okay, so let me just start by saying i looked forward to this day and this experience for what seemed like forever!!!! i was at work, when my friend katie, told me the new workshop seats were on miss katelyn james‘ blog. i was elated!!!! yay yay yay!!!!!! i had saved up (a.k.a. cut back on my chick-fil-a trips) and now i could finally attend this workshop and meet one of my biggest inspirations! i remember running down the hallway (fo’ real) to get my purse. i had to grab my spot RIGHT THEN because who knew when they’d sell out! haha. thankfully i did, because i think her workshop sold out within a day or two. YAYYYY!!!

i was so excited and still am, that i was able to attend this awesome workshop. when i tell people what it was like, i still beam from ear to ear haha. i like to relate it to a kid’s first trip to disney world. you know when you go to disney and you are SO EXCITED to see your favorite disney princess? then you find out you get to go to a character breakfast and meet them in person!!!! that is totally how i felt on the day of the workshop!!! haha. nerd, i know, but so what. it was friggin awesome!!!

i parked outside of the virginia center for architecture and started walking up to the door about the same time as lindsay. we chatted and realized we actually went to the same dentist ( she lives in newport news and my cousin is my dentist there – not TOTALLY random) haha. we walked in and it felt like a dream! as we arrived katelyn gave us hugs as she welcomed us in. we were headed to our seats when i saw someone else familiar. WHOA NOW it was rebekah!!! it was crazy cool to actually see someone i’ve been following online in person! i was so starstruck! haha. i tried not to sound like a fumbling idiot haha, but it was hard. i got to hang out with TWO of my favorite photographers that day! i LOVED it! i want that to happen every day! that’s not too much to ask right? haha.

being starstruck did not keep me from learning, though. i took probably 12 pages of notes (front and back). i even drew some diagrams hahaha. i laughed, i cried, and i absorbed SO MUCH! wow! my head was swimming with ideas from that amazing time and it took forever for me to think about something else haha. i kept reliving what i learned and couldn’t wait for my next shoot to practice what i had learned. EEEEKKK!!! photographers, if you’re on the fence about going to a workshop, hop on off and sign up for one, preferably katelyn’s. i learned so much, she was so amazing, and glorified God the whole way through. truly inspiring! seriously, i just wanna be her bff! haha. she’s so cool! 🙂

i am doing my best to incorporate what i learned into my business this year! i will definitely blog more about that part of the experience later. i’m sure y’all are tired of my chit-chat and ready to see some images from the super awesome styled shoot!!! we got to work with some amazing vendors and they deserve to be recognized! thanks so much for all of your hard work to everyone who helped out. everything was amazing and i will never forget this gorgeous day! thank you!

these pictures don’t even do justice to all of their amazing work! seriously, it was such a beautiful creation they made! 🙂

floral design + fashion styling: janie medley flora design // creative direction + styling:dana fitzgerald  // candy, candy buffet and prop styling: sweet spot // candy buffet signage: d is for dino // mini cakes, frosting shooters and cake pops: candy valley cake company // jewelry: viv & ingrid // guest book calligraphy and “bravo” favor bags:  m & m ink // invitation and “cheers” place cards and wedding signage: page stationery // vintage furniture and props: retrospective vintage rentals // ribbon: midori // linens, chairs, tables, curtains, silverware, china, stemware: classic party rentals of virginia // vintage silver wear and cake server: jessica n designs // hair + makeup: emily hudspeth // dress: jenny yoo from bella bridesmaid (richmond, va) // venue: virginia center for architecture // models: liz blake white and ryan bechard

aren’t these details the cutest?! man, they thought of everything for this styled shoot! 🙂

GORGEOUS flowers!

i could eat this cake right now!!!

EEEEEEKKK!!!!!! yes!!! i got to meet rebekah!!! she’s so sweet! i wish she lived in richmond! 🙂

could she be any cuter? my goodness!!! this girl has got the look! 

miss katelyn doin’ her thang!!!

WABAM!!!!! gorgeous flowers!

lindsay in action! 🙂

LOVE that sunflare! 🙂 

LOVEEEE!!!! and these colors are glorious!!! 🙂 

miss rebekah doin’ her thang! 🙂 

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!! it’s so hard to pick favorites from this! they look good in everything! 

gosh!!! they are so cute!!! 

i love this! so much fun! love her smile! 🙂 

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!

the end!!!! thanks so much katelyn for hosting this awesome workshop!!! you are so awesome and giving!!! i’m so glad i got to meet you and i hope that’s not the last time!!! thanks for everything, girl!!! 🙂