Last month, I had the incredible honor and thrill of photographing Trish and Jacob’s wedding at Rock Bottom Pond in Columbia, South Carolina! I knew that their big day was going to be gorgeous, but I was in for a total treat when I arrived at their venue!

Trish and Jacob envisioned their wedding as a celebration for everyone to remember – intimate, relaxed, and fun. They also dreamed up shades of navy and cream accented with rustic touches like sunflowers, wildflowers, and wood textures. It was very important that their wedding day was put together well with plenty of personal meaning, but like many modern couples, they also needed to stay within a budget. That’s where the couple’s and their family’s craftiness and handiness came in!

As you look through these images, I think you’ll be just as floored as I was at all of the handmade details worked into Trish and Jacob’s wedding! Everything from the sliced logs with mason jars full of wildflowers to the life-size Jenga and corn hole boards were 100% made through the families’ blood, sweat, and tears. And check out that STUNNING wall of hanging glass bottles and vases… what a beautiful visual it made for the couples’ reception! I think a lot of brides and grooms throw in a DIY project or two into their wedding to save costs, but Trish and Jacob took my breath away with all of the effort they put in to making their day one to remember. Trish says,

“I think the biggest challenge for us was all of the DIY things we did. We wanted to save money and the best way for us to do that was to make almost all of the things we needed/wanted for the wedding and reception. Jacob and I, along with both of our families worked most of our weekends prior to the wedding doing many projects like making our own save the dates, invitations, etc, making the arch we stood under, making and painting/staining our cornhole boards, cutting life-size Jenga pieces, collecting LOTS of bottles from friends and family peeling off labels and cleaning them, decorating wreaths, cutting down trees for our centerpieces, sewing our table runners, making flower arrangements, and so much more. This was challenging because at times it was hard to see the big picture. It was hard to spend all of our free time doing things for our wedding day but we knew that they would pay off. Not everything was perfect, but everything had great character and I loved it all! In the long run everything was worth it.”

Trish and Jacob actually met through her brother who was in many of the same classes as Jacob at the University of South Carolina. One fateful day, Trish’s brother and Jacob had planned to go to a football game along with a group of friends. Trish went as well, and soon enough this became a trend through which she was able to get to know Jacob better. After dating for awhile, Jacob proposed to Trish on a secluded bridge at James Island’s stunning Christmas light display. That’s the best Christmas gift a girl in love could ask for!

I asked Trish for her biggest, most important piece of advice to share with other brides. I absolutely love her answer! She said,

“I know this sounds cliche but works so well here: Stop and smell the roses. Take the time to soak it all up and enjoy everything because it goes by quicker than you think!”

She is so right – it goes by in a blur! That’s why I feel so blessed with the honor of capturing those all-too-fleeting moments for brides and grooms (and speaking of moments, don’t miss the BEAUTIFUL father-daughter reveal before the ceremony!).

Trish and Jacob, thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! May you have MANY MANY years of amazing companionship!

Second Shooter: Talia of Galpaltal Productions

Dress: David’s Bridal
Shoes: Walkin on Air on Etsy (Jennae and Liz from Minneapolis, MN)
Hair/Makeup: Salon Bella in Lugoff, SC
Mens’ suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Venue: Rock Bottom Pond in Lugoff, SC
Caterer: Old South & Catery in Camden, SC
Cake: Jacob’s mom’s friend, Angie Ogburn
DJ: Lee McLaughlin (family friend of Jacob)
Videographer: KM Video Productions in Camden, SC

All decor and florals were by Trish, Jacob, and their family and friends who came together to help!