The Sandhills have become our newest favorite location for portraits, engagement sessions, and family photos. And these first anniversary photos prove why. The wide-open, rolling hills of sand make for one dreamy backdrop and at sunset, they provide some killer lighting too. This couple, along with Smith House Photo, traveled to the perfect photo-op spot to commemorate one year of marriage! The sweet session is not only beautiful but inspiring to other couples longing to celebrate an anniversary in a unique and special way. Finally, you won’t be able to get enough of the way they’re looking at each other!
We love anniversary traditions, all the way from the first anniversary with paper to the eighty-fifth with moonstone. This is why we fell head over heels photographing Wes and Melanie’s first wedding anniversary in the Monahan’s Sandhills. The couple exchanged paper gifts; handwritten watercolor of one thing they love about the other. They also invited Michelle of Calligraphy Cult to live-paint two additional wall pieces (their florals and a landscape of their session) to complete a gallery wall collection from their first anniversary.
We designed the table with a beautiful blue linen and a gorgeous centerpiece from Bramble and Bee. It was set in a ‘picnic’ style for the couple to indulge in the top layer of their wedding cake by Whisk Bakery (another first anniversary tradition that we love!) The cake was gorgeous on gold chargers from House of Hough and paired with gold flatware. And the wind seemed like a detail all of its own as it blew the linen and the dress gorgeously. And of course, we couldn’t head out to the sandhills to photograph their intimate cake and paper celebration without spending some time shooting beautiful portraits of the couple. Melanie’s blue dress and Wes’s gray suit were the perfect colors for the soft sand and fading sunset.
So pretty!
The lighting is amazing!
Her dress is sooo pretty!
Love this!