1. For her: You think you can't pull it off, but you can. Today is your day. Your dress can be as extravagant or as simple as YOU want it to be. Get sheik with a dress that is fitted through the hips. You can be the girl you see in Vogue, InStyle, and Cosmo. If that's not your thing, get sweet and classy with a sweetheart neckline and huge skirt. If you want to feel like a princess, look like one! Don't settle with something safe, it is your time to shine. 

2. For him: As much as this day is about your girl, she wants you to feel awesome too. That is what will make HER happy. So, go for it. Go all out with some Ascots and argyle socks. Get fancy and fun with a cumber bun and bow tie. Personally, I love the hipster look with suspenders and either slip ons or penny loafers. Make it you, but make it you with a little gumption. 

3. To wear: Spruce up your doo with a a diamond filed hair comb, perfect your neckline with a delicate diamond pendant, frame your flawless face with earrings that nearly touch your shoulders.

4. To eat: The cake not only tastes delicious at the end of your day full of family and romance, but looks incredible. Go tall and simple with a seven layered white tower cake, go short a extravagant with floral detail on a three layered square cake. Go for an expression of you, whether it's elegant, decadent, vintage, or high class, go all out. 

5. To eat on: It's one of those things you don't have to think long about, but could potentially set your reception apart. The tableware you use brings a special flare to the decor, so compliment the feel you already have going with the style and color and then move on ahead to the next item of business. 

6. To look at and to smell: Your flowers are an essential to your wedding day. They're the cherry on top of a sundae. In trying to decide which flowers to go with, consider your dress and your bridesmaid's dresses. Think of a flower that is significant to you. 

7. To keep for later: Create name cards for your guests, design large posters to personalize your reception, keep the style consistent with your programs and schedules. We love to get shots of these, because they make your wedding specific to you.

8. To center your table: Whether your reception table is round or rectangular center it with a lamp chandelier or elaborate flowers. Put candles in lanterns or wine corks in mason jars. Have fun with it. 

9. To leave with your bridal party: Brides, get your girls something unique. We all have enough necklaces and bracelets from weddings passed. Get creative with a coupon for a "free date with the new bride" to catch up on life post-honeymoon. Go thoughtful with a picture and a poem to represent your friendship. Go chic with a pair of killer pumps. Whatever you do, make it different. Groom, get your guys something practical. Your creative could be a day at the driving range, post-honeymoon for some man time. Your thoughtful could be a custom engraved pipe for each of the guys. Rather than going chic, go fun with tickets to the next big game. You're not bound by what's already been done. 

10. To top it off: of course include something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

In all of this, we love what you put into your day. The decisions you make the visions you have. We get to capture {the little things} that tie it all together. Keep it consistent and keep it personal. Choose a style that is you and that is the very best version of you. You'll remember your day by the memories you make and the pictures we take, so we'll capture what you create and you'll never forget. 

On task and on time all day, par for the course with Carolyn, we had more than enough time scheduled in for EVERYTHING they wanted.  We started hair and makeup at the Garden Room in the bridal suite with a team full of stylists and makeup artists, moms, family members and friends in and out all morning.  By noon the flowers had arrived, the details were shot, and we were well on our way to getting Carolyn all ready for the big day.

The rest went quick, except for a few important moments. Right before the first look Aaron - one of our favorite videographers, grabbed Brian to ask him a few quick questions about how we was feeling. As if we'd all forgotten why we were there except for him, Brian got quiet, calm, and smiled. He simply forgot to say all the cheesy taglines guys use over and over to express themselves and instead went right to the heart. I swear I saw Laura tear up, and all three of us were a bit at a loss for words with how sweet this guy's heart is for his now wife.

A few minutes later she walked up behind him and the day picked up again. His hand instantly to his mouth as he turned to see her their couples photos were nothing short of sweet as we stood back and just let things unwind.  The ceremony itself was less that 7 or 8 minutes, or so it seemed. Short and sweet and off to a delicious dinner getting the crowd ready to dance late into the night.

This was a perfectly Carolyn & Brian wedding filled with all the important people.  Thanks you two! If you're reading this RIGHT NOW you need to get back to Hawaii and enjoy the rest of your honeymoon! {miles}

2 : Ascots are possibly more awesome than ever. I know it's crazy but in all of the weddings we've shot I've NEVER seen a group of groomsmen wear Ascots. Truth be told I only new what they were from old Esquire and GQ articles that I somehow managed to absorb in airports here and there. (I can't fly without good magazines.)

It's been a few years since we've been out to Bell Gable, a charming little (tiny to be honest) chapel in Fayetteville.  Our weddings have outgrown the number of seats the chapel holds for the most part, BUT when Kristy and Sean decided they wanted to use the chapel as a backdrop to their vows we were pretty excited at the chance to shoot such a beautiful venue again.

