Maria and Scott both got ready at Fearrington Village – Maria in suite #1 and Scott was in the Red Room (yes, it’s really red) so it made moving back and forth really easy while keeping the couples hidden from each other.  If you aren’t familiar with how Fearrington Village Weddings and run, the B&R are in totally separate buildings to avoid any “accidental” run ins which also makes the photography part so much easier.  Did I mention it’s gorgeous out here?  You honestly would have to TRY and find a bad background. 

So as the ceremony go underway, the area itself was partially shaded with dappled light casting in thru the trees with a very bright background.  Not exactly the easiest scenario to photograph in but with such a gorgeous location, it was a spectacular ceremony.  I had my 2nd shooter go in behind the couple (hidden by shrubs – insert Ninja joke here) and get some really great captures of the bridge and groom during the ceremony.  After the ceremony, we all headed into the Fearrington sun room for champagne, some really yummy snacks and quick round of congratulations before we started the formals.  With the sun setting, I got some stunning (If I’m allowed to brag) photos of the (now) happily married couple in the garden area.  You may have noticed a little more drama in my portrait work lately.  I think it’s definitely a direction I am heading to add more texture into my work.

Their reception was actually held in a new location for me at the Fearrington – in the Garden Terrace.  The Terrace is a separate building that can either be open air or closed off, depending on the season complete with a gorgeous fireplace, wooden hearth and a gorgeous view of the brick pathways on the property.  Now each wedding reception is different and this one definitely had all the elements the happy couple and I had discussed – dancing, time to spend with family & friends, a few funny moments and, well, just a really wonderful celebration from a close knit group of people.

As always, here are a few various photos from Maria & Scott’s Fearrington Village Wedding!

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On their wedding day, both Shannon and Barrett had the familiar nervous excitement and as both the wedding and reception were being held at the Umstead Hotel and Spa, were surrounded by all their family and friends.  I really enjoy it when everything is at the same location because it means, generally, everyone is around and it makes for great getting ready photos!  Barrett and the guys were already dressed when we arrived and were waiting in the lounge area eating so delightful barbeque sandwiches while the ladies were getting their hair & makeup done downstairs. After everyone was ready, we had a wonderful opportunity to photograph the bridal party and each individual member before the ceremony.

As Barrett is a meteorologist, Shannon had requested perfect wedding weather – which indeed we received.  Partly cloudy, slightly cool weather made for a gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremony on the Umstead Lawn.  After the wedding, we shot outdoor formals as the sun was setting the headed up to the reception in the Umstead Ballroom.  The entire wedding and reception was sprinkled with personality – from the drink menu to the chalk blackboards with their initials to the personalized cookies at each seat – the wedding was really planned out to perfection.

I think their best man is in the running for the funniest toast of the year and the wedding reception itself definitely had the most people dancing at once (I think I saw maybe 10 people sitting down, everyone else was bootyshaking).  We ended off the wedding with some of my favorite evening portraits of the year using the Terrace and outdoor fireplace at the Umstead hotel as a backdrop.  We actually also did a day after session which, honestly, is tied for my favorite session of the year as well, but that is for another blog post.

I’d like to thank Shannon, Barrett and their families for their overwhelming graciousness and hospitality.  It’s the reason I love photographing weddings so much!  As always, here are a few selections from Shannon and Barrett’s Umstead Hotel and Spa wedding!

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Emily and I had coordinated completely over the phone as she lives out of town.  So the day of the wedding was the first time we had actually met in person, but having talked with her and her Mom over the preceding months, it really felt like like we had known each other for some time.  Emily and Patrick both got ready at the Kirk of Kildaire, in separate areas of course, but it makes getting shots of the both of them during the getting ready pretty easy.  We had plenty of time before the ceremony so I could actually play with the dress a bit and use the unique layout of the church to my advantage.  We took the guys outside to get their individual and group shots and, during this time, I realized that, well, they came to party!  Not at the church mind you, at the reception. 

After a great moment with Emily and her father seeing each other, we headed into the ceremony area.  Now, I am used to walking into churches that are, well, dark, but this was a real treat!  Floor to ceiling windows flooded the entire sanctuary with a gorgeous natural light and it made photographing there a real pleasure!  The ceremony was gorgeous and the church staff was honestly a real pleasure to work with.  After the ceremony and couples formals (including getting a bridal portrait beside a tree her father planted at the church when she was born), we headed over to the Renaissance Hotel for their wedding reception.

Now, the Renaissance Hotel in North Hill is a really gorgeous location and the architecture and art hanging on the walls.  So being able to photograph a wedding or reception here is really a treat.  The hotel staff is incredible and it seems like every time I have a wedding here, the celebration is, well, epic!  That was certainly the case with Emily & Patrick.  With the band getting the party started, and keeping it going, I think the entire congregation was on the dance floor.  It certainly made for some gorgeous photos and, even though Patrick will probably kill me for this, I had to post the “beer sling” photo.  Yes, it was that crazy!  After the party was over, I realized it felt like I had been in a full scale workout.  There was so much going on that I had shot a crazy amount of photos – almost all of them were spectacular shots also (except for a few shots of my shoes I always seem to get).

Patrick & Emily – thank you both so much for allowing me to capture your wedding day!  It’s always an honor for you to allow me into your lives on the first day of your new lives!  I had a wonderful time with you and both your families!  I hope you enjoy my view on your wedding and, of course, a few select wedding photos!

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We started their wedding day with Wendy getting ready in her parents home.   Words can really not describe how perfect it was for Wendy, her bridesmaids and family to all be in one location.  Of course, it helps when the master bathroom was the size of this one, but regardless, it was easy to see how relaxed the entire family and bridal party was just by being in familiar surroundings. We hung out for quite a while with the bride and her family getting to know everyone while still photographing the bride, all the preparations and details like the wedding gown, jewelry, shoes, programs, signs and, well, just name it, I probably got a shot of it.

