Lauren Ledbetter

Engagement Surprise

laurenle — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:59:53 +0000

Inspired by the Southern charm and sophistication of great Southern names like Garden & Gun and Billy Reid, this shoot boasts beautiful spring florals, intimate settings and manicured gardens with real-life couple Meredith + Cody. The twist? The love story came to life! Read on for the romantic details.

This fresh Spring day started at Lilly Belle’s in the upstairs bed and breakfast. The light was bright and soft. Meredith, our bride, wore a stunning laced BHLDN dress and her golden hair was crowned with fresh flowers. Cody, our groom, is pictured in his navy suit with a German Shorthaired Pointer.

We then proceed to Carnton Plantation and featured the historic estate and gardens. The intimate reception table is set between a row of trees, features a mixture of brown and white china, homemade pecan pies, wooden dog placards, beautiful earthy flowers, vintage playing cards, whiskey decanters, deer antlers and champagne with blackberries.

Meredith graciously shared how she and Cody met!

“Cody and I met our freshman year in college. We had the same math teacher, but our classes were back to back. Naturally, we would pass each other every day and catch the other’s eye from time to time. Cody and I go in your “opposites attract” category. I came from a small school in Nashville, was a perfectionist, and I was social but an introvert at heart. Cody, on the other hand, was always the life of the party, smart without every trying, never forgot a name, and was incredibly charming. I went to Knoxville devastatingly homesick for Nashville, catching rides home every weekend. Finally, a few weeks into the semester, I had to face my biggest fear: staying the weekend on campus. Somehow I ended up hanging out with Cody, and it changed everything. For the first time, I got to see Cody in his element: his city, his family, and abundant excitement for life. After that I never could quite shake him. There was something about being around him that brought the light-hearted and ridiculous side out of me in the best way possible. I learned that grades didn’t have to come at the expense of my college memories, and I learned that getting an A+ is not always worth the adventures missed out on.”

He proposed! I’ll let Cody tell you all the juicy details:

“I can tell you right now that I’ve always known I was going to marry Meredith. One of the first things I told her was, “You remind me of my mom.” (Romantic, right?) It sounds weird, but I am a huge momma’s boy. Meredith may not have known it at the time, but that was the best compliment she could have received. Anyway, fast forward a few years down the road. We graduated from UT, I started working, Meredith went to Vanderbilt, and we entered in to dating long distance. It wasn’t easy, and we knew that if we could survive a long distance relationship, we were in it for the long haul. Mere said, “I don’t think I want to be engaged during school.” Naturally, I proposed the day after she graduated.

We were at a wedding in December when Rachel unknowingly kicked my plan to propose in high gear. She asked Meredith’s friend, Tori (the bride) who we were and if we would be models for a styled shoot. Sure, we weren’t married yet, but I am a photographer myself and we jumped at the opportunity! As details for the shoot started unfolding, I picked up the phone and called Rachel. She LOVED the idea of a proposal during the shoot.

I talked to Mere’s parents, got the ring, and coordinated with Rachel (all under Meredith’s nose). Finally, the big day was finally here. I couldn’t sleep for three days before, but I wasn’t nervous. The best way I can describe it is that feeling you get before Christmas when you know you’re getting an awesome bike. You can’t sleep because you’re so excited — and I wasn’t getting a bike, I was getting a wife!

I hid the ring all day and we had so much fun at the shoot. There were numerous “marriage” comments but Meredith still had no idea what was about to happen. At the end of the day, Mere had changed into her getaway dress, and Rachel set up the shot for us to be “leaving the reception” so I could pop the question. Now, the whole reason we waited til the end of the shoot was so if Meredith cried, her makeup wouldn’t be messed up and ruin the entire shoot. Before I could get all of my words out, the waterworks were in full effect. Mere still didn’t believe it was happening (as her face shows in the pictures) until I pulled out the ring. Then, she said yes! After that, Rachel had brought us a bottle of champagne and captured the whole thing on photo and video. In the end, I’d say it worked out perfectly.”

Photos by Rachel Moore / Featured on Southern Weddings / Location: Lillie Belle’s / Location: Carnton Plantation / Styling: Lauren Ledbetter / Flowers: Soul Flowers / Hair and Makeup: Sarah Adams / Calligraphy: Hardink Calligraphy

Unlikely Bunch

laurenle — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:44:25 +0000

An Unlikely Bunch is a dinner series. It exists to create an atmosphere for nourishing conversation and to commend the brave souls around us with fist pumps, food comas and to celebrate each other’s victories. We set the scene for promoting dialogue that encourages a more purposeful community.

The Unlikely Bunch Lauch Party was held in the backyard at Rumours East. We enjoyed sustenance for the soul: serving provisions and engaging in incredibly meaningful conversation as the first official Unlikely Bunch event kicked off. We chose a group of about 30-40 people who we believed are doing brave and commendable things in the community and watched as they met, mingled, and became friends. Our dear friends Josh and Amber Ulmer captured the memorable night perfectly.

Our Story

In late 2012 a mix of ten people, some strangers and some loose acquaintances, gathered around a table for a special dinner — the first in a new tradition. Lauren Ledbetter, Mary Hooper, and Amy Stroup, the founders of the UNLIKELY BUNCH gathering were the only common denominators of this unlikely group. By the end of the evening it felt like a group of friends. We had experienced the once familiar communion of eating together and talking.

