Formal PortraitJustin and Isabella outside of their venue at Freedom Point, in Clarksville, TN

In 2013 I was a super new photographer and the Holt family from my church trusted me to shoot Isabella's senior pictures.  I was super new.  

Anyway, I have seen her really grow and mature through the years and was so excited when she and her mom asked me to shoot her wedding!

On July 16, 2016 Isabella Holt married Justin Herren, father of Abigail Herren, at Freedom Point in Clarksville, Tennessee.  I met Isabella and her mom, Melanie at the Riverview Inn where they were getting dressed for the day.  When I got to the hotel with my assistant Nicole, we were greeted by Isabella wearing the cutest monogrammed shirt, monogrammed by Amy Barrett.  Her hair and makeup were fixed and she was stunning.  She was attended by her maid of honor and sister, Olivia Holt as well as her bridesmaids, Miranda Tidwell, Crystal Gosa, and Junior Bridesmaid, Elissa Shultz.  

The ladies were all dressed in their matching shirts.  They were having such fun getting ready and doing last minute stuff together that my assistant and I took some items outside and did detail shots of them.  They had gorgeous wedding boots for Isabella AND Abbie, her sweet soon to be step daughter.  Melanie did all of the flower arrangements herself.

One of my favorite parts of Isabella and Justin's wedding were the stories and the sentiment that seemed to follow every little detail.  When Melanie married Brian Holt on June 28, 1997, sweet little 18 month old Isabella wore a beautiful flower crown.  They saved that headpiece and all these years later, sweet little Abbie wore the VERY SAME headpiece when her daddy married Isabella and made Isabella a step mom!!  They lovingly added a few new flowers and Abbie looked like an absolute angel.  More about that in a minute.

When it was time for Isabella to get her dress on her mom and her sister assisted her.  I loved Isabella's dress and felt like it really was SO her and perfect for her day!

Once the dress was on Isabella and Melanie had time alone together.  Melanie presented her sweet daughter with a gorgeous bracelet to wear and to cherish.  It was a surprise and tears were shed by all three of us.  I mean, to say Melanie worked tirelessly for the wedding was an understatement.  Both of them worked hard and grew even closer in the process.

When we arrived at Freedom Point, part of the Clarksville Parks and Rec facilities at Clarksville Marina, I immediately noticed the beautiful alter built by Justin and his groomsman Evan.  They actually cut the cedar tree themselves a created this beautiful alter, and once it was all set up ladies lovingly decorated it.

Justin and Isabella decided to do a first look.  As Justin waited for Isabella I saw this very laid back man be almost breathless, he was so anxious to see her.  Being a wedding photographer I must admit, private first looks are my favorite part of the wedding.  Oh the romantic magic!  In fact Justin said later that, "Isabella was so beautiful but when I saw her as my soon to be wife I was stunned by how beautiful she was."  I am not going to say how they both reacted but I will say Justin was holding Isabella so hard that I though he was going to break her and she was BEAMING!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the first look!  

After we all relaxed for a few minutes they had their first look with sweet Abbie.  They both though she was breathtaking and she looked just like an angel.  She ran to them with the most precious expression!

We took some time to do portraits then!  The ladies wore dresses from Belk.  I thought the color and cut was so flattering on them.  I loved Isabellas dress from David's Bridal.

Then we did some portraits of Justin and his best man, Kyllor DeGraff and his groomsmen Evan Hollingsworth, and Kyle Bunch.  Their ties and vest and shirts were all from the Men's warehouse and they pared those with their own jeans.  

 

At 6:00pm it was time for the ceremony!  Tom Payne officiated the marriage ceremony.  I thought they couldn't have picked a more beautiful time of day for the wedding!  Everyone looked so nice while they stood over looking the water pledging their lives to each other with friends and family looking over.

The reception was so pretty!  Bobby Ogg blessed the food before our delicious meal.  All of the food came from Gordon Food and I can tell you it was delicious! I loved how Melanie, Isabella and friends of the Holts, decorated the venue.  There were pictures and even a fishing themed grooms table.  His grooms cake was the cutest I have ever seen!  L & M Bakery did a wonderful jobs on all the cakes including the wedding cake and cupcakes.  Everyone was raving over the delicious baked goods.  I wished I could have enjoyed them but since I can't have gluten I sure couldn't but they were pretty to look at and photograph!  

Anyone see a Mickey Mouse here?

Soon the party was winding down and the family all gathered to chat and enjoy the beautiful evening!  Even though it was July, the evening air was soft and there was a cool breeze.  It was a perfect day to be married.  I was so honored to watch this young couple begin a new chapter in their love story.  Thank you Justin and Isabella for allowing me to be the one to capture that story!  I will leave you all with more images of the evening!

Thank y'all for stopping in!!  

 

Mandy Chadwick