WeddingWire recently picked up a photo from Janelle & Tim's wedding, which was filled with so many unique ideas, for their 2015 Winterbook. The couple's "fun fact" cocktail napkin photo was #5 in the "50 Fresh Ideas for 2015" section on page 10! Go Janelle & Tim! And while I'm bragging on their wedding, I need to brag on Janelle -- she's got a great lifestyle blog! Go check it out HERE!
MEREDITH + RYAN - The Stockroom Wedding
My sweet friend Meredith married her love on 12-13-14 (such a memorable wedding date!) in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a day FULL of anticipation & excitement, love & tender moments and SO MUCH FUN! You may remember these two from their engagement shoot last year at the North Carolina Museum of Art (I mention it because it's one of my favorite engagement sessions that I've shot!).
Bride's dress: Oleg Cassini
Bride's shoes: Betsey Johnson
Bridesmaids' dresses: David's Bridal
Groom's attire: Dress blues, U.S. Army
Groomsmen attire: Men's Warehouse
Hair: Courtney Powers of Parvati's Mirror
Florals and catering: Catering Works
Ceremony & reception music: Joseph Giampino aka DJ SPCLGST
Cake: Kelly Bellmore
Rings: custom made from Bailey's (bride); David Yurman (groom)
Table decor: Curry Darlington, bride's mother
I met Meredith post-college while we worked for the Special Olympics documenting the World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. We became fast friends through our mutual love of great food (preparing and eating it!) and Ryan Adams songs. After that stint in our lives, we also both lived in New York and Georgia at the same time and were able to stay in touch and meet for coffee & a good chat every now and then. Sadly, we haven't lived in the same place in a few years, but the wedding has give us a great excuse to keep in better touch! I really enjoyed being there for this couple on their wedding day. I've gotten to hang out with Ryan on a couple of occasions now, and he's so kind and polite and his green eyes twinkle when he looks at Meredith. : )
One more thing before we get to the photos. : ) When Meredith was in the thick of planning her wedding, I remember one thing she asked my opinion about was the ceremony start time. She was trying to decide between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m., and she said she ultimately decided on 5:30 because her grandmother (I think I'm remembering the relative correctly?!) said it was good luck to have the minute-hand facing (going) up. I love that sentiment and I'd never heard it before! So, so sweet... just like Meredith. : ) Congrats on a beautiful wedding day, you two!
So, so gorgeous! That dress was MADE for Meredith.
Lighting test. Love couples that like to have fun!
I LOVE this shot of Mer and her brother!
So sweet.
STEPHANIE + ZACH - Castle Ladyhawke Wedding
Stephanie and Zach were married on a STUNNING October day in the mountains of North Carolina at Castle Ladyhawke. The light and love was in abundance. : ) I know I use "love" a lot to describe things, but I can't help it... I LOVED shooting this wedding and witnessing the magic between this couple.
Bride's dress: Danielle Caprese Bride's shoes: Christian Louboutin Bridesmaids' dresses: Jenny Yoo Groom's attire: Calvin Klein Groomsmen attire: Vera Wang Makeup: Shantel The Make-Up Artist Hair: Tiffany Kardos Florals: Occasions By Emily Coordinator: Michelle Nelsen of Occasions By Emily Ceremony music: Allegro Music Cake: Icing on the Cake Band: Empty Pocket Videographer: Aaron R. Morrell of Grae Skye Studio Caterer: The Colorful Palate Invitations and programs: Sofia Invitations and Prints Rings: Tiffany & Co. and JB Lacher Jewelers Transportation: Elite Limousine
From the very beginning, I just knew I was going to be friends with these two. Stephanie was so bubbly and authentic and sweet. Ever since that first Skype chat, through the dozens of emails we've shared, Steph always remembers to wish me a good day/week/month. : ) During that first chat, of course I remember her telling me about the plans for their wedding, but above all else, I remember the feeling that I took away from that talk: she was SO EXCITED to be marrying the love of her life and for friends and family to be there to witness it. I mean... what else are weddings all about?! After I met Zach at their engagement session, I understood why she was so excited: he was so kind, thoughtful, funny and CHILL. They are a perfect match, IMHO. ; )
Zach and Stephanie's wedding day was so perfect. The personal vows they exchanged, the florals, the quiet moments during the first look, the GORGEOUSNESS of the fall leaves, I could go on and on... It was breathtakingly beautiful. Please enjoy my many favorites (so hard to narrow down!) from their wedding. And thanks so much to Jenny Tenney for helping me capture their day!
I LOVED STEPH'S OUTFIT! Her dress, her shoes... So many of the details had sentimental value. For example, the earrings she wore had one diamond from her grandmother's engagement ring and one diamond from her great grandmother's engagement ring. The lace wrapped around her bouquet was from her grandmother who passed away, and the handkerchief was from Zach's paternal grandmother. So special.
Such a thoughtful and fun groom's gift!
Steph, you are so gorgeous!
The girls were looking at the drone flying above in this photo. : )
The first look was so incredibly sweet!
