Hannah & Patrick were one of my first pandemic couples. We met on Zoom, connecting virtually to see if we were a good fit. I loved having the opportunity to capture these two in their engagement and wedding journey. We first met in person at their engagement session at Red Top Mountain State Park in the fall. I had a blast with them as we hiked the trails, stopped by the lakeside and finished the night with a little dancing too. As we discussed their winter wedding plans, I was excited to be able to work at the Vezelay, a North GA wedding venue in Cleveland surrounded by mountains and gorgeous landscapes.

Hannah & Patrick originally met through Hannah’s sister and reconnected during their university years. After dating for many years, they got engaged at Disney World in front of Cinderella’s castle. A fitting spot for this pair of Disney fans! They both love to hike and explore the outdoors. They’re also highly competitive and love playing board games. I loved seeing how they found a way to infuse both their love for the outdoors and their love for games into their wedding day (stay tuned!).

WEDDING DAY DETAILS

This couple’s style was spot on for the day. Hannah wore a stunning lace detailed dress – it has beautiful side sleeves and a dusty pink undertone. She stood alongside her bridal squad in light blue dresses, perfect for a late winter wedding! Patrick, along with his groom’s crew, wore rich navy suits paired with beautiful brown leather accessories – all contrasting nicely with the backdrop of the day.

My favorite part of their wedding day had to be their first look. It was so special to witness! When we were planning, I gave them the advice to not hold back any of their emotions – if you want to cry, then cry! If you want to laugh, then be your giggly box self. They listened, and just soaked in the moment with each other. During their first look, set in front of beautiful rolling hills of North Georgia, Hannah read her heartfelt vows to her groom-to-be, inducing plenty of tears and laughs. Patrick even surprised Hannah with his vows that turned into a song written just for her as he played his guitar. It was definitely one of my favorite first look moments!

SO IN LOVE WITH YOU

When asked what’s something that was a pleasant surprise for their big day, the couple responded: the weather!

“When we picked a March date, we knew it was a gamble in North Georgia. We told people that it could be 70 degrees, or it could be snowing! We were so blessed with very comfortable weather. It rained for 30 minutes or less while we were getting ready, but it was beautiful too and I was told it brought good luck!”

CUE THE WEDDING PARTY

The Vezelay was the perfect backdrop for this wedding. Hannah and Patrick shared,

“We chose the venue because of so many things! The view was gorgeous and there were many places around the venue to take pictures. The location was close to family and the owners were kind.”

From the couple: “We were intentional about choosing things that fit our relationship. We had a few Disney touches throughout because we are Disney people. Our guest book was a Jenga game because we love to play board games. Our table numbers had pictures of us at the age of the table number. We even included an activity set for all of the kids that attended which everyone loved.”

NORTH GA WEDDING CEREMONY AT THE VEZELAY

For their decor, I personally loved the wooden flowers they had around the venue. I thought they were so unique, beautiful in color, and added such an elegant yet woodland vibe. I’m also a sucker for bundt cake. Naturally, I loved their dessert spread – a unique twist to a traditional wedding cake.

When asked about their favorite parts of the day, the couple shared,

Hannah: “The shoe game! I was so glad that we were able to share our personalities and a glimpse into our relationship with everyone.
Patrick: “The time that we shared alone before the reception. It grounded us and allowed us to pause a day that was going by so fast.”

The couple shared that their wedding day felt fast, the craziest and best whirlwind they had ever experienced. But in the end, all of the planning and attention that went into the day was well worth it. Ultimately, both their guests and they had a good time! They shared, “looking back, I am so happy that we chose to do the things that we did. I am also so glad that we did what we wanted and didn’t worry too much about what other people wanted us to do! I want to relive this day over and over again!”

Advice for couples planning their own wedding:

“Know that none of the things that you choose will be life or death. The ultimate goal for the day is for the two of you to get married and start your forever. I was given the advice to plan everything so that the bride has nothing to do on the day of the wedding and that was definitely what we did and we were both so relaxed the whole day!”

NORTH GA WINTER WEDDING

Congratulations to you both on a beautiful wedding day and many years of happiness and love! I’m so glad I was able to capture your engagement and wedding journey, and spend this time getting to know you both and tell your story.

VENDORS:

Photography // Christine Quarte Photography

Venue // Vezelay

Catering // A Perfect Gathering

Cake // Nothing Bundt Cake

Florist // Sola Wood Flowers

Makeup & Hair // Twist Me Pretty by Steph

Suit // Tuxedo Warehouse in Cumming

Dress // Wedding Angels Bridal

Ring // Tripp and Company Jewelers