Duke Gardens Weddings: Heather and Dave are married!

I'm so excited to feature Heather and Dave's wedding on the blog. Heather did an amazing job with all the details and I loved her color scheme -- pink and orange. If there is a happier color combination, I don't know what it is. It was absolutely perfect for a May wedding at Duke Gardens on Mother's Day.

 

 

 

 

 

The day began in my favorite suite at the Washington Duke Inn. The light is always beautiful in the bedroom -- perfect for showing off Heather's gorgeous gown.

 

 

 

The ribbon detailing and beading-encrusted back-bodice on Heather's gown was so lovely and unique.

 

 

 

 

Love the body language -- maybe just a tad nervous? Who isn't on their wedding day?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather checks her make-up and jewelry one last time.

 

 

 

All that fuss was worth it, Heather -- you were breath-taking.

 

 

 

 

While Heather was getting ready upstairs, Frank was working with Dave downstairs.

 

 

 

 

 

I love this shot of Dave with his mom.

 

 

 

 

No wedding would be complete without a little drama. Heather and Dave's came in the form of major over-crowding at the gardens. Apparently, everyone in the Triangle wants to take their mom to Duke Gardens on Mother's Day -- especially if it's a gorgeous day. I have never in all my years shooting at the gardens seen anything like this. It was crazy. Mother's Day Madness. All the parking lots were completely full and a security guard was turning away everyone -- even wedding guests. I had to leave the inn early to make sure I could get to the gardens, find a parking spot and haul my equipment to the Doris Duke Center in time for the wedding. Luckily, Frank was already there, so I knew we would be covered if I had to park blocks and blocks away, but it was nerve-wracking for everyone involved. Eventually, everyone made it in, but word to the wise -- if you're getting married on Mother's Day in Duke Gardens, make sure to plan for a little parking-lot mayhem.

 

 

Heather arrived at the gardens with about 10 minutes to spare. I still have no idea where her mom parked the truck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave walks in with Rev. Kayelily Middleton -- one of my favorite people on the planet -- to begin the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather and Dave chose each other's sibling to be their only attendant. Here's Heather's brother, Tommy, Dave's best man.

 

 

 

 

 

And Dave's sister, Lisa, Heather's maid of honor.

 

 

 

I love the amphitheater behind the Doris Duke Center. It may be the most private place in a public garden to get married. But when you're in the amphitheater on a bright sunny day in the late afternoon, you're getting hit by some serious sun. When you're a guy in a dark suit getting married, you get a tad sweaty. Here Kayelily does her part to keep Dave looking his best. Plus, I think he'd just finished his vows at this point. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Married!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of my favorite details, beginning with Heather's gorgeous bouquet by Tre Bella.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cake was by Guglhupf Bakery in Durham.

 

 

 

 

 

You could tell Heather and Dave had worked hard on mastering the steps of their first dance -- they were flawless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great jazz music by the John Brown Band set the mood for the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The getaway car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The getaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather and Dave, it was an honor to photograph your beautiful wedding. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

 

 

 

Venue

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

 

Officiant

Rev. Kayelily Middleton

 

 

Hair and Make-Up

Makeup for Your Day

 

 

Floral Design

TreBella Florist

 

 

Catering

Triangle Catering

 

 

Cake

Guglhupf Bakery, Durham NC

 

 

Music

John Brown Band

Aug 20, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 1 Comment »

Heather and Tyler are engaged: Raleigh Wedding Photography

Meet Heather and Tyler. Two things you should know about them: 1) Heather has the most amazing, contagious laugh and 2) Tyler loves to make Heather laugh. Basically, if you spend enough time around them, your cheeks will hurt from smiling and laughing along with them. I'll probably need physical therapy for my face after their October 15th wedding in Raleigh. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler proposed in the very chic bar at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills, so we headed over as the light faded. After a quick outfit change, these two were back on -- and such good sports, 'cause it was pretty hot and humid. You'd never know it by looking at them! (Now me, that was a different story -- humid hair horrors.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather and Tyler's only photo request was to get something in the same spot where Tyler proposed -- and of course, it was occupied. But after a little gentle intimidation from me, in the form of hanging out too close to the banquette and sighing loudly, we were able to get some cool shots. (Those of you who know me are laughing right now -- because I couldn't intimidate a squirrel.)

 

 

LOVE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather and Tyler, thanks for being so much fun! Frank and I can't wait for October 15!!