I LOVE that I caught Steph winking at a guest here!
Somebody loved that the cake had THREE different flavors...
KATE + THOMAS - Ocean Isle Beach Wedding
Kate and Thomas. LOVE LOVE LOVE these guys. They got hitched in mid-October at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. There are so many things that I loved about this wedding day. More on that later... : )
First: a little bit about how I know Kate. I'm so incredibly lucky to be able to photograph friends, especially uber-talented friends who are also photographers (check out Kate's awesome humanitarian photo+films HERE and her wedding photos HERE). : ) Kate and I have been friends since our senior year in college at UNC (8 years ago WHAT), when we were assigned by our photojournalism professor and the Special Olympics to produce a mini-documentary in Dublin, Ireland about Aisling, an athlete who later competed in the World Games in China (where Kate and I also worked and traveled together!). After we graduated, we led twin-job lives (as Kate would put it), working at the same N.C. daily newspaper (where we were roomies!) and as multimedia content managers at NBC in New York. I'll always cherish the years I spent with Kate post-college, as we were finding our voices in our work and growing up. : ) She's SUCH a sweetheart of a human being and I love her to death. Thomas and I didn't spend as much time together : ) BUT he's one of the most hilarious, kind people that I know and loves Kate to his core. So he's awesome too. : )
Back to the wedding day! It. was. perfect. My favorite things about the day included: 1) The story behind the inscriptions on their wedding bands. From Kate: "One time when we were first dating (like 9 years ago!), we were having a board game night with all of our friends. Thomas is super competitive, so I decided to team up with one of my friends, but told him that we're "teammates in the game of life." So in his ring, I wrote "Partners in Game of Life," because "Teammates" wouldn't fit. But to my surprise, he wrote "Teammates in Life," in mine." They revealed the inscriptions to each other during their ceremony and their reactions were the SWEETEST THING EVER. 2) The life-sized animal costumes their friends dressed up in and surprised them with during the reception. 3) The unique favors. Thomas and Kate chose individual photos of each of them with each guest and put them in photo coasters as gifts. How amazing is that?!
Kate and Thomas, y'all already know this... but I think you guys are SO wonderful and you both are special to me. I feel incredibly honored to have been the one to document your love day. : )
Bride's dress: Maggie Sottero Bride's shoes: Steve Madden Bridesmaids' dresses: Dessy (MOH); After Six (bridesmaids)Groom's attire: Polo Ralph Lauren Groomsmen attire: Men's Wearhouse Makeup: Jacqueline Ross, bride's cousin Florals: Shallotte Florist Ceremony music: Steve Barker, groom's uncle Cake: Cakes by the Sea Caterer: The Isles Restaurant Programs: self-designed by bride; printed via MOO Rings: Blue Nile Reception decor: bride's mother Photo Booth: ShutterBooth
Kate's friends gave her a photo book of her and Thomas's relationship. I loved her reaction(s) to it.
Because every good MOH draws a diagram of how to bustle the bride's dress. : )
Sorry, I had to...
Bridesmaids cutting off the stems of the bride's bouquet with a kitchen knife. I was SO SCARED there was going to be an accident. Thankfully, crisis averted.
Best man/MOH hugs following the ceremony. Love.
I absolutely love these wedding party shots. SO GOOD.
KATE + MATT - Providence Country Club Wedding
I've known Kate since college (well, really, since high school -- she went to the school in the town right next to mine), and she is one of the most sweet, laid back and funny people that I know (she's always cracking jokes and lightening the mood). I was so, SO happy when she asked me to shoot her and Matt's wedding; I knew it was going to be beautiful and full of fun and emotion. And I was right. : )
Some of my favorite parts of the day included: Matt seeing his bride for the first time (I'm a sucker for emotional grooms), the purple flower she had in her bouquet in memory of her dad (his favorite color) and the toasts during the reception.
Bride's dress: Legends by Romona Keveza Bride's shoes: Kate Spade Bridesmaids' dresses: Jim Hjelm Occasions Groom and groomsmen attire: Black by Vera Wang Bride's hair and makeup: Jenny Le Bridesmaids' hair: Hair in the City Florals: Vickie Sieber Floral Design Group Cake: SPLAT! cakes 'n such Band: Too Much Sylvia Band Caterer: Providence Country Club Invitations: Olive Paper Programs: First Presbyterian Church Transportation: Rose Chauffeured Transportation Reception centerpieces & bride's veil: bride's mother, Kathy Carmichael
Kate and Matt got married in late September. The ceremony was held at First Presbyterian Church and the amazing party was thrown at Providence Country Club. Enjoy the photos! Kate and Matt, thanks for being so sweet and chill throughout the day. I'm so happy for y'all!
Special thanks to Carolyn Marie Photography for helping me shoot! You rock!
Kate is so gorgeous!
Their beautiful niece!
They met Brooklyn and got a photo with her. : )
Kate is hysterical. Big props to this pregnant lady who danced in stilettos!
Love this shot of Matt and his dad.
