Classic Bridal Portraits at Lenora's Legacy

Truly there is nothing lovelier than a bridal portrait. We love the beautiful photos showcasing the bride in her specially chosen wedding gown. Outdoor photos, such as many brides have opted for at Lenora's Legacy, offer a particularly romantic backdrop for bridal portraits. These are a few of our very favorites - we hope you enjoy the photos and find inspiration for your own bridal shots.

Beautiful bride Amber (above and below), was photographed by Camilla Calnan in multiple settings around the estate. This is a great way to capture different moods and showcase different aspects of the bride's personality, gown, and accessories. In the photo above, her blowing veil and the dramatic sky create a very striking scene, while the image below is fresh, sweet, and classic.

Bride April also chose several backdrops for her bridal portraits by Amber McDowell Photography. Couples often wonder how to honor and include loved ones who have passed in their weddings, and holding a portrait as April does in the right-hand image is a lovely idea. Another idea is for the bride to hold her mother's bridal portrait, which would be especially meaningful if the bride is wearing her mom's wedding gown.

In this soft, ethereal portrait of Hannah by Kendra Martin Photography, gentle black and white tones create a gentle, romantic image of the bride.

All of the photos of Nicholas and Cara's wedding by The Mondays Photography are full of personality, and Cara's portraits are no exception. The duo format is a terrific layout for showcasing both the bride's beauty and her personality.

Another terrific way to use a duo photo is shown in Heather's portraits by Amber McDowell Photography. The three-quarter view lets us see the bride's pretty face, while the close up image is perfect for capturing special details, in this case her beautiful bouquet.

JAC Photography (now called Ryan & Alyssa Photography) also took photos of bride Caroline (images above and below) in multiple locations. The crisp clean background of the farmhouse's front porch offers a classic setting, as well as plenty of reflected light that illuminates the bride's lovely face. In the images below, her white gown stands out against the lush green lawn and foliage, making it an ideal spot for the full length portrait with the gown's train extended.

The double portrait is a terrific way to show off multiple views of the bridal gown. We love how Hannah Woodard Photography highlighted both the classic elegance of Mallorie's lace wedding dress in the full length view and the dramatic open keyhole back.

Speaking of backs, this photo by Kelli C Photography is unbelievably gorgeous! Doesn't the bride look like a glamorous vintage movie star? And what a way to showcase a beautiful train. Definitely ask your photographer about shooting bridal portraits from a variety of angles.

Of course as much as we love outdoor bridals, this dramatic portrait of Jessica by Cureton Photography in the light of the window is truly spectacular. This is a wedding photo she will surely treasure for a lifetime.

Beautiful Bouquets from Real Weddings

There must be something about March that gets me thinking about all of the gorgeous flowers we have seen at Lenora's Legacy weddings. (See this post from last March.) Because we can't get enough of pretty flowers - and we suspect you can't either! - we just could not resist sharing these beautiful bouquets from real weddings we have hosted. Enjoy, and Happy Spring!

Such a unique combination of textures, flowers, greens, and shapes make this bouquet by Statice Couture Florals something truly special.

Image credit: Hannah Woodard Photography

The classic elegance of this all white softly cascading bouquet is truly timeless. From Hanna and Rob's May wedding.

Photo credit: Melody Gillikin Photography

Megan's ethereal baby's breath bouquet with a scattering of white roses could not have been more perfect for her morning wedding.

Photo credit: Amber McDowell Photography

Heather's bouquet is pure romance. I've always had a soft spot for roses at weddings.

Image credit: Cureton Photography

What a spectacular bouquet! Who can resist a bouquet with peonies for a May wedding? Jessica's bridesmaids also carried stunning flowers.

Photo credit: Cureton Photography

In the mood for more spring flowers? Take a virtual tour of the spring flowers in full bloom all around our estate.

April + Jimmy's Vintage Inspired September Wedding

April Owensby and Jimmy Hensley spent their lives in our beautiful upstate of South Carolina. We were delighted that they chose Lenora's Legacy as the venue for their September 6th, 2014 wedding. April and Jimmy welcomed over 150 guests, and everyone felt completely at ease in the gracious Southern spaces of our family estate. 

The backdrop of the ceremony was the field, centered between the old pecan trees. There had been rain earlier that morning, but excellent weather ruled the rest of the day. 

The little boys at the wedding were just darling - don't you just love the expression on the face of the young man on the right?

 Look how hard the ring bearer is concentrating on his important job - too cute!

 April had such a stunning style - we loved her hairstyle, pearls, and brooch bouquet.

And the bridesmaids had the best braided updo hairstyles ever! They looked so pretty and romantic in their soft pink dresses and pearls.

Friends who have a lovely antique store brought loads of decorative items for use at the gazebo and at the Peach Shed reception area.The eclectic vintage inspired collection gave the wedding a completely unique feeling.

Jimmy and April didn't want to miss any memories of their wedding day. Their Instagram sign was fantastic. And the painting of the bride and groom was such a special and unexpected detail.

The memory stones were a sweet idea instead of a traditional guest book. Many memories were certainly made at this lovely wedding!

If you'd like to see more of April and Jimmy's vintage inspired September wedding, be sure to visit our Pinterest page to see the beautiful photos taken by Amber McDowell Photography. In case you missed our last post, check out Kim and Jason's wedding - the cupcakes were absolutely divine!