The wedding was held at St Andrews Catholic Church in Apex, NC.  This was the first time I had been here and Wendy and her family had mentioned getting a shot with the fountain a few times.  In the hustle and bustle of the day, I filed that away as a “get” shot, but didn’t really go into it further – I’ll touch base on this after the ceremony.  I must say, St. Andrews is probably the most accommodating church I have had the pleasure of photographing in.   They actually reserved seats on both sides of the aisles for me, very near the front, so I could photograph without being a disruption.  I am a huge believer of it being a ceremony first and a photographic opportunity 2nd, so to have that done for me was very impressive (If anyone from the Church is reading this, thank you!).  After the Catholic ceremony and formal photos were complete, we headed back out to the fountain.  I went ahead of the group to get setup and saw the plaque on the fountain.  It was dedicated to Wendy’s brother, who passed away when he was 9 years old.  Now I always remind myself what the power of a photograph truly is – to remember.  When I took a moment to reflect on this however, it was pretty overwhelming and indeed one of the most special family photographs I have taken in my career.

We headed over to the Fearrington Village Wedding reception location, in the barn, and got to spend a little more time with the bridal party and, of course, the happily married couple.  The Fearrington Village is really gorgeous with no shortage of great locations for photography and we just touched on one corner of the property with the bride and grooms formal photos.  As the cocktail hour wore down, and the bridal party got ready to make their entrance, I noticed one thing.  People were ready to party.  LOL.  Seriously, I do this for a living and always love a good party, but the people were really primed and Jim Unger from Joe Bunn DJ Company was ready to light the fuse!

As the reception got down to business, one of the best toasts of the year was delivered by Wendy’s father.  I hope when my daughter gets married I’ll have that amount of poise, tact and humor. From here, well, the party just exploded and everyone, including myself and my assistant, got pulled onto the dance floor (thankfully I have not yet seen any photographic evidence that would convict me) and Jim literally blew the doors off the hinges.  By the end of the evening, I was literally exhausted with all of the nonstop activity.

I want to really extend my heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful families of Tyler and Wendy who were an absolute delight to work with.  Now, as always, here are a few choice photos from Tyler & Wendy’s Fearrington Village Wedding!

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Snipes Farm Retreat consists of a converted barn and surrounding buildings including an old grain silo (which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it), an outbuilding (for a bridal preparation area) and a small pond (with dock), and really just gorgeous fields all around.  This was the first time I have visited the farm and really look forward to going back whether it be to shoot, or attend, a wedding.

Melissa had her hair & makeup done at another location so when she arrived with all of her bridesmaids, they all went directly into the preparation room to get ready.  David arrived a few minutes later and was getting ready in the room “above” the reception hall area (not upstairs really as it’s a “ranch” style building, but there are stairs).  With it being a Jewish ceremony David & Melissa would see each other prior to the wedding for the Ketubah signing (which I always thought was a really cool element).  If you are not familiar with the Ketubah, it is essentially a marriage contract between the bride & groom and, more often then not, it’s completely in Hebrew.  The room was packed full of family & friends when Melissa, David and their two witnesses signed the Ketubah, making for some great wedding photos.

Shortly after the signing, we headed outside to the wedding ceremony area.  We had blue skies and a great breeze which made it a perfect day for a wedding!  As the ceremony progressed, I had a great opportunity to walk around a little (without being a distraction) and get a few different angles that are impossible in a church.  After the glass was broken and the couple recessed, we all got ready for the reception in the barn.  Another cool element of Jewish weddings are the fact that the couple goes away for a bit right after the ceremony, alone.  I’m not certain of the significance but David & Melissa had written cards to each other and took this opportunity to read those cards as well as grab a bite to eat before the reception.

Inside the Snipes Farm Retreat barn, the food was hot, drinks were cold, the Christmas lights wrapped around the wood beams (with tree branches) turned on and the DJ was getting everyone warmed up.  David & Melissa made their entrance and went right into their first dance while surrounded by their bridal party and family.  It was a very cozy setting that was really perfect for the wedding day the happy couple had envisioned.  As the night went on, the dance floor was packed and everyone really had a great time.  “Retreat” being in the name really was fitting as you could certainly feel the warm isolation of being on a farm but surrounded by family!

Congratulations to both David & Melissa on their gorgeous wedding!  Thank you both for having me at your wedding – it was truly an honor to get to know both you and your families!  As always, here are a few choice photos from their wedding!

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Having never photographed at either Hayes Barton Baptist Church or the Stockroom before, I started my day a little early to setup lights and survey the church before the festivities got underway.  Mandy was getting ready at the Marriott City Center in downtown Raleigh, so it was a quick trip from their to both the Church and wedding reception.  There are so many different aspects of the wedding that I love but, honestly, being around while the bride is getting ready is definitely at the top.  It’s a great “quiet” time (well, most of the time it’s quiet) where I get to chat with the bride, her friends and family.  It really helps set the tone of the rest of the day and, as was the case for Mandy, just lends to the building excitement for the big day!

We headed over to the ceremony location where Mandy was getting dressed and I must say, it was a really great location!  I literally got to pick where the Mandy got dressed (of course I picked the prettiest room) with the best light.  Mandy & Cary decided to see each other before the ceremony and, yet another first for me, was having the bride give “bunny ears” to the groom before he turned around, LOL.  We got all the formal groups shot before the ceremony and, after we wrapped up, we all got a chance to kick back for a minute before the ceremony.  Hayes Barton church, having grown up in Raleigh, holds a special place in my heart as they’ve been broadcasting church services from there for quite some time.  Not to mention that many, many highly visible figures and politicians attend or hold services here.  So to shoot Mandy & Cary’s wedding was definitely a very cool treat for me.

After the ceremony, we headed down to the Stockroom in downtown where a live band, a huge assortment of delicious pies and cakes from Katrina at Sugarland were waiting for us.  While I will not incriminate myself, I can truthfully say WOW, the blackberry pie was amazing.    Surrounded by their close friends and family, Mandy and Cary came into the Stockroom (which has antique plank wood floors and exposed brick walls) and got right into their first dance.  After they and their parents danced, a great menu was presented (and subsequently decimated – it was that good) and a few emotional and funny toasts were shared, it was game on!  The band got the party started and the singer was in the middle of the dance floor keeping the party going.  Seriously, it was one of the most lively dance floors I have seen this year.

As we decided to head into the reception immediately following the wedding, we waited to do our couples portraits at night in and around downtown.  Unfortunately, the humidity was so overbearing that within 20 seconds of walking outside, my lenses completely fogged.  20 minutes later, they were still fogged so we stayed inside.  Call it divine intervention or just inspiration, but I think we made the right choice.  I hope you agree!

