As I mentioned in Melissa’s NoDa Bridal Portraits, she wanted a vintage wedding, and I was blown away by her details.  She and I share a love for all things Etsy, and she did an awesome job finding some really talented folks to help with the details.  Let’s start with one of the coolest bouquets I’ve ever seen (from Croska on Etsy).

Make up for Melissa and all of the bridesmaids was by Candace of Colour by Candace and she did a fabulous job!
HUGE Thank You to Dana Mackay Photography for shooting with me on Saturday.  We shoot together frequently and I’m always blown away by her talent.  She started out the day by helping me with the guys while I stayed with the girls.
LOVE the shoes Nick!

Trading in the Future Mrs. t-shirt for the Future Mrs. dress!

Even a 5 minute limo drive isn’t complete without a little champagne!
More awesome details from Etsy!  These bouquets for the bridesmaids (from Dana’s Paper Flowers) are made from sheet music.  Each bridesmaid got to pick what song their bouquet was made from and there were some excellent choices – everything from True Companion to Let’s Get it On!  Of course, these are also from Etsy.  The guy’s boutonnieres were made the same way, but the only one with a specific song was Nick – his was “Sweet Melissa.”
Melissa & Nick wanted to do a first look and there’s a PERFECT spot for it at Asbury Park Grove.  I was totally in love with the light (and the smiles).
And here’s a great example of why you want two photographers at your wedding.  Most folks think you only need 2 photographers if you have a huge wedding or if you’re getting ready in totally separate locations.  Not the case – the goal of the 2nd photographer is to fill in the gaps when we’re not together and to get the “next best shot” when we are together.  For example – the guys went down to a general store in the limo for photos while Melissa was changing into her dress.  With only one photographer that means either you don’t get photos at the general store or you totally miss the bride putting on her dress.  During the first look I said to Dana “I’m going wide here.”  Because she and I shoot together regularly, she immediately went in tight.  Here’s my view….
And here’s hers….  I’m in love with both (and with these two lovebirds)!
I LOVE these streamers that were hanging on the end of each row during the ceremony.  This is the 2nd wedding I’ve shot where they had the “exit” as they were coming back down the aisle instead of at the end of the reception and I think it makes so much sense.  Excellent idea!
Another detail I loved – the “Here comes the Bride” sign.  :-)  And another reason you need 2 photographers – Dana caught this great reaction from Nick while I was shooting folks coming down the aisle.

One of my most favorite things about shooting weddings is when couples laugh during the ceremony.  Relaxed and happy bride & grooms are my favorite.

More AMAZING details, and an awesome candy table!

Love this escort card board with custom mini clothes pins by moe e ti on Etsy.
Yummy cupcakes from Polka Dot Bake Shop with cupcake toothpicks from The Path Less Traveled.
More laughing during the first dance.
The cake cutting quickly went from this….
To this.  He’s still smiling, so I think he took it well!
I think this sign says it all!  HUGE Thank you to Melissa & Nick for asking me to be a part of your wedding day.  I had an amazing time!  Best wishes on a long and happy life (and many, many, wonderful St. Patrick’s Days together).
To order photos from Melissa & Nick’s wedding click here, and check out the slideshow below!

Amazing vendors that made this day possible…
Bouquet: Croska on Etsy
Boutonnieres & Bridesmaids Bouquets:  Dana’s Paper Flowers on Etsy
Dress:  Hayden Olivia
Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Cupcakes: Polka Dot Bake Shop  (cupcake toothpicks from The Path Less Traveled and cupcake stand by My Woodworking Solutions)
Custom clothespins for the escort card board: moi e ti on Etsy
Venue: Asbury Park Grove
Hair/Makeup: Colour by Candace
Bridal Hairpiece: Bellas Bowtique on Etsy

Walking through NoDa on a Saturday night with a beautiful bride is sure to draw attention, and we had the usual whistles and congratulations from folks on the sidewalk.  But I think Melissa officially wins the award for going along with the strangest request I’ve ever seen during a bridal session – a lady waiting for dinner at Cabo walked up to Melissa and asked her to pose for a photo with a Gnome.  You read that correctly, a Gnome.  Like, a little statue of a man wearing a pointy hat.  I knew it was going to be a great session when I saw Melissa take the Gnome and happily smile for the woman. My brides are so awesome!

We started off at my favorite wall in NoDa and quite possibly the dirtiest stairs in all of Charlotte – huge thanks to Mom & Dad for making sure the dress went unharmed as we climbed stairs, sat on train tracks and walked through grass.

LOVE the shoes!
Towards the end of the session we stepped over into a grassy field for a little change of scenery and we were totally attacked by inch worms hanging from the trees!  I wish I could say that I managed myself with professional composure, but in reality, I screamed like a girl and Melissa’s Dad had to pat me down as I completely freaked out.  It was totally worth though it because I LOVE how these turned out!
Dandelions!

Hair and makeup by: Candace at Colour by Candace
Accessories & Bouquet from: Etsy
Dress from: Hayden Olivia Bridal

Valentina & Toby’s Independence Park Wedding, Charlotte, NC

Michelle & Ford’s Manor House Wedding in Waxhaw, NC

Erin & Charlie’s beach wedding, Myrtle Beach, SC
Pilar & Frank’s Uptown Charlotte Wedding, Charlotte NC
Sean & Christina’s Wedding at the Fillmore, Charlotte NC
Kristin & Robert’s Myers Park UMC Wedding, Charlotte NC
Mary Jo & Tim’s Antebellum Wedding in South Carolina
Jay & K’s Hindu Wedding, Charlotte NC

And speaking of someone else’s world, my wish to shoot an Indian wedding was in a different world and a different language!  I was contacted by AK Sandhu from California – she was shooting an Indian Wedding in Charlotte and wanted a local photographer to help out with 10 hours on day 3.  Let me say that again – 10 hours on day THREE.  These folks know how to party!  When I arrived at noon on day 3 the Barat was just about to begin.  AK said “Don’t be overwhelmed, just do what you do.”  The Barat is the part of the ceremony where the groom and his family go to the bride’s house.  In the case of a wedding at a hotel, the groom leaves one hotel entrance and travels around the hotel to the other entrance.  He does this on a white horse followed by a DJ and about 100 of his closest family and friends dancing and singing around him.  Let me break this down for you in my terms – it’s a mobile party for the groom at noon on the asphalt of a hotel parking lot.  Hot is an understatement.  Overwhelmed is an understatement.  But fun?  Oh yeeeaaaah!