Kristy and Sean ran into me at a wedding a few years back.  They weren't engaged yet, but poor Sean was already getting pressure from all of Kristy's girlfriends to get that ring bought.  Evidently long before I had the pleasure to know both of them they'd been well known for being "perfect" for each other. Sean - like any smart guy was patient with the ring. (side note, after knowing Sean a little better I think he found it kind of funny that Kristy was basically HANDED the bouquet at the wedding we met at)  Anyway, fast forward a few years and a few more friends weddings that we've all hung out at and here we are.

You'd be hard pressed to find a couple more comfortable around eachother. They spent their days mostly apart of course but from the time Sean walked up behind Kristy for the first look, until we hugged them both goodbye hours and hours later I'm not sure they were ever really apart.  The wedding was beautiful, full of tastefully simple details.  The nice part of having a wedding at Bell Gable is that there's simply very little to do that would even be noticed against the backdrop of the venue itself.  One of our favorite florists (http://www.julesdesignevents.com/) pulled together some beautiful floral work and the rest was really left up to Bell Gable.

Such a fun day with these two as they tied a long awaited knot - and the reception was the perfect period to the day. Simple, tasteful food, delicious (looking) cake, (I'm still bitter about that one), and plenty of dancing and fun with a huge group of friends and family.  Thanks and Congrats to Kristy and Sean! {miles}

Becca spent her morning smiling. There of course was work to be done, hair and makeup, places to be, and schedules to be met and broken, but what she did really was just smile.  The bridesmaids kept the air clear, and as her family arrived and began to fill in we could see that the day would be filled with plenty of emotions - so for the time being we just smiled along with them.  It wasn't until the two saw eachother that the day hit them both.  Josh managed to pull off looking suave as ever even with a few tears running down his cheeks when Becca first turned around to see him, and her instinct to reach out and wipe them left both of them needing a few minutes to just breathe.

Enter the ceremony where the families of these two both celebrated as they shared in their love and commitment and sealed it all with a prayer and a kiss.  The best part of the day was right around the corner. Not the reception, though we had a blast - but the very rare, and very special chance that Becca and Josh took to walk all the way from the ceremony to the reception.  It tried to sprinkle a bit, but umbrellas in hand the half mile walk gave them the time they needed to just hold hands and be alone.

The night from that point on was perfect. Dancing, and decor all pulled off without a hitch.  Everything from the tablescapes to the canoe in the side room for pictures was a hit and still the highlight of the day was that quick moment when the two walked out and strolled under one umbrella. Perfect wedding - GREAT couple. {miles}

Wedding Planner and Design - www.finishingtouchevendesign.net {Jessica Kersey}

Ceremony Venue - Central United Methodist Church {Fayetteville, Arkansas}

Reception Venue - East Square Plaza {Fayetteville, Arkansas}

Florals : Jules Design (Julie's one of our VERY favorite florists!)

Caterer : The Event Group 

Cakes: Shelby Lynn's 

Linen Rentals: BBJ Linens

Other Rentals : Eventures

Lighting: Event Production Group

Band : LaFuSo (SUCH a fun spin on funk music)

Video: Blue Horizon Video

ANYWAY - our day started perfectly slow and light hearted.  A cool little downtown Conway salon filled with modern decor and all the ladies in the wedding made a great backdrop for all the getting ready shots, and gave the girls a great place to hang out all morning.  We headed to Brad's parent's home a few minutes down the road to get Amber and all the girls dressed and then it was off to Hendrix University for all the fun shots, an EPIC first look session, and of course the ceremony.

After a short and sweet ceremony and a few minutes with family it was off to see the final product Drew had pulled together at Centennial Country Club.  There's so many photos to still show, and so much to say - but for now I'll let the photos attempt to do the day justice.  This wedding was PROOF that simple design and incredible lighting can set the stage for great photos.  After we ALL danced late into the night Amber & Brad ran through a massive line of sparklers and off to their honeymoon in Gulf Shores!  CONGRATS you two! 

Of course there's SO much to say about my day down in Conway with these two - BUT I'll save all of that for a sneak-peek soon!  In the mean time, take a look at Amber's bridal session with us from a few weeks ago!  We were pretty much floored at how beautiful this dress was - of course it helps that Amber looks perfect in every picture.  

GREAT wedding, GREAT wedding party (one of the most fun weddings in a LONG time), GREAT family, and GREAT photos to come! THANKS! {miles}

I am the newest addition to the team here with Miles and Melissa. To be honest, I am typically not very good at talking about myself, but Miles has insisted so here we go. My passion is for people and my art is photography. Combine the two and get a dream job. I'll be around soaking up the unique greatness that is Miles Witt Boyer and Melissa photography. I will be posting a top ten list consisting of varying topics. We'll have anything from the top ten wedding day necessities to the ten songs you must have on your iPod. To start off, here are the top ten things that make up the craziness that is my life:

1. I have an unhealthy obsession with editing photos. I reward a day of hard work with… more editing.

2. My favorite music ranges from bass filled rap to gentle instrumentals… and everything in between. With the exception of country.