Mandy & Cary – thank you both for your overwhelming graciousness, hospitality and, well, just being so much fun to work with!  Here is a short sampling of their photos!

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The Hall & Gardens at Landmark, located in Garner, NC, has both an interior location for wedding receptions and a gorgeous outdoor garden area for ceremonies.  To be honest, it’s a very understated area so when you do pull into the area, it’s agreat and unexpected surprise. As it was my first time here (outside of Amber’s bridal portrait), and not having photographed a “live” event, it was a great treat to get play during their preparation times in both the brides and grooms rooms.  The guys room is a true testament to “guys”.  With a wet bar, floor to ceiling wood paneling (including the floor and ceiling), the room has a richness that parallels old speakeasy’s during prohibition.  While it could of been a photographers nightmare, the windows allowed a beautiful flood of light that made for perfect photos.

Jared had a great trick up his sleeve for a gift for his lovely bride.  She had been eyeing a coach purse, apparently for some time, so Jared had a great surprise to present to her before she got dressed.  It was a pretty unique experience for me to use that as a transition from one room to another, so it was pretty cool to be present for that part of their day.  So after everyone was dressed we headed out to their outdoor wedding ceremony.  To say it was hot would be, well, pretty accurate.  I think it was 95 degrees or so in the sun but, honestly, I really didn’t notice anyone who minded.  I think it was because everyone was so happy to be at Jared & Amber’s wedding.  m sure being at such a great location like the Hall at Landmark helped make the heat a little more bearable. Even the weather agreed with us as the wind and heavy rains waited to pick up until we were all done.  As I always say though, you can’t have rainbows without rain.

After the ceremony and wedding formals, we headed inside to some well deserved A/C, sweet tea, adult punch and good food.  Amber & Jared went right into their first dance before dinner.  Now, if you’ve never been to the Hall at Landmark, the inside is, well, a hall.  Ok… it’s a very ornate hall with a vaulted ceiling, gorgeous chandeliers, and warm colors, the place was a real treat to capture on camera.  After the dances and dinner, we all got dancing (yes, even me) to help celebrate their wedding.  As everyone exited the reception to send off Amber & Jared under a shower of sparklers, I was very honored to have a few minutes alone with a rolls royce that was waiting to take them away.  As always, I am so appreciative of  the graciousness of my clients and their families.  I, quite literally, felt like a family member with every single person I spoke with at their wedding.

As always, here are a few choice photos from Amber & Jared’s wedding at the Hall at Landmark.

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Katie & Matthew’s Highgrove wedding is the first time I have been back since their renovation and, I must say, the facility is gorgeous!  When I met up with Katie in the “bride’s room” upstairs, I could immediately see the excitement on her face.  There can be such a range of emotion on the wedding say and, I’ll be honest, excitement is my favorite.    After hanging out wither her for a few minutes, I went over to Matthew’s room to hang out with the fellows for a bit.  It’s always a (to me) slightly amusing experience to witness how different rooms have totally different vibes and feelings associated with them.  While Katie’s excitement was overwhelming, Matthew’s room was somewhat subdued in comparison and while the excitement was definitely present, I could also sense a touch of nervousness.  Drawing on my own experience, I know exactly how he felt – just wanting to spin the clock forward to start the ceremony.

It was a beautiful day for a Highgrove Wedding, albeit a bit toasty.  I witnessed a first, for me, with one of my favorite officiants, Kayelilly Middleton,  doing a little “cleanup” on the guys with a handkerchief.  Between the gorgeous sun coming down, a combination of excitement, nerves and black tuxedos made for a great moment at the ceremony.  Overlooking the water and underneath the trellis, the wedding went perfectly and finished with a great kiss and a very loud “Mazel Tov” to end the ceremony!  We all headed inside for a break from the heat to photograph the family formals then moved on to get some great & fun moments with the bridal party and couples wedding day portraits.

Heading back into the reception hall, the room was setup beautifully.  A head table was setup with the wedding cake (Ashley Cakes) off to one side.  Ryan from Spin was DJ’ing their gorgeous wedding and, as always, knocked it out of the park.  As you could probably tell from earlier, the ceremony had both christian and Jewish elements so, of course, the Hora was  coming at the reception.  If you aren’t familiar with the Hora, it’s a Jewish wedding celebration where the bride and groom sit in chairs and are lifted up and carried around the room.  I think there may have been a small miscommunication though as the chairs appeared, well, slightly unbalanced.  I think this is part of the tradition though as every person I’ve spoken with about the Hora has always mentioned a small element of fear.  Everything ended up well in the end and I’m pretty certain every single person was on the floor which made for beautiful photos.

The rest of the reception was filled with dancing, spinning, singing, more dancing, cake cutting, cake smashing, cake eating (innocent whistle here), more dancing and eventually a sparkler exit with the longest sparklers I have ever seen!   I want to take a moment and thank everyone involved with this wedding for their wonderful hospitality, flexibility and, well, awesomeness!  Having great clients, friends & families really make me love doing what I do!   Of course, here are a few select photos from Katie & Matthew’s Highgrove Wedding!

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Ross & Amy wanted a low key, relaxed environment so having their wedding at the NC Museum of Art was perfect.  The newly re-designed museum, if you haven’t seen it, from the outside looks rather minimalist but as soon as you walk thru the doors, you see what an incredible job they have done showcasing their art collections.  The lighting alone is something I could spend days playing with – the museum really outdid themselves with providing perfect light for viewing (and in my case, taking photos) of the entire facility.

Ross & Amy both got ready at the museum and elected to see each other before the ceremony.  They were going to just walk up and say hi to each other but humored me to build up the moment, just a little, in the front of an old wing of the museum.  One of the really fun things about being in an art museum is the ability to incorporate the surrounding art into their wedding photographs.  After we did their first look, we headed into the newer wing and shot all of the family formals.  It was quite a warm day so being inside for formals was a definite welcome relief from the heat of the day.  When I was shooting formals, it hit me how BIG the NC museum of Art is.