Here’s where the party started – the groom’s “house” with his Mom & Dad.  His Mom was so emotional, you could tell this moment really meant a lot to her and their family.

Now let’s get this party started!  The groomsmen were AWESOME!  AK said this was easily one of the best Barat’s she’s ever seen, and since it’s my only Barat, I totally agree. The DJ was fantastic and even though it was about 100 degrees on that asphalt the dancing never stopped.
And here we arrived at the bride’s “house”.  I love all of the colorful Saris these women are wearing!!
Now this is the part where I totally got lost.  They stole the groom’s shoes and made him stand on this raised board.  The photo on the left is of the actual shoe theft.  There was money waving in the air, and lots of yelling and laughing.  I believe the bride’s Mom was supposed to try and steal his nose, and all of the women on the groom’s side of the family had to protect his nose.  See what I mean?  I was lost.  But it was certainly exciting!
After the nose and shoe stealing both parties made their way into the ceremony.  Here are a few details – WOW, the gold and floral accents were just to die for.  So beautiful.

95% of the ceremony wasn’t in English, so I have no idea what they said, but there were lots of smiles and laughter throughout the entire event so I smiled and laughed too .  There were actually a lot of the same customs that we have in American weddings (exchanging of rings, etc.)  The ceremony was about 2 hours long, so it was very detailed and rich with history.  Here the bride’s Mom is washing the groom’s feet.  If you’ve ever had your feet washed you know how special this is.  I love the look on the Mom’s face.  Total pride and joy in the moment and in the day.
When the bride came in I think my jaw hit the floor.  All brides are beautiful, but the dress and jewelry were just amazing.  I guess I’m so accustomed to brides wearing all white that seeing the red and gold just blew me away.  Her dresses were from India and she said they weighed over 25 pounds.  But wow – so fabulous.  And I think I could’ve stared at her henna and bangles all day – so intricate and delicate.  The effort that went into creating this day was just amazing.
They sat opposite each other for a while, and then they moved to a shared bench.  The minister mixed things in these copper plates (I realize I’m not doing this description half the justice it deserves, sorry!) and they would pour them and stir them together.  I was totally in awe of the amount of color on the stage – they looked beautiful together and they were clearly enjoying every minute of the ceremony.
Then all of the married women came up on stage and whispered words of wisdom to the bride.  That was beautiful to watch – sometimes she laughed, sometimes she cried, it was clearly an awesome moment.  I love the look on her face in the photo on the right when the ring is slipping on her finger.  That’s a smile of a bride that’s excited to be getting married.
This is one of my favorite shots from the day.  The henna is AWESOME!!!
These next two are my favorites from the day.  Remember how I said earlier that the religion or location don’t matter, that it’s capturing the magic between the couple that’s so exciting?  Well, I feel like these two pictures really show that magic.  Unlike American ceremonies, there’s no kissing at the end, and there’s very little kissing/PDA throughout the day.  I love how these photos show the love between them during the ceremony.
After the ceremony there was a break before the reception.  Now in theory that sounds like a good idea, but it was actually very hard for me!  I’m used to shooting 8-12 hours straight for American weddings.  You get the adrenaline pumping and you just keep moving.  As soon as you sit down the weight of the day hits you and you just collapse.  Having a 2 hour break in the middle of the day means you collapse and then you have to convince yourself to do it all over again!  I wanted to run laps around the hotel or do jumping jacks.  It’s just too hard to rest in the middle of something this huge.  But, we did.  And then we went in to get some shots of the bride getting ready and some shots of the bride and groom before the ceremony.

Another BEAUTIFUL dress and more colorful bangles.  I just can’t get enough of this!
This is literally the only shot of the day that I was willing to convert to black and white.  The colors are just so beautiful I hated to give them up, but I love the softness of this shot.
More fabulous decor for the reception – LOVE it!

And then on to the toasts.  This was one of the most genuine toasts I’ve ever heard from a groom.  Come to think about it, normally grooms don’t toast the bride, but Jay did and it was super sweet.  I love her reaction here.
And then their reaction together while someone toasts them.
The cake was FABULOUS!  Have I said that too much?  Seriously – look at the details.  It’s just beautiful!
And these are my 2nd favorite shots from the day.  I LOVE the one on the left – not sure if it’s the henna, the bangles, or the firm grip they’ve got on each other, but this image really just sums up the whole day for me.  I had such an amazing time shooting this wedding.  HUGE thanks again to AK Sandhu for asking me to help out, and congrats to J & K on an amazing day and their new life together!

As always – all great wedding days start out with a fabulous dress and amazing accessories.  Pilar’s dress was from Mecklenburg Bridal and every time someone saw it the reaction was always the same “Oh, it’s so Pilar!”

