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Mary Grace + Josh | Cary, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:54:15 +0000

Our last wedding of 2011 was filled with so much love, emotion, and hope that it was the perfect way to close out this year’s wedding season. Mary Grace and Josh were married in November at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, NC on a beautiful fall day. The leaves changed unseasonably late this year so we were so excited that they remained around for some added color to their beautiful day. I was very touched to see how loving and supportive everyone was that surrounded Mary Grace and Josh on their wedding day. Their bridal parties were obviously not only their very best friends, but they were a source of spiritual comfort for them on the day of their wedding as they all prayed over them right before the ceremony. It was very touching to hear the words that they had for their friends as they began their lives as husband and wife. After the ceremony began, Josh sang a song to Mary Grace that he had spent the last year writing. I couldn’t help but get choked up while listening to his vulnerable words of love that he sang to his bride before he married her. Kudos, Josh! It was a beautiful thing! Congratulations you two! It was an amazing day!

Wedding + Reception Venue: MacGregor Downs Country Club

Flowers: Flowers on Broad Street

DJ: Joe Bunn DJs- Steve Stowe

Erin + Tim | The Highgrove | Fuquay-Varina, NC

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:21:00 +0000

I can’t tell you how much I love Erin and Tim! Their relationship reminds me so much of my relationship with Dave! We met up together to eat sushi the week before the wedding and I laughed at how Tim would excitedly tell me about all of his little plans for the wedding day including many different Star Wars details, and Erin would just sit next to him, smile, and shake her head quietly. I feel like that is how Dave and I operate on a daily basis! Haha! Erin and Tim are one of those couples that I wish I could stick in my pocket and take home with me because I just enjoy being around them! Erin and Tim were married in October at The Highgrove in Fuquay-Varina, NC one of my VERY favorite wedding venues! I loved editing this wedding because you could see in the way that Tim looks at Erin and the way he smiles at her that her loves her endlessly and she loves him the same. Tim is a big Star Wars fan and I loved the tiny Star Wars details that were strewn in throughout the day. We had Darth on the garter, Star Wars cufflinks, and an R2D2 groom’s cake. We even allowed some of the Star Wars characters be to be guests at different portions of the wedding day. It was a lot of fun! I also have to call attention to the GORGEOUS florals by Flowers on Broad Street! Erin’s bouquet is my absolute favorite bouquet ever and I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of it! It was stunning, but not half as stunning as the bride that was carrying it! Congratulations Tim and Erin! We were so thrilled to have been your wedding photographers and we wish you the VERY best!

Ceremony + Reception Venue : The Highgrove

Food: The Highgrove

Flowers: Flowers on Broad Street

DJ: Jim with Joe Bunn DJ

Cupcakes: Ashley’s Cake

Lindsey + Graham | Goldsboro, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:47:00 +0000

It’s been a while since a blog post, huh? Things have been CRAZY around here lately between a super busy schedule and a computer that seems like it is on it’s last leg, and the blog has been severely neglected! Last month, Dave and I had the honor of photographing Lindsey + Graham’s Goldsboro, NC wedding. We met up with Lindsey at the church as she was making her final preparations. This was the first time that I have worked with Lindsey since meeting her and it was the most beautiful that she had looked yet! She was an absolutely stunning bride! I think her dress will be right up there as one of my favorites because it was stunning, yet simple, and had the most AMAZING low back on it with two simple flowers that sat in the small of her back. It was beautiful and it was made even more beautiful when Lindsey stepped into it! I am sure that Graham would agree! Their ceremony was held at a the historic First Baptist Church in downtown Goldsboro with a reception to follow at the Goldsboro Country Club. Jupiter Jones played at the reception and they were hands down the best band I have ever heard at a reception. They played all sorts of different types of music and definitely were in tune to the crowd pleasers and kept the party going all night! It was a wonderful day with a wonderful couple and Dave and I were so honored to have been a part of it!

Ceremony: First Baptist Church

Reception: Goldsboro Country Club

Band: Jupiter Jones

Lauren + Dale | The Highgrove | Fuquay-Varina Wedding Photographers

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:37:40 +0000

I don’t know what I can say about Lauren + Dale! They are the type of couple that you just want to pinch their cheeks because they are so darn cute! And if you think they are cute individually, you should see them together! The cuteness compounds exponentially! Dave and I talk all the time about how with some couples, the love they have for one another is just evident- it’s plain for everyone to see. It just pours out with every glance they give one another, with every touch, with every playful nudge, with every crinkle of their noses. Dale and Lauren have this and then some and it is a joy to watch! I knew that I liked Dale and Lauren from the first time that I met with them, but every time we got together for either their engagement session or their pre-wedding meeting, I got to know them more, and I liked them more and more. Even though I was busy photographing during the ceremony, it was touching to hear the pastor talk about Lauren and Dale and their relationship. One of their first “dates” was when Dale asked Lauren to go to church with him… how sweet is that?! You want to pinch his cheeks now too, don’t you?! Lauren and Dale got married at The Highgrove on a beautiful day last month. Every moment of the day was filled with love and laughter and it was one of my favorite weddings to date!

