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Holly + Carson | Smithfield, NC Engagement Sessions

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:21:27 +0000

I met Holly a little over a year ago when I was photographing Jennifer’s bridal session at Meredith College. Holly was Jen’s maid of honor and came along on that day to help situate Jennifer’s wedding dress and make sure that she looked beautiful for her pictures. Who would have known that one year later, I would be photographing her very own engagement session with her long time love of her life, Carson. Carson and Holly got engaged earlier this year after being together for a majority of their lives. They were high school sweethearts! How sweet is that?! I met Holly and Carson in Clayton where they lived and we jumped around from Clayton, to Carson’s family home in Smithfield and then we ended in the small town of Selma. It was so nice spending the evening with Holly and Carson getting to know them better, chatting about life, love, and marriage (and a little bit about my adventures in parenthood! Ha!). I hope you love your photos, guys! I had a lot of fun!

Whitney + Wayne | McLeansville, NC Wedding Photographer

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:11:47 +0000

I don’t know if I could love or adore Whitney and Wayne any more than I do! Dave and I have discussed that years down the road, when we think of our favorite weddings and favorite couples, Whitney and Wayne will always be at the top of the list. Whitney and Wayne were married at The Hayloft in McLeansville, NC on the scary day in April when tornados went ripping through the state. The weather obviously was not cooperating with us for an outdoor wedding as planned, but the weather could not dampen this day! I don’t know if I have ever seen, met, or worked with a couple more made for one another than Whitney and Wayne. When I met them for the first time at their engagement session, their fun and quirky personalities made my job so easy! I knew then that their wedding day would be one to remember! I have the pleasure of being “facebook friends” with both Whitney and Wayne on Facebook, and every time I saw a sweet message posted on Whitney’s wall from Wayne, it warmed my heart and I knew that Whitney had made the best decision of her life in saying yes to Wayne. I want to eat them both up! Seriously! Dave and I both left the reception and said, “Man! I want to be friends with that group!” Haha! The Hayloft was a perfect location for their wedding and all of the cute special details that Whitney and her mom created for the big day! All of the vintage details and wildflowers really gave the day a lot of character.

How cute are these handmade boutonnieres?

I think that Wayne’s reaction to Whitney walking down the aisle was one of the most emotional reactions I have seen! Can’t you tell just by how they are looking at one another how much they love one another?!We took a couple more traditional “serious” portraits, but then it was time to take some bride and groom portraits “Whitney and Wayne style”!! They crack me up!! Whitney and Wayne, to say it was a pleasure to be there to witness the beginning of your lives together, would be the understatement of the century! It was a utter and complete joy to work with you both and we were so honored to be there! We wish you a lifetime of happiness and laughter and know that 50 years down the road, you will still look at one another the same way you looked at one another on your wedding day! You two are what it is all about!

Venue, Flowers, Cake, Catering: The Hayloft

DJ: First Call DJ

Cassie’s Bridal Portraits | Durham, NC Bridal Portraits

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:05:23 +0000

I am so excited to finally be able to share these! One of the worst things for me about bridal portraits is that I have to wait so long to share them so that no one sees the bride’s dress before the big day! Cassie was finally married on the beaches of Kitty Hawk, NC over this past weekend, so that means I am finally in the clear to post these beautiful bridals. Cassie and I met up back in early March at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC. The Cotton Room is definitely one of my very favorite venues in the area. I love photographing in a location where there is so much character from all of the wood floors and brick walls, but I am also ABSOLUTELY in LOVE with all of the natural light from all of the big amazing windows in the room! Cassie was a lot of fun to photograph because she was so laid back and was up for anything that I suggested. It was so beautiful to see her get married over the weekend and Dave and I were so thankful to have been a part of it!

Jill + Jared | Fayetteville, NC Wedding Photographer

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:17:05 +0000

Jill and Jared’s wedding marked a number of firsts for us a few weeks ago. It was our first wedding of the 2011 wedding season, it was the first wedding we shot in Fayetteville, NC, it was our first military wedding, and it was the first wedding that I shot while I was pregnant! Jill and Jared were married at the beautiful St. Ann’s Catholic Church and held their reception at the Gates Four Country Club 20 minutes away. It was a beautiful day where the bride and groom were surrounded by beautiful and supportive family and friends. Following their ceremony, Jill and Jared had a saber ceremony which is a tradition when someone in the Army gets married. It was an honor to be able to witness the tradition and I found it very funny when Jill got a little pop on the toosh with one of the last swords, welcoming her into the Army.
The beautiful flowers were done by The Flower Station out of Sanford, NC. The bridal bouquet was absolutely stunning!The bride and her father making their way down the aisle to her handsome groom…I always love the moment when father’s give their daughter’s away. I cannot imagine how it feels to pass your little girl on to another man after you have been the only man in her life for so many years.