For the wedding ceremony, we headed out into the northern Courtyard of the museum which is a concrete paved area with water, fountains, lily’s, artistic pieces and trees surrounded on three sides by the tall glass walls of the museum.  This provided a beautiful light to filter in over the ceremony and make for really gorgeous photos of Ross & Amy trading their vows.  With so many cool aspects of the museum being present, I had to get a few “different” shots including reflections and one of the coolest pairs of tennis shoes I had seen.

After the ceremony, we headed into the wedding reception inside the museum where a table so long it would of made kings proud was waiting for the couple and their guests.  With the timing of the wedding, we decided to wait to do the couples wedding portraits near the end of the evening.  I did find a really cool opportunity, while everyone was eating, to do an “inception” style ring shot.  Funnily enough, I haven’t seen the movie yet but not long after this wedding, I did see a “spoof” of the ring spinning scene.  As their rings were not the normal metal (they are black wedding bands) I figured they would appreciate something a little different.  After the dances and the cake cutting, we did get the chance to walk around the museum and get some really cool wedding day portraits.  I always want my clients personalities to come out in the photos and, personally, I think I captured them perfectly.

Ross & Amy, thank you SO much for having me as your wedding photography.  It was really a pleasure getting to hang out with you and your friends and family. I hope you love your photos as much as I do!

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Jenn’s Fiance’, Chris, is a golf pro so having their wedding at TPC wakefield was definitely a fitting location.  Set just off the 18th green, their outdoor wedding was in a shaded area of lawn just outside the clubhouse.  Both Jenn & Chris got ready there and this marks the 2nd time in 3 weeks I’ve photographed brides & grooms getting ready in golf locker rooms.  I know that doesn’t sound all that great, but these are seriously nice locker rooms complete with wood paneled personalized lockers, so we aren’t talking high school gym here.  In others words, a very fitting setting for a gorgeous wedding!

As the wedding processional began, I caught site of Jenn riding in the back of a golf cart.  Why this struck me as cool, I’m not quite sure why, but well, it was.  As Jenn walked into the center aisle of the ceremony, I had a firm eye on Chris.  While he’s gonna kill me for saying this, I knew he was going to, as I call it, “break” from the site of his gorgeous bride to be walking down the aisle.  When I shot their engagement session the UNC campus, I could see it then and, ya, he did.    The wedding was gorgeous and my 2nd shooter captured an amazing phot0 (as she always does) thru the treeline during this time.

After the wedding ceremony, we shot a few of their formal photos outside then headed over to the reception.  Now, as you can imagine, when a wedding vendor gets married, they know all of the possibilities and have really creative ideas.  Jenn’s wedding was certainly not a disappointment.   From photo booths to ice sculptures to the coolest name card arrangement and, well, other awesome vendors, the reception was gorgeous and I was, again, so honored to have been the one to capture everything for the happy couple.

Jenn & Chris, congratulations to you both.  Thank you again for having me capture your wedding.  It really was an honor and a privilege to be at your wedding.  Now, on to a few choice photos from their beautiful TPC Wakefield wedding!  By the way, yes, that IS me behind the DJ table…  we decided to switch roles momentarily. 

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I could go on and on about the interior of the Barclay Villa, but I’ll let you see the photos to judge for yourself.  You may recognize their faces from their vineyard engagement photos we took last year.  I felt I set the bar pretty darn high at their engagement session so, honestly, I felt a little pressure coming into a new location and getting the unique, timeless and dramatic photos I know they love.

When I arrived I was immediately taken back by how large the dining hall was.  This is a two story room with the 2nd floor being a wrap around balcony with seating on all 3 sides.  The distinct feeling I got was the room was really designed to house kings & queens and their families.  Of course, this is a newer re-design but I was immediately inspired to somehow throw a more modern twist into this very stately room.  I went upstairs to see Jenna and meet her bridesmaid and family.  The room she was getting ready in, really, resembled a room you would NOT expect to see for  “rent”, but someone’s actual bedroom.  In other words, just stunning.  As with many rooms like this, however, photography can be a challenge with dark room, very contrasty direct sunlight coming thru the windows and having numerous people present.

As Jenna was getting ready, I headed over to meet the guys and got, what I think, is one of the best groom and groomsmen portraits to date using their pool table.  I really felt an almost “mafia” vibe and I think it really shows in their photo.  Back with Jenna, she was finished with hair & makeup (and was wearing a really cute white silk robe with “Bride” sewed with rhinestones on the back), was getting ready to get dressed.  I think there were 4-5 people helping her into the dress which makes me always want to capture both the intricacy and amount of hands helping get the dress on.  The bride, the dress, hair & makeup ALL came together into what was I can only describe as a magazine cover opportunity.  You’ll see the one I am talking about below.    (p.s. Jenna – I’m so submitting that photo for, yes, a cover).

As we headed into the courtyard for their outdoor wedding ceremony, the sun was setting behind there Barclay Villa house but highlighted my gorgeous clients perfectly.  The ceremony was beautiful and a little amusing with the lighter for the remembrance candles not working.  A tiki torch saved the day though and, as we say, the show went on.  After the ceremony we headed around the house, both inside and out, and got some  really fun & pretty sexy wedding portraits.  We headed into the reception where, seriously, Frank from the Bunn DJ Company melted the dance floor and swept the ashes outside.  Seriously..  I don’t think Barclay Villa will be the same after that reception – it was pretty incredible!

The couple exited the front doors of Barclay Villa with a sparkler exit showering them (well, hopefully not really showering) as they exited.  They actually ran back and forth a few times LOL.  I want to thank both Jenna and Jason for the honor of capturing their wedding day and being so open to having us document on of the most intimate affairs in their lives.  As always, here are a few photos from their Barclay Villa Wedding!

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We started out the day at the Embassy Suites in the Brier Creek shopping center where Ashley and her bridesmaids were getting their hair & makeup done.  The rooms at the Embassy suites are really cool with both modern colors and fixtures.  The downside is I always struggle with finding a good place in the room to get a good dress shot.  Well, necessity is also the mother of creativity so I simply took the dress from the room and with a little help, got what I think is a really cool dress shot.   From the hotel we drove over to the Brier Creek Country Club where Ashley used the locker room for the golf club to continue getting dressed.  I already knew the locker room was fitting of a country club but, honestly, I was blown away with how nice it really was.  After Ashley was dressed we went upstairs to go work with the guys a bit and pray the cloudy skies away.

