Yearly Archives: 2009

Raleigh, NC Wedding | Meredith & Geoff | The Cardinal Club

Wedding Ceremony: Edenton St. Methodist – Raleigh, NC
Wedding Reception: The Cardinal Club – Raleigh, NC
DJ: Garrett – Lenny Fritts – Touch of Class DJ’s – Raleigh, NC
Wedding Cake: Sweet Memories – Apex, NC
Flowers: Dogwood Tree Floral Designs – Raleigh, NC
Caterer: The Cardinal Club – Raleigh, NC

I was referred Meredith & Geoff from another local photographer who could not take their wedding day (Thanks Heather S)!!! When we sat down and started talking, I immediately knew we were going to have a blast as they told me about their wedding day! A beautiful church (Edenton St UMC), an elegant reception hall (The Cardinal Club) and a smokin’ hott (2 tt’s) couple make for some really great photo ops!

We had talked quite a bit in the months leading up to their wedding day. We discussed all sorts of ideas for unique and fun photography between their wedding and reception. They had allotted about 90 minutes between the ceremony and reception time so we had so many options open to us that, really, the sky was the limit. We decided to shoot at two main locations with several elements in each.. the NCSU belltower and Pullen Park. After the beautiful ceremony (have I mentioned how much I love this church??) the couple hopped in the limo and off to Pullen park we went…

Once getting to the park – first stop – carousel. There were so many options to shooting this and, honestly, I wanted something different. I ended up both riding on the carousel with the entire bridal party the first time, then on the ground as the bride & groom took a 2nd turn by themselves. The photos ended up being better then I could of imagined (*see below). We then took a walk around the park a bit to shoot some fun formals and more stuff of just the happily married couple enjoying a few minutes alone. Back into the limo we went and headed off to the Cardinal Club.

Let me preface this by saying I had been in a rut of rainy Saturdays lately. I love a rainy wedding day as it offers so many different opportunities then you would normally have for unique and dramatic photos. However, I had been aching for a beautiful blue sky and Geoff & Meredith arranged for the best one I had seen in a while (thanks guys). The cardinal club is on the 28th floor in downtown Raleigh and is an absolute wonderful venue to have a wedding or reception in. The view is breathtaking and the floor to ceiling windows really lets you take in the beautiful downtown cityscapes.

The reception got jumping thanks to Garrett with Lenny Fritts – touch of class DJ’s and the party got rolling. A side note here.. I had an assistant for the wedding reception. I cannot remember his name but he was about 4′ tall and was running around with his digital camera taking some really decent photos. I remember near the end of the reception he was without his camera and looking a bit downtrodden. I found out either his camera batteries died or he had no space left on his memory card. Well, far be it from me to deprive someone of something they are really good at, so I gave him my spare camera to shoot with. Let me say this.. I have NEVER, EVER seen a kid so happy before. Some of his shots are included in the disc to the bride & groom (yes, he is good) and I want to tell you KEEP AT IT!!!

Literally, before I knew it, the reception was over and with it still being somewhat early (10pm), the bride & groom decided to head out to downtown – in their wedding wear. they were gracious enough to invite me out, sans camera, to enjoy the rest of the evening with them. I cannot tell you how touched I am when I get invited out to help celebrate a beautiful wedding so, to Meredith & Geoff, THANK YOU for all of your hospitality, graciousness and just plain awesomeness! I had an absolute blast working with you both and I know you are just going to love your photos!!!

Now on to a few of them:

Wedding dress in Edenton St UMC - Raleigh, NC

Bride getting dressed - Raleigh NC Wedding

bride reading card from groom on her wedding day

bride taking one last look before her wedding

bridal portrait - Raleigh Wedding Photography

groom portrait - Raleigh Wedding Photography

family portrait before the wedding

groom & neice before the wedding

bridal portrait - Raleigh Wedding Photography

flower girl walking down the aisle

dad walking bride down the aisle

wedding day - grooms first look

Raleigh Wedding Photography - Edenton St Methodist

meredith_geoff_wedding-0192

Raleigh Wedding Photography - Edenton St Methodist

Raleigh Wedding Photography - NCSU Belltower

Raleigh Wedding Photography - NCSU Belltower

funny groomsman on carousel

wedding day ride on carousel

Raleigh Wedding Photographer - wedding day carousel ride

wedding day portrait - Raleigh, NC

Gorgeous wedding cake with cityscape

wedding reception at the cardinal club

1st dance at wedding - Raleigh Wedding Photographer

Raleigh Wedding Photographer - bride dances with dad

Raleigh Wedding Photographer - groom dances with mom

wedding ring shot

cardinal club wedding reception - raleigh wedding photographer

wedding reception toasts at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh

Raleigh wedding reception dancing - Cardinal Club

Raleigh wedding reception dancing - Cardinal Club

Raleigh wedding photography

Cardinal Club - Raleigh NC - Wedding reception

Cardinal Club - Raleigh NC - Wedding reception

Cardinal Club - Raleigh NC - Wedding reception

wedding guest with wedding photographers camera

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Light Up Durham! | Bay 7 | Durham, NC

Ceremony: American Tobacco Campus – Durham, NC
Reception: Bay 7 – Durham, NC

Ahh..  the holidays are really here!  I love being a part of larger organizations that allow me to network with other wedding professionals.  Back in November, I was asked to cover this years “Light Up Durham” celebration at the American Tobacco Historic District.   I had a chance to discuss it over dinner with Valerie Ward and, frankly, I was immediately excited!

If you are not familiar with the event, the American Tobacco Campus has a huge water tower at its center.  Instead of flying in a Christmas tree, they string lights on the water tower and have a huge event, open to the public, to celebrate the throwing of the switch!  This year, they had 4 different groups of singers, from elementary, middle, high school & college performing along with the Raleigh Ringers and several local personalities.

Fake snow along with a beautifully decorated campus completed the feeling (thanks to the cold weather as well) and made the event a HUGE success with over 1000 people attending.

Bay 7 housed a beautiful VIP reception where local brewers and a culinary school had suds & food for everyone.  Complete with Christmas decorations and Wull E. Bull made an appearance to try out the food and help celebrate the lighting of the tower.

Here are a few photos from the event!

Light Up Durham - Singers preparing Light Up Durham - Bay 7 decorations Light Up Durham - Bay 7 Food Styling Light Up Durham - Bay 7 VIP Party Light Up Durham - Local Brewery Light Up Durham - gelato Light Up Durham - Bay 7 VIP Party Light Up Durham event Light Up Durham - Raleigh Ringers Light Up Durham - Raleigh Ringers Light Up Durham - American Tobacco Campus Light Up Durham - Singers Light Up Durham - Singers Light Up Durham - Emcee Light Up Durham - Emcee Light Up Durham - Wull E. bull Light Up Durham - Singers Light Up Durham - American Tobacco Campus Light Up Durham - American Tobacco Campus Light Up Durham - Singers Light Up Durham - Light up that tower!!! Light Up Durham - Water Tower Lighting Light Up Durham - Event Photography Light Up Durham - Event Photography Light Up Durham - Event Photography Light Up Durham - Event Photography

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