Charlotte Fristoe Photography: Darla & Thomas {Wedding}

When I first met Darla and her mother, Mrs. Henderson, they explained how they are the kinda of people who see a vision and bring it to life themselves. I gotta hand it to them, they did not disappoint. Since Darla and Thomas have been featured on the blog twice before for their ENGAGEMENT SESSION and BRIDAL SESSION, I am changing up the traditional format of the blog to showcase how their vision came to life for their wedding day....

This family bible below was also used in Darla's grandmother, mother, and brother's wedding. The pearls were given to Darla by her father just before her wedding day.

A shotgun shell held grass, twigs, and baby pine cones from their land. The shell that was used was from the last hunting trip Thomas's dad ever took before he passed away. Darla made this as a gift to Thomas where the picture of his father and grandmother was worn just above his heart.

The girl's flowers were inspired by Darla but provided by THE FRONT PORCH in Crawfordville.

The morning of their wedding, Thomas and his groomsmen went hunting together...where Thomas shot a spike. All I know is that this is a lot of guns. Someone driving down Rose Street actually stopped, leaned out the window, snapped a picture, and drove off without once saying a word to us.

Ah, yes. There is a story to this...but you'd have to ask Thomas about it...Darla's mom had to step in and explain the joke to him...but boy was his face red!

After so many weddings I have finally learned how to find that moment before the ceremony where the bride takes a deep breath...and just breaths. This is it.

And after that moment, that second and a half moment to herself, she opens her eyes and smiles knowing that this is it. All of her prayers and wishes have come true. In minutes she will marry her best friend, her partner in life. Darla, you are the epitome of that moment in these two pictures and I adore it.

Thomas' mother was the sweetest thing during their first dance...she loves her son!

Darla's father transformed The Historical Sopchoppy Gymnasium into what Darla and her mother imagined it would be. The entire Gymnasium was covered from top to bottom with hundreds of Christmas lights and the gigantic glass windows were blacked out to further enhance the look. The walls were lined with handmade tree stands that held tall Birch Trees also covered in Christmas lights. It was as if you were in the middle of the woods, just barely able to see by the light of the stars. Unless I lit the room up with a flash...like I did when Darla's dad dipped her at the end of their dance!

Darla surprised Thomas with his grooms cake...and trust me, if you are lucky enough to have this woman design your wedding cake then you know that her cakes taste even better than they look. The guests were lining up to see Darla and Thomas's wedding cakes!

The picture below is of Darla's Man of Honor, her brother Bud, and his lovely wife Linda. The guest book table was lined with photographs of the couples grandparents who were not longer with them.