Evan + Kerstin | Married

I’m thrilled for the welcomed burst of new energy this wedding season has inspired within me! I’ve been feeling EVERY bit of alive and aligned lately, and that always seems to point me in the direction of cheerful, vibrant, and fun clients. Enter Kerstin and Evan- two people who I’m convinced have found the actual secret to happiness, especially when they’re together. Always laughing, cracking jokes, and stealing looks at each other from across the room, I believe this couple came into my life to remind me of what’s truly important: ENJOYING EVERY LAST MINUTE TO THE FULLEST.

Let’s take a look at some of my top picks from this bright and colorful wedding, and later, I’ll grill the bride, Kerstin for all the fun details surrounding her and Evan’s love story!

We’ve got lots to cover, so let’s get into it!

This wedding took me back to my old stomping grounds (and a personal “happy place”), Fairview Farm Events in Powhatan, VA, where your girl has been a preferred vendor for years, now. Why do I love shooting there so often, you might ask? Well, 1. The staff is amazing and a team of true professionals. Weddings are easy gigs when everyone else is great at their jobs (iykyk- am I right?) 2. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking and always well-manicured. The owners have quite-literally thought of everything so their couples don’t have to. 3. The decor is always different. While I do shoot there often, the space rarely looks the same for long. Some people may not know this, but my aunt is Fairview’s personal decorator, and I often assist her with their big seasonal decorating flips each year. Those beautiful barn walls have seen many celebrations, but they have also seen countless talks between my aunt and I regarding our hopes, fears, accomplishments and even heartbreaks whilst decking out 15ft trees. So, yes, this place and I have history; something I’m happy to revisit whenever given the chance.

When it comes to wedding flowers, I’ve developed a bit of a theory over the years. I truly believe the blooms chosen by the bride reflect way more than just her botanical taste. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I believe that flowers are a direct reflection of a bride’s overall demeanor, flexibility, and personality as well. The more color, movement, and variety in a flower spread- the more sunny, flowy, and easy-going the soon-to-be Mrs tends to be. Just take one look at this bridal bouquet and you’ll get a pretty accurate view of Kerstin as a bride. Simply put, she’s the most beautiful definition of a wildflower that I’ve ever seen, and when it comes to matching the bride to the bouquet, the creators over at Flowers Makes Scents always understand the assignment.

The element of originality and fun at this wedding cannot be overlooked — it truly deserves it’s own shout-out! From the moment I arrived, it was clear to me that Evan and Kerstin had taken great care in ensuring that everyone had a blast, from start to finish. I’m always a fan of couples who dare to be different and add their own personal spin on traditions, so I was cheering her on when Kerstin gave me the run-down of the day’s surprises. To name a few unique (and FUN) choices they made, I’d say my top favorites are the following: printed bridesmaid’s dresses rather than the typical solids, a Flower Man to replace the flower girl- fully equipped with beer and flower petals of course, switching into matching light-up dancing shoes during the reception, and saving the last dance for a private moment between the bride and the groom. I’ve found that it’s important for couples not to lose themselves in the process of planning their wedding, and I think Evan and Kerstin figured out several fun and exciting ways to keep their light and silly hearts shining through.

Alright, ya’ll! Time to jump into my favorite part of these posts- let’s interview the bride!

Question: So Kerstin, how did you and Evan meet?
Answer: The story goes like this: Evan first saw me when I was graduating from Recruit School. We had a mutual friend that was also graduating that day (the best man). I started attending Heritage Baptist Church in hopes to grow my relationship with the Lord. Like all typical Baptist churches, everyone has their favorite row to sit in. On December 8, 2019, upon walking into church, I noticed a rather “tall glass of water” (inside joke) sitting in the same row. We were introduced through a mutual friend. After church,  we went our separate ways. The next time we saw each other was Sunday, December 29th. Before leaving church that morning, we exchanged phone numbers. Our “first date” was New Years Day. Evan had just finished hunting and stopped by the farm where I kept my horse. We then went to Chipotle for lunch and have been inseparable since. 

Question: Would you share a story that encapsulates you and Evan as a couple?
Answer: There are so many to share. A sweet one is about 4 month into our relationship, we got baptized together and thats when we both knew God made us for one another. 

Probably my favorite memory: Evan woke up one day and signed up for a 50-mile run in Nashville.
He trained so hard for 9 months. This was a true testament for his physical and mental strength. On the day of the race, I followed him around all day. I was his cheer leader, snack provider, and social media updater. Seeing him make it across that finish line was beyond amazing, even though he limped off. Even after alllllll that running, he still made it out for a few drinks in Nashville. 

*Ashley’s Note: This is always my favorite part of creating blogs, because I get to dive deeper into the making of my couples and how things all got started. When I read about the story of your race, my whole arm filled with goosebumps, because it’s a true testament of the love you two share. There’s a level of support between you that just feels like solid ground. Taking turns to show up for each other and being that rock during these defining moments is… well, it’s everything. Whether it’s running in a race, taking a chance on a new job, or maybe even becoming parents one day– you’ll always need that one person by your side who will show up with bells on… and snacks.

Question: What’s your favorite thing about Evan and why?
Answer: My favorite thing about Evan…I love Evan’s attitude/outlook on life. He’s  a constant for me and he is always level-headed. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks and lives life how he wants. He’s also super adventurous and loves trying new/hard things.  

