Creative Arts Guild Wedding Dalton, Georgia | Ana + Keelan

Creative Arts Guild wedding, a wonderful fit

First of all, Keelan and Ana have been together since high school–HIGH SCHOOL! How’s that for romance?! I really enjoyed getting to be a part of their sweet love story. They held both their wedding and reception at the Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, the oldest multidisciplinary community arts center in Georgia! Such a cool community resource for visual, performance, and cultural arts in our area. And, honestly, a perfect location for this free-spirited, festive wedding.

Bride looks at the camera while groom kisses her cheek. Her white floral bouquet cascades over his shoulder.

A throwback to high school

Ok, before I tell you about the wedding, I have to tell you what I found out during a bridesmaid’s speech at the reception. On their first date–in high school, remember–Ana’s mom was waiting in a movie theater parking lot to pick up Ana. From the car, Mom saw them kissing! When Ana got in the car, Mom teased her about “kissing that boy,” and Ana was like, “MOM. That was our first kiss!” Little did Mom know she’d be witnessing their first kiss as husband and wife a few years later.

Front entrance of Creative Arts Guild in Dalton Georgia

Man sits with eyes closed while a friend holds hair dryer and shapes his hair

Man wearing glasses buttons his dark suit with blue mosaic tie contrasting against white shirt

Man holds paper with his wedding vows. His dark suit and blue floral mosaic tie contrast.

Bridesmaids dresses in various blue tones hang on hooks on a deep brown wall

Bride's gown on a hanger labeled "bride" hangs on a cream colored wall.

Woman sits in a blue silk dressing gown having her cheeks dusted with blush

Mother of the bride stands behind her daughter, zipping her lace off-the-shoulder gown. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame them.

Mother of the bride stands behind her daughter, straightening her lace off-the-shoulder gown

Should you do a first look before your wedding?

Keelan and Ana planned a first look before their ceremony. Watch how Keelan’s entire face and body language shift when he sees Ana. Heart-melting.

A first look on your wedding day allows you to have an honest, intimate reaction with your partner without all of your guests watching. You have some moments with just the two of you together (and your low-key paparazzo photog 😉 ) to settle from the busyness and magnitude of the day.

The main reason why I, as a wedding photographer, love when couples plan for a first look? Because of reactions like Keelan’s!

Groom turns toward bride for first look and covers his eyes as he begins to cry

Bride covers her mouth as groom wipes his eyes during their tearful first look.

Bride and groom hug, her hand gripping the back of his shoulder.

Bride and groom wipe their eyes after a tearful first look. She wears a veil tucked into her floral crown

Bride clears grooms eyes, her veil blowing in a breeze

Bride and groom cuddle under crepe myrtles. She holds a large bouquet of white flowers and eucalyptus leaves.

High school sweethearts walk the aisle

If you know anything about weddings, you know there’s always something random that goes wrong at the final moments. As Ana’s mom was getting dressed for the wedding, her dress’s zipper ripped! I ran out to my car, grabbed my emergency sewing kit, and I literally sewed Ana’s mom into her dress. I joked that she’d have to have someone cut her out of it when the night was over, but I’m so thankful that Ana’s mom just went with it.

Ana’s dad walked her down the aisle. Even though they had already seen each other, Keelan teared up again as his bride came toward him.

During the ceremony, Keelan and Ana exchanged vows in front of a simple and beautiful arch. They planted a tree together instead of lighting a traditional unity candle. I really liked this idea so much!

Flower girl wears a white flower crown and another has a white barrette in her hair

Groom and groomsmen stand under a large skylight near an octagonal wedding arch

Bride walks down the aisle, escorted by her father who wears a cowboy hat.

Officiant and best man reach toward groom who is wiping tears from his eyes.

Bride walks down the aisle, escorted by her father who wears a cowboy hat.

Bride and groom face each other, holding hands under octagonal wedding arch, the officiant reading behind them.

Bride and groom plant a tree together in a white pot their Creative Arts Guild wedding in Dalton, Georgia.

Bride and groom under octagonal wedding arch face their guests. Bridesmaids and groomsmen clap and cheer behind them

Bride and groom kiss with guests clapping behind them. She holds a white flower and eucalyptus greens bouquet.

Bride in white gown hugs bridesmaid in blue dress, white flower in each of their dark hair.

Bride with white and green bouquet stands with ring bearers and flower girls in front of an octagonal wedding arch.

Bride and groom with their families under a skylight at their Creative Arts Guild wedding in Dalton, Georgia.

Bride laughing with bridesmaids. They wear various shads of blue and hold white and green bouquets under a skylight.