Notice the little grin of the officer right behind Jill? That was the one who got to give her the little pop! Jared was able to successfully maneuver getting Jill’s garter off without using his hands! Is this a skill that they teach in bootcamp?? Haha!
It was a beautiful day, Jill and Jared! Thank you for allowing Dave and me to be a part of it! Best of luck and best wishes to you both!

Ashley + William | Raleigh NC Wedding Photographer

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:47:46 +0000

Dave and I had the honor of photographing Ashley and William’s wedding last month. I was nervous when I woke up the morning of the wedding because winter decided to make it’s grand entrance on their wedding day. They week before it had been in the upper 70′s but the morning of the wedding, it was COLD and WET. Dave and I prepared for cold and rain but hoped for sunshine to make it’s appearance. The rain stopped shortly after wedding preparations began, which I think made us all feel better and a bit more optimistic. The day only got better as it progressed, because you can’t help but be warmed by the love and support of awesome family and friends. After shooting Ashley and William’s engagement session back in August, I knew that Ashley would be a positively stunning bride! When Dave and I arrived at the Sheraton in downtown Raleigh, where the girls were getting ready, I was amazed at how beautiful Ashley already looked even with hair clips and sweats. Doesn’t she remind you of a modern Audrey Hepburn? A little Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
Ashley chose the most adorable red little slingback shoes! I LOVE when brides choose something different than white shoes for their weddings! That little pop of color peeking out from underneath a white gown definitely makes a statement! The difference between the bride’s room and the groom’s room before the wedding always makes me laugh! They are like night and day! While lipgloss, hairspray, and bobby pins fly madly around the bride’s room in excited anticipation, the groom and the groomsmen are always relaxed and chilling that it is any ordinary day! William and his boys even took the opportunity to watch some of the NC State game on a phone prior the “main event”! Too funny!

I am SO HAPPY that Dave was able to get this next shot! One of the groomsmen gave Dave a heads up before the wedding that they had hijacked William’s shoes before the ceremony and painted a little message on the bottom. We were only permitted to shoot from the balcony of the church during the ceremony so we were a long way away and I wasn’t sure that we would be able to get the detail on the bottom of the shoes. Out of respect for the religious ceremony, we never photograph during a prayer, so I knew that we would only have a split second between the “Amen” and when William would stand back up. Dave nailed it and this photo is PRICELESS!A sweet private moment right after they walked outside of the sanctuary! I love those moments!Isn’t she stunning?!This photo makes me laugh too! Nothing says bridal elegance like champagne and Cool Ranch Doritos! LOVE IT! This next image is one of my favorites from the day and it wasn’t even mine! Dave…. you rock! This is hot!William, kudos to you for such a sweet surprise for your new wife! On one of their first dates, William and Ashley saw a show with a specific musician. As a surprise for Ashley, William arranged for the musician to come and sing for their first dance as husband and wife. I think that this look on Ashley’s face meant that the sweet gesture meant a lot to her! Way to go William!

This was probably the funniest toast I have seen! The best man decided to do a spinoff of “You Might be a Redneck.” but instead did “You Might be Billy”. The toast included all sorts of funny traits or stories about Billy and it was hilarious!! I think my favorite one eluded to how tall and thin William is as his best man said, “If you can hang glide from a Dorito or hula-hoop with a Cheerio, you might be Billy! TOO FUNNY! All of the wedding guests were quite entertained and if you can tell by all of the notecards scattered on the floor, the best man had a lot of ammuniation for his roast toast!

This was the bride’s grandparents who were the last couple standing in the marriage dance because they have been married the longest. Aren’t they sweet?!

What wedding is complete without someone doing a choreographed dance to “Beat It” by MJ? I am telling you, Ashley and William and their friends really know how to throw a party! They were all so much fun!This last image has definitely become one of my all time favorite images! Ashley, you were a STUNNING bride! Thank you both so much for allowing us to document this amazing day! We wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!