All of the girls got ready together and it was a blast hanging out in the room with this crowd.  Small spaces and mimosas always make for a good time!
The flowers were by Lily Greenthumb’s and they were beautiful!  So unique and filled with texture and color!  Pilar’s color for the wedding was purple, and her bouquet had the perfect amount of purple in it to add a little pop to her wedding dress.
Rings and shoes and jewelry, oh my!  Love her details!
After helping with the details and the getting ready shots I was off to the guy’s room to see what was going on.  I feel like I should explain this mask, but I think it makes it a little more interesting to keep you waiting on that.  Let’s just say, the guys were well prepared to have a good time.  The shot on the right is of Frank showing the groomsmen what he got Pilar as a wedding gift.  I’m going to make y’all wait a little longer on that surprise too, but I promise you won’t be disappointed.  All of the guy’s Tux’s came from  The Tux Lady.
A few last minute touches with the groom and we’re ready to get this party started!
Trolleys are just fun, and riding one to your wedding is the funnest (is that a word?)  These guys didn’t disappoint, it was certainly a party in the back of the trolley!
Again, I feel like I should explain this, but I’m going to wait just a little longer….
Frank couldn’t have been more excited waiting for Pilar to come down the aisle, and I have no idea what the best man was saying here, but I love it.
The wedding was a full Catholic mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church Uptown.  Wait a sec, let me clarify – a full Catholic mass in Spanish!  I had no idea what was happening but it was a great ceremony!
The first kiss was EPIC!  Easily one of the best I’ve ever photographed!
Pilar & Frank chose to do their exit after the ceremony.  This is an awesome idea – that way you don’t have to worry about everyone staying for the entire reception to get enough bubble blowers or sparkler holders.  It was a bright, sunny day in Uptown Charlotte and I loved the way the light reflected off of all of the bubbles!
After the awesome ceremony we walked over to The Green for all of the formal photos.  Hard to pick a prettier location in uptown Charlotte.
After we finished up with the big group we stole Frank & Pilar for a few minutes to get some bride and groom shots.  LOVE these two!
And now back to that awesome present I told you about earlier.  Frank gave Pilar a BMW convertible!  Seriously – how awesome is that???
After we all finished drooling over the BMW I ducked out to head over to the reception site to grab the detail shots.  More beautiful flowers and arrangements by Lily Greenthumb’s and a fun candy table!
The cake was by Cloud 9 and I love the cake topper!  Looks a little like that first kiss, right?
The first dance was almost as epic as the first kiss.  These two are just so in love they can’t help it.  I think my favorite part of this picture is all of the bridal party clapping from the sidelines.
BTW – this is all still first dance!
After the dancing it was time for the toasts – plenty of laughs and tears to go around here.  These two are very loved by a lot of folks!
So I won’t leave you hanging on what the masks were for - apparently it’s a tradition at hispanic weddings to have “Loco Hour” where everyone wears masks and has a blast on the dance floor.  I didn’t stay late enough to capture Loco Hour but after having spent most of the day with these guys I’m sure it was AWESOME!  Congratulations Frank & Pilar, I’m sure you’ll have many, many wonderful years together!  And HUGE thanks to Dana at Tish Mackay Photography for asking me to help out with this wedding!  As usual, you rock and I am blessed to call you a fellow photographer and friend!

Here’s a quick summary on all of the vendors that helped make this day possible….

Wedding Dress: Mecklenburg Bridal
Men’s Tuxedos: The Tux Lady
Flowers: Lily Greenthumb’s
Cake: Cloud 9
Hair & Makeup: NC Stylist, Elizabeth Tolley 

The flowers from The Bloom Room were waiting in the chapel when I walked in, and I literally just stood and stared at them.  The colors were so vibrant, and the textures were amazing.  I see a lot of flowers, and I’m always amazed at the possibilities each season.  I love it when a florist comes up with something different and so beautiful that you have to stop and stare at it just to take it all in.

All day long people kept telling Kristin how beautiful the flowers were and asking her what florist she used.  If you’re a florist I’m not sure you can ask for more.  People were talking about The Bloom Room all day!
Kristin’s dress from Poffie Girls was just perfect.  Elegant and timeless.  As soon as I saw it I knew immediately how I wanted to photograph it and I couldn’t be happier with how these photos turned out..

This pin on her bow was a personal touch and I think it added just the right amount of sparkle to the dress.  Love it!
Her silver shoes were a perfect accessory to a beautiful outfit.
A few last minute touches before the first look…
One last adjustment from Mom…
While Kristin was finishing up I was outside with Robert to get ready for the first look.  As we were walking around the church we were just chatting and I said, “She’s absolutely beautiful Robert.  Just wait until you see her.”  Without missing a beat he said, “She’s always beautiful.”   I knew then that I was in for an AWESOME day.
When Kristin came around the corner I got too excited.  Robert could see it on my face so he started trying to look for her reflection in the lens of my camera.  You can’t cheat on the first look!

This was my favorite photo series of the day – Kristin and Robert will probably have 50 from this moment on their CD.
Remember what I said about the smiles?  See, told you so.
This was one of my most favorite bridal parties ever!  The kids were super cute and everyone was totally relaxed and ready to have a great time.  How cute is this flower girl?

This shot with the Maid of Honor on the left is a reenactment from the Maid of Honor’s wedding.  There might be a slight height difference between these two friends.

And here’s the United Nations bridal party.  I’ll let Kristin explain that one to you!

A few more shots of the lovely couple before we walk down the aisle….
The ring bearer was a little camera shy, so we had a hard time getting him in the group shots.  Just before he was about to walk down the aisle I snagged this one – I’m about 15 feet away here, and even with just a profile shot you can tell how handsome this little guy is.  Look at those eyelashes!  He’s going to be a heart breaker in a few years!
Kristin’s Dad is a Lutheran minister so he performed the ceremony and I think he enjoyed it  just as much as the bride and groom.
When you have little ones in your wedding you never really know how they’ll act.  Since Alex was so camera shy we weren’t even sure he’d walk down the aisle, but he rocked it like champ.  About half way through the ceremony he noticed the altar and decided to kneel.  When it was time for Kristin and Robert to kneel he stayed right there next to them.  So precious – easily one of the cutest ring bearers ever!

These two little girls stepped out into the aisle for a better view once all of the adults stood up.  So cute!
I promise Robert didn’t make this face the whole way down the aisle, these are just my 2 favorite shots!

After the wedding Kristin was greeted with LOTS of hugs from some pretty special folks.  I love the look on her Dad’s face here, and this little girl was one of about 5 that came running right up to her for a group hug.
The reception was at Zen Asian Fusion restaurant in Charlotte, NC and it was amazing.  The orchids, the food, the atmosphere, were all a perfect way to complete the day.

This was one of the most personal guest sign-in books I’ve ever seen at a reception.  Each page asked questions about how you met Kristin & Robert and your favorite memories.  Guests took a page, filled it out and then put it back in the book.  What a great keepsake!
Kristin and Robert are regulars at Zen Asian Fusion and they know the owners well.  So well, in fact, that they didn’t even select the menu for their wedding reception, they just let the chef make whatever he wanted because they knew it would be awesome.  Y’all know I can’t resist photos of the food, so here are some shots to drool over.

