How do I know when someone is a dream client? Let’s start with the email I received from Melissa THE DAY AFTER SHE WAS ENGAGED to John.
“Hey Shannon!
My name is Melissa. I have been following you and your work and falling more and more in love ever since you did my best friends wedding in July of 2016. Nuni & Zeth Ford was the wedding. You were elegant and professional & it was almost as if you weren’t even there. But the details of that day that you were able to capture was indescribable. All of that being said, I’m engaged! He proposed last night. I know I might be overzealous in contacting you this quickly, but I would love for you to be the one that captured our big day. We are flexible on the date but we were shooting for November 16, 2019, and wondering if you would be available? Look forward to hearing from you.”
We set up a call the following week and it was just perfection from the start. Also, with a woman like Melissa, there is no way I could have forgotten who she was. We talked about a photo I captured of her during her best friend’s wedding and it’s still one of my favorites. I love capturing the wedding party, and guests, in quiet moments.
This isn’t just an “at-home” wedding. This is a wedding that was planned for over a year and Melissa’s father built structures just so his daughter could be married in a place that meant so much to her. When Melissa told her father that she wanted to have her wedding on this property he was overjoyed and they got to work, planning. He built an entire pavilion with a stone fireplace so that she would have a place that felt warm and cozy for the reception. It was such a beautiful touch, in addition to the tent they brought in. Her father also built the cake stand from wood he got from the bottom of a river. Did I mention that he’s in forestry? Yeah, it was pretty amazing and there were so many special and beautiful touches.
This was one of the photos she sent me while planning on building out her reception with her wedding planner. He built that pavilion and was about to get started on the custom fireplace.
I’ve now done a few weddings where they completely build the wedding on a piece of property and it’s become my favorite. All of these personal touches make for a wedding that you and your guests will never forget. Working with a skilled set of wedding planners and designers is key.
One of my favorite parts of the entire day was the fact that Nuni, Melissa’s best friend who’s wedding I photographed in 2016, had built a home a few yards from Mellisa’s father. Nuni is also in forestry and she and Melissa’s father worked together to clear out trees for the wedding. Nuni’s house was stunning and Melissa used it to get ready on she and John’s wedding day.
So many special moments and touches.
Ceremony & Reception // Private Property Oakfield GA
Photographer // Shannon Griffin
Planning // Jennifer Helms Arnold
Florist // Rick Barret
Caterer // Southern Elegance
Music // Emerald Empire Band
Invitation Suite // Place On the Pointe