In our fast-paced, social media driven lives, gathering around a table for a thoughtfully prepared meal is rare. The vision of Unlikely bunch is to bring incredibly human people around a table to celebrate each other’s victories and to listen to how each one is bravely encountering life and the community in which they’ve been placed. I could use a little more of this brand of inspiration…couldn’t you? No matter how many vintage plates we gather or how many beautiful ingredients we’re able to weave into the menu, we fully anticipate the conversation to be the most memorable part of the time spent. Let’s set the table for a more purposeful, inspired community.

Work Isn’t Supposed to Be This Fun (I Think)

laurenle — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:56:35 +0000

My current clients are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. I just had to share this current branding inspiration board.

It’s ok, you can take a second to swoon.

I also may never buy another typeface again (yeah right) because I have been on a crazy kick with custom type! I’ve spent the last couple weeks with a Micron pen in hand, attached to my tracing paper, scanner and Illustrator. Calligraphy will be my next feat to conquer and I am on my way! Can’t wait to show you!

Lovely Little Things

laurenle — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:10:38 +0000

ONE gold glasses TWO coasters THREE large format camera FOUR indigo textile FIVE stool SIX cutting board SEVEN terraniums

Seattle through the lens of Whitney Neal

laurenle — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:01:30 +0000

My inbox read, “Whitney Neal has shared a dropbox with you” and I could have never guessed the surprise waiting for me inside that box. It was the best gift I’ve gotten in a while.

Whitney Neal is a film photographer in Louisville Kentucky, and I am her new biggest fan. She is an incredible human but she also produces some pretty freaking amazing images.

These images were taken from all over the Seattle area. I grew up a little East of Seattle so the crew with us on this trip (Brad and Jen Butcher of Q Avenue Photo, Jaclyn Journey and Whitney Neal) got a pretty good representation of the area as a whole. We got to hike up and explore in the mountains, see Snoqualmie Falls, wander downtown, stroll through the Pike Place Market, and see the San Juan Islands. We stayed the second half of our trip on Useless Bay on Whidbey Island, where I grew up spending summers at my cousin’s beach house. The whole trip was perfect. And now I get to relive it over and over.

This Week on Pinterest

laurenle — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:55:10 +0000

Follow me at www.pinterest.com/laurenledbetter

Mixtape .03

laurenle — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:39:29 +0000

As this weekend comes to a close, I am in reflection mode. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how important it is to embrace where we came from. Everything about who I am today has been molded by where I’ve been. SO, I’m taking it “old school” to my favorite songs of all time. This was a difficult task. (Safe to say, I probably was born in the wrong decade)

Also, Whitney Neal who is an incredible human and insanely talented film photographer from Louisville came to Seattle with me earlier this year and she just showed me her AMAZING batch of photos from the trip. I will share more photos later – but this one is a PERFECT representation of where I came from. (Photo taken on Whidbey Island, Washington)

In no particular order:

01. Billie Holiday – I’ll Be Seeing You
02. Elvis Presley – Love Me
03. Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
04. Patsy Cline – I Fall to Pieces
05. Harry Connick Jr. – A Wink and a Smile (from Sleepless in Seattle; felt fitting)
06. Louis Armstrong – La Vie en Rose
07. Sam Cooke – Bring it on Home to Me
08. Eric Clapton – Before You Accuse Me & Running on Faith (Unplugged)
09. Nat King Cole – For Sentimental Reasons
10. Otis Redding – These Arms of Mine

Monday Thoughts

laurenle — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:36:12 +0000

+ Everywhere I look I see quotes or inspiration that urges me “the time is now” or “don’t let yesterday take up too much of today” or “do more of what makes you happy.” It seems like Pinterest has become an inspirational breeding ground for people who are stuck. Stuck in worry, stuck in an unhealthy headspace, or just stuck in a cycle they aren’t happy with. I hope these words of encouragement don’t just sit on an computer screen, but that they transform your life today.

+ The good guys always win. They say nice guys finish last, but I don’t agree. I did not handle the bombing last week well at all. I became a zombie, glued to the screen while the news sources told me the same information over and over and over and over. It’s like a knife that twists every time they repeat the awful tidbits that they have acquired. But after the bomber was captured, I watched the American citizens line the streets and cheer USA, USA and I watched the crowd belt the National Anthem at the Boston Bruins game the following night with pride and I know – the good guys always win.

There is a lot of hatred and corruption in this world, but love will prevail. With that being said, my mom always said you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. I had a very minor personal “nice guys win” victory this week too. (hooray!) And it inspired me to talk with my high school aged Young Life girls about how easy it is to get sucked into the negative, and focus on what might be in our lives. I challenged them to be the “honey” and come up with 1 person, and then love on them as much as they possibly can. I told them – it doesn’t matter who it is in your life – but to watch what it does to your own heart.

+ Lastly, I am going to be in Charleston South Carolina after Memorial Day and would love some ideas of places to go and things to see while I am there! (Can’t wait, can’t wait!)

photos from (can’t find original sources) & tec petaja

Unlikely Bunch

laurenle — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:39:14 +0000

You may have heard rumblings about town of An Unlikley Bunch…

An UNLIKELY BUNCH exists to create an atmosphere for nourishing conversation and to commend the brave souls around us with fist pumps and food comas and the dialogue that follows moments spent together around a humble feast. Our hope is that in so doing, we play a small part in fueling a more purposeful community.

Inspiration Board

laurenle — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:44:11 +0000

This was the inspiration behind a West Coast shoot we did recently. I can’t wait to share the finished product. But for now, this will have to be a little teaser.