Nikki Banik Photography

tucker plantation wedding {lindy and ross} part one

Nikki — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:20:02 +0000

Finally, the first blog post of 2012!!! Whoo!!!

Last year was one of the busiest years… ever. I would shoot one wedding, and turn around and shoot another one. This went on for months. Not surprisingly, I fell behind in my blog posting. I have so many beautiful images to show, and I am hoping to get as many blogged as I possibly can before wedding season picks up again. So, here is part ONE of Lindy and Ross’s wedding at the beautiful Tucker Plantation in Colbert, Georgia. It is a gorgeous venue and creates the setting for some absolutely spectacular images.

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the knot best of weddings!

Nikki — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:39:40 +0000

I am SO, SO very excited!!!

sisters (athens georgia family photographer)

Nikki — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:42:21 +0000

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the hoopers (georgia family photographer)

Nikki — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:12:27 +0000

I had so much fun working with this sweet family last weekend!

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my sweet friend and her family

Nikki — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:22:15 +0000

Nikki and I go all the way back to our freshman year in high school. Its hard to believe that we graduated more than ten years ago and its amazing how our lives have changed since then. We lost touch for awhile, but through the magic of facebook, we reconnected, and she’s been such a sweet presence in my life. I always adored her then, and I still do now! We met up last weekend and took some family pictures, and here they are. Nikki- I hope you like them!

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Chris & Mary, out in the country

Nikki — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:36:31 +0000

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Jessi and Ava Audrey

Nikki — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:29:46 +0000

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lindsey & collin (carrolton, ga wedding photographer)

Nikki — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:15:41 +0000

There are no words, honestly. Which sounds strange, but really… these pictures are just so…. yummy! I can’t describe them any other way.

It’s not common to see a couple so in love as Lindsey and Collin. They made my job so easy and it was an absolute pleasure to capture their wedding day for them.

Now go drool over the pictures, I won’t judge.

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Christina & Colin (State Botanical Gardens engagement photography)

Nikki — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:43:34 +0000

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Tolu & Brian’s Nigerian Wedding

Nikki — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:55:49 +0000

I can’t tell you how excited I am to post these pictures! A few weeks ago I photographed the first Nigerian Wedding I have ever attended. I have decided that Nigerian wedding traditions and customs are just so much more fun than our American wedding ceremony. There is so much detail, so much thought, and so much love. I enjoyed the whole experience so thoroughly, and I think that reflects in these photos. I asked the bride, Tolu, to give me a written description of the ceremony to go along with the photos. So enjoy!!!

The programs:

The wedding cake:

These gifts were brought by the Groom’s family and given to the Bride’s family to show respect and to show that the Bride will be well cared for:

The decorations at this wedding were just spectacular. Tolu did a wonderful job selecting the colors for her wedding and it all came together so well. The Groom’s mother created the beautiful flower displays you see on the tables and at the altar. Everything was just gorgeous.

The wedding would not have been complete without the Nigerian musicians:

The Alaga, who acts as the hostess, represents both families to promote unity:

The Bride’s family waits to meet the Groom’s family:

The Groom’s family comes to ask the Bride’s family for her hand in marriage:

And to officially meet for the first time:

A hymn is sung:

The Bride’s parents look on as the Groom and his Groomsmen enter and dance for both families, a sign of respect.

Brian looses his hat in the meantime…

Once the Bride’s family has accepted the Groom, the Bride’s friends dance into the ceremony, leading her to pick her husband.

Money is showered upon those who dance, which is seen as a blessing to the person.

The Bride is blessed by her family and the Groom’s family before she is introduced to the Groom.

The bride and groom meet for the first time:

The Groom’s family presents the Brides family with a written proposal

Which the bride’s younger sister reads aloud:

Once the Bride’s family has accepted the proposal, the Grooms’ family is presented with an acceptance letter:

And gifts are given to the Groom’s family to show appreciation to the Groom:

The Groom’s sister reads the acceptance letter:

The bride’s sisters read passages from the bible:

Members of the Bride’s family introduce various family members and wedding guests:

More blessings are given to the bride:

The Groom’s parents remove the Brides veil to see the person they have chosen for their son:

The Bride must pick out her husband by finding who the hat fits:

In Nigeria, mothers carry their babies on their backs. When a marriage occurs, a mother gets a new child. The Groom is tied to the Bride’s Mother’s back, and the Bride is tied to the Groom’s Mother’s back:

The Groom proposes to the Bride, and she accepts:

The Bride must pick out the most important gift she has been given, which is a bible.

The couple is now married!

Congratulations Brian & Tolu!!!!