by Roddy | Oct 4, 2016 | Engagements
New Orleans Engagement Session
Carlee and Josh traveled down to New Orleans, and instantly became intrigued by the deep cultural roots that the city’s historical buildings and structures are built on. To some, New Orleans can appear to look like another country, having an architectural touch that is unlike any other city in the United States. Carlee loves the rich history of old cities, and she knew it would be fun having an engagement shoot when they traveled here. She planned an arrangement with me and then surprised Josh when they arrived in town. Carlee and Josh are from Terre Haute, Indiana, and they both knew this spot would be perfect for their destination engagement as soon as they saw the variety of shotgun houses and townhouses passing through. This couple was full of fun and almost as colorful as New Orleans! For the shoot Carlee and Josh posed in front of red brick, enhanced by the lush spring greenery, with lots of smiles and laughter. I absolutely love how fresh and green the pictures look in contrast to the antique brick. It was really a joy for me too, getting to see some of the everyday structures the city is known for! I’m very excited for Josh and Carlee and I’m anticipating capturing the best moments of their big day. Every New Orleans Engagement Session is different and every couple is different.
by Roddy | Sep 20, 2016 | Engagements, Southern Oaks Plantation
Engagement Session in New Orleans
When the chemistry is right, you know it. And since chemistry class at Clemson University is where Amanda and Brian became lab partners, it seemed destiny that they would eventually become partners in life. The couple has known each other for ten years, but took their sweet time becoming a couple as each thought the other was clueless about their developing feelings. They were both wrong about that, but so right for each other.
After graduating from Clemson, Brian stayed on for another year, while Amanda ended up in Tennessee. They played cat and mouse for a while, stopping in to see each other while in town visiting “friends.” When Brian finally faced moving again in order to begin his residency, he figured it was time to make his commitment to Amanda known. But as the poet Robert Burns once said, “The best laid schemes ‘o mice an’ men.” Or in Brian’s case, the best laid plans of dog and man.
For Brian’s engagement surprise, he enlisted the aid of their trusty dog, Parker. While Amanda readied herself for their evening out (having been left notes by Brian of what to do and wear), Brian gave Parker two long-stemmed roses to carry to her. Unfortunately, Parker, a big black lab, was afraid of Yuengling, the cat, and as luck would have it, Yuengling managed to scare Parker enough so that by the time he reached Amanda’s side, he had bitten through the stems of the roses, and they now drooped by his head. Somehow, though, amid a shaking dog, hissing cat, and a less-than-happy Brian, a ring was produced and Amanda said, “yes.”
Brian’s residency brought him to New Orleans, where he and Amanda both really wanted to be, so while she teaches chemistry at Patrick Taylor Academy, he’s in his second year of orthopedic surgery residency at Ochsner.
When not eating wings and drinking beer while watching football, Amanda and Brian like to cook, go camping, and go to the many festivals in and around New Orleans.
To celebrate their engagement and upcoming wedding, they took some photos around town. Parker got in on the action when they posed in front of Max Bernardi’s mural, which was done for the Audubon Zoo Louisiana Swamp Exhibit. Later that evening, they shared some private moments in the park where moonlight shown through the moss-covered oaks and reflected off of the still water of the Hyams Fountain.
This month they will be married at the gorgeous Southern Oaks Plantation where true New Orleans charm abounds.
by Roddy | Jun 21, 2016 | Engagements
Engagement Session in New Orleans
Tanya, a school teacher, and Robert, a principal, came from Georgia to capture a taste of New Orleans for their engagement session. Georgia has a beautiful southern charm all its own, but New Orleans has a flair that is hard to find elsewhere, so what better way for two educators to educate themselves on this splendid city than to stroll its famed French Quarter streets posing amid some of its most well-known architectural features. They posed for photos in several colorful doorways exhibiting a variety of classic New Orleans shutter styles. The city is very protective of its architecture, and in 1921, it established The Vieux Carre Commission. In 1936, when a block of old buildings was demolished to build a civil courts building, the Commission was given the authority to regulate architecture by controlling building permits. This didn’t completely keep New Orleans from losing some of its historic buildings, but it certainly saved many.
Ashley looked ethereal as she floated down the city streets wearing a soft, flowing white dress and carrying a bouquet of blue hydrangeas with a mix of small white flowers. Robert looked ever the dapper gentleman in his jeans, sports coat, and boutonniere. Ashley planted a kiss on her beloved as they posed in front of a building with tall wood and glass green doors and a red wash on the stucco, both so typical of New Orleans’ style. Ashley’s engagement ring, a stunning pear-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds atop a diamond-encrusted band, is certainly worthy of a kiss.
The couple spent some time at a New Orleans café chatting over candlelight as the day drew to a close. As night fell, they found the perfect place for a silhouette photo against a fuchsia-colored New Orleans townhouse. They capped off this splendid day spent in celebration of their engagement with one final photo of them holding each other beneath a deep blue night sky.
by Roddy | May 31, 2016 | Engagements
Engagement Session in New Orleans
Mixing business with pleasure can sometimes turn into a lifelong commitment, which is what happened when Jenny and Mason, both physical therapists, were in St. Louis on clinical. With their parents in town to meet each other, Mason deemed it the perfect time to pop the question. When they were standing in front of the famous St Louis Gateway Arch, the tallest man-made national monument in the United States, Mason, feeling ten feet tall himself, gave the speech of a lifetime and asked Jenny to marry him. After saying, “Of course,” the couple and their families celebrated at the Four Seasons Hotel, where Mason had arranged an incredibly special evening for them all including champagne in front of a fireplace, long-stemmed roses, and a dazzling flower petal display. This man knows how to make a memorable event even more memorable.
