There are some wedding days that could only belong to the two people getting married, and Mollie and Adam’s was absolutely one of them.
From a relaxed morning surrounded by family to a traditional Catholic ceremony, a military saber exit, and a reception inside an aviation hangar, their April 11, 2026 wedding was filled with details that told their story from beginning to end.
As a Mississippi wedding photographer, I love when couples choose traditions and locations that have meaning beyond simply being beautiful. For Mollie and Adam—both Army helicopter pilots—their wedding was such a wonderful reflection of the life they share.
A Relaxed Wedding Morning in Jackson, Mississippi
Mollie began her wedding day getting ready at her sister’s home with her bridesmaids and family.
And I loved it.
The morning was relaxed and full of life, with Mollie’s nieces and nephews and family coming and going. Instead of feeling like a production, it felt like a family gathering—which was exactly right for Mollie.
There was laughter, matching pink pajamas, people helping one another get ready, and all those little in-between moments that are so much a part of a wedding day.
Those moments are one of the reasons I love photographing weddings in a documentary-meets-timeless way. The beautiful portraits matter, but so do the photographs that remind you what being there actually felt like.
Soon Mollie was dressed in her classic gown from Elle James, and it was time to head to St. Richard Catholic Church.
A Catholic Wedding at St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson, MS
Mollie and Adam were married at St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson, Mississippi, surrounded by their closest family and friends.
Their military service is an important part of both of their stories. Mollie and Adam are both Army helicopter pilots, so incorporating military traditions into their wedding wasn’t simply a theme—it represented a life, career and calling they share.
Following their Catholic wedding ceremony came one of the most memorable moments of the entire day.
Mollie and Adam exited St. Richard beneath a traditional military saber arch formed by fellow service members.
And, of course, there was a kiss.
It was one of those moments that was meaningful, celebratory and completely them—and easily one of my favorite photographs from their wedding day.
Timeless Wedding Portraits in Jackson, Mississippi
Before heading to the reception, we spent some time creating portraits around the beautiful grounds of St. Richard.
Mollie’s classic white gown against the green trees was gorgeous. The full skirt, long train and simple silhouette gave her bridal portraits such a timeless quality.
Then we photographed Mollie and Adam together.
One of my favorite things about their portraits is the contrast between the formality of Adam’s Army dress uniform and the ease between the two of them. Nothing needed to feel overly posed or formal simply because they were beautifully dressed.
That balance is something I want throughout my Mississippi wedding photography—images that are polished enough to become heirlooms but still feel like the people in them.
A Mississippi Wing Commemorative Air Force Hangar Wedding Reception
After the ceremony, everyone headed north to Madison for a reception at the Mississippi Wing Commemorative Air Force Hangar at the Madison Airport.
For two Army helicopter pilots, I’m not sure there could have been a more fitting place to celebrate their marriage.
The hangar made their reception completely different from a traditional Mississippi wedding venue. Aircraft, aviation history and military memorabilia became part of the backdrop while florals from Bellini Blooms brought softness and elegance into the space.
It was the perfect meeting of both sides of their wedding day—classic and elegant mixed with aviation and military tradition.
And then there were the little details.
American flag sunglasses waited for guests, and one very important message summed up the mood perfectly:
Eat, Drink & BEAT NAVY.
Military Wedding Traditions With a Personal Twist
The saber arch wasn’t the end of the military traditions.
Mollie and Adam made their reception entrance beneath another set of raised sabers and later used a saber to cut their wedding cake.
These weren’t details added simply because they looked good in photographs. They represented a huge part of who Mollie and Adam are individually and as a couple.
That’s something I especially love photographing about Mississippi weddings. No two days have to look the same. The most memorable celebrations are often the ones where couples allow their own personalities, families, traditions and stories to shape the day.
And Mollie and Adam certainly did that.
And Then They Danced
Once the formalities were over, the party started.
And this group knew how to have fun.
The dance floor stayed full, jackets came off, suspenders came out, Mollie borrowed Adam’s cavalry hat, and their friends and family packed the hangar to celebrate them.
These are some of my favorite images from their gallery.
They’re not necessarily the quiet, perfectly posed photographs that traditionally come to mind when we think about wedding photography. They’re people laughing with their mouths open, dancing, singing, hugging and completely forgetting that a camera is there.
And those photographs are incredibly important.
Because twenty or thirty years from now, Mollie and Adam won’t only want to remember what their flowers looked like or how everything was decorated.
They’ll want to remember how this day felt.
A Jackson, Mississippi Military Wedding to Remember
From a laid-back morning at Mollie’s sister’s home to their Catholic ceremony at St. Richard, portraits beneath the trees, a military saber exit and an airplane hangar filled with everyone they love, Mollie and Adam created a wedding day that couldn’t have belonged to anyone else.
Two Army helicopter pilots. Two families coming together. One very full dance floor.
It was traditional without feeling overly formal, elegant without being stuffy, and meaningful without losing the fun.
As a Jackson, Mississippi wedding photographer, these are the wedding days I love documenting—the ones where beautiful photographs are only part of the story.
Because ultimately, wedding photography isn’t only about remembering what your wedding looked like.
It’s about creating something that allows you to remember the people who were there, the relationships you celebrated, the traditions you carried with you, and exactly how it felt to live it.
Congratulations, Mollie & Adam Kopp. 🤍
It was such an honor to photograph your Mississippi wedding day.
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