual Ledger-Enquirer publication has two of our couples from last year: Greg and Kendall Allen and Brandon and Marianne Faison. Their photos can be found on pages 12 and 13 of the magazine in the section called "I Do-Meet the Latest Newlyweds in Your Area."

Celeste's Top Ten Wedding Songs

Being a former band geek, I am a music lover. My life has a soundtrack! I have compiled a list of my most favorite wedding songs. Feel free to adopt them into your soundtrack for your big day. Some are oldies, some are new--some you may have never heard of. They all fit the bill for a big romantic day! I've included my personal favorite lyrics from each, just in case you're in the market for a wedding song!

10. "From This Moment" by Shania Twain and Bryan Adams. I know...it is a little over used. The lyrics are so perfect, though!

I give my hand to you with all my heart,

can't wait to live my life with you,

can't wait to start...

9. "On The Side of Angels" by LeAnn Rimes. This one is from way back when my husband and I started dating almost 11 years ago.

After all the might-have-beens

the close and instant calls,

After all the try-agains, don't be afraid to fall

We're on the side of angels after all

8. "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts. Again, another one that is over used. But...most of us have been through a few duds before finding our soul mate. This song is so perfect for that!

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars

pointing me on my way into your loving arms...

7. "I Wanna Love You Forever" by Jessica Simpson. Okay...so it didn't work out with the guy she wrote this one about. It is still a beautiful wedding song.

I wanna love you forever

And this is all I'm asking of you

10,000 lifetimes together...

6. "We've Only Just Begun" by The Carpenters. This is the first oldie on my list. It is THE ultimate wedding song.

We've only just begun to live

White lace and promises

A kiss for luck and we're on our way

5. "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings. I just love this song. My mom loved the Beatles and Paul McCartney, so this one was drilled into me. The live version is great, because you can really hear the emotion in his voice.

Maybe I'm amazed at the way

you love me all the time

Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you

4. "I Do (Cherish You)" by 98 Degrees. Poor Nick Lachey! I'm sure he's better off. This was another song that was popular around the time Joel and I started dating. I knew back then that he was the one...that's why this one is so special!

I do cherish you

For the rest of my life,

you don't have to think twice

3. "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. As cheesy as it sounds, I can honestly say that my husband is my best friend. This song is just so fun!

You're the best friend that I've ever had

I've been with you such a long time

You're my sunshine

I want you to know my feelings are true

I really love you

2. "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. This is the newest song on my list. This is from the album 'We sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.' that just came out last summer. I have always loved Jason Mraz, then he went and wrote a song about me and Joel.

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been

Lucky to be comin' home again

1. "Livin' My Love" by Sam Fisher. You may have never heard this one. Back when Joel and I were dating, we frequented the Loft downtown and discovered Sam Fisher. He is fantastic. His style is like John Mayer, John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye all rolled into one awesome guy. This song is my number one because it is the song Joel and I danced our first dance to as husband and wife. You can hear it at http://www.samsongs.com/.

I'm livin' my love

giving you all that matters most

I'm livin' my love

Livin' a love I've never known

Here is another lyric...because I love this song sooooo much!

You will never know how you inspire me

I bet you didn't know

I'm never going to leave

I hope you find some of this useful. Here at JE Hedges Photography...we like to help out in any way we can!