During Annastasia and Taylor's engagement session, a summer thunderstorm rolled through almost as soon as we started. We hid out under a pavilion for a few minutes, but once it was clear that it wasn't going to stop raining anytime soon, they spent the rest of the evening dancing and laughing together in the downpour. You can tell how adventurous, joyful, and resilient they are in those images and it resulted in some of the best photos I've ever taken. If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that you can tell so much about a couple by how they respond to difficult or unplanned situations and these two are clearly amazing together. Since the day, I have been counting down the days until their wedding!

Annastasia is the event planner and inn manager at Ashford Acres, so their wedding venue was especially significant to them. My jaw dropped when I first got there - I still can't believe how well the venue balances historic southern charm with modern elegance. They made wonderful use of the space as well. They got ready in the main house, had their ceremony in the corner green space, the cocktail hour was held in the yard where they provided lawn games, then guests made their way into the modern barn for the reception. There were so many thoughtful details throughout the day— including a bourbon tasting bar, a cozy sitting space on the barn veranda, and a spread of desserts that included bundt cakes, cupcakes, and bourbon balls. I especially love how they created a dramatically long head table using wooden farmhouse tables surrounded by rounds with two different colors of tablecloths in the dining area. That, combined with the handwritten place cards, made each seat feel special and unique. All in all, the day highlighted all the best parts of Kentucky in the sweetest and most thoughtful ways.

The most difficult part of the day for me was narrowing down where to take couple's photos— every corner was stunning and I could have spent half the day running around with just the two of them in that gorgeous space. However, it's really important to me that my couples spend most of their wedding day celebrating with their friends and family— not posing for endless photos. My primary goal is always to document the day as it unfolds. All those candid interactions are the memories that mean the most in the long run. I am so in love with how everything turned out and am really excited to share some of those images with you all! If you're looking for more Kentucky wedding goodness, this colorful stunner from last year and this romantic fall wedding both highlight Kentucky in the sweetest ways.

Coordinators: Hope Mullikin, Haley Carr, & Whitney Blue // DJ: Travis McGuire with Elite Events DJ // Florals: Hal's Flowers / Catering: Ashford Acres Inn & Food Truck // Venue: Ashford Acres Inn // Videography: Happy Camper Films // Dress: Twirl Boutique // Hair: Maddie Woff // Makeup: Hanna Barnett // Tux: Men's Warehouse // Cake: The Simple Kitchen // Desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes // Furniture Rentals: Canvas Event Furniture and Oasis Productions // Ice Cream: Crank and Boom // Jumpsuit: Francesca’s // Rings: Jared’s