Intimate winter wedding at Natchez Trace Church of Christ

There are two kinds of cold days – the kind that make you wish it were summer, and the kind that make you feel a little bit more alive just for breathing in the brisk air . Emily & Jonathan’s wedding day was the latter, the make-you-feel-alive kind. Inside, their church boasted rows of poinsettias, warm golden tones and friendly family members. Inside was anything but cold. Their special day was made even more tender by including family heirlooms, including Jonathon’s grandmothers ring that Emily wore and a beautifully embroidered handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother.

Upstairs in the loft overlooking the sanctuary Emily was happily getting ready for her First Look Session with Jonathan below. Her dress was a smooth, perfectly fitted sheath, which we found out later that she had designed and fabricated the dress herself (isn’t she amazing?). As if that was not impressive enough, she had sewn it on her grandmother’s antique sewing machine.

Inside the dimmed auditorium, Jonathan waited for his first look at Emily. As she glided down the aisle toward him, everything was quiet. It felt like everything else held it’s breath just for them. She raised her arms to her sides and twirled to show him the dress. They hugged, cried, talked and then prayed together. And it was just for them – no auditorium full of guests, just a private moment to connect with each other.

Soon after, the day resumed and the pace picked up. Locked arm-in-arm Emily’s mother and father walked her down the aisle. Then her father presided over the ceremony, giving her away to Jonathan, and also giving them words of love and wisdom to take into their new marriage.

Click the thumbnails below to see the full images.

The rest of the day was spent laughing, talking and reminiscing with friends and family. It was an intimate, fun and warm wedding day, in spite of the chilly weather.