As it came time for the ceremony, it was obvious that, well, the skies were not going to cooperate but, as always, Joy, a wedding planner (and owner)  from A Joyful Occasion, had arranged for a wonderful indoor location as well, just in case.  The wedding, even though it was indoors, was gorgeous and very fitting for such a beautiful venue.  Of course, during the ceremony the rain stopped and we returned to cloudiness which, as a photographer, makes me very happy as you can really manipulate the light on a cloudy day.  After our couples portraits, we headed into the reception hall where DJ Joe Bunn was gearing up to burn the house down, as usual.

As the reception waned down, I took a peek outside to see a gorgeous white convertible Jaguar (not sure of the year, but it was probably an early 90′s model) waiting for the happy couple to exit thru a shower of rose pedals and make their getaway.  Even though we had a little rain, the day made for an absolutely beautiful late spring wedding.

I want to thank Ashley, David & their families for allowing me in to document such a special and intimate day for you.  I’ve included a small assortment of some of my favorite photos and moments from your wedding day.

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The Mast Farm Inn is a truly gorgeous bed & breakfast with a beautiful tented reception area just across the street.  Being nestled in the mountains of NC, the scenery is, of course, breathtaking and the Mast Farm fits right in with their own gardens, horse, donkey, rabbits and beehives.  Their wedding area is an open field, beside the Inn, with a rustic cabin and pond right behind the bride & groom.  Writing about it simply can;t do it justice, so make sure to view all the photos below.

I covered every aspect of their wedding celebration, including the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, after-party, wedding ceremony, reception and even a day after session. In other words, a ton of great photo opportunities with a really great couple.  After hanging out with everyone for the rehearsal and dinner (of course I was taking photos), we headed out to the The Game Keeper in Boone.  This place had special significance to Ashley & Brook so it was kind of cool to hang out with them, their family and friends and get to hear their stories and see the friendships.

Saturday turned out to be GORGEOUS!  You realy could not have asked for nicer weather.  Sunny, 70 degrees with a light breeze.  The ceremony and wedding reception were both held at the Mast Farm Inn.  Brook and Ashley were getting ready in different cabins that were just across the street from each other, so getting to capture both of them was pretty easy, except for the rather large elevation difference.    The outdoor wedding ceremony had a perfect setting with mason jars candles lining the walkway to the ceremony area and the rustic feel of wood cabins all around.

After the ceremony, formal photos and wedding day portraits, we all walked across the street to the tent for the reception.  Ashley had worked with Danielle, the Mast Farm Inn coordinator/chef/manager, to hang pink & white Japanese lanterns on the roof of the tent which really transformed the space nicely and was a beautiful contrast with the farm landscape.  The reception really was one for the record books.  We had donkey riding, a cake cutting interloper, and a group of close friends who really helped celebrate Brook & Ashley’s wedding.

The next day, we headed out to do a day after session at the Mast General Store.  The store is a local tourist attraction and has everything from bolts to fishing rods to fresh honey.  The creaky wooden floors and back porch music of the store really added to the ambiance of the location.  With wide open fields, crumbling barns and old, rusty signs, (I know i’m saying this alot) it just really brought the charm and atmosphere of the entire wedding weekend into a last great photo shoot for the happy couple.

I’d like to my very sincere congratulations to both Ashley & Brook.  Thank you so much for having me at your wedding and allowing me into you and your families lives to capture your wedding!  As always, here are quite a few photos from Brook & Ashley’s Mast Farm Inn wedding weekend!

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For their wedding, we did things a little different. I met Gunar at the Washington Duke Inn where his bride would arrive to meet him in a limousine. I realized at the time, as many times as I had seen the groom waiting for the bride to arrive in a limo on TV, I had never actually seen one in person – so this was a pretty cool moment for me personally and, obviously, for Gunar as well. As the Limo pulled up, the ideas starting flowing for framing the shots and having some GORGEOUS light to work with, I was thrilled with the end result. After Nazli emerged from the Limo and greeted the families, we all headed over to the Duke Gardens for some wedding day portraits with Nazli, Gunar and their families. We moved around the park quite a bit and hit some of my favorite spots. We really had gorgeous light to work with so no matter where we went, the photos, in my opinion, were gorgeous!

We came back to the Washington Duke Inn where, in a pretty cool custom, all of the guests greeted Nazli & Gunar in the lobby of the hotel. Everyone then walked, together, to the reception tent where cocktails, snacks and champagne were being served. Everyone wanted photos with the bride & groom and it was pretty cool that everyone hung around and waited for the opportunity to get a couple of shots with them. After the cocktail hour, we headed inside to the reception room and got ready to party down. Having photographed wedding receptions for couples of Indian, Jewish, Pakistani and quite a few other nationalities before, I know one thing, when the music comes one, EVERYONE gets on the floor. Ryan from Spin did a great job with music that I’m sure he was not overly familiar with and everyone danced the night away! The evening ended with another very cool tradition – the entire wedding, guests included, danced to the head of the table to thank the parents. Really made for a cool photo that transcended the words spoken in Turkish. As always, here are a few of my favorite shots from the day!

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When I first met Monique, we immediately hit it off and, what I truly loved about that meeting, was she knew exactly what she wanted and left the planning up to me.  Well, partially up to me, of course we had to coordinate everything and we ended up doing her engagement session, her bridal portrait and some family photos all on the gorgeous grounds of the the Umstead Hotel.  We ended up shooting her entire wedding day, starting with her and her bridesmaid getting pedicures and manicures.  After I left the ladies alone so they could relax and enjoy their time at the Umstead Spa, I headed up to hang out with the guys while they got ready. The girls had everyone getting wedding hair and makeup being done so I had a good amount of time to hang out with the guys while they got their boutonnieres pinned on then did their individual portraits done.

Back in the ladies bridal suite I got a chance to photograph Monique’s gown, shoes, jewelry and everything else that he had carefully chosen to wear on her wedding day.  Before you know it, it was time to walk down the aisle.  While I love shooting outdoor weddings, there is almost always one concern – rain.  Well, I won’t go into it, but 5 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, yes, it started raining.  Interestingly enough, a funny thing happened.  Despite all of the umbrellas, the rain stopped, seriously, as soon as Monique started to walk out the door.  We had the beautiful light coming through the clouds and, well, it turned out perfectly!  After the ceremony was over, we took a huge group shot of everyone who came to the wedding.  Once we completed the formal photographs, we all headed into the reception hall to celebrate their wedding with family & friends!

