15 Weeks Pregnant - Maternity Pictures at Cheekwood

 Cheekwood is an awesome place. At 15 weeks pregnant, this was a perfect spot to have some maternity pictures taken yesterday. Thanks, Mom! :)

Glad to have some pregnancy pictures I actually like! Planning to go back when I'm bigger for a follow up session. Debating on doing the same poses next time to see how much the baby (and I) have grown!

 This one is a favorite. I opt for black and white almost all the time- just has an elegant, old-fashioned look that I love. Plenty of options for different scenery at Cheekwood, but this spot was perfect.

I climbed up and down the rocky waterfalls (against my mom's wishes, obviously)... There are plenty of limitations to follow when you're pregnant. Climbing is probably one of them, but I figure it's okay to break this rule every once in a while. I won't be able to climb as I become 'more pregnant', so figured I'd take advantage of the 15-week-not-too-big-yet size.

Pretty overlook in an antique photo edit I like. :)

 Okay, I realize this pose is overdone. How else are you supposed to take maternity pictures, though? To show how much you change, you're pretty much obligated to do the bump hold.

 Love the lighting in this one. Seriously owe my mom for taking some awesome photos! Can't wait to go back in a month or two!

Another climb-the-waterfall picture. Mom likes the ones where I'm laughing. I heard enough lecturing about my adventure yesterday. Apparently, I am not supposed to be climbing anything anymore. But..., where's the fun in that? I was careful. :)

Another giggle shot. I'm happy with how these turned out. I am not big on posting tons of pictures of myself, but since I'm pregnant- I have an excuse? Lots of 'selfie' pics are excused when you use the 'capturing a once in a lifetime memory' reason. Thought some family and friends may like to see these- and if any other fellow pregnanteers are looking for a maternity shot location, maybe this one is right for you, too. :)

 15 weeks and counting...

I think I'm getting the hang of this whole pregnant thing, after all. :)

Ready, Set, SPARKLERS!

Playing with camera settings last month for a sparkler heart long exposure shot that I really like! :)

My Sister's Wedding at Opryland Hotel - A Pre-Wedding Snapshot Tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Holt

 My sister has four names now.

Tracie Marie Cannon married Jesse Lee Holt on Monday at Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

 I cried. I would have cried anyway because weddings make me all sentimental, but being pregnant guaranteed that more tears would be shed when my little sister recited her vows.

Tracie and Jesse dated for seven years before tying the knot this week. The couple chose Opryland as their venue and this matron-of-honor thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a beautiful wedding!

I stayed with my sister the night before her big day. (BIG THANK YOU, TRACIE!!)
Anyway, I took some pictures.

As we all anxiously wait for the professional shots to be revealed by Bethany Ann Photography, here are a few snapshots I took, pre-wedding...

The day before the wedding...

Mamaw Rose.

Tracie Marie.

Tiny, Mamaw, & Tracie.

Tiny II.

Daddy.

Bridal Updo by Angeline.

"Jesse, this place is AWESOME." Tracie called her hubby-to-be from the parlor suite to assure him they'd picked the right place for their wedding. The view from the room overlooked the Garden at Opryland Hotel. GORGEOUS! I especially loved opening and closing the curtains by flipping the switch off and on more times than I could count. (This sort of thing truly amazes and delights me.:)

The hotel elevators have mirror ceilings. Another little thing that impressed me. :) I found it difficult to resist taking pictures every time we rode one.

The necklace Tracie wore is special. Our Papa Jim had given this to Mamaw, many years ago. I wore it when I got married and it has been passed from Mamaw to her granddaughters for special occasions, over the years. In this photo, Mamaw holds the blue sapphire necklace so I can snap a picture. This is our favorite "Something borrowed, something blue".

Architecture at Gaylord Opryland. Skylights provided perfect lighting for the ceremony.

Tracie's engagement ring, resting on a personalized "Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Holt" envelope that hotel celebrity services gave us upon our arrival. It was awesome being V.I.P. :)

One of my favorite photos EVER. Here, my Mamaw Rose passes the sapphire necklace to Tracie. Some pictures really say more than 1,000 words. This is one of them.

An iPhone shot of us. Tracie calls this an "us-ie", thereby modifying the infamous selfie with a more appropriate name. :) Tons of other snapshots were taken on the day before Tracie and Jesse's wedding. Even more beautiful photos were captured on the couple's big day. I'm just glad to have been a part of such a Lovely Love Story.:)

Much love,
Regina.