Wedding: Fairmont United Methodist Church

Reception: Sheraton Downtown Raleigh

Florist: EAB Designs

DJ: PC Productions

Hair: Formal Hair by April

Makeup: In God’s Image

Cake: Simply Cakes

Kristen + Quentin | Holly Springs, NC Wedding Photography | Devil’s Ridge Golf Course

admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:33:30 +0000

Fifteen years in the making. Fifteen years of memories. Fifteen years of love. Fifteen years of hope. All leading to this day. Kristen and Quentin met in freshman biology and soon after Kristen persuaded a classmate to tell Quentin that she thought he was “cute”. They dated for a couple of years but eventually went their separate ways. Both Kristen and Quentin had growing to do and lives to lead so they could eventually get to the point they are at today. They were apart for a number of years and Kristen always wondered how Quentin was doing and Quentin was always in the back of her mind. One day, Kristen decided to drop by Quentin’s mother’s house to see how he was doing and she left her phone number for Quentin to call. Kristen remembers feeling short of breath when she heard Quentin’s voice on the other end of the phone when he called that evening. They went out on a date that following Saturday, and the rest, as they say, is history! They were together for eight years when Quentin proposed. It was a day that Kristen won’t soon forget, because it was the culmination of years of wishing, dreaming, and hoping. It was so amazing to be a part of the day that constituted the beginning of the rest of their lives together! The day was filled with so much emotion and so much support from those that love them. Kristen was an absolutely stunning bride and I think you would have to be blind to not see how much Kristen and Quentin love one another! Kristen and Quentin were married at the Devil’s Ridge Golf Course on October 9, 2010. The venue coordinator, Pamela Classey, and the staff did an amazing job to create a magical environment for the bride and groom’s big day!

I loved the colors that Kristen chose for the wedding. I knew that the colors were going to be hot pink and black, but Donna of Flowers on Broad Street, did an amazing job of incorporating pops of green that were gorgeous! The flowers were amazing! It was my first time working with Flowers on Broad Street and they really made a stunning environment! Dave and I marveled at how many roses it must take to get the number of rose petals that lined the aisle at the ceremony. It was beautiful!

Kristen had her two sisters as her bridesmaids on the wedding day. Unfortunately, her brother passed away a couple of years ago and couldn’t be a part of the celebration in person. Kristen had his picture attached to her bouquet so that he would be with them while they promised to love one another forever. It was a beautiful tribute to him and I know that he was there somewhere, watching Kristen on the happiest day of her life.

I have to tell you, that after spending the day with Kristen and her sisters Sharli and Shanna, it made me really wish that I had sisters. They have such a connection with one another. They laugh together and they cry together and it is evident how much they support one another in their day to day lives. It was really nice to watch! There were a couple of interactions between the three of them throughout the day that even made me tear up a bit!

It was also so nice to watch Kristen with her son, Kaelob. As I was going through all of the images from the wedding day, I can across a number of images like the one below, where Kristen gives Kaelob a squeeze every chance she gets. Kaelob is such a fun and vibrant kid and I know that he was super excited about the beginning of his new “now official” family.

So I have seen a number of flower girls who get stage fright at the last moment and get to the beginning of the aisle and need to be prodded down the aisle or bail all together. Their nerves get the best of them I suppose seeing all of those faces staring at you. Well not this little lady! She walked straight out of the double doors, walked right up to the edge of the stairs, and proceeded to lift her dress over her head! It was probably one of the funniest things I have seen at a wedding! The funniest I had seen until about 30 seconds later when she made it down the aisle and then her diaper fell off and hit the ground. It was definitely a moment that I am sure the family will be talking about for years to come, and now her mother will have these pictures to pull out for her future boyfriends to do the obligatory motherly embarrassment thing. Too funny!!

The way they look at one another could just make you melt couldn’t it? So sweet!

It was such a tender moment during the ceremony when Kristen and Quentin presented Kaelob with a gift after they exchanged their own rings. Although they have been a family for a long time, it was at this moment, that I think it became official.

And a sweet and tender first kiss as man and wife…

And look at these two! How sweet was this?! Even though she got nudged out of the catch with the bouquet toss… from the way they look, there could be another wedding in the family’s future! What do you think? I love LOVE!

Thank you so much Kristen and Quentin for allowing Dave and I to be a part of your big day! It was beautiful and touching and we wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

Venue: Devils Ridge Golf Course Holly Springs, NC

Event Coordination: Pamela Classey

Flower: Flowers on Broad Street

DJ: Tim Classey of Classey Occasions

Cake: Cinda’s Creative Cakes

Makeup: Maureen Murray

Ashley + William | Raleigh, NC Photography

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Coming up in November, I will have the honor of photographing Ashley and William’s wedding day in downtown Raleigh, NC. The first time I met Ashley and William for our consultation, I knew that they would be a fun couple to work with (not to mention a gorgeous couple to photograph)! For their engagement session, we headed downtown to have a little fun! I am blessed to have some of the most beautiful clients! Ashley is going to be a STUNNING bride, and William is not to bad himself!

Seriously, you guys?!? You look like you stepped right out of a fashion magazine!