Now.. the reception hall.  Wow!  The entire room was decked out with gorgeous flowers, beautiful place settings and, of course, a great gathering of close friends and family waiting for their arrival.  After the dances, cake cutting, toasts, flower & garter toss, the party got started and the dance floor did not slow down until the evening was over!  Monique & Johnny left that evening through a shower of bubbles and we decided to capture a few couples portraits at the outdoor fireplace.  Not a bad way to finish up a truly amazing day!  I want to thank Monique, Johnny and their families for allowing me to capture such a special day for them!  As always, here are a few photos from their amazing wedding!

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Mary Channing got ready at the gorgeous Sheraton Imperial Hotel.  Now I’ve been to this hotel many times on various occasions, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph a bride there.  They were in a really lovely bridal suite that presented beautiful shooting opportunities.  If you can’t tell, I love photographing in new places…    After Mary Channing’s hair & makeup were done, the dress, shoes and jewelry photographed, we headed over to the Angus Barn so she could get ready for the wedding!

Mary Channing & Jay decided not to see each other before the ceremony, so we photographed the bridal party separately from each other before the wedding.  This is a great opportunity to get to know everyone and, honestly, makes the formals after the wedding go much more quickly (everyone knows what to do).  After all the pre-ceremony photos were done, the wedding proceeded on a beautiful sunny spring day!  One of the challenges, or should I say, opportunities, at Angus Barn Weddings, is the ability to play with the sun.  For evening wedding ceremonies, the sun sets just to right right of the arbor, behind the couple.  The sun bounces off the water so, as a photographer, you get a double blast of light – from the sky and from the water.  As wedding photographers look at it, you either fight it or embrace it.  I did a little of both and am thrilled with the results.

After the ceremony, we retreated back into the Angus Barn Pavilion where food, drinks and live music greeted the guests.  With 250 people at the wedding, this was certainly a HUGE celebration for the lovely couple – I should also add very well deserved – both Mary Channing and Jay were such a lovely couple to work with.  After the evening was winding up, they ran thru a shower of wedding sparklers to a waiting & chauffeured Mercedes Benz.

I want to give my sincerest thank you and congratulations to both Mary Channing and Jay!  It has been an absolute pleasure working with you both for your engagement session, bridal portraits, rehearsal dinner and wedding!

As always, here are a few choice photos from their evening!

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Their wedding ceremony took place at the Village of Pinehurst arboretum and their wedding reception was at the Fair Barn.  Having never been to either location previously I got there a bit early so I could look around and get an idea of what the photography conditions would be.  Having photographed in barns before, I know they all have one thing in common – darkness!  I actually love “dark” weddings though because, essentially, the only light you’ll have is what you bring, so that makes for some very cool wedding photography!  The Fair Barn also has Christmas lights strung throughout which adds a lovely warmth and charm to an already gorgeous venue.

We could not have asked for better outdoor wedding conditions.  Cloudy skies and a slightly cool breeze made it comfortable for everyone to be outside, no matter if they had one a full suit or a sleeveless wedding gown.  After the ceremony (and my end run behind the ceremony to capture the happy couple pouring sand into a vase), we headed into the downtown area in Pinehurst to photograph some wedding portraits involving Caroline, Branden and their wedding party.  We located a small, very charming inn that was vacant and used it and the surrounding areas as a backdrop for the group photos.  Caroline, Branden and I then snuck off to get a shot in front of the Pinehurst Resort – a GORGEOUS hotel with amazing landscaping and beautiful architecture.

Back at the Fair Barn, the sun was setting as Branden and Caroline started their first dance.  The barn has an overhead skylight which lets in, normally, the perfect amount of light into the center of the building but, with it being cloudy and the sun going down, it provided very little additional light which made for some very cool layering of light in the photos.  After dinner, the cake cutting and toasts, everyone got busy on the dance floor and helped the happy couple celebrate their wedding.  I spotted a really great opportunity for a cool portrait that evening, and Caroline was gracious enough to pose for a few shots before her and Branden exited the wedding reception under the shaking of pom poms.

I’d like to extend my sincerest thank you to Caroline, Branden and both of their families for their hospitality and graciousness on their wedding day.  As always, I’ve selected a few of my favorite photos to show below.

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I met up with Alison at the Hair & Face Lounge in Cary, NC where her, her sister, mother mother in-law were all getting their hair & makeup done.  Having never been in here before, it was a pretty chic place with pink everywhere and really unique furnishings.  In other words, I had a ball photographing in here.  After I left the girls, I met Michael at the gorgeous Embassy Suites at Briar Creek.  Having never been here before, I was really shocked with just how stunning the architecture of the interior was.  This was a double bonus as Alison & Michael wanted to see each other before their Angus Barn wedding so we could photograph the formals there – leaving them more time with their family and friends.

We selected a quiet space outside on the Embassy Suites terrace for them to see each other before the wedding.  It was a bit cold outside but Alison was a real trooper as she waited for Michael to come out the doors.  I really enjoy photographing couples that see each other before the wedding as you get an entirely different range of emotion that is not constricted by having 100 people looking at you.  So, as Michael came around the corner, I got one of several favorite photographs of the day – a wonderfully expressive look on Alison’s face as Michael was walking behind her.

So, after the formals, we all headed over to the Angus Barn Wine Cellar for the ceremony.  I won’t go into gross detail about how dark it was in here, but, I can honestly say, it is the darkest interior place I have ever photographed.  Of course, it’s a wine cellar and had already devised a plan (slightly unorthodox) to capture a truly unique Angus Barn Wedding ceremony.  There are two rooms and the wedding ceremony was held in the larger room in front of a fireplace at the head of the table.  The table is, well, gargantuan and unable to be repositioned so I shot over the table, under the light, to capture their wedding nuptials.

After the ceremony was over, we braved the crowds (The Angus barn is tremendously busy and rightfully so – it’s a fantastic restaurant) and headed outside to do some couples portraits.  As it’s Christmas time, the building was decked out with Christmas lights, 6′ tall nutcracker dolls and the usual southern decorations which makes an Angus Barn Wedding so unique.   I also wanted to try something different, shooting a bridal portrait, at night, in front of the building..   I’ll just say that my “favorites” were really racking up after the portrait and couples session.