When Kristin was telling me about Zen Asian Fusion she described this cake like it was the best in Charlotte.  And from the looks of the guests faces I think she was right.  The Tres Leches cake actually served 2 purposes on Saturday, wedding cake and birthday cake!  The son of one of the groomsmen had a birthday so this piece was extra special.
After all of that yummy food we had to get a picture with the owner, Phong.
And then it was time for the toasts.  Lots of laughs, a few tears, and some Chinese-American interpretation!  With this crowd I knew the toasts would be awesome.

This groomsman gave a toast in Chinese that lasted about 2 minutes.  Another groomsman interpreted his toast as “Dear Kristin & Robert, Congratulations!”  Possibly one of the best toasts ever, and certainly a crowd favorite!
A little more crowd mingling…

And of course, a shot of the shiny new rings.

Just as things were winding down Kristin grabbed the microphone and serenaded Robert.  I’m pretty sure you could here the “Awwww” from about 3 blocks away.  It was easily one of my most favorite wedding reception moments ever.

Congratulations Kristin & Robert!  I know you’ll have a very long and happy life together!

To see all of the photos from Kristin & Robert’s wedding or to order prints, click here.

Ceremony venue:  Myers Park UMC
Reception venue: Zen Asian Fusion
Florist: The Bloom Room
Wedding gown: Poffie Girls
Groom’s suit: Nordstrom
Rings: Diamonds Direct Southpark

The stationery was by Creative Blu and it was gorgeous.  From the invitations to the place cards and table numbers, everything just looked so exquisite and worked so well together.

The cake from The WOW Factor Cakes was on a small round table under a spot light, and it was truly the centerpiece of the room.
The flowers from From This Day Forward  were AMAZING, each arrangement was unique and loaded with colors and textures.

The place settings were practically regal.  With square gold chargers and a gold table cloth you felt like you were about to enjoy a feast fit for a King.

This wedding was just oozing with personal touches.  These rhinestone sashes on the chair covers added the perfect pop to the tables, and they were made by Carla specifically for this event.  (Note to future brides – this is why you hire a wedding planner!  Their attention to detail is beyond measure!)

Thanks again to Carla at Style Perfect Weddings and Events for asking me to swing by – I’m sure the evening was spectacular!

As usual, I fell in love with the details, and this amazing house had LOADS of them.  This little cherub statue greeted me as I walked up the drive way, and Mary Jo’s dress was beautiful hanging from the french doors in the living room.

There was this little mini red velvet chair sitting next to the piano that I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of.  It was just the perfect resting place for shoes and rings.
And I’ll admit, I know I went a little overboard with floral pictures.  But these colors were just perfect for a fall wedding (Hunter’s Florist did a fabulous job) and every time I looked through my camera they just popped.  The white iron benches made a beautiful background and I had way too much fun with the bouquets.
Under a big white tent there were round tables set up for the guests to enjoy the beautiful grounds and the awesome weather while they listened to an amazing band (more on that later) and ate amazing food (more on that later too).  I loved the simplicity of the table decorations – just perfect.
Now on to the fun stuff!  Mary Jo was all smiles as she was getting ready.  She was surrounded with love by so many wonderful women who just ducked in and out of the room to fix this and adjust that.  Everyone was just so happy to see her smiling face in a wedding dress.
This is Mom helping to adjust the vail….
And another adjustment from Aunt Sylvia ….
A quick glance at the rings on my favorite red velvet chair and then off to see how the Groom was doing upstairs…
All smiles up here too with a little help from the best man!
A couple of last-minute reactions just before we walked down the aisle – Mary Jo was all smiles and so excited but the ring bearer was a little less enthused.  Mommy tried to convince him to walk down the aisle in his “extra special suit”, but he wasn’t really bought into the plan.  Super cute fella though – and he was extra handsome in the little man tux!
After the “I Dos” we stepped out into the beautiful back yard for some family and bridal party pictures.  I think I could’ve stayed back there all day with these awesome trees and amazing light!
Another beautiful feature to this house was the upstairs front porch.  We snuck out there to get a few shots of just the bride and groom, and these were some of my favorite from the day.
Mary Jo has the most infectious smile I’ve seen in a long time.  She’s just one of those people that when she smiles at you, you can’t help but grin right back from ear to ear. After we’d taken several photos I asked them to just look at each other, and as soon as they did, they both broke out in the biggest smiles and started laughing.  Just. Perfect.  And now that we’re all laughing, it’s time to get this party started!
I mentioned earlier that this band was awesome, and that wasn’t an exaggeration!  They covered everything from ZZ Top to Johnny Cash, and everyone couldn’t help but tap their toes while enjoying the awesome weather and amazing house.  The Oneppo Brothers Band is a local favorite and they play regularly in both Rock Hill and Fort Mill.  If you feel like dancing, check them out and I promise you won’t be disappointed!
The catering was provided by The Front Porch, and I can guarantee that nobody left hungry!  BBQ, fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese, potato salad and sweet tea!  Now that’s a wedding reception!
I LOVE bubble exits!  I had one at my wedding, so I might be a bit biased, but there’s just something about how the light hits the bubbles that I just can’t get enough of in a picture.  I don’t normally post 2 exit shots, but I am here just to prove to you how infectious Mary Jo’s smile is!
Congratulations Tim & Mary Jo!  I had a wonderful time at your wedding, the day was absolutely perfect!  I wish you many, many happy years together!  To view all of the photos from Tim & Mary Jo’s wedding or to order prints, click here.

Enough about me and destiny , let’s get to the wedding!  Y’all know I love the details, so let’s start off with the detail shots.  Erin & Charlie rented 2 houses on the beach – the wedding was in the backyard of one, and then we all moved next door to the backyard of the other one for the reception.  Great idea!  The reception was set up under a big white tent filled with amazing beach details.

