Back in April, we had the honor of photographing Ashley and Forrest Stieg’s wedding in Savannah, Georgia – and it was a weekend to remember! I loved how this sweet couple turned their wedding into a multi-day celebration by kicking it off with a welcome party on Friday evening, celebrating just with their family and close friends.

The Weekend Venue: Holly Oaks on the Marsh

Wedding days can be so busy it’s hard to get time with the most important people in your life. Ashley and Forrest picked one of the best wedding venues in North Georgia for extending the wedding across a whole weekend! Holly Oaks on the Marsh has beautiful indoor and outdoor settings for elegant rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons, and ceremonies and receptions all in one stunning location. I highly recommend it for any Georgia couple!

The welcome party was so laid-back and fun, with food trucks, music, classy drinks, and, of course, yard games. What southern event would be complete without Cornhole, after all?

Getting Ready and All the Little Details

To kick off the morning of the wedding, Ashley and her bridesmaids popped some champagne and took time to just enjoy themselves before diving into hair and makeup. Pamper Polish & Primp joined us on site to get our bride and her besties ready while I took some detail shots.

Every piece of decor was so intentional and beautifully done! I especially loved the “In Loving Memory” table where the couple displayed photos of loved ones who have since passed on. It was a beautiful way to honor those they wished were with them on their special day!

The florals by Kato Floral Designs were like a fairytale with all the whites and greens and blush pinks. I especially loved the large arrangement they had with the couples’ name on it as a reception backdrop (and just wait until you see it at night!)

While the ladies toasted with champagne, the gentlemen opted for some good old fashioned Coors Lite after getting decked out in suits and, for some, formal Army attire.

Ashley’s mother and sister helped her get into her lacy, flowy dream of a wedding dress. She then read a handwritten note from her husband-to-be, which is a great idea for couples who won’t see each other at all before the ceremony. Ashley didn’t completely forgo the first look, though, doing one with her bridesmaids and then a sweet moment with her dad.

The Ceremony by the Marsh

With a beautiful backdrop of the marsh, Ashley and Forrest tied the knot! It was a very emotional ceremony, but the bride’s brother actually cried more than anyone else! After sharing their personal, loving vows, the newlyweds exited through a traditional military sword arch (plus a sword tap on the booty!)

We took bridal party photos separately before the ceremony, but now we were able to do the full wedding party as well as the family formals. As we explored the grounds for bride and groom portraits, their dog, Charlie May,  came along for a few photos as well. This couple really love their dog, so she was a big part of the whole celebration.

Celebrating at the Reception

Forrest and Ashley’s reception was SO fun! The happy couple was welcomed into the reception with a bagpipe song that was personally meaningful to them, and over dinner we got to hear some really heartfelt speeches from the bride’s sister (Maid of Honor) and dad, plus a hilarious one from the best man.

After dinner, the party was on! The DJ was phenomenal, the dancing didn’t stop, and the father of the bride even grabbed a mic and sang for almost an hour! Everyone was so close and it just felt like one big happy family.

A Romantic Farewell

The party went well into the evening, and when it was truly dark outside it was time for the big send-off. Forrest and Ashley kissed on a gorgeous balcony before descending the staircase and through an arch of sparklers to a really cool vintage getaway car that took them away for their honeymoon.

The entire wedding was full of joy and romance—I loved every minute of it! So much credit goes to their fantastic wedding planner, Mark, who made sure everything went off without a hitch. I had so much fun capturing Forrest and Ashley’s wedding day and was honored to be a part of the magic! Congratulations to the happy couple!