We headed back down to the Wine Cellar for Alison & Michael to celebrate and, probably the most anticipated part of the reception, the food.  After dinner was over and a few toasts were made, I talked Alison & Michael into the actual Wine Cellar (where the bottle racks are kept) to do a few more couples portraits.  I’ve said for a very long time the worse the lighting conditions, the more dramatic you must become.  Well, that belief was never more true as I am absolutely thrilled with the results we received.  After the night was over, they left their Angus Barn Wedding under a sparkler exit held by their family and friends.

I want to give a huge thank you to Alison, Michael and their wonderful families

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Anyway, when I arrived Alise has her hair & makeup done and was practicing her Father & Daughter dance with, yes – you guessed it, her father.  They spun around the room a few times with her bridesmaids looking on and, after the dance was over, they tweaked it a bit to insure their guests got a great view.  This was no “box” dance mind you, it was a tightly choreographed piece with a couple of spins and even a lift.  I headed up to the guys room after Alise and her bridesmaids shared a toast and a few heartfelt words.  They guys room always has a different energy and I love the dichotomy between the two even though the end goal is the same.  The guys were already dressed and, really, ready to go.  So after a few quick shots with everyone, we all headed over to Duke Chapel.

Alise chose to put on her wedding dress in the Duke Chapel. The room is gorgeous but can be a little busy all the bridesmaids & mothers in an enclosed space.  It make for great wedding photos though with all of the activity and really adds to the feeling of the wedding preparations.  We went outside after this and photographed the guys.  Now, usually it’s really difficult to do this at night but, to be honest, I’ve photographed more duke chapel wedding photos at night then I have during the day, so it’s pretty much second nature.  After the guys were inside (and warm), the girls came up to get their portraits done.

We all headed inside for the wedding ceremony and after they said the “I do’s”, they went over to sign the duke chapel register.  The reason I am tell you this is to setup the next part because, honestly, it’s one of the most special moments I’ve ever experienced at weddings.  As everyone was finishing signing, I heard singing…   Christmas carols to be exact.  I walked (ok, trotted) to the back of Duke Chapel (no short trot I can assure you) and when I peeked my head out of the doors, I saw every guest lined up with candles in hand, singing.  Now I knew they were doing a candlelight exit from the church but the sheer vision of this really got to me.  The couple walked out shortly after, under a light snow/rain mix, to about 150 people all holding candles.  Pretty powerful stuff.

We headed back to the Durham Hilton where Frank with the Bunn DJ Company was getting ready to get everyone dancing.  The wonderful folks at Barton Creek Weddings were gearing up to grab great video of the festivities (as they had been doing all day).  Both Alise & Nate and Alise & her father had choreographed dances and, to my surprise, Alise donned a set of light up blue devil horns for her father/daughter dance.  We went into some great toasts, cake cutting then everyone got on the dance floor and partied the night away.  After the reception was over, Alise & Nate left the hotel with a sparkler exit and got into their newly re-decorated car.  You know its a good wedding when after the couple leaves, people are sitting around looking at the photos they took.

Congratulations to both Alise & Nate!  Thank you both for having me capture your wedding day memories and providing me with some of my own!  Yes, of course, there are photos below. 

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After Ginger had worked her magic, we headed over to the Duke Chapel where Anna was finishing getting ready and took some iconic duke chapel photos with her and her bridesmaids before the ceremony.  After working with the girls in the arcades outside, it was time for the ceremony.  Anna’s father walked her up the aisle and as Steve and Anna had not seen each other before the ceremony, I got a great shot of Steve trying to keep it together.  After the ceremony was over, we went outside back into the arcades and front of the chapel.  While it being dark outside certainly makes it challenging to photograph, the end result is dynamic, dramatic and definitely unique!

We headed back to the Washington Duke Inn after finishing with their Duke Chapel photos and went into the reception to celebrate with their family & friends.  As soon as they entered they went into their first dance then I had a TON of fun playing with their rings and all of the Christmas paraphernalia that was around the hotel.  After the cake cutting, Randy from Joe Bunn DJ got the party going and EVERYONE was on the dance floor doing their thing!  I left before the evening was over but, seriously, everyone there was going strong and I don’t doubt they didn’t stop anytime soon.

I’d like to give my sincerest thank you to both Anna & Steve.  It’s been a real pleasure and honor to work with you both and congratulations on your beautiful wedding!  I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite shots from the evening!

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Emily is probably the most energetic, smiling and outgoing person I have met all year.  Even better, it’s infectious so everyone around her catches her enthusiasm and joy and, well, it turns into one big laugh fest and celebration very quickly.  Emily and her bridesmaids were getting ready in one of the conference rooms down by her wedding reception as she had quite a few bridesmaids and 2 hair & makeup artists.  This allowed Emily to also get a sneak peek of her room, delicious wedding cake by sugarland & gorgeous wedding flowers by dogwood tree florist, before she headed over to Duke Chapel for the wedding.

As it was an evening wedding in winter the light we had, or I should say, not have, really makes for dramatic portraits and with Duke Chapel as a backdrop, I think they came out absolutely stunning.  That is truly what I love about wedding photography…  getting truly unique and gorgeous results using unconventional methods.  so back to the important part of this blog entry, Emily & Will had a gorgeous ceremony and after we did our couples portraits, we headed back to the Washington Duke Inn for their wedding reception.

The room was gorgeous, Greg from Joe Bunn DJ Company was setting the mood with the tunes and everyone was ready to eat and party down.  I ended up doing a few ring shots with the wine corks which, I found out later, Emily is a huge fan of wine.  Wait, not like that… you know what I mean!  Anyway, after the cake cutting and toasts, the party got started and everyone really had a great time (including me) celebrating Emily & Will’s marriage.  When it came time for the bouquet toss, Emily had a game plan.  That plan was, well, fairly straightforward….  throwing the bouquet straight at her sister.  LOL.. I loved the expression on everyones faces.

The night just flew by and before I knew it, the evening was over.  That’s the mark of a great party I think!  I know I say this a lot but I really mean it – it is a true honor to be present and capture the moments, emotions and all elements of my clients wedding day.  I think that passion shows in the work and, as you can see, there was no shortage of great moments!  I hope you enjoy a few choice photos from Emily & Will’s Duke Chapel wedding.