3. Take me to dinner and buy me a steak and I will love you forever.

4. I’m going to be that old woman that holds book studies and discussions on a weekly basis.

5. Cleaning, organizing, and reorganizing are refreshing and calming activities that make my day better.

6. I’m a Dallas cowboys fan. Passionately. Super bowl 2013 here we come.

7. There is something about philosophers that I find strikingly attractive, not the old men with beards, but the men with classy attire, a philosophy book in hand, and a master’s degree under his belt.

8. I am a quarter Brazilian.

9. My ideal vacation includes a kayak, water, and either mountains or the beach.

10. When I cook and bake I feel like a housewife, and I love it.

So clearly the top ten is for all of you. What do you want to know? Comment on our Facebook wall or send us a tweet and keep a look out for the week your top ten idea gets posted. 

Now stay classy, and have an inspired day. - Love Laura

To say this couple is photogenic may be a horrific understatement.  What's amazing about them isn't what's so obvious though.  They've been together for YEARS AND YEARS and have such a special GODLY relationship.  This wedding was beautiful, FULL of style and fashion inspired ideas, and more than anything fun for every guest.  Beautiful venue (Creekwood Gardens, in Rogers, AR), beautiful dress (She Said Yes Bridal), beautiful couple! Want to see more? Click {HERE}

Second place was no fluke.  Mallory and Mike are two pretty incredible people themselves.  SUPER active at their church, OBSESSED with fitness and health, and involved in some way or another with making sure every person they meet are healthy physically and spiritually they've taken on a LOT of responsibility in their lifestyle.  They sold me on how simple this wedding was going to be and they couldn't have underestimated themselves more.  A BEAUTIFUL reception was designed and pulled off in a MASSIVE warehouse styled building - turned garden / night club.  We danced LATE with a unique and exciting DJ, amazing food, and I believe a pull up competition under the awning which I may or may not have been a part of!  

The day I got into Denver was beautiful and I took the chance to drive around and make sure I knew how to get from the Church (Rockland Community Church) to the reception at the Tivoli brewery building downtown.  The next morning we all woke up to the first snow of the year in Denver, and while we were all nervous that the outdoor photos, not to mention the travel back and forth to the mountains for the ceremony would be affected the end result was priceless.

We were a bit rushed the morning of, but had scheduled plenty of time after the ceremony for the fun stuff, so the goal right off the bat was just to keep everything on time.  Laura's bridesmaids were awesome such a fun group to hang out with that morning, and when we left the Aveda Institute downtown (about a gallon of hot Tea later) it was off to the Embassy to get dressed and then into the coolest Limo I've ever seen for the trip up the mountain. 

The ceremony was short and sweet, set in a church overlooking a beautiful valley covered in snow and still painted with fall color.  The clouds and fog lifted right before the ceremony filling the church with light and giving us a much needed little boost in temperature for the fun photos that would all take place outside right afterward.

After all the shots were done it was off to the party.  The old theater was decorated perfectly with a vintage inspired decor, great colored uplighting, and a big dance floor where the party would quickly move.  It's always a rush showing up to a new place for a wedding - but with the snow and weather changing (not to mention a slightly grumpy wedding planner) the pressure was high.  Laura and Aaron however were the perfect couple for the day and their families were inviting and excited to be a part of their big day!  Of course as with ALL of our weddings the end result is the same, the I DO's were said, the kiss was great, and the dancing was fun - but this one stands out as a perfectly beautiful, unique couple in a setting that did their day justice.  A HUGE thanks to Laura & Aaron for the honor of inviting me to Denver! {miles}

St. Anthony's on the Creeks is a brand new venue for Northwest Arkansas, and this was my first shot to get a camera inside.  Their lush forest scenery wasn't lost even in the rain as the colors of the gardens and even the stone in the chapel and reception hall were so deep and warm.  There are really only a few locations that I get really excited to shoot at in Northwest Arkansas and I can honestly say I can't wait to get back out there soon.

Right as the guests started to pull up the clouds broke into a beautiful sunset and Jessica and Brandon said all of their "I do's" to warm sun coming through the stained glass chapel windows.  The beauty of St. Anthony's is the maybe 75ft walk to the reception hall from the ceremony and though there's more than enough places for us to run around and shoot, the reception started immediately.  We all (myself included) danced pretty late into the night and when the bubbles flew during the leave I'm sure we woke up more than a few homes nearby with the guests screaming and whistling.  

Long story short this really was a beautiful one.  Such a fun, loving family on both sides really allowed for great ideas and great fun to be had, and the absolute best part was watching the fun and joy of the day come through despite the weather.  Congrats you two! Thank you for letting me be such a big part of all of this with you!