Glass vases, branches and sea shells were just a few of the little details used for decorations.  It gave the evening a very relaxed, beachy vibe.

The candy table was probably one of my favorite details.  In addition to the adorable M&M’s they had personalized with their picture, names and date, they had some other great candy sure to bring back childhood memories for all of the attendees.
They also had a “wishes” tree.  LOVE this idea!  Guests were asked to write a wish on the cards provided and then tie it to the trees on the table.  I really enjoyed watching the tree fill up with wishes throughout the night.
Erin’s bouquet was BEAUTIFUL!  The colors and textures gave it such a soft and feminine look.  Just lovely.
I love the traditions of a wedding – some are family traditions and some are cultural traditions, but they all have meaning and add little personal touches to the day.  As we were shooting Erin getting ready I noticed the inside of her shoe laying on the table.  A penny for good fortune and a long, happy marriage.  :-) Love it!

Once Erin got ready we went back outside for a few more detail shots before the ceremony.  I just couldn’t get enough of the beach details – so soft and relaxing.

Let the fun begin!
Charlie’s first glance at Erin coming down the aisle….

These are two of my favorite photos from the day.  As soon as Erin reached the end of the aisle, Charlie made the cutest face, she made it back, and then they both grinned from ear to ear.  Have I ever mentioned that the reason I love shooting weddings is because I get to shoot love?  See what I mean?  Who wouldn’t want to be there for this moment?  So awesome.  This is also a great example of why you need 2 photographers on your wedding day.  Jenn was focused on the bride and I was focused on the groom – without 2 photographers this moment would’ve been missed, and it was just too great to let that happen.

The ceremony was just perfect for a beach wedding – quick, filled with love and a big huge first kiss at the end!
A couple of photos of the new Mr. & Mrs. Wise before the party gets started!
The reception started just at sunset and it couldn’t have been a more beautiful evening on the water.
The first dance…  I shot these much tighter than I normally do and I’m so glad I did – LOVE these expressions.
A few toasts…

Let’s get this party started!  Now you can see that everyone is smiling pretty big in these pictures – it is typical for wedding attendees to smile on the dance floor, but these folks are smiling just a bit bigger than usual.  All attendees at the wedding were HUGE Gamecock fans.  The groom’s cake was a Gamecock, the corn hole boards were Gamecock, and throughout the night, at least half of the guests were in the house watching the Gamecock/Georgia game.  Once the Gamecocks had sealed the victory the smiles got much larger and the dance floor got much more crowded.  Go Gamecocks!!
The bouquet toss always provides some great shots – I’m pretty sure the brides maid on the left stole this victory.
Another look at that loaded wishes tree – LOVE it!
What wedding is complete without the Chicken Dance?
Best. Breakdancer. Ever.
What a great evening!  I had a fabulous time in Myrtle Beach for this wedding!  Congratulations Erin & Charlie and thanks again Jenn for asking me to help!  Go Gamecocks!!

Her flowers were beautiful big bunches of soft color.  Very romantic and classic.
I love it when all of the girls get ready together – Michelle had several folks there to help, and everyone else just couldn’t stop smiling as the details came together.
The junior bride was ADORABLE! 
LCD screens on the backs of digital cameras are so huge these days that I love capturing moments like this – a birds eye view into someone else’s camera as they capture the moment.
The reception was at The Manor House in Waxhaw and even though it was about 100 degrees outside this tent kept everyone nice and cool throughout the evening.
The details were perfect – classic black and white with little splashes of soft color.
Michelle designed the cake herself and it came out beautifully!
First dance as the wedding party looks on….
A few more spins as husband & wife and then a super sweet father/daughter dance.
We had plenty of light to work with so after everyone had a bite to eat we went back outside to grab a few more portraits of the bride and groom!
Let’s get this party started!
One last dance and then a bubble exit!  I love how the bubbles catch the flashes of light – great exit!  Congratulations again Michelle & Ford and best wishes on your new life together.  And double congrats on getting the first stamp in that passport Michelle – hope there are many more to come!

Check out the original blog posts here: Part 1 & Part 2, and check out the Wedding Row Charlotte feature here!

As the 2nd shooter, one of my primary duties was to be the groom’s personal paparazzi.    Guys always amaze me with their ability to get ready for the most important day of their life in 5 minutes.  Literally – they were running about 20 minutes late and managed to get ready and be downstairs for transportation ahead of schedule.  That just doesn’t happen with girls!

A few last minute touches on the groom and we’re good to go.

The groom’s men gifts were a big hit – each guy got their own personal pre-stocked mini bar!
Stella was clearly the beverage of choice for the men that day.
One quick call to transportation to let them know we’re on schedule, and a quick adjustment by the Groom’s Dad and we’re off to the church!
In Charlotte there’s one festival each year that tops all other festivals, and that’s the yearly Greek Festival hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on East Blvd.  It lasts for a week and has THE BEST Greek food you’ve ever eaten.  I think my favorite feature is the drive-thru, and it’s worth going just for the baklava in my opinion.  But here’s the weird part – I’ve been to the Greek festival many times but I’ve never actually been inside the sanctuary of the church until this wedding.  WOW – I was blown away!  The details inside the church are AMAZING – from the stained glass windows to the painted walls and ceilings, it’s literally bursting with color.
Sean and Christina chose to have a first look before the ceremony, and I love it when couples make that decision!  Yes ladies, I promise he will still tear up when he sees you coming down the aisle.
LOVE, love, love Christina’s dress!!!
One of my other duties as the 2nd shooter was to get to the reception asap after the ceremony to get some shots of the details before guests arrived.  This reception was like detail overload!  The Bride’s Mom owns Economos Flowers and WOW, she knocked it out of the park.  The flowers were beautiful, and every single detail of the reception was just perfect.  I believe this was the first wedding reception they’ve had at the Fillmore, but I’m sure it won’t be the last, the space was just perfect!  Now y’all know how much I love a detail shot, so here are just a few of my favorites.
The dancing did not disappoint!  I LOVE Greek dancing!  Huge smiles from everyone and all ages participate – awesome!
Soul Function band from Myrtle Beach, SC was awesome!  And according to the lead singer, this guy on the right is the best pianist in the Southeast.
Huge thanks again to Ashley for letting me shoot with her, I had a great time!  All images photographed for Ashley Gillett Photography.

