Bethany Ann Photography – Nashville, Tennessee Wedding & Portrait Photographer » Southern Weddings & Portraits

The New House!

Hello!!!

I haven’t been consistently blogging because a lot has happened the last few months. It seems like yesterday it was May! I can’t even believe it’s almost August!

So, about the new house… if you have been following me on Facebook, you know that we actually didn’t end up with this house.

On May 14th, we found out that the appraisal for that house came in below the sale price. Since we could, we made the decision to back out of the contract. We had such a difficult time with the sellers of that house during inspection negotiations, (and we almost walked then) that we decided to forgo another round of negotiations and find another house. Another unforeseen circumstance happened the week before May 14th: Rick got offered a new job. While that was so exciting and we couldn’t have been more thrilled, that first house was located forty minutes from the new job. We decided, (before May 14th) even with the long commute for Rick, to move forward with the first house, but then after the appraisal came in, we felt like we weren’t meant to have that house.

So, that Friday, May 17th, I went house hunting again – in an entirely different area than we had looked at before. Rick and I both went house hunting that Saturday and Sunday, as well as that Wednesday, the 22nd. We put an offer in on Thursday morning and our offer was accepted on that afternoon. It was exhausting, but efficient; we knew what we really wanted this go round. Our realtor worked her magic and it was crazy that we had a new house in a little over a week when the first took a long, long time to find. Whew, I’m tired just thinking back on it all!

Thankfully, the sellers of this house were much more reasonable and easier to work with, so it was a faster, easier process. (Well, except for a mini heart attack from the underwriters saying we couldn’t close – on the day we were supposed to close! It all worked out, thanks to our lender and realtor, though. ;) )

I didn’t blog about any of this because 1) We didn’t want to jinx it with this new house. 2) Rick’s new job played a factor in it and we weren’t telling many people until June. 3) With wedding season in full swing, I really didn’t have time! As exhausting and overwhelming as it all felt then, those days seem to blur together now. Crazy how that works!

Would you like to see a photo of our new house?!
Here she is in all her gorgeousness!

It has been exactly a month since we moved in. We closed on June 21st, and then moved that following Monday (the 24th) because I had a wedding on the 22nd. It was a busy weekend, that’s for sure! I am so happy to be here. I have to keep reminding myself that I can turn the TV up as loud as I want, and I can sing as loud as I want, without having to worry about neighbors on the other side of the wall. It is so much fun not living in a townhouse! :) And, I LOVE our neighborhood so much more than the first house’s neighborhood. I am thankful for all the bumps in the road that lead us to this house. Everything definitely happens for a reason!

After we decorate some more, and I clear out my cluttered office, I will post some more images, but enjoy these iPhone snapshots for now!

The afternoon we closed on our house! I love Rick’s smile and the sky:

The evening after we closed:
Lexi is for sure enjoying the new house: Yes, I just realized how many Lexi photos I just posted, but here’s a few more. ;) Our realtor bought us some housewarming flowers!!! Love them! Our neighbors provided epic fireworks during the 4th of July weekend: I hung some photos and changed out the lamp shades on the dining room chandelier: Our new bed! Love it!
New dining room table and night stand. And Lexi, trying to attack my feet from under the guest bed. :) I love the neighborhood pool!

That’s all for now. As you can see, Lexi adjusted well. ;) We love our house and are so thankful this worked out. We are blessed for sure!

Thanks so much for stopping by. :) I hope you have a fabulous day!

Bethany

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A & C’s Wedding! – Nashville, TN Photographer

You might remember their fall engagement session that included water, trees, horses and a donkey, but if not, you will definitely remember their wedding images below. If you were lucky enough to attend A & C’s little white chapel wedding, you know how special, and endearing it was. In a chapel where her grandfather carved his initials in the second to last pew, A promised forever to C as the sun set through the windows. When they placed their wedding bands on each other, they both smiled and laughed, as if indicating that their marriage would include not only lots of love, but of laughter too.

A & C decided to have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony. If you haven’t heard of that before, it means that they asked all of their guests to refrain from taking any photographs during the ceremony. A sign was placed at the entrance of the church, and they had a coordinator announce it at the beginning of the ceremony. I have also heard of couples putting this information on the wedding invitation as well.

Some of you might think, “Now, why would they do that?” There are multiple, very valid reasons to have an unplugged wedding. 1) No arms and cameras sticking out into the aisle way obstructing the view of the bride walking down the aisle. 2) Said arms/cameras not obstructing the view of the groom seeing his bride. (SO important, don’t you think?) 3) No weird flashes or red light indicators before the flashes going off ruining the professional images. It’s happened to me SO MANY TIMES, and depresses me each time. 4) It’s polite. Yes, I went there. But, it really is. You have been asked to be present and in the moment when witnessing someone’s wedding ceremony. It’s only polite to not witness the entire event from behind an electronic device. 5) The couple has hired a professional to capture it. Obstructing/disrupting those images stains their wedding ceremony images. They will always see your hand in front of your face trying to get the perfect image that ruined their perfect images. As a photographer, I loved this! I wish more couples would do this. :)

Okay, enough about that! Enjoy their wedding images below! The day included cotton in bouquets, cowboy boots, lace, horses, wheat, a swing in a tree, burlap, horses, so much love, and a donkey. :) Congratulations A & C! You both are such a joy to be around. Capturing your engagement session and wedding was wonderful! I hope you are enjoying being Newlyweds!

See even more of their wedding day here on the slideshow:

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Haley & Kyle’s Wedding Day – Tennessee Photographer

Before I dive into Haley & Kyle’s wedding day, I would like to take a moment to say a huge THANK YOU to all of my May & June couples. I have been a bit absent from the blog and my Facebook page because of house hunting, buying, closing, packing, moving, and unpacking. It has been a crazy, insane, interesting ride since my last blog about the house hunt. I will definitely fill you all in soon. But now, I want to dive back into blogging about weddings. And boy, do I have the best clients ever! So patient and kind during this crazy, exciting time. :) Again, thank you all!!!

Haley & Kyle’s wedding day on May 4th was one of the coolest May weddings I have ever photographed. And, I mean coolest temperature wise, and otherwise! Rain brought in the temperature cool, while Haley & Kyle’s personalities & decor brought in the other part. It was so cool, I was able to wear a long sleeve blazer to the wedding – the entire wedding! That’s something considering usually May weather brings humidity and sweltering heat. Since the rain only fluttered in and out throughout the day, so we were still able to take pretty much all of our formal photos outside. Such a blessing!

Haley picked beautiful corals, blush pinks, and lavender hues to go with her burlap and vintage inspired wedding design. The team at The Tanglewood House & Party Station Rentals did a fabulous job of translating every bit of Haley’s style into her wedding day. I love the little details, and when I saw buttons on the bouquet wraps, cake and linens, I almost died! It was divine!

Wedding days never, never, never seem to run on schedule. It’s no big deal, really, if the wedding day runs behind – it’s expected. Well, Haley & Kyle’s ran ahead of schedule! My second photographer and I kept talking about how smooth the entire day flowed. We loved it!

By some random act of fate, after they booked me, Haley & I discovered that she and her family were actually at our wedding! Her family catered our wedding two and a half years ago. And, it was the best BBQ ever! ;) Anyway, I just thought it was so neat that we were brought back together, and this time I could be a part of her wedding day, as she was mine. Not only that, but all of their family & friends were so kind. Haley & her mom even gave me a gift card to Hobby Lobby to help furnish our new house. How sweet is that?! It doesn’t get much better than that! :)

Thank you, Haley & Kyle! I hope you are enjoying married life so far. You two were a joy to photograph, that’s for sure! :)