weddingphotography – Jess Jones Photos Blog

Ashley + John Wade | River Mill Event Center | Columbus, GA

Ashley and John Wade Ginn shared a fabulous wedding celebration at the one and only River Mill Event Center in Columbus, GA.

This whole celebration was laid back and The Ginn’s just wanted to have a good time and I think they nailed it! Ashley had two dresses for her celebration. The one she wore to her actual wedding in Las Vegas and her awesome comfy hi-lo party dress that she danced the night away in. This bride was stunning in both dresses.

Ashley’s beautiful sister and mother helped the bride get laced up into her formal dress and placed her veil perfectly.

The huge industrial style windows at the River Mill are always the perfect backdrop with the gorgeous light that they provide. I’m a such a huge fan of the old historic look and love when I can mix the old and new elements in one photo.

John Wade and Ashley met me in the garden for their portraits under the setting sun and the ethereal spanish moss that hangs from the trees in the River Mill Garden. They laughed and danced while I photographed. They both were totally chill and ready to party. Ashley’s gorgeous jewel toned bouquet was created by the talented B. Anderson Florals who never seems to disappoint us with her talents.

The whole family joined us in the garden for portraits and the beauty queen grandmother’s showed us all how to pose to create those flattering curves!

The time had come to get the party started. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with string lights over head and flowing white fabric. B. Anderson floral designs were on every table. She chose some really beautiful evergreen foilage paired with deep magenta toned flowers. The tables had some awesome brass candelabras and vases that lended a cool antique vintage vibe.

The Carson Hand Band totally killed it with their music and had the whole guest list on the dance floor.

The newly-weds shared an anniversary dance with all the couples in attendance and were left dancing with longest married couple in the room, John Wades’ Grandparents, with over 60+ years of marriage! How amazing is that?! Something to be celebrated for sure!

Guest mingled and snacked on the delicious food that was prepared by Jamie Keating. It all looked amazing! Oh and they had a deconstructed smore’s bar! #dead

I totally loved photographing this celebration of marriage and loved seeing tons of familiar faces. It was definitely a Harris County reunion!

Here’s to The Ginn’s! Wishing you guys many many happy years!

DILLY DILLY! 😉

The Fab Vendors:

Venue: River Mill Event Center
Florals: B. Anderson Florals
Band: Carson Hand

Valerie + Andy | Castle Ballroom | El Paso

Valerie and Andy are the sweetest couple who shared a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Shalom Christian Church in El Paso, Texas surrounded by their friends and family.

Valerie started her day at Xtremes Salon along with her sister and mother. They had a chill morning as the stylists pampered the ladies for the special day ahead. Valerie’s long dark hair was curled and her make up carefully applied. She’s a natural beauty who looked stunning after Ana, the stylist, had finished. Her sister, Brenda, and their mother, Lucy, posed for a cute picture under the hair dryers before we headed to Valerie’s house to step into her dress and add the finishing touches.

The bride’s mother helped her get dressed and pinned her “something old” to her dress for safe keeping. Valerie looked stunning in her wedding dress. The dress was unique with beautiful lace overlay and layers soft tulle fell to the floor. The silver beaded belt added a little bling to the already beautiful dress.

When she was dressed and ready her father, Jerry, got the see her for the first time. These are always such special moments. I love to see the dad’s reaction to seeing their daughters for the first time in their wedding dresses. It never disappoints!

It was a rainy wedding day for Valerie and Andy, but that didn’t stop them from having a beautiful celebration. We arrived at the Shalom Christian Church and everything was set up and ready for the vows to be exchanged. The handsome groom beamed as he waited for his bride to join him at the altar. The bride made her way down the aisle to meet Andy. They walked hand in hand up to the stage where the minister lead a God-filled ceremony. Andy and Val’s relationship is one that is centered around Jesus and their church family. They have strong family and church family realtionships that will be ready to lend support whenever its needed.

After the ceremony the rain was still falling in Fabens. So, we had to get creative with the photo locations. We decided on The Fountains because we knew it wouldn’t be muddy! So we could keep the brides dress as clean as possible. This place actually worked out really well and miraculously it was not raining when we started shooting!

Later in the evening, wedding party and guests began arriving to the Castle Ballroom in El Paso. The room was beautifully decorated to kick off the celebration for these newly weds! I was super impressed with the milk and cookie bar that was the bride’s brilliant idea. They had all kinds of cookies and every kind of milk in cute little glasses! It was a lot of fun for both the kids and the adults at the party.

After dinner was served, the DJ turned up the music and the party kicked off with the first dance for the new husband and wife. Both the bride and groom shared special dances with their parents. Afterwards, the guests had a blast dancing and partying the night away. Everyone you and old was on the dance floor! El Paso really does now how to party.

