Here we find ourselves at the end of Bailee and Jimmy’s wedding day story: the reception. Bailee and Jimmy haven’t seen ANY of these images before now- with this entry. Bailee and I spoke at the beginning of the week and she expressed to me something super personal that I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing. For a year and a half, Bailee poured her heart into planning the wedding of her dreams. AND MAN. DID SHE NAIL IT. Everything tied in so perfectly, down to every single detail, some hidden details no one but she and Jimmy will never really know like the “Mrs. Nguyen” tag sewn onto the inside of her wedding gown. The large pink protea added into her bouquet. The Clara C and Jimmy Choi song that only her and Jimmy know, that no one else “at least no one caucasian” as Bailee says (LOL) has ever heard. Now that all of Bailee and Jimmy’s hard work and planning has blossomed into this gorgeous wedding…it’s over. So when I spoke to Bailee, that’s what was on her heart. Her wedding day had come and gone. You know, occasionally, Bobby gets a picture or two of me while I’m photographing a wedding. Sometimes, I’m smiling or laughing, but most of the time, I look like I’m performing brain surgery. It’s always bothered me seeing those little snippets when Bobby captures them, but talking to Bailee, I realized what it was. I know that those moments are racing by. I know that there are a million awesome things happening in every direction that I turn SIMULTANEOUSLY. While the bride is throwing her bouquet, her Aunt is making a nostalgic face as she thinks about how she caught a bouquet 20 years ago. The ring bearer is sleeping in his Grandmother’s lap. Five women are clawing at one another and doing an Air Jordan super jump for the bouquet. I am enjoying EVERY second of the wedding, but I am also on super alert. I always thought that I was the only person dialed in like that on the wedding day, but Bailee was mentally right there beside me- in her mind trying to FREEZE (exactly why we named the business Frozen Exposure) every last second as it raced past her and slipped through her fingers. Or so she thought. She’s now seen images of things she didn’t even know happened. . .wait until she sees her wedding day film. =)
All of this is to say, I think we all understand that stomach churning feeling of being in the middle of a day, or even a moment, of complete HEAVEN. We know that we are experiencing one of THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES. We know that after this…we go back to work. We figure out a meal plan. We clean our kitchens and pick up dog poo.
But the best thing about the wedding day being over IS THAT IT HAPPENED. And I can’t imagine any stone left unturned with this wedding in particular. No regrets. Bailee and Jimmy are now OFFICIALLY HUSBAND AND WIFE. They are NEWLYWEDS. =) They are on this crazy journey to being an inseparable team that fights for one another’s hearts DAILY. Now, their mission is to love as hard as they did on their wedding day. To court one another as they did before they were MARRIED. That in itself requires about as much creativity as planning a wedding. Now they get to plan these awesome anniversary surprises for one another. On their wedding day, they proved to everyone their love for one another. Every day hereafter, they prove their love for one another when only they are looking. Who knows what their next adventure will be?! But every day of that adventure, when they are drinking their morning coffee, the sunlight is going to reflect this awesome little light into their eyes and they’ll notice “AH! That’s a GORGEOUS ring! . . . I’m married to Jimmy. I’m married to Bailee.” People, if they don’t already, will say the names “Bailee and Jimmy” together and rarely say one without the other, as they would say “Peanut Butter and Jelly.” Of course, as Bailee and Jimmy are aware, most people will not pronounce their last name correctly. =) It’s Na-When. . .if I’m wrong about that, I’m going to crawl into a hole and hide until 2022. Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen. =) Enjoy the story of your reception and enjoy the next gazillion years together as HUSBAND AND WIFE.
I wanted to start with the below image. Bailee and Jimmy honor their parents and hold their wedding day pictures. They have such a great support system in place.
There is so much that I love about this wedding day- EVEN the garter!
As Bailee’s girls were putting her garter on, I looked over into a basket in the room and saw the ceremony programs. I included it here because I remember even then feeling a little sad that the ceremony was finished. WHAT IS THE DEAL?! It’s time to go “woohoo! They are married!!”
Bailee puts on her floral halo. I think her husband approves. =)
Okay, let me explain. I typically DO NOT use this “Pleasantville” sort of effect- *whispers* I think it’s a little outdated. But one of the themes of this wedding was just a really vintage nostalgia. And the soft pink roses were so romantic. I remember way back back when photographers would use these paints to color in the rosy cheeks and flowers in images. I just wanted to experiment to get that feel because I think in this image- it’s just CALLED FOR.
Here comes that awesome bridal party. =)
Look at Bailee’s dreamy eyes. 
And Jimmy’s soft smile.
=) And Caprice’s lovely centerpiece. 
There hasn’t been a single day in my life that I can remember that I haven’t loved every morsel of a Chef’s Market meal.
And now to put yourself in the room with these guys. Look at their expressions and imagine what they are saying. 
Jimmy’s Aunt stood up to give a toast, and as she said “Hi, I’m Jimmy’s Aunt…” one guest blurted out “that’s a hot Aunt….” did I DREAM THAT?! I mean, I’m going to go back and check the video, but did I? I remember briefly holding my finger over the shutter release button, feeling confused, and then just continuing photographing. Then Jimmy said in response “AWWWWWKWARD.” At that point, I cracked up, EVERYONE cracked up.