Bride and groom kiss, surrounded by their wedding party outside the Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, Georgia.

Bride wears a lacy white gown and white flower crown in her dark hair. She holds white floral bouquet and eucalyptus greens.

Bride and groom portraits at Creative Arts Guild wedding

Man, wearing dark-rimmed glasses and smile, grasps lapels of a dark suit, a mosaic blue tie contrasts against white shirt.

Bride wears a white flower crown in her dark hair. She looks down at her white floral bouquet with eucalyptus greens.

Bride and groom kiss in front of the Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, Georgia. Her white bouquet falls over his shoulder.

Bride and groom stand facing each other, cuddling their noses to each other. Her white bouquet falls over his shoulder.

Groom sits looking up at bride who is standing on statue flaring her skirt at Creative Arts Guild wedding in Dalton, Georgia.

Mariachi band at Creative Arts Guild wedding

After the ceremony, the party moved outside for the reception. You guys, Keelan and Ana hired a mariachi band for the reception, and I LOVED it. The band kept the mood so festive and fun, and Ana even danced with her father to the band’s music! The wedding party gave moving, heartfelt speeches and toasts, and I was blown away by the outpouring of love for this couple.

Although the reception area was very simply decorated, the space was pretty perfect for the reception. The white walls and string lights created a bright backdrop, and the setting photographed beautifully. It’s always a bonus as a photographer to not have to compete with different angles to get the good shots.

Ana and Keelan are huge fans of everything vintage, especially cars! Photo booths are always fun, but a converted VW bus photo booth is even cooler and made total sense for them. This kept guests busy, laughing and posing for some fun shots of their own.

Mariachi band plays and sings table-side for guests during Creative Arts Guild wedding reception in Dalton, Georgia

Bride and groom enter their reception as husband and white, his arms outstretched to the guests

Husband and wife first dance under white string patio lights during wedding reception

Husband and wife kiss during first dance at their outdoor Creative Arts Guild wedding reception in Dalton, Georgia.

Husband and wife first dance during wedding reception. She cuddles into his chest under white string patio lights

Bride and groom sit with wedding party at their reception behind "Mr" and "Mrs" platters. White and green bouquet on table.

Bride and groom sit at a table and raise their champagne glasses in a toast

Wedding reception table details: Retro camera sits inside a blue picture frame. Globe sits on top of books.

Three-tier white wedding cake sitting on a silver cake stand, each layer set off by eucalyptus leaves

People line up for turns in a photo booth in the back seat of a Volkswagon van at a wedding at Creative Arts Guild in Dalton

Three people sit in the back seat of a Volkswagon van-turned-photo booth at a wedding at Creative Arts Guild in Dalton, GA

Bride and groom cut into their 3-tier white wedding cake, each layer offset by eucalyptus leaves.

What to do when your sparkler exit goes south

At the end of the night, we had planned to do a sparkler exit, but the sky started turning really dark. We could see a storm coming, so I started getting guests ready for the sparkler exit. Suddenly, we were in the middle of a monster storm with a crazy sky, lightning, and insane winds! The wind knocked over the DJ’s speakers and flipped over tables. Talk about intense! Everyone rushed inside to get safe.

I applied some creative thinking to this exit since we couldn’t use sparklers in the building. Instead, I had the wedding guests turn on their cell phone flashlights, and we created our own makeshift-sparkler exit using some drag shutter magic. Keelan and Ana were so flexible about the quick-change, and they ran through the tunnel for a really cute exit!

It made my heart soar that Keelan and Ana trusted me, not just in the midst of a storm, but with documenting their whole day!

Bride and groom exit through a makeshift "sparkler" tunnel. Guests hold cellphones to light their way.

Bride and groom kiss under a makeshift "sparkler" tunnel. Guests hold cellphones to light their way.

Bride and groom exit through a makeshift "sparkler" tunnel. Guests hold cellphones to light their way.

Vendors and shout outs:

Venue: Creative Arts Guild
Photo Booth: Sunkissed Photo Bus
Mom: I have to give one more extra shout-out to Ana’s mom. She’d been following me on Facebook for awhile, and she’s who recommended me to Ana to photograph this wedding! What a HUGE compliment. Really, I appreciate you so much for bringing me into such a precious family event.

Y’all feel free to share my social feeds (Facebook + Instagram) or my blog to anyone you know who’s getting married or engaged or eloping or planning family photos or looking for a commercial or concert photographer. 😉 Ha! I just want to take all the photos. Thanks for giving me the opportunities!

January 12, 2020

Weddings