Heather and Cody's Southern Wedding at Stella Events

traditional, timeless, and sentimental

Heather and Cody tied the knot on Dec. 9th, 2023 at Stella Events and Adventures. Stella is a gorgeous property with oak trees adorned with Spanish moss. It makes for the perfect outdoor southern setting.

Before we getting started in recounting this beautiful day, a significant point in this wedding is that Heather’s mom, Gigi, passed away back in 2018 from CNS lymphoma. It was very important to Heather to include her mother the best they could into the wedding. And they truly accomplished that.

Heather got ready with her bridesmaids in the Stella guest house. The sitting room was perfect to capture Heather getting into her dress. Her details were also photographed there. On Heather’s bouquet, you will see a photo of her mom and a butterfly. The butterfly is a very important symbol in remembering Gigi. Here is what Heather kindly shared about it:

My mom visits us often in the form of butterflies, first visiting us at our house the day of her funeral and when we left the funeral that day she was present with us at the funeral home as a butterfly so whenever we see butterflies, we feel she is with us. I was also so nervous going on my first date with Cody and when I pulled up to park, a butterfly flew across my windshield into an empty lot I parked by. This actually might sound crazy and a little controversial but I saw a medium shortly after she died and we had just finished talking and as I got up to leave the lady said “your mom wants me to tell you one last thing. She says the butterflies are her way of showing she is with you” So the butterfly pin was a gift from my high school group of friends for my bouquet and the charm was a gift from one of my other friends.
–Heather

Heather was buttoned up by her aunt (Nanny) and her sister. After getting ready we did a first look with Heather’s dad. And it was filled with emotion and love. She gifted him a precious photo of them together from her childhood, bringing tears to the eyes of everyone in the room. In another remembrance of her mom, Heather wore her mom’s perfume.

[H]er perfume was “classic Gigi” she wore this Primo perfume my whole life. It doesn’t smell great but “it smells just like Gigi” as everyone would say.
–Heather

We set up the couple’s first look under the oaks (because how could you not?) As the light shone beautifully through the trees, it could not have been a more perfect location. Heather and Cody looked stunning and you can see the joy radiating on their faces.

Their ceremony was held just before sunset, officiated by their close friend. You could feel the love that not only Heather and Cody have for one another, but the love their family & friends have for them. After the ceremony, we did short husband & wife portrait session.

Their reception was a lively and fun-filled affair, with laughter and dancing. Louisiana Spice kept people on the dance floor. The bar featured signature cocktail drinks named after Heather & Cody’s dogs — Demario, Rex, and Cash. And 12 Seasons Catering provided oh so yummy southern food! And let’s not forget the photo-booth provided by Moon Over Nola. My second shooter and I couldn’t resist and took a few photos there ourselves.

To end the night, there was a sparkler exit! Everything came out beautifully and it was a joy to photograph this wedding.

Congratulations, Heather and Cody, on your beautiful wedding day. May your love continue to grow stronger with each passing day, and may your lives be filled with countless more magical moments together.