When given the opportunity to experience something so unique as standing on the 50 yard line of a NCAA football stadium any southerner would jump at the chance.  The team doesn’t matter, the date and time don’t matter, we’re talking about college football.  You make it happen.

Melissa called me earlier this year about shooting her bridal portraits.  It was your typical potential-client phone call until she told me her location of choice.  After I managed to collect myself and pick my jaw up off the floor I think I said something very intelligent like “Um, seriously, on the field?” After that, the conversation was really just a blur for me.  All I knew was that I would be standing on the 50 yard line the day after the spring game holding my camera and that there would be a beautiful bride smiling in front of me. Wow.

Now, let me just pause for a moment to address the obvious question – YES, I LOVE THE GAMECOCKS!  I was born a Gamecock, and things like that don’t change.  But we’re talking college football.  Standing on the 50.  An empty stadium with just a bride and my camera.  Are you kidding me?  Both the maid of honor and I are huge Gamecock fans.  And both the maid of honor and I choked up a bit standing next to Howard’s Rock with a completely empty field in front of us.   To a southern girl, this is what dreams are made of.  And here’s the cool part – I knew Melissa would be awesome.  I knew that if I suggested that she lay on the tiger paw on the 50 that she’d do it without hesitation.  Because we’re talking about college football.  You don’t get a do-over for this type of session, you do whatever you can while the opportunity is in front of you.  And we did!  We touched Howard’s Rock.  We sat on the 50.  We climbed up the orange seats.  We stood next to field goal posts.  We soaked it all in and had an AWESOME time!

HUGE thanks to Melissa and her Mom Carol for being so awesome and giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

We started in the middle of the action – on the 50 with as much orange in the background as possible.

The tiger paw is HUGE when you’re standing (or sitting) on it.
Melissa is an education major, so we wanted to get a few shots outside of Tillman.  I loved the white walls and the soft light on the front porch!
Then we went over to the SC Botanical Gardens and there’s where the magic happened.  There’s a beautiful little waterfall in the gardens and when Melissa stepped into the light coming through the trees I think about 1/2 of our entourage started crying.  Just. Beautiful!
The lighting at the Botanical Gardens is just gorgeous!  Beautiful bride + beautiful light = AWESOME!
Melissa you are just lovely – as a person and as a bride.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and I wish you and Matt 100% happiness in your future together!

So, here’s your answer – when wedding photographers have a free weekend……. we find past brides willing to put on their dress so we can do a styled bridal session!  Two weekends ago I got together with 4 other awesome photographers in the area and had a blast with a beautiful bride!  Here’s the great thing about a styled bridal session – the photographers get to pick the colors, the location and the details.  It’s a great chance to try something we’ve been wanting to try, check out a new location and hang out with some other shutterbugs.  So, without further adieu, here’s a beautiful orange urban barn styled bridal shoot!

The bouquet was gorgeous and it was provided by The Flower Diva.  Florists love styled sessions for the same reason photographers do – it’s a great chance to try something new and really get creative.  The Flower Diva did an awesome job on this bouquet, and it added a great pop of color to the session.

Jessica you made a BEAUTIFUL bride two years after your wedding day.   I can only imagine how lovely you were with that wedding day glow!  This location we were trying out had spectacular lighting and it was a great combination of fresh green and rustic charm.

The bride’s necklace came from Virginia Geiger on Etsy – LOVE Etsy!  Her hair flower came from Target.  Dress style is Christina by Enzoani Couture, and her shoes were Steve Madden.
Seriously – what an awesome location!!!  Two totally different looks for the bridal portrait by walking 10 steps outside the barn.
These are a bit different than what I’d normally shoot, but I was really trying to challenge myself since we had a willing bride and loads of time. 

Huge thanks to Jessica for being so patient with 5 photographers while we all snapped relentlessly around her and to all of my photog friends.  I had a great time!!

All great evening start with the first dance…

As expected, the views don’t disappoint.  It was a beautiful evening and the sunset during dinner was the perfect way to end this fabulous day.
The younger guys had a great time playing corn hole, and everyone else enjoyed the amazing food.  May 20th is MecDec day (the day of the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence).  To celebrate, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery brewed a special Pilsner, Capt. James Jack.  What a great addition to the reception bar!
The food was provided by Best Impressions Catering and it was an awesome tribute to their Italy honeymoon and Valentina’s Italian roots.
The crawfish were a big hit…
And the shrimp and grits bar was amazing!
A pasta bar with martini glass serving dishes.
And martini glass Caesar’s salads!
Cigars provided by the groom were a HUGE hit with the guys as they enjoyed the sunset on the patio!
The table centerpieces were elegant and added the perfect touch to the tables.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I LOVE a cupcake bar at a wedding reception!  Fun to photograph and always a huge hit with the guests.  This one was provided by Simply Cupcakes of Charlotte and it was wonderful!
Toasts were given by the Matron of Honor, the Man of Honor and the Sister-in-law.  Great toasts, complete with tears, laughter, and best wishes to the bride and groom.
Evening shot from the patio – you can’t possibly decorate a room to look this awesome.  Charlotte is beautiful at night!
A little fun on the dance floor – I knew this crowd wouldn’t disappoint!
And a few last minute kisses before the night ended…
Thanks again to Valentina & Toby for letting me be a part of your wedding day.  I enjoyed every minute and wish you the best on your future together!  Also thanks to these amazing vendors that made their day special:

Hotel: ALoft, Epicentre
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal
Florist: Flowers Plus
Hair & Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne
Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
Ceremony Venue: Independence Park Gazebo
Wedding Officiant: Rev. Rebecca Nagy
Reception Venue: Roof With a View
Caterer: Best Impressions Catering
Cupcake Bar: Simply Cupcakes of Charlotte

You’ll remember Valentina & Toby from their NoDa Engagement Session back in April – just one word to describe these two – love.  Two people in love make my job super easy.   Their wedding day was amazing.  While Valentina & Toby were just giddy with excitement and ready to spend the rest of their lives together, everyone there was just glowing with love for them.  That’s one of the perks of being a wedding photographer – being surrounded by that much love and excitement is addictive.