A lot of couples have a hard time at the beginning of engagement sessions because they are uncomfortable in front of the camera, especially being affectionate with one another. Ashley and William were naturals from the moment we turned the camera on! Don’t they look like they do this often?
I really love this ring shot! It might just be one of my very favorite ring shots I have taken!
Ok, maybe this is one of my favorite ring shots I have taken! Haha!
Thank you to the staff of The Hive in downtown Raleigh, NC for allowing us to shoot in the bar for a few minutes! The light was beautiful in there!

Thanks for spending the evening with us Ashley and William! We had a lot of fun and I can’t wait for the wedding day!

Mari + Phil | Durham, NC Wedding Photographer

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:56:02 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of second shooting at Mari & Phil’s wedding! It was definitely a fun day! I got to hang with the boys (and a couple of their ladies) at the hotel prior to the ceremony. I don’t think that I have ever seen such a calm groom! If he hadn’t been wearing a tux, I never would have known Phil was getting married! After all of the groomsmen had congregated, we headed down to the lobby of the hotel where we met up with all of the out of town guests catch buses to Duke Gardens for the ceremony. And when I say buses, I don’t mean those wimpy party buses, I mean two HUGE commercial buses, you know the ones you used to take on the LONG field trips back in school with the bathroom in the back? Yeah those! It was quite the trip!

When we arrived at Duke Gardens, we were greeted with beautiful scenery and a WHOLE LOT of heat! I felt so bad for all of the groomsmen in their jackets! It’s a good thing that they chose tropical flowers for all of the bouquets and boutonnières! They are used to the hot and humid! Speaking of the gorgeous flowers… the ladies over at The English Garden really rocked this one out! The flowers were STUNNING!

When we got to the ceremony area, the best man promptly checked out the scene to make sure everything was ready…

Phil was looking all business prior to the ceremony…

Because I had been with the boys all morning, the first time I saw Mari was when she was walking down the aisle. Can we say STUNNING? Her dress was absolutely beautiful paired with a gorgeous blue bouquet! Every little girl dreams of how they will look on their wedding day walking down the aisle towards the love of their life, and I am pretty sure that Mari’s dream must have come true on her wedding day!

I am pretty sure that Phil’s dream came true as well judging by the look on his face as he greeted his bride walking down the aisle! That is a look of pure joy on his face isn’t it? You can just tell that at that moment, there was no one else in the world besides the two of them! (The groom’s mom’s reaction to the left of Mari was pure emotion as well! )

Mari and Phil had the coolest tradition at their wedding ceremony, one I had not scene before. Before the wedding, both Mari and Phil wrote a letter to one another telling the other everything that they loved about them and all the hopes and dreams they have for the future together. They then sealed the letters in envelopes and brought them to the wedding. During the ceremony, Mari and Phil put their letters in a box along with a bottle of whiskey. If they are ever to have a period in their marriage where things are rough, they are to get the box out, open and read the letters together and share the bottle of whiskey and remember all the things that they loved about one another when they got married. If they never have to open the box, on their 20th wedding anniversary, they are supposed to open them up and drink the whiskey. How cool is that?! What a sweet thing to have!

Mari and Phil are big UNC fans, who happened to chose Duke Gardens for their wedding ceremony. Mari made a special request for me to grab a shot of her dribbling her UNC basketball on the Duke grounds just to show her true loyalties. Mari was a trip! She was so exuberant and full of life and often you found Phil just watching adoringly her as she entertained the masses with her bubbly personality!

How cute are they?!

The reception was held at Bay 7 in the American Tobacco District in Durham, NC. WHAT A COOL VENUE!! I have to say, that anywhere with brick walls and hardwood floors gets my vote! After Mari and Phil were introduced, they pranced out onto the dance floor for a upbeat and “islandy” feeling first dance. Their excitement was contagious!

After all of the food, toasts, and cake cutting was over, it was time to tear that dance floor up! Good-NESS could Mari D.A.N.C.E!!!! I don’t think that she stopped the entire night! The D.J. was AWESOME and played great music all night long. At moments I wished that I could drop the camera and jump in too!

It was an amazing day with beautiful and happy people! I feel so thankful to get to be a part of the most amazing day of people’s lives and I feel especially grateful to be a part of this one! Thanks Mari and Phil and best of wishes!

Melissa + Aaron | Chapel Hill, NC Wedding Photographer | The Carolina Inn

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:15:57 +0000

On April 3, 2010, I had the pleasure of second shooting for Megan Kime at Melissa & Aaron’s wedding at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for an outside wedding and they did a wonderful job of planning all of the details. The courtyard wedding was littered with rose petals and strings of orchids hung from the trees. Not to mention that Melissa had the most FAB-U-LOUS Badgley Mischka shoes!! It had all the makings of a wonderful wedding day! Thank you for allowing me to take part!

Didn’t I tell you that the shoes were FABULOUS?!?