Chene Rouge Wedding | Mishaun Arrington Photography

I have a gorgeous wedding to share with you all today! Katherine and Gary were married at Chene Rouge in Hiram. Chene Rouge is an absolutely gorgeous venue and it will always hold a special place in my heart because that is where I got married as well.

Katherine and Gary totally met by chance and it is the cutest story. Katherine was working at the Teavana that was in the Town Center Mall location in Kennesaw. Gary was in the mall shopping for shoes when he walked by the store. He began chatting with her outside at the cart in front of the store and allowed himself to be taken through the store as she followed the sales process. He gave Katherine his number after he finally told her he didn’t like tea.

As for the proposal, Katherine, Gary, Gary’s Sister Eryn, and her boyfriend Ben all went on a cruise together to the East Caribbean in celebration of Eryn graduating college. While on the island of St. Maarten, they told Katherine that Gary’s mom wanted more pictures of them, so they were posing on the beach next to the water. Gary popped the question there.

I started the day off with the girls in the bridal suite while Kim hung out with the guys in the groom’s room. The girls were so much fun and you could tell just how excited they were to see Katherine and Gary get married! Watching the excitement on everyone’s face as Katherine put her dress on was one of my favorite parts of the day.

Speaking of her dress, I asked Katherine about her dress and what drew her to it and she said “My dress was nothing like what I thought I wanted in my dress. I went to the dress shop thinking I wanted this other dress that they had there. The other dress was more of a ballgown design and everyone really liked it. However, when I put on my dress, which was a mermaidesque gown, I loved the details and the parts it made stand out on my body. I could see myself getting married to Gary in that dress.”

My favorite moment of the day was Katherine and Gary’s first look and portrait session. Katherine and Gary are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet and you can tell just how much they love each other. Just watching them interact put a huge smile on my face.

When I asked Katherine what her favorite part of the wedding was, she said: “When we had our first look and we both got to see each other.” I asked Katherine if they were happy that they chose to do a first look and she said: “Yes, we drove to the venue together that morning, we enjoyed having time to just ourselves that day. Gary left with his friend and came back an hour or so later. We hung out near the bar until I had to get my hair and makeup done. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. He comforts me and helps to calm me down, being around him really helped to calm my nerves.

The rain decided to hang around for all of Katherine and Gary’s wedding day, but luckily their venue has an awesome covered pavilion. Katherine’s uncle officiated the ceremony and it was so sweet. Right after their first kiss Katherine and Gary embraced Katherine’s uncle, it was the sweetest moment.

Their reception was so much fun. You could tell they were really loving every minute of their special day surrounded by the family and friends they love.

I asked Katherine if she had any advice for couples planning their wedding and she said, “Don’t let others tell you what you should and shouldn’t have at your wedding. It is about both of you as a couple, do whatever you want. Also, take time to be together as a couple during the wedding. It goes by so fast. Remember that at the end of the day you are going to be married, and that is the most important thing.”

Katherine and Gary, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your wedding day. I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness!