Welcome to my blog So this is a place I rant and rave, wear my heart on my sleeve, gush on my family, and most importantly share my art...the photo stories of wonderful couples and people I cross paths with.   Don't be afraid to bookmark it, or leave a comment.  I love hearing from everyone and anyone.  Check back frequently...I will try to keep you updated. 



 
07.21.2010
Summer and Matthew were married at one of the prettiest places I have ever seen.  The drive up was windy and crazy, but beautiful and memorable.  This wedding had a whimsical circus theme that had fun written all over it.  There were no bearded ladies, but party this crowd did!!
I will update this post with the details soon.  I just wanted to get this up with pics first.  I am so excited to show you this.  Lots of thought and preparation and love went into this wedding and I believe you will agree..
.Even with 103 degree fever and strep throat, it was one of my favorites this year!

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Ceremony Site: Pretty Place Chapel
Reception Site/Catering - Wyche Pavilion at Larkins on the River
DJ: Vic Thomas with Alleycats Mobile Dance Party
http://www.alleycatsdj.com/
Cake- Gretchen's ABS Cakes - Gretchen Groundsell
Flowers- Bought at Carlstedt's Wholesale and designed by bride's mother, Gloria Isreal Barker
**Her mother also handmade all of the red and white pennants!
Bridesmaid Dresses- Lula Kate, purchased at Bella Bridesmaid
Bride's Dress- First dress- designed by Christos, purchased at Poinsett Bride
Second dress- purchased from LightintheBox.com
Groom/Groomsmen Attire - JCrew
Lighting- Optrics
Day-of Coordination- Jennifer Wahlquist
Kissing Booth/Stand Up Cutout- built by Matthew Johnson :) and artwork by Andrea Christopher Snipes
Invitations: designed by Andrea Harrel



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Hi-Fi Weddings says:

OH WOW! if the couple wants to share their music info then i'd LOVE to feature this on hi-fi weddings!!! fabulous shots and i love all the details! looks so FUN! xox

(07.22.10 @ 12:41 AM)
Summer says:

I feel so lucky to have found you to photograph our day. You're such an artist, Ashley. We absolutely adored the pics and can't wait to see the rest! You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(07.22.10 @ 12:09 PM)
Rebecca Daniels says:

OMG! This looked like such a FANTABULOUS wedding - I love all of it!! Can't wait to see more of them!

(07.22.10 @ 02:58 PM)
Matt says:

The photos look great Ashley! You are super talented - can't wait to see the rest!

(07.22.10 @ 10:26 PM)
Kristin Williams says:

I hate that I didn't get to go with on this wedding.... looks like it was awesome...I love the blue & red together....HOT!! I love downtown Greenville too!!

(07.22.10 @ 10:27 PM)
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07.20.2010
So my good friend Dargan told me that life is a bunch of seasons...and she is right.
This season for us has been turmoil, heartache, loneliness and sunshine.  If that makes any sense. 


Summer is my favorite time of year...and 5:00 is my favorite time of night.  Summer is awesome...without explanation.  5:00 is awesome because that is when I could expect my favorite man to come walking through the door...or at least to call me and let me know he was comin' home to me.  I used to look forward to that time of day, every day. 
They say live day to day...well I live by the hour lately.   I live in three-hour increments for instance, today we did
(1) breakfast/pay sales tax/daddy called/Abby napping
(2)then doing lunch/kids watching a movie so I can pour my heart out to my blog/catch up on orders and emails
(3)then off to the pool.  The pool will be a three hour tour so to speak...then the last three hours will be the gym...and supper. 
Then the last 3 hours of the day will be me making popcorn/editing/catching up on emails/sleeping/chatting with my mom (on ichat or phone) and sister.

And in between I have to water the garden, clean up dishes, change diapers, wipe bottoms, feel sorry for myself (just kidding), thank the sweet Lord Jesus that I have a husband that is coming home and kids that are healthy and listen 8 out of 10 times when I speak to them.  That number is an estimate...a generality if you will...but they are pretty good ;)

I saw an old friend in Illinois around the 4th of July...Independence Day (Mom gets annoyed when people call it the 4th because it takes the meaning away) So on the weekend of our fantastic Independence, I saw a friend and we were talking about how we were, etc.  I said my usual...I am "missing Billy"  She was telling me about when she lost her husband.  I will never forget when I got the news.  I was in Iraq...in one of Saddam's palace bathrooms in Baghdad when I got the news about the accident.  I remember falling to the floor and crying for her...for what she was possibly feeling or going through.
She then said "remember this, at least you get to talk to him again...I remember thinking, I will never get to talk to him again."   And with that it was like i was punched in the gut...I felt so horrible and sorry for everyone that won't have a homecoming or a happily ever after.  This seven months is not that bad...get outta yourself Ashley...this will pass.  She was so right. 

So a happy, sad, extrospective (is that a word?) thought for my Tuesday.  Shannon I love you so much...thank you for helping me see past myself and my three hour time blocks.  Life for me will go on...so happy your life has gone on too.  You are my hero, with your beautiful kids and life and spirit. 


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here is me and my girls, taken by Em

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07.14.2010
Blakely and Brian were married at 701 Whaley and had one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever seen.  Blakely is one of the most creative people I have ever met.  She seemed to have touched every detail about this wedding in some way.  Whether it was her idea, or crafted by her, her touch was everywhere.  From jewelry, to vows...the handcrafted feel was there.  She cut out all the birds <freehand> might I add and you can see them on each chair end for the ceremonyShe has a twin sis, which I think is really neat and intriguing (and another sis who is super too). Blakely + Brian chose to see each other before the ceremony which explains the embrace in the stairwell.  They wrote their own vows and I don't know if there was a dry eye in the crowd.  I will add vendor info in a bit...they had a bluegrass band which I loved...loved!  And the cake...and the china...okay okay already!!
 (btw...had to add this, when reviewing the shots I chose to show you...the groomsmen at the urinals was just us being silly...I could feel some Southern Baptists gasping ;)
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