Let’s start with the details…. everyone got ready at ALoft hotel at the Epicentre, uptown.  Great views, great hotel, and it really set the vibe for an awesome wedding day.

Something borrowed…BEAUTIFUL Tiffany earrings from the Matron of Honor.
A few more jewelry details – the necklace on the right was a gift from Toby. 
LOVE these rings – simple, elegant, and unique. (And still very shiny )
Hair and makeup was provided by the awesome Lindsey Regan Thorne.  I love watching hair and makeup artists work – something that would take me days seems so effortless to them.  Lindsey was amazing – she was in and out in no time and left a trail of beautiful people behind her.
Quick detail shot of the dress – I love simple little added touches to wedding dresses.  Buttons down the back, a simple ribbon at the waist.  Classic beauty.  (Dress from David’s Bridal).
As usual, it takes the guys about 5 minutes to get ready.  A quick tie adjustment and we were off to toast at the bar downstairs!
The bouquet was actually assembled by the Man of Honor and the Matron of Honor as the bride was getting ready.  They did an AMAZING job, and these flowers were just stunning.
At the stone gazebo in Independence Park, the ceremony began with the flower girl and her colorful flower petals.  Her “date” for the wedding was a bit confused since actual flowers weren’t used in rehearsal.  Gosh they made a cute little couple.
You can’t really tell in this picture, but Brayden is actually stepping over the flowers as Emily throws them on the ground.  Precious.  Don’t want to damage those petals before the bride gets to see them.
Valentina & Toby met at the bottom of the stairs and walked down the aisle together.  The smiles on their faces tell the whole story.
I’d like to take a moment to beg all future brides – have an outdoor wedding, please!!!!  We have lots of great outdoor locations in the Carolinas and the sunlight is gorgeous!
Valentina & Toby wrote their own vows for the ceremony and they did a great job.  As an interesting take on the sand ceremony, they rolled up their vows on parchment and put them in a beautiful container then poured the sand over the top.  Great idea, and a fabulous decoration for their home.
I love everyone’s expression in this shot.   The Wedding Officiant was Rev. Rebecca Nagy and she brought such a relaxed and calming spirit to the day.
Everyone loves Grandma.   Have you ever seen a happier grandma in between a bride and groom?
After a few quick family shots, we took some time to get a few post-ceremony shots  – I’ve already mentioned that I love people in love, right?  Right.  Thought so.   These two make my job so awesome!
A few more shots to capture the love between these two – I think they could’ve stayed out at the gazebo all day just loving on each other. 
And a few more flower detail shots – beautiful.  Flowers provided by Flowers Plus, bouquet assembled by Man & Matron of honor.
A gentle touch with some new jewelry….
A quick toast with some Miller High Life   and these two lovebirds are off to the reception.  Part 2 of their wedding day will be on the blog later this week!

Earlier this week I grabbed a cup of hot chocolate with Kate from I Do Details Events here in Charlotte.  I’ve followed Kate via blogs and Facebook, and I could tell she was pretty awesome, but I had no idea she was going to be so nice!  It was like we’d known each other for years, she was just so easy to talk to.  We chatted about weddings and venues and just about anything wedding related you can imagine. When I got in my car I realized that my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much.    It was so great meeting her and hopefully I’ll get to see her again soon.

About 3 weeks ago I met with another awesome wedding planner here in Charlotte – Alicia from Verve Events.  I’ve actually known Alicia since college and it’s crazy to think how we’ve gone such different paths and both ended up in the wedding industry in Charlotte!  Alicia is one of the most genuine people I know, but the one thing I’ve always noticed is that I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say anything negative.  She just has such an amazing outlook on life and it’s very inspiring!

As if chatting with two awesome wedding women weren’t enough, I just found out that one of my weddings was featured on Wedding Row Charlotte!  This is such a huge deal for me because it’s the first time one of my weddings has been featured on a wedding site!  I’m not going to lie – when I saw the post this afternoon I called just about every person I know, tweeted it, and posted it on 2 different Facebook pages. This wedding was so unique and I had such a great time shooting it I’m just thrilled to share it with everyone!  In case you missed it earlier, here’s a screen shot… (Yeah, I’m still pretty excited!)

With all of the wedding buzz in Charlotte lately it’s pretty clear that wedding season is just around the corner!  Best wishes to everyone that’s getting married in 2011, and to all of my future brides!  Happy spring y’all!   Here’s one of my favorite images from the awesome Greenbrier Farms wedding…..

For the record…videos aren’t really my strong point – so please forgive me as I stumble over words and make weird faces. Video cameras make me nervous, but I had to do a video to show how cool this was so I hope you enjoy it!

Just a couple quick follow-up thoughts –

- The album will come standard on a 16GB WiFi iPad (but you can certainly upgrade to more capacity or a 3G version for the cost of the device).
- If you already have an iPad you can still get this product, I’ll just subtract the cost of the device from the total price!
- This is even cooler in-person, so e-mail me and we’ll get together for coffee so you can take it for a test drive! (kelli@redkphoto.com)

Lots of food and corporate events early in 2010, and wow, was the food impressive!

I walked the Cooper River Bridge!

The super awesome Taylor family!

I followed the Wells Fargo Stagecoaches to 3 schools in the Charlotte area – very cool!

A few more really fun corporate events….

Celebrated my husband’s birthday at the amazing Gamecock Baseball Stadium…

Had a marvelous time shooting a wedding at Dunes West in Charleston, SC!

Engagement session with Devon & Billy….

Ate a boat load of fruits and veggies from the farmers market…

Had an AWESOME time out at the US National Whitewater Center for the 4th of July!

Had a blast with the Austin family in Lake Wylie…

Participated in the World Wide Photo Walk…

Had a GREAT time shooting Devon & Billy’s wedding in Uptown Charlotte!

