If you’re looking for ways to make your wedding more genuine & heartfelt, this post is for you. As a professional wedding photographer, I’ve been witness to many weddings. My favorites are always the personal weddings where everyone is so present & excited to be there. I’d love to share my advice to those hoping to have their own heartfelt wedding.

I definitely don’t think that you should do random things just to make your wedding more sentimental, but I’ve picked up on a few ways to inject a little authenticity & love into your wedding. Here are my absolute favorite ways to make your wedding more personal & heartfelt.

1 – Surround yourself with love

Your wedding day is about you & your loved ones. It’s a time you should be feeling oh-so-happy & not stressed out because your mom forced you to include your annoying cousin in your bridal party.

Avoid feeling obligated to include people. If you have a friend who you love, but is overdramatic and stresses you out, you should really consider if you want to have her around you for the entire day. You want your wedding attendants to be excited, helpful, and present in the moment. You shouldn’t be putting out fires on your wedding. It can be tough to make these decisions, but it’s for the best. Surrounding yourself with only your favorite people is a great way to reduce the drama and create a positive space for you to get married.

2 – Personalize your ceremony

Work with your officiant to create a ceremony that really represents you as a couple. You can have readings from books and poems that are important to you both or have someone play a song you both love. If you aren’t a very serious couple, include some funny bits to lighten the mood. Your friends and family should leave the ceremony thinking “That was SO them!”

It’s always a shame when a wedding officiant includes a sentiment or philosophy that the couple doesn’t agree with. Even if you don’t want to personalize your ceremony, always check to make sure your officiant’s general vibe is the way you want to begin your marriage. I’ve seen couples STUNNED by something their officiant said without their prior knowledge.

3 – Avoid the traditions you want to avoid

Not looking forward to a bouquet toss? Ditch it! I encourage couples to only follow the traditions that appeal to them. By taking out the traditions you don’t like, you will make your wedding more personal & authentic. Don’t feel pressured by family or wedding planners.

You don’t have to have a garter toss. You can see each other before the ceremony if you want. I’ve been to wonderful weddings where they follow every tradition under the sun. I’ve also been to weddings where they follow no traditions. They both were great because they were doing exactly what they wanted to do. Figure out what appeals to you & what doesn’t.

4 – Get ready with loved ones

One of my favorite parts of the day is the getting ready. Everyone is so excited! Getting your hair and make-up done surrounded by friends and family is much more fun than getting ready alone. It can be meaningful to have your bridesmaids help you into your dress or to have your mom put on your veil, etc. You shouldn’t push or fake sentimental moments during your wedding day, but if you are surrounded by loved ones, it will happen naturally. Your friends will also be able to help calm your nerves. This goes for the guys too!

5 – Write your own vows

If you are looking for heartfelt, writing your own vows is the way to go. Handwritten vows are beautiful & moving. There’s no better time to be open & vulnerable. If you are nervous to say your personal vows in front of your guests, there are ways to get around it. You can say them softly to each other or even walk away from the ceremony for a few minutes to exchange your vows. I love A Practical Wedding’s guide to writing your own vows.

6 – Thank everyone

So many people have impacted your wedding. You’ve received help and emotional support from family & friends. For those that have gone above & beyond, consider giving them a small gift or thank you letter to express your gratitude.

Your wedding is important to everyone close to you & they will really appreciate your thankfulness. At the reception, it can be really sweet to thank your guests for coming & being involved in your life. Your guests are taking a day (or more!) to celebrate your marriage. Appreciate that! And don’t forget to send thank you cards for the gifts after the wedding.

7 – Ask your family to ditch the cameras

You want your family to be present during your wedding day. They should be celebrating with you & taking in the day. It’s important for them too.

Encourage your family members to be obligation free during the ceremony. You shouldn’t rely on a close family member videotape the ceremony. You’ve hired people for that. Seriously, do you want your dad fiddling around with camera settings during these special moments? Ask them to witness your ceremony camera-free. If you need someone to take video, find someone outside of your closest family.

There you have it! My best advice for couples seeking a personal, heartfelt wedding. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below. Feel free to pin this post or share with friends!

I absolutely adore these Laurelwood wedding photos. I’m so happy that Nashville wedding photographer Rachel Moore invited me to help photograph this wonderful celebration.

Laurelwood Farms weddings are incredible & I’m so excited to be able to share these photos with you. Just north of Chattanooga, Laurelwood Farms is a complete retreat. It’s not like those country wedding venues where you can hear the interstate during the ceremony. I remember stepping out of my car at this Signal Mountain venue & being stunned by the peacefulness of the farm. What an amazing place to begin a marriage.

You’ll find a bunch of llamas at Laurelwood Farms weddings. Photographing these llamas was both hilarious and terrifying! Such a fun experience. I’d think you were crazy if you told me I’d one day take a hilariously awesome photo of a Catholic priest laughing at a llama. Seriously, I’d think you’re crazy. But it happened & it’s one of my favorite photos of the day.

Jonathan & Julia were so happy. Their joy was contagious & it was an amazing thing to witness. I can’t get over Julia’s big smile. I love it so much. My favorite thing to do at weddings is to document moments, so I was in heaven! Their Laurelwood wedding photos are so cheerful & full of personality.

I absolutely love this sweet series of the bride’s mom right when she put on her dress.

Oh Julia! You’re joy is incredible.

Laurelwood Farms has an incredible barn that is used for receptions. More photos later!

Julia & Jonathan wrote their own touching vows. I think everyone cried! 

The Laurelwood llamas are so fun, especially for guests.

See, I told you! Hilarious, right?

Laurelwood wedding photos can be so beautiful – the property is HUGE! 

Here’s the inside of the beautiful Laurelwood Barn.

The band Peace, Love, and Happiness kept the reception rockin’ all night!

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your own Laurelwood wedding photos, I’d love to chat with you. Feel free to read more about my approach or get in touch. xo

I met Amber & Michael a few weeks after their wedding for this super fun post wedding session in Murfreesboro. I absolutely LOVE post wedding sessions. It’s a time when the couple can get all dressed up & take a bunch more portraits without the constraints of the wedding day. We get to go anywhere we want & take more photos than we could if they had guests waiting on them. It’s a great way to get more bridal photos too.

Another perk is that you can shoot at a time that has the most beautiful light. I mean really, the light in these photos is SO yummy. I’m so glad Amber & Michael brought along their adorable pup Huey. Seriously, I just love this session so much.

Molly & Kirk are troopers, I tell ya. For their Tennessee engagement photos, we met on a drizzly November afternoon in Franklin, TN. Sometimes it sprinkled, sometimes a bit more, but you can barely tell in the photos. Molly & Kirk are so sweet together, the rainy weather was no biggie. I love doing engagement sessions when there’s a forecast of rain. In Tennessee you just never know if it will be a downpour or a sprinkle!

We started in downtown Franklin & then headed over to the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. When possible, I love hitting up an urban & park location. I’m a fan of variety. Molly & Kirk, thank you for the fun times & I can’t wait for your Houston Station wedding! xo

Gabby & Cory are awesome. I have such great memories from their Legacy Farms Lebanon wedding. From the sweet first look to the rockin’ reception, good times were had by all! I’m happy to finally be sharing their photos with you.

Legacy Farms is one of my favorite venues in Middle Tennessee. I can’t get over that beautiful willow tree on their property & the ceremony location is so beautiful. I’m always excited to photograph a wedding there. It’s so perfect for wedding photographers.

Enjoy!

Venue: Legacy Farms
DJ: Party Patrol
Catering: A Catered Affair
Florals: The Enchanted Florist
Dress: The White Room