Take a look at some of my faves from Val and Andy’s day!

Getting ready

Shalom Christian Church | Fabens, TX

bride and groom sit as they listen to minister during ceremony

wide shot of bride and groom praying during ceremony

The Fountains | El Paso, TX

groom sits in front of fountain close up

Castle Ballroom | El Paso, TX

bride and groom feeds their cake to each other

The Milk + Cookie Bar

bride and groom hold their special cookies

Vendors:

Venues: Shalom Christian Church, Castle Ballroom
Hair & Make Up: Xtremes West Salon, Ana
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal, Vera Wang, White Collection
Florist: Angie’s Flowers
Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse
Cakes: The Cake Lady, Irma Holder
DJ: DJ Munchies (Luis)
Milk & Cookie Bar: Elegance by Susy

The Kidd’s

I wish every wedding could be like the “breeze” this one was. I’d say the hard part was that five-hour drive to Odessa! The day I drove up to Odessa for Jacey and Oliva’s wedding there was a huge thunderstorm in El Paso when I was trying to leave. The streets were flooded to the point where I wasn’t sure if I should drive through them or not! There were ice plates (whatever those are…) on the highway. Cars were backed up for miles! It took me about an hour just to get out of El Paso and on my way to Odessa. I really picked the perfect time to try to get out of town.

I arrived in Odessa really late at night and I immediately crashed in my hotel. I finally got to actually see the town the next morning and the first thing I noticed were the oil pumps bobbing up and down. They look like little dinosaurs to me bobbing their heads up and down.

Festivities started early Saturday morning. I met Olivia and her beautiful bridesmaids at Charm salon. Olivia was getting her hair done when I arrived. She looked pretty chill. Her bridesmaids were scattered around the salon. Some were having their make-up applied, some were getting their hair braided and the others were chatting and waiting for their turn. They had some delicious-looking donuts to snack on and lots of coffee!

I photographed the bride’s gorgeous dress at the salon along with her cowboy boots that she’d wear under her dress.

I headed to the church to photograph the groom getting prepped. I first met the groom’s mother Ronnie who was beyond helpful showing me around the church and giving me a bit of the day’s rundown. Ronnie also helped me coordinate all the family groups for family photos for which I’m very grateful!

We went to find Jacey in one of the church’s back hallways. What I found was a big goofball! Jacey was joking and had everyone laughing as soon as I arrived.

I photographed the groom with his groomsmen (and groomswoman) out in front of the church. They all wore a beautiful shade of gray with purple accents and of course cowboy boots. They went back to resume their card game.

The bride arrived at the church with her bridesmaids in tow. She scrambled upstairs to the room where she would step into her dress. It took two bridesmaids working together to fasten all those buttons. The dress was stunning and fit Olivia like a glove. She did a little jig when she saw herself in the mirror for the first time.

The bride’s mom met her in the hallway while we were taking bridal pictures. She marveled at her beautiful daughter in her wedding dress.

It was just about time for the ceremony and I found Jacey and his parents down in the back hallway saying a prayer before he’d meet Olivia at the altar. Guests were filing into the sanctuary. Jacey entered with the pastor and beamed as he waited for Olivia to walk down the aisle. The violinist played and the guests rose to watched Olivia as she was escorted by her father down the stairs and up the aisle to meet her groom. Jacey grinned from ear to ear as he saw Olivia for the first time walking towards him.

Her father kissed her on the cheek and took his seat after he gave the bride away. The ceremony began and the pastor led the two lovebirds through the marriage vows. Olivia and Jacey said their I do’s and sealed their new union with a sweet kiss. They turned to face the crowd and sauntered back down the aisle hand in hand.

The newlyweds entered the reception and the groom’s father opened the dinner with a prayer. The guests dined on some delicious looking BBQ with all the fixings with some sweet tea and lemonade to wash it down. Dinner definitely had me dreaming of Georgia.

After dinner, the bride and the groom shared their first dance. Followed by Olivia’s dance with her father and Jacey’s dance with his mother. The bride and groom made their way around the room greeting guests and hearing their blessings on the new couple.

Olivia and Jacey each smashed cake in each other’s faces and then tossed the bouquet and garter to some eager catchers.

The Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech battle it out in the background of the reception. I mean, we’re in true football country. Fortunately, for Olivia, the Texans won! Maybe next year, Jacey?

The reception didn’t exactly end with the bubble exit, but it fits better in line with the story that way. 🙂

Here are the highlights from The Kidd’s big day.

Venue: Golf Course Road Church of Christ
Dress: University Bridals and Formals
Hair and makeup: Charm Beauty Salon
Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Flowers: Donna Kidd (flowerlady12@hotmail.com)
Cake: Liz White ((575) 631 – 1708)

Check out the whole wedding gallery here.

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