I love this picture of the girls peeking as the boys arrived at The Highgrove! Lauren was a stunning bride! Like I am talking…. STUH-NING!!! I bet Dale would agree! As you look through the ceremony pictures, please take note of the picture of the flower girl during the processional AND the recessional…. CLASSIC!!
During the father daughter dance, Dave (who is not a very emotional person whatsoever) got a bit choked up because he said that just by seeing the look on Lauren’s dad’s face while he danced with her, Dave could feel the pride that Lauren’s dad must have felt as her father on that special day. The love in the room was palpable! It was a beautiful thing to watch! After all of the special dances, it was time to party!

The bridesmaid and groomsman that caught the bouquet and garter put on quite the show when the groomsman had to then put the garter on the bridesmaid’s leg! I guess I should say that the groomsman (the groom’s brother) was the one really putting on the show! Let’s just say that he did a good job to put the garter nice and high so that it wouldn’t fall off! And I even heard later on in the night that he was the quiet brother! You would have never known! Haha!
Thank you SOOOO much Lauren + Dale! I am so sad that the wedding is over because I so thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you guys! You are both beautiful inside and out and we wish nothing but the best for both of you as you start your lives together!

Venue: The Highgrove

Catering: The Highgrove

DJ: Island Sound DJ

Flowers: Flowers on Broad Street

Janet + Eric | Duke Gardens + The Cotton Room | Durham, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:44:50 +0000

What a beautiful day Janet and Eric had for their wedding day! It was positively gorgeous in Durham when Janet and Eric began their lives together! They had a beautiful and heartfelt ceremony at the pergola in Duke Gardens followed by a STUNNING reception held at The Cotton Room in downtown Durham.

I love the two pictures of Janet’s parents right above! I can only imagine how I will feel on the day that my boys get married but I am certain I will feel all of the emotion that Janet’s parent’s felt on that day- pride, love, and a little bit of sadness as they head off to give their little girl away!

This group was a lot of fun! They specially requested to do a number of pictures with really funny faces and they were hilarious!

This one makes me laugh so much!! When I told them to give me a funny face, they hit these faces without even thinking! They remind me of some sort of cartoon character! When we arrived at The Cotton Room for the reception, I was taken back with how beautifully they had decorated the already gorgeous reception venue! The purples and greens were just stunning and I absolutely loved the one long table for the bridal party filled with all of the glassware and flowers!

Thank you so much for allowing us to photography your big day, Janet + Eric! You know how to throw a great party!

Ceremony: Duke Gardens

Reception: The Cotton Room

Flowers: The Cotton Room

DJ: All Around Raleigh DJ

Ashley + Matt | Wilmington, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:38:01 +0000

Dave and I took a couple of months off from weddings so that we could enjoy our time after our second son was born but I have to admit, it was so nice to get back into the swing of things and we couldn’t have had a better wedding to do that with than Ashley and Matt’s! We met Ashley and Matt briefly at a bridal show in Wilmington last fall but they had already had their engagement pictures taken so their wedding day was the first time that we really got to interact with them. You couldn’t ask for a sweeter couple! I only wish that we could have been able to work with them longer so we could get to know them better! We started the day at the salon with Ashley and her maid of honor where they were getting their hair and makeup done. Then after every one got ready at the Hilton, they boarded the Wilmington Trolley and headed to the church for a beautiful ceremony followed by the traditional saber ceremony welcoming Ashley to life with the Marines. It was a beautiful day for a wedding and we couldn’t have been more thankful to be a part of it!

Ceremony: First Baptist Church Wilmington, NC

Reception: Hilton Wilmington Riverside

Hair + Makeup: Groove Jet Salon

Cake: Imaginary Friends Bakery

Flowers: A Beautiful Event

Cake Pops + Favors: Jena Davis

Dress: Fontaine Bridals

Thanks for everything Ashley + Matt! We wish you guys a lifetime of happiness together!

Paula + Matt | Chapel Hill, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:26:51 +0000

This blog post is a bit late due to the early arrival of our second son. Paula and Matt were so completely understanding of the delay on their wedding pictures when our son, Lochlan, decided to make his grand entrance a week earlier than anticipated. Paula and Matt’s wedding was my last wedding to shoot while I was VERY large and pregnant and I had every intention of completing the editing before Lochlan’s scheduled delivery, however, it was definitely a lesson in that things don’t always go quite as you plan! Thank you so much to Paula and Matt for being understanding! Paula and Matt were married at the University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill NC and held their reception at the Carolina Club on UNC’s campus. It was a beautiful day and the weather held out for us right until the reception began so it was perfect! Paula and Matt were a joy to work with we were honored to be a part of your big day!