Jimmy’s brother, Brian, was SUCH a jokester! He was THE LAST person I expected to cry! It was obvious that NO ONE expected him to cry. He was just talking and giving his toast and you know, I don’t think he even said anything crazy emotional, it was just like a zero second warning with no indication, his voice just cracked and he choked up! And everyone laughed at him, lol.
Then Bailee’s Dad stood up and sung “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.” WOW. What an amazing family.
And then Jimmy watched as Bailee, his wife, and her new baby brother Irvin stood up and took the mic.
They performed “One Step Closer.” And the whole world stopped spinning for that time.
So I thought, how can I just BE in Jimmy’s face at a beautiful time like this? Am I really “getting” his reaction or am I distracting from it? So I hid. I peeked the camera through the post and there it was. His genuine, heart melty, reaction to his wife’s gorgeous voice and his baby brother’s sweet accompaniment. They had snuck around and practiced the song for weeks before the wedding.
This photograph isn’t an accident. There were actually a few of them just like this. Jimmy isn’t blinking- his eyes are closed and he’s just ABSORBING EVERY GORGEOUS SECOND. See, Bailee? You weren’t the only one trying to freeze time. 
Bailee is just eaten up by her new baby brother. I wonder if right now, she’s remembering the first time she saw him on her wedding day. It was early. It had been raining for hours. She had been crying. She was preoccupying her mind with going forward and she was getting ready, her hair was in curlers and about to be unpinned, and he came down to her room to practice their song for Jimmy. When she saw him, she said “Oh. I’m going to cry again! He’s like a baby Jimmy!” Have I mentioned before HOW BAD she missed Jimmy that morning?
And you can really tell that Irvin thinks his new big sister is the bee’s knees.
And then Bailee got a thank you kiss. =)
And now it’s time for cake.
Everything in this image looks amazing. The hair halo, the background (Bailee is a girl after her photographer’s heart by thinking to make the background of the cake cutting area so dreamy), the multiple cakes (by The Brown Sugar Cake Room).
I’m pretty sure here is where one of the kiddos yelled at them to hurry up and get to that cake!
And Jimmy got his favorite Mocha Cake from Brown Sugar Cake Room as his grooms cake. How did I know? =) Um, I want a piece of it.
These colors will go down in history as amazing always. All day, every day.
And Dad gets his first dance with his Baby Bailee.
And Mom with her Baby Jimmy. You know, Jimmy’s Aunt said in her toast that Jimmy cried A LOT as a baby. Huh? Sorry, I just thought of that.
LOVE. THIS. CROWD. EVERY. HAPPY. FACE. I must say, Spangler Entertainment really brought the crowd to life and everyone had a blast from START to FINISH. A special thanks to Spangler Entertainment for getting everyone crazy which made for some awesome reception images.
THRILLER!!!!!
YES, PLEASE!
Megan was so out of control, I couldn’t focus on her!
Don’t try to stop him.
Another hand kiss. *sigh*
And he’s happier now than a dog rolling in his favorite poo.
One of these things is not like the other one…
She’s STILL drinking up her details! Xo) I love that she’s taking time to enjoy the smell of the flowers and memorize every look, feel and scent of her wedding day.
Wait she’s still smelling, I think we’ve lost her. =)
And, meanwhile, her girls have gone insane waiting while she smells her flowers.
Concentrate, Mrs. Bailee. =)
HOLY MOLY, enjoy these next few images- MEGAN OWWWWWWNS this bouquet!
Jimmy gets feisty….
and Bailee says “Let’s see some of that leg.”
Wait a minute, is this guy pushing this good fellow down?!
She may have lost the bouquet, but she sent in her reinforcement.
Bailee’s Mom and Dad won the anniversary dance! They’ve been married 30 (THIIIIIIIRTY) years! That’s an incredible testament.
I included one of Jimmy’s dance moves, because I really hope I look this cool when I’m photographing.
So we were called outside to inspect the car….
Um. Errrrrrrr.
See the one with the chalk in her mouth? You’re going to want to watch her…
I thought she was single handedly the one responsible for the front of the car, she said she wasn’t…but she looks miiiiighty proud….OMIGOSH, I didn’t realize how carelessly she was transporting her camera about! Stop that! *covers eyes*
See? They have no clue of the illustration on the front of their car and she’s smiling like an angel….
BAILEE and JIMMY: It was an absolute dream being a part of your wedding day and enjoying your amazing friends and family. =) I hope you’ve enjoyed every moment. They are all yours. And it’s just the beginning, you never really know what’s ahead…
| LOVE, |
FLORIST \ The Enchanted Florist \ Nashville, TN \ WEBSITE
CAKE \ The Brown Sugar Cake Room \ Pleasant View, TN \ WEBSITE
DJ \ Spangler Entertainment \ WEBSITE
HAIR ARTIST \ Suzanna Gilmore 615-347-0205
MAKEUP ARTIST \ Brittany Higdon brittanyhigdon1@gmail.com
CATERING \ Chef’s Market \ Goodlettsville, TN \ WEBSITE
VENUE \ The Carnton Plantation \ Franklin, TN \ WEBSITE
