Imago Photography – Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga Wedding Photography – Imagopix.com

Check out the entire blog feature including the incredible playlists from the rehearsal dinner + reception here.

I met Jennifer and Jake (and their lovely daughter Sofie) just weeks before the big day.  I was very excited when they told me there were getting married at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in downtown Chattanooga.  Even though I usually cringe and red carpet, I’m always thrilled to shoot in such an ornately beautiful place.  Jennifer and Jake are the first people to ever have their reception at the Crash Pad.  If you’ve never heard of the Crash pad, you’re probably not alone.  It’s a brand new, super sleek, modern, sustainably built hostel in the heart of Chattanooga.  That’s right, Chattanooga has a hostel. **If you’re not sure of a hostel, think of a cross between a hotel and a dormatory–they are extremely popular everywhere around the world for traveling students**.  The staff/owners are outdoor enthusiasts who decided to establish a place for like-minded outdoor-lovers who come to Chattanooga for its excellent offerings of all things outdoors.  If you’re looking for a great outdoor reception area (with included lodging), you definitely need to check them out.

A slight warning before preceding with the photos below.  There are some photos of some pretty adorable kids that might make you AOL **Aw-out-loud**.  Just be forewarned that the guy in the cubicle next to you might think you strange.

I met with Alyssa and Niles in the summer of 2010–they had to get a jump start on wedding planning since they were gunning for getting married at 6:07:08 on 9.10.11 — that’s right, how much more iconic could you get with a wedding date.  I immediately fell in love with their vision and their allowance for us to be as creative and gutsy as possible.  Throughout the last year Alyssa would send me Pintrest links and other photos off Etsy and the like with a simple caption…”I like this.”  or “I like these colors.”  While some may find this to add even more pressure to the performance of delivering excellent images, I love the feedback and direction from brides.  It truly helps to know, “this is what they want, this is what they are hoping to capture.”  Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of pressure when someone says, “make me look like this,” but I tend to like that pressure.  Not to mention, I had some of the easiest models to work with throughout this whole experience–Alyssa being a gorgeous person, and Niles…well Niles just has that vibe of artsy-ness that I love to be around.  I say all this to say that in my professional opinion, I think Alyssa and Niles pulled off exactly what they were hoping to achieve and more.  I mean what more could a photographer ask for–fun-loving couple, beautiful riverside ceremony and reception, gorgeous sunset, and tons of beautiful vintage themed elements that a blog could never completely display.

Did I mention that everyone in this wedding was beautiful!

So, the music was some of the best wedding music I’ve ever experienced.  And all from an iPod.  No DJ, noone changing the songs, just an incredible playlist created by the best man.  I didn’t know half the songs, and 90% of the them I’m sure have never been played at a wedding before, but not once was the dance floor empty!

I will forever think of this wedding whenever I hear the song ‘Purple Rain’ played–their last dance.

Yes, the platter of spaghetti and meatballs is a cake.  I actually started craving spaghetti and meatballs while taking this photo, that’s how realistic it was.

Congrats to this incredibly happily in love couple.  I hope this day was truly everything you dreamed and hoped for.