Obsessed over muscadines & scuppernongs for about 2 months…

Spent some time in Glencairn Gardens with the super cute Davis family….

Chased a really handsome 3 year old down Four Mile Creek Greenway…

Spent a Saturday morning at Fewell Park with the awesome Crenshaw family…

Took our Godson to his first Gamecock football game!

Became smitten by baby Gracie…

Laughed along with handsome little Christian…

Spent some time in Fourth Ward and NoDa with this awesome twosome (now a threesome!)

Attended the One Light Workshop in Atlanta and learned more than I ever thought possible about off-camera lighting!

Spent an AMAZING evening at Greenbrier Farms in Easley, SC shooting Becky & Aaron’s wedding…

Spent a Saturday morning with three handsome little guys…

Went to Hogwarts!!!

Spent some time playing ball with Molly and Chance …

Enjoyed my very first white Christmas!!

2010 was such an amazing year I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2011!  Happy New Year!!

]]> http://redkphotoblog.com/2010-rewind/feed/ 2 http://redkphotoblog.com/becky-aaron-at-greenbrier-farms-greenville-wedding-photographer/ http://redkphotoblog.com/becky-aaron-at-greenbrier-farms-greenville-wedding-photographer/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:42:34 +0000 Kelli http://redkphotoblog.com/?p=1794 “10 years in the Making.” That’s what the banner loosely strung across the cake table stated.  And you could feel it.  The entire wedding day felt more like a celebration of love than a declaration of commitment.  Friends and family coming together to celebrate life, love and each other.  Becky & Aaron laughed their way through the entire day – no stress, no worries, just there to have a good time.  The location they chose couldn’t have been more perfect – Greenbrier Farms in Easley, SC.  I can’t possibly say enough awesome things about this farm.  Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe Greenbrier, but as you will see in the photos – it was the perfect setting for a celebration of love that was 10 years in the making….

As with all amazing weddings, the day began with shoes…

Becky & Aaron got ready at a hotel in downtown Greenville in the River Place area.  It’s been at least a year since I’ve been in downtown Greenville, and I was amazed at this area!  Beautiful buildings, parks and outdoor areas for events.  Very trendy, yet casual at the same time – great location!  As usual, the groom gets ready in about 5 minutes while the bride works on hair and makeup.  This 5 minutes included ironing his shirt (twice), and wrapping 2 gifts.  Speaking as a girl – I just don’t know how they do it.

I knew I wanted to get some ring shots at the farm, but I also grabbed a couple at the hotel just to play with reflections.  I love this one – you can see some of the buildings at River Place in the reflection on Aaron’s wedding band.   I’m such a dork for loving the macro lens that I used for this shot, but I’ll go ahead and warn you, there are several more ring shots to come.  I only get to rent this lens for weddings, so I like to get my money’s worth!

Now back to the hotel room for a little bridal prep – huge thanks to Becky’s sister, Mandy, for her makeup genius.

And now we’re off to the farm!  Hold on to your seats because this is where it gets ridiculously awesome.   Beautiful bouquets – LOVE the fall colors!

While we were taking care of a few last minute preparations, the wedding guests began their trip up to the ceremony site via hay ride.  (See, I told you – awesomeness).

And then we loaded up into a golf cart to head to the top of the hill.  I love these next few shots – this oak tree was BEAUTIFUL, and the sunlight was just so yummy!  Our chauffeur for the trip was Amy (Amy & Chad own the farm).  We got a full tour – saw where they churn butter, met Mikey (the dog that stays with the sheep & goats) and saw “Salt”, the llama.

This is one of my favorite shots from the day – the sunset was just perfect.  I can’t imagine a more picture perfect location to get married.

Should I keep talking about how awesome the sunlight was?  One other thing you  might notice in this shot – the mason jars with candles hanging from the tree.  Very. Nice. Touch.

Here’s what I mean by a celebration of love – the way these two look at each other is beautiful.  It’s always an awesome sign when couples make each other laugh during the ceremony.  No stress, no worries, just a great day.  The wedding was officiated by Brenda Owen – she did an excellent job keeping everyone on track and laughing at the same time.

After the ceremony we all hopped back on the hay ride to head back down to the barn for an amazing evening!

First dance…  Music for the ceremony and the evening was provided by a great folk duo that’s part of the family.   The perfect music for the evening!

And now for the details… For those of you that are familiar with my photography you shouldn’t be surprised that I was completely obsessed with the details.  The thing is, Greenbrier Farm is LOADED with details!  Flowers, pumpkins, wine bottles, strands of lights, candles, mason jars, fire pits – there was something amazing every time I turned around!  Huge props to Amy & Chad for the decorations – every detail was just perfect.

And of course I took loads of food pictures.   I can’t explain it, but at events and weddings I’m totally obsessed with the food!  Well, Greenbrier really knocked it out of the park.  All of the food was grown on the farm – from the spinach and arugula salad with apples and feta cheese to the pot roast and mashed potatoes – it was an AMAZING farm to table dinner!

And now for more dancing!  Father/Daughter, Husband/Wife, Mother/Son – the dance floor was filled with smiles and laughs.

The cake was a carrot-spice cake from Coffee to a Tea, and word on the street is that it tasted just as amazing as it looked!

We also had a birthday in the house!  The ring bearer turned 6, so the groom shared his groom’s cake with the birthday boy.   Happy Birthday Thomas!!

Becky & Aaron have 8 nephews!  One request that they had when we were chatting about photos for the day was that we get a shot with all of the boys.  As you can imagine, this was a little bit like herding cats.   But wow, what a great group of kiddos.  They had a blast at the wedding – Greenbrier was just perfect for a group of mischievous little guys.

What could be more awesome to a group of boys than a huge fire and ingredients for s’mores?  Seriously, I can’t think of anything – they loved it!

The s’mores weren’t the only thing that was popular with the guys.  Apparently the groom/birthday cake gives you a green tongue?

Again – HUGE thanks to Amy & Chad at Greenbrier Farms for making this an AMAZING evening!

If you noticed the new watermark in the corner of the images, shhhh. Big announcement coming soon for Red K Photography!