To celebrate this milestone in their lives, these social butterflies decided to have a City Park engagement session in New Orleans. As they strolled through the large stands of oaks draped with Spanish moss, they planned their future, which will be filled with all the things they love, such as watching sporting events, going to parties and festivals, and listening to country music. They get into some lively discussions, too, as they both have strong opinions on a great many subjects, but, according to Jenny, it suits them well.
They love to travel and frequently find themselves out of town a lot for friends’ weddings. The beach is one of their favorite places to go, and they are anxiously awaiting a chance to see Europe. When they aren’t watching sports, they like playing them – softball, sand volleyball, soccer, or just tossing a football. While Mason loves cooking, the couple also enjoys exploring new restaurants, which New Orleans certainly has plenty of. Maybe their cat, Julio, is lucky enough to get the leftovers.
They will be taking their vows at the famous Saint Louis Cathedral, which overlooks Jackson Square in the heart of New Orleans. After the ceremony, they and their families and friends will celebrate the event at The Jaxson on the River, which is the old Jackson Brewery, that overlooks the Mississippi River. This 110-year-old building was home to the last independent brewery in the South. What a great place to throw a once-in-a-lifetime party that will signal the start of their whirlwind life together as husband and wife.
by Roddy | May 29, 2016 | Engagements
Engagement Session in New Orleans
Tara and Steve chose New Orleans as the setting for their engagement session, because this is where they had their first date. Tara lives in New Orleans and Steve in Baton Rouge. Their relationship began online because of the distance, but that only lasted a few weeks. One night, when Tara was trying to escape from a bad date with someone else, Steve sent her a message, which was all she needed to excuse herself and leave to go meet him. The rest, as they say, is history.
They got engaged on March 29, 2015, when after lunch in the New Orleans French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in the city, on Sunday Funday, Steve took Tara to Jackson Square where he romantically proposed to her. Of course, she said, “Yes!” After that, they danced in the streets accompanied by one of the musicians in the Square.
The couple says they are super competitive, especially when it comes to Fantasy Football. They also love doing puzzles together, and Tara is a first-rate cheerleader when Steve plays sports. When they aren’t involved in sports, they love working out and traveling. Tara is a wedding planner in New Orleans, so she is sure to be on top of every detail to ensure their special day is one of a kind.
In January 2017, they will be saying “I do” at Bevelo in the French Quarter. Bevelo is a gas and electric lights museum and showroom where handcrafted copper lanterns adorn the walls, which will provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for the couple and their guests at this intimate wedding. Bevelo has a lovely interior courtyard where guests can visit the workshop, which is filled with antiques and memorabilia.
Steve and Tara spent some private moments on Decatur Street sharing a kiss as dusk fell on the city. They watched the sun set on the Mississippi riverfront with the city lights shining behind them, and then posed under the kinetic steel sculpture by John T. Scott called “Ocean Song,” which symbolizes the motion of the river. It is located in Woldenberg Riverfront Park at the foot of Canal Street. The park is home to many sculptures and other artwork, and hosts numerous festivals throughout the year. People can sit on the benches to chat or just watch the activity on one of the world’s busiest rivers.
The couple’s last stop was for a peek through the doors of the famous Tiffany & Co. where diamonds sparkled almost as much as their eyes as they gazed at each other at the end of this extraordinary day.
by Roddy | Apr 8, 2016 | Engagements
Engagement Session in New Orleans
Even a rainy day couldn’t put a damper on Laini and Chris’ engagement session in New Orleans. And when the rain could no longer compete with the light glowing from this couple, it crept away and gave them the freedom to stroll the French Quarter streets unhindered.
Dressed to the nines, Laini and Chris stood out in the crowd, which they would have done anyway as their big smiles were impossible to miss. Street performers added to the day’s excitement. In the puddles of Jackson Square, the couple’s reflection shown up at them, doubling the beauty of the moment.
The couple watched the activity on the Mississippi while standing on the Riverwalk with the St. Louis Cathedral in the background. One of New Orleans most recognized landmarks, the Cathedral stands on ground where people have worshipped since 1727. The first church was designed by French engineer, Adrien de Pauger, who unfortunately died before its completion, but whose remains are forever entombed beneath the church, along with many others, as is tradition. In 1788, the church and several of the surrounding buildings burned to the ground. When the church was rebuilt in 1794, it was designated as a cathedral and a Christmas Eve service was its first.
As a cloudy night sky settled on the city, the couple watched as the riverboat Natchez paddled on by aglow in lights. They toasted champagne with the Crescent City Connection, formerly the Greater New Orleans Bridge, as their backdrop. The bridge is one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world. Opened in 1959, this bridge was the first to cross the Mississippi River in New Orleans.
Laini and Chris didn’t let a few clouds keep them from heading down to Bourbon Street to enjoy some of the city’s nightlife. The streets were awash with people by then, so Chris decided they should be awash, too, in champagne that is. To mark the occasion, he popped the cork on a bottle, which sprayed up into the night sky and rained crystal-like droplets down on them. The laughter that followed proved that they both like to have fun and will be having fun together for many years to come.
The couple will be tying the knot this October at The Ritz-Carlton on Canal St. The Ritz-Carlton has facilities to cater to every type of wedding, from an intimate courtyard setting with wrought iron gazebo to grand ballrooms that can accommodate hundreds of guests.