Question: Ask Evan to tell us his favorite thing about you and why?
Answer: My favorite thing about Kerstin is her ability to love anyone and anything unconditionally. I think that trait is looked over a lot, and her ability to embrace everyone with the same loving arms is something that goes very unnoticed by a lot of people. But it doesn’t go unnoticed by me, because it’s a great trait that she has. Also, her ability to support my crazy endeavors.  

Question: How did you get engaged? We want details!
Answer: Evan and I were going to my home town, Lancaster, Va, to visit with family, celebrate my 25th birthday, and pick up our new kitten. I mentioned to Evan that Mary, the woman that was giving us the kitten, was a photographer. Evan then started messaging Mary and the two set up the most PERFECT proposal. We all went to Hughlett Point Beach to get our pictures taken. About half-way through the photo session, we started to walk toward the end of the beach. Evan then stopped, hugged me, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m going to do this. It’s happening”. Evan dropped to one knee and proposed as the sun was setting. After the pictures were done, we returned home to be greeted by friends and family for a mini engagement celebration.

*Ashley’s Note: Right off the bat, Evan gets major brownie points for locking down a photographer to capture that moment. And for anyone else who’s planning an engagement like this- you better be taking notes! WE. WANT. PHOTOGRAPHS. OF. THIS. MEMORY. (Can you tell I’m a little passionate about this? lol I digress). Evan truly pulled out all the stops for this special proposal, and it goes a long way in describing the lengths he would go for you in the future, no matter what. And to think that you ended that awesome visit home with a new ring AND a new kitten!! Can we say “best day ever”?!?!?!

Question: Tell us a short story about a core memory you took away from your wedding day. 
Answer: We didn’t do anything ordinary. We said, “screw tradition.” We stayed with each other the night before the wedding. We woke up early, ran a few miles, and shared memories as the sun was rising.  Honestly. that was the best decision ever because being able to spend time with him that morning kept me calm all day. 

Also, when the dancing got started, we snuck off and changed our shoes. Light up shoes for the win!

*Ashley’s Note: To me, this is an important part of what marriage is all about. It’s finding the person who you want to run off with when the world gets loud; someone who knows how to quiet your heart. It’s about rediscovering the teammate (or running partner) you have chosen every single day, through challenges, victories, and whatever comes in-between. The symbolism behind beginning your wedding day with a partner-run just truly says it all: you’ve got everything you need for the long haul when you have access to a soul that brings peace to your heart.

Question: Do you have a favorite memory from working with Ashley Dorton?
Answer: There are so many. Ashley is ahhh-mazing. She’s a wedding planner, a hype girl, a friend, and an artist. She is a one-stop-shop.  My favorite memory is when the videographers did a walk around out and Ashley and her assistant went running with them to avoid being in their shot. She also is super creative and I gave her complete control of pictures the sneak peaks turned out amazing! 

Also, she is the queen of bustling a dresses. 

*Ashley’s Note: I live for clients like you, who fully trust and embrace all of my wild (and sometimes weird) ideas. I think there’s something to be said for couples who can recognize all the different hoops their vendors do jump through in order to make sure everything is just right. I love my job and every tiny task that comes along with it- so it’s truly in my second-nature to just jump on in and help wherever I can. Maybe it’s in my personality, or maybe because I’ve just been doing this for a really long time, but I do often find myself picking up new “hats” to try on and master each year in order to boost my bride’s experiences. I’ve found that support, friendship, and organization are the top building-blocks of success in the wedding photography world– and I guess being a boss-bustler just ensures that success even more. (LOL!)

Question: When planning the wedding, how did you pick each vendor? What stood out about each one?
Answer: My venue, Fairview Farm Events, made everything beyond easy. They gave us preferred vendors list of tried and true vendors. I did my research, though. All the vendors I chose, I looked at their reviews, their work, and their communication. The day-of was flawless, and these vendors are the best around. There was not one mistake on our wedding day. It was beyond perfect. 

Venue: Fairview Farm Events http://fairviewfarmevents.com/
Photography: Ashley Dorton http://fairviewfarmevents.com/
Videography: Reagan Studios https://www.reaganstudios.com/
Catering: Eat Catering https://www.eatcateringrva.com/
Sweets: Mixing Bowl Bakery https://www.mixingbowlrichmond.com/
Planning: Illumination Events http://www.illuminationevents.com/
Entertainment: DJ and the Goddess https://www.facebook.com/djgoddess/
Flowers: Flowers Make Scents & Virginia Naturals https://www.flowersmakescents.net/
Hair/Makeup: Amanda Perry https://amandamperry.com/
Spray tan: Island Glow https://www.islandglowva.com/
Dress: Ashley Grace Bridal https://ashleygracebridal.com/
& Justin Alexander https://www.justinalexander.com/
Suites: Jos. A. Bank https://www.josbank.com/c/suits
Alteration: AG Alterations https://www.facebook.com/agalterationsrva/
Rehearsal Dinner: River City Pizza- 10/10 https://rivercitywoodfire.com/

To Evan and Kerstin,

Thank you so much for popping into my life like the bright burst of color that you are. Celebrating and capturing the love that you share was nothing short of the most fun ever, and I look forward to capturing many more milestones for you in the future.

And finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the amazing vendors mentioned in this blog, who played a special part in making this wedding such a success! You’re all true professionals, and I hope to work with you many more times in the future!

Here’s to finding your life’s running partner; the person who’s going to run alongside you and bring peace to your heart along the way! May you both enjoy every last step of this adventure.

Xo,
Ashley