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The next day, I met up with Hilary & Jeff at the Washington Duke Inn where they both were getting ready for their wedding ceremony.  Hilary was having her Hair & Makeup done by my fabulous wife, Ginger and Jeff, well, he didn’t really need my wife’s services so he hung out with the guys beforehand. We headed out as soon as everyone was ready so we could shoot some duke chapel wedding photos before the ceremony.   Jeff & Hilary chose to see each other before the wedding ceremony so we staged a great “moment” in the Duke Chapel Arcades (side hallways) for them to see each other before the ceremony began.  The one advantage to seeing each other beforehand is it left us alot of time to shoot more formals with Hilary, Jeff their friends and family.

The ceremony was conducted by their friend who happens to be an ordained priest, making it all the more special.  The wedding ceremony was certainly one of the more memorable ones I’ve had as you could feel how special every element was to both Hilary & Jeff.  Immediately after the wedding ceremony, we walked outside to do a few more couples photos.  By this time, it was pitch black outside leaving us with deliciously dramatic lighting surrounded by beautiful architecture to shoot a few more of their couples portraits.

We headed over to the Washington Duke Inn where the Heather Hayes Experience was all set to get the party started.  This was my first time hearing her perform and I was completely blown away by both her vocals and the entire bands performance.  They certainly know how to get things going!  With very moving toasts, a great group of close friends and family to celebrate with and an all around wicked party, Hilary & Jeff’s wedding certainly was one to remember!  I want to thank both Hilary & Jeff for their hospitality, graciousness and warmth!  It was a real pleasure getting to know you, your families and friends over the two days of your wedding!  As always, here are a few of their wedding photos!

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We started off their wedding day at the Crabtree Valley Marriott, where Cindy and Adam were in two different suites getting ready.  Ginger Mullins, a vary talented Hair & Makeup artist in Raleigh, and my wife, was doing Cindy’s wedding hair and airbrushed her makeup to make her even more radiant.  While Cindy was preparing, Adam and the guys were in their room playing with a toy helicopter so much that, when I got there, it was on a charger (for the 2nd time I believe).  That is one thing I really love about weddings, such stark contrast from the bride’s room to the grooms.

We headed over to Sacred Heart for the wedding ceremony.  I can honestly say, Sacred Heart is one of the most gorgeous wedding locations in the area and the staff is so accommodating and pleasant to work with that is really is a pleasure to shoot weddings here.  The ceremony had a great couple of moments, one being a family relative was brought up to perform part of it.  I didn’t verify but the feeling I got was this was unscripted and, judging by the prompting, no one knew about it before hand.

After the ceremony, we headed down to Fayetteville St to shoot a few wedding day photos with the bride, groom and bridal party.  That’s really the great thing about a downtown Raleigh wedding, all of the locations you can walk to in such a short period of time.  After the wedding portrait photo session, we headed back to the Crabtree Valley Marriott for their wedding reception.

One common theme I had picked up on throughout the evening was how great all of Adam’s and Cindy’s friends are.  I could definitely see how close everyone at the wedding was and I got to experience a few of the inside jokes – from Justin Bieber cd’s as wedding gifts to a little Karaoke voice mail.  After the parent dances and cake cutting, the dance floor blew up (Thanks to Mitch from Joe Bunn DJ) and, as the night wore on, I saw, for the first time, a, well, “forced” garter toss. Cindy had decided she didn’t want to toss the garter and, well, her friends decided otherwise, so they dragged her out on the floor (again, great friends) to do it.

I want to send my sincerest Thank You to Cindy, Adam, their families and friends for your gracious hospitality and open your family to me on their wedding day.  It was a real honor to capture such a special day for everyone.  Of course, here are a few photos. 

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I photographed Stephanie & Jonathan’s engagement session at the Umstead back in May of this year so it was really great to be back, this time for the wedding.  Both Jonathan & Stephanie got ready in the Hotel so it made for a very short trip to hop from Stephanie’s wedding suite to Jonathan’s suite.  Both of them were getting ready with their respective weddings parties in the room so it really made for great photography.

Their outdoor wedding ceremony was presided over by their Uncle which made for a somewhat unique and certainly a memorable ceremony.  After the ceremony was over and the family formals were done, my newly married clients and I went down to the lake behind the hotel to photograph their wedding day portraits.

We all headed into their wedding reception where Jonathan & Stephanie greeted all of their guests in a receiving line before sitting down for lunch.  After eating and pending more time with the guests, the cake was cut and the couple danced with each other and their parents.  Morning and afternoon weddings have a completely different feel then evening weddings and it was really a joy to photograph.  I want to thank Stephanie & Jonathan for choosing me to capture their wedding day memories!  I hope you enjoy a few photos from their wedding day!

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James and Lori met during a (I believe) bike ride.  Now I am sure it was a triathlon, trail course or something much more extreme then a “bike ride” but, well, it’s my blog so I’ll keep it simple here.   Anyway, the point is that as we all arrived at Lake Crabtree for the wedding ceremony, it was only fitting that an organized “ride” was going on that day.  So the park was full of families on their bikes getting ready for the event.  It was a very bright and sunny fall afternoon and you honestly could not have ordered any better weather for this.  James & Lori traded their nuptials as the sun set behind them on the water.  We had a really gorgeous sunset after the ceremony and I used that to our fullest advantage and got some stunning portraits (one of which is going into my ad this year).  We left shortly after to head over to the Museum of Natural Sciences.

Once we arrived at the Museum, I was treated (yes, I don’t say treated very often) to an absolutely GORGEOUS reception.  Greg with Joe Bunn DJ Company was warming up the crowd and the food, Cake and Flowers were stunning and so fitting of the Museum of Natural Sciences layout and decor.  After the cake cutting dancing and celebrating, I stole the couple for a few short moments to play on the AWESOME escalator that is inside the museum…  I don’t get many opportunities like that and I really loved the result.

After the wedding reception was over, Lori & James hopped in a waiting pedicab and rode off towards the Capital building.  I want to extend my most heartfelt congratulations to you both.  Thank you for allowing me to capture and share your truly unique day!  As always, here are a few photos!

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