Florist: University Florist
Wedding cake: Lisa Meyer
Ceremony: University United Methodist Church
Reception: Carolina Club
Band: The Remedy

Aubrey + Kris | Shady Wagon Farm | New Hill, NC Wedding Photographer

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:53:05 +0000

What can I say about Aubrey + Kris? They are the kind of couple that Dave and I wish we could photograph every weekend. From the moment that I met with Aubrey and Kris last fall for the first time, I knew that I would love working with them. They both have a deep appreciation for photography and Aubrey has an eye for details that I really appreciate as a photographer. Aubrey + Kris’ “Up” themed engagement session was probably one of my all time favorite engagement sessions. I knew with the thought and effort they put into their engagement session, their wedding day would be nothing less than fabulous! The day did not disappoint! I have enjoyed getting to know Aubrey and Kris over the last year and the love that they share with one another is evident to everyone that meets them. The way they laugh together and the way that Aubrey’s whole face crinkles in excitement when she sees Kris, it just makes my heart sing!

Dave always spends the first portion of the day with the guys while I stay with the girls. I always tease Dave that the guys have so much more fun during the “pre-wedding” time and this was no exception. While Dave was photographing Kris and his guys playing games and drinking beer, Amy, our amazing assistant for the day, and I were photographing the girls in the next room as they hurried to put finishing touches on the bouquets, table runners, and their makeup. The girls have to work hard at weddings I tell you!

Aubrey + Kris chose to do a first look on their wedding day so that they could spend more time with their guests after the ceremony. It is such a sweet time when brides and grooms see one another before the wedding without hundreds of people staring at them. The raw emotion is one of my favorite things to photograph.How perfect is this ceremony site? I love locations with character and the Shady Wagon Farm has plenty of character! While Dave and I were set and ready to go at the ceremony location, Amy, our third shooter for the day, was stationed back at the house with Aubrey and her dad and I absolutely love the pictures she captured of them before they walked down the aisle.We never miss a good toosh grab!

Thank you Kris + Aubrey for allowing us to be a part of your special day! It was a complete honor to be a part of it! We wish you a lifetime of happiness together and we can’t wait to see what your future holds together!

Venue: Shady Wagon Farm New Hill, NC

Catering: Catering By Design

DJ: DJ TaylorMade

Dessert Table: Aubrey + Kris’ wonderful family and friends

Details and Decor: Aubrey Jordan

Cassie + Jason | Kitty Hawk, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:29:51 +0000

Cassie is seriously one of the sweetest and laid back brides I have met! From the moment we first met together for our consultation before she actually booked, I knew that she would be a pleasure to work with- not to mention that she has the most adorable dimples and I love dimples!! Cassie and her husband, Jason, were married at the Garden Hilton Pier in Kitty Hawk, NC last month. Dave and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot a beach wedding in the Outer Banks- you don’t get a more beautiful backdrop for a wedding than ocean and sand! The whole day went seamlessly and that is a rarity in this business! Cassie and Jason chose to do a first look before the ceremony which I HIGHLY recommend! We were able to have an intimate first look time for Jason and Cassie to soak it all in and then we spent a good amount of time getting a lot of really great portraits of the two of them. Then we were able to knock out all of the bridal party pictures and family pictures before the ceremony even started. It made the day go so much smoother and I think everyone involved felt much less rushed and had the time to soak in what the day was really about- the marriage of Cassie and Jason.

Thank you Cassie + Jason for allowing us to be a part of your special day! We wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Garden Hilton Inn in Kitty Hawk, NC

Cake : Patty Cakes

DJ: DJ Bruce

Flowers: The Embellishers

Rentals: Ocean Atlantic Rentals

Deanna + Todd | Ocean Isle, NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:35:03 +0000

This was a very special wedding for me. About a month ago, we had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of an old friend of mine. Todd, the groom, is a member of a group of guys who I fondly call “The Boys” that I hung out with in high school and college. I love those boys like they are my brothers and they are the type of friends that you can go for months without seeing, and you know that things will always be the same as soon as you get together again. Todd has not lived in North Carolina for a number of years so it was so nice to see him again. He is currently a Navy Seal stationed out in San Diego, so I was thrilled that he and his new wife, Deanna, decided to get married in Ocean Isle, NC. Dave and I always laugh that the groom and groomsmen have more fun before the wedding and this day was no exception as the guys joined in a game of bocce ball in the sand while the girls finished their preparations at Deanna’s maid of honor’s home.

I love the moment when the bride walks down the aisle and one of my favorite things is getting the reaction of the groom when he sees his future wife. Love it!

After the ceremony ended, Todd and Deanna disappeared. I always like to encourage couple’s to start their family portraits as soon as possible after the end of the ceremony since time is so limited for portraits, so I was off to hunt them down. I finally found them back behind the church that was built right on the sound. This is the sight that I saw as I walked around the side of the building. What a beautiful moment!!

Thank you so much Todd and Deanna for allowing Dave and I to be a part of your big day! Todd, as an old friend, it is such an honor to see how far you have come in the years I have known you and to see you so incredibly happy now!