Milca actually found me through a Facebook group I’m part of. I believe she had made a post looking for a photographer, and I commented and reached out to her. We chatted a bit, and soon after, she decided to book with me! From the very beginning, she was such a joy to talk to. She mentioned that she wanted both photo and video coverage, and at the time, I wasn’t offering full videography yet—but I told her I could provide a partial video highlight, and that worked perfectly for what she wanted.
As we got to know each other more, I learned about her and her soon-to-be husband, Rich. Both of them came from previous marriages and somehow found their way to each other, which made their love story even more beautiful. Milca shared that Rich is in a metal band called Chroma, and I immediately thought, “Okay, that’s awesome.” If you know me, you know I have a pretty mixed taste in music—everything from country to metal—so finding out that a groom was into that world made me so excited. It’s always fun when clients have interests that align with mine, and I even checked out their music on YouTube before the wedding.
Another thing that instantly stood out to me was when Milca mentioned, “I’m Cuban, and we’re having a Cuban chef cater the wedding.” If you know me, you know that any Hispanic food automatically has my heart. Plus, my oldest daughter is half Cuban, so being around a culture that connects in that way always feels extra special to me. So needless to say, I was thrilled from the start—I could already tell this wedding would be something unique and full of life.
The wedding took place at the Tyrone Depot in Tyrone, Georgia, a charming venue with a mix of modern and vintage touches. I started the day capturing Milca getting ready with her daughters, her niece, and Rich’s 10-year-old daughter. It was such a lively, happy atmosphere upstairs—lots of laughter, excitement, and that buzz you only get on wedding mornings. My second shooter, Cody (my husband), was with the guys that morning, getting their getting-ready photos and all the fun behind-the-scenes moments.
Before the ceremony, Milca showed me a wooden heart she wanted to place in memory of loved ones who had passed, and I helped set that up for her. Then we headed into ceremony time, starting with some photos of the groomsmen and grandchildren before guests began arriving.
And then came Rich walking down the aisle to a heavy metal song. Knowing his background, it felt perfectly “him,” and it made everyone smile. Shortly after, Milca made her grand entrance down the large staircase, and it was breathtaking. She had even pre-recorded a personal message for Rich that played as she walked down, and it was the most heartfelt, emotional touch—such a unique idea that made everyone tear up.
The ceremony itself was beautiful and emotional, though there was a funny little moment when the officiant got his papers a bit out of order. But honestly, that made it all the more memorable—it added a touch of realness and laughter to an otherwise touching ceremony.
Afterward, we moved right into family and group portraits, and every single person was so kind and full of personality. This family was the definition of lively and loving—it made photographing them such a joy.
The reception took place in the same venue, just in another part of the building. As soon as we walked in, the smell of the food hit us—because yes, the Cuban chef was there cooking everything fresh on-site! He even had a setup recording himself while preparing the food, and you could tell he took great pride in his craft. And let me just say—the food? 10 out of 10. Absolutely incredible.
Once guests were seated, we captured more detail shots and waited for the festivities to begin. Milca and Rich’s first dance was nothing short of magical—fog machine, lights, and all. It looked straight out of a movie. Then they shared special dances—Milca with her grandson, and Rich with his daughter—and those were some of the sweetest moments of the day.
After the dances, everyone dug into the food (which was phenomenal, again), and then came the speeches. Milca's daughters spoke so beautifully about their mom and Rich, and one of Rich’s relatives—his sister-in-law, I believe—shared some heartfelt words as well. You could feel how loved these two are by everyone in the room.
And then…the party began! The DJ was amazing, playing everything from upbeat hits to dance classics. There were light-up glasses, glow sticks, disco lights, and people were actually dancing—which, as a photographer, always makes me happy. The energy was electric. At one point, everyone formed what was kind of like a conga line (but not exactly the conga), and it was hilarious and fun and just full of joy.
By the time Cody and I were getting ready to pack up, the party was still going strong. It was such a laid-back, fun-loving, and genuinely sweet wedding day. Every single person was kind and welcoming, and Milca was an absolute gem to work with—so easygoing and so kind every step of the way.
It’s days like these that remind me why I love doing what I do. Being surrounded by love, laughter, good music, and good food—it doesn’t get much better than that.
