and thank you.

Thank you for reading this little blog, for caring enough to ask me about Lena when you meet me in person, for loving me for who I am, for reading my ramblings.

So today is a new chapter of which I am back to the basics of hopes and dreams of the future and trying to feel the fear and do it anyways. To be able to do what I was meant for, my purpose.  I pray that this next chapter is even half as good as the last one.  And here is hoping that you’ll follow me over to it.

www.shannon-kelley.com/blog ( we have some details to do but its about 95% done and I couldn’t help but share:) )

I had so much fun being creative and getting a little different look than the usual wedding because the setting there was just phenomenal. And Michelle was gorgeous and they both just know how to work it for the camera so all that combined means we had a little fun:) A huge congrats to Michelle and Raul!

Michelle and Raul have a little girl who is quite possibly the cutest 2 year old ever. She was adorable on the wedding day and just hugged onto them during the ceremony like she knew it was for her too…so cute!


the wedding was on the river side (because the penguins on the ocean side are picky about music for receptions! And I’m not joking!) and the theme throughout the wedding was woodland so the girls carried fairy wands! They were too cute!

I couldn’t help myself on doing some wide angle shots…the aquarium just called for it and Michelle just took it to the next level and rocked it!


and then we shot through the aquarium, which I’m kinda loving:) Not your average bridal shot but its all good, we aren’t average around here;)






and Raul and his beautiful daughter joined in on the father daughter dance. Such a sweet moment!

Ashley got ready at her and Bryan’s future house that is an old house that made my heart sing. LOVE awesome old houses for pictures!

and for ring shots too!

We then made our way over to Twin Cedar where Ashley opened a gift from Bryan before the ceremony


Ashley surprised Bryan with their dog as part of the ceremony. So cute.




I mean, aren’t they the cutest couple ever!


then we headed to the reception where it was beautifully decorated. Twin Cedar Farms is the perfect backdrop for a beautiful southern wedding.

A big giant congrats to Bryan and Ashley as they enter their next phase of life as a married couple! And a big thank you to Twin Cedar and Bryan and Ashley’s family who were amazing! Hope you enjoy!

Head on over to facebook to see more!

And if you follow me on facebook then you may already know that this morning I received a call from WVLT (while making signs…still in my pj’s) about doing a story on our sale. After quickly changing and warning Lena now was not the time to show the world your new song or do a jig we taped it with Michele and it will air tonight at 5pm. We’ll be the dorks on there;)

Rarely do I spend a reception getting choked up numerous times but when you throw in Chelsie and Gary’s family and friends who celebrated and loved the night and what it was about so fully, well, its bound to happen. It was such a fun amazing night that you couldn’t help but appreciate life. At one point the whole room was circled on the dance floor holding hands singing Stand by Me. It was so amazing to be part of it. A big giant congrats to Chelsie and Gary!

Chelsie and Gary had a Catholic ceremony. I so love the tradition of Catholic ceremonies!




guests looking over as the bride and groom arrived at the Francis Marion Hotel. That hotel was a perfect place for a wedding!



first dance!

I’m going to go on record that this is one of my fave speeches of all time. And I am LOVING this picture that captured the moment.


and the dancing. oh the dancing. I should do a blog post just of the dancing! Here are a couple of my favorite pictures though:)

and my amazing second shooter/ really good friend who I am blessed to have, Michelle, took this one:) Happy marriage Chelsie and Gary!

Hope you enjoy!

But its not like that every day. Sometimes its hard. Often it’s scary. Then some days I forget how tough that decision and risk was, like it was another life ago.  And then other days I feel like I’m doing it all over again. Daily risking it all to do what I love. Daily jumping and hoping for those wings. Most days I feel inadequate and question it all. Then soon after I realize its not about me. Its about purpose. What God made me for. When you are walking in God’s purpose for you its amazing to see him build your wings. It’s not your doing, its His.

I’m not sure what the future holds but I do know that I’m ready to leap.

Matt and Alaina rocked it out and the details that went into their day were exceptional! I’m talking a personalized candy table people. So many amazing details and a GORGEOUS reception. And Rock Castle, the place where Matt was baptized, near where they both grew up in Hendersonville, was the perfect backdrop to the wedding.

Enjoy the pictures!

This one is a shot by Wendy, I’m pretty sure they are the cutest flower girls ever;)

so they let Brandi be up in the balcony during the ceremony which means she got birds eye pictures;) I am in LOVE with this one that she got! The pastor had each of the bride and groom write down separately (they didn’t know that it was for the ceremony) why they wanted to marry each other and read some of it during the ceremony.  Ah, tearfest!
the infamous candy table. I mean, they put their picture on M&M’s! How awesome is that!?

the reception tent was unbelievable and almost fairy tale like. Hands down the best tent I have seen at a wedding.

Big giant congrats to Matt and Alaina! Hope you are enjoying Jamaica!