Aug 18, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

Duke Chapel and the Siena Hotel: Vanda & Scott

Vanda and Scott were married on a beautiful June day at Duke Chapel in Durham. I adored working with these two -- they are so sweet and devoted to each other. Vanda incorporated many lovely hand-made touches to personalize her wedding -- this is one Etsy-loving girl! She stepped away from the confines of tradition by having her brother and her sister as her only attendants and walked down that long, long aisle by herself, meeting her parents two-thirds of the way to the altar and then walking the rest of the way with them. I loved every moment of their emotion-filled day.

 

Vanda, you were just stunning -- such a beautiful bride!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott, lookin' good, my friend...

 

 

 

 

Scott with his grandfather (who was also his best man) in front of a plaque commemorating the contributions of Edwin Eugene Dacus, who quarried the distinctive stone used throughout Duke campus -- and also Scott's great-grandfather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the moments right after the ceremony -- there's always so much happiness to go around!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the ceremony, Vanda and Scott and their guests headed for the Siena Hotel for an elegant reception centered around the fabulous food at the hotel.

We ate realllly well that day. :)  (Thanks, you two!)

 

 

 

 

 

Love this shot of Vanda's mom and Scott's grandfather enjoying a dance together!

 

 

 

 

 

Scott with his mom. If you couldn't tell, the official color of Vanda & Scott's wedding was a certain shade of blue (and it was NOT Carolina blue)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vanda and Scott, thank you so much for allowing us to share your wedding day with you! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Aug 17, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Sneak Peek: John and Becky are married!

Congratulations to John and Becky, who were married yesterday in Becky's home church in Wendell, NC. When I was breezing through the files looking for a sneak peek photo, I found tons I could have used from their First Look (which was so amazing and emotional) to their portraits, but it was this shot taken during the first dance that really tugged on my heart strings. I think it captures so well the atmosphere of total joy that they radiated to everyone and especially, to each other, on their wedding day.

 

 

 

 

John and Becky, enjoy your honeymoon cruise! It was such an honor to be your wedding photographers. We'll see you when you get back!

 

 

Jul 18, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Amanda and Marshall are engaged! Raleigh Wedding Photography

Amanda and Marshall are such troupers. When their first session date was canceled due to torrential rains, we rescheduled for what had to be one of the hottest days of the summer. You'd never know it from looking at their pictures! We are so excited about their October wedding, not only because they are awesome people, but because Marshall is the brother of Jonathan, whose wedding to Emily we photographed last June. Their reception was at one of our favorite venues, Hinnant Family Vineyards. Sadly, their images have yet to make it up onto the blog...I have quite a "back-blog" of weddings waited to be posted. Maybe we'll do a double wedding blog post after Amanda and Marshall's wedding. :)

 

Here are a few of my favorites from the session. Amanda and Marshall, thanks for toughing it out in the good ol' NC heat. We can't wait for the wedding this Fall when it will (hopefully) be much cooler!

 

 

(Amanda has the most beautiful eyes! Marshall's are pretty amazing, too. I'm willing to bet their kids' eyes are going to have hypnotic powers.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jul 15, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

Dads and Daughters

Alright, I admit it, I cry at weddings. What a cliche, right? But it's true. And typically the waterworks will start during the Father/Daughter dance. So in honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd pay tribute to all those dads out there who've given us beautiful brides to photograph over the years by highlighting some of my favorite shots from Father/Daughter dances. Here you go. Try not to tear up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and I have to throw this one in as a counter-point to the sweet one above -- love the expression on Patricia's dad's face as he dances with her!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite often, the song that's played most frequently during the Father/Daughter dance is Heartland's "I Loved Her First." I always, always get chills when I watch a father dance with his daughter while this song plays in the background. I thought I'd share the lyrics. You can also hear the song on Youtube here.

 

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love your alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful women with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first

From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 20, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 3 Comments »

Duke Gardens Weddings: Marla and Dan are married!

Congratulations to Marla and Dan who were married at Duke Gardens this May. The sunshine-filled wedding day began with the bride and bridesmaids getting ready together in a suite at the Millennium Hotel in Durham. This is always a fun part of the day for me. I loved the detail on Marla's dress and thought the bridemaids' dresses were some of the prettiest I've seen recently. Those bows were adorable -- thank goodness Marla's mom was on hand to help tie them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the engagement session, I knew I was going to love photographing Marla in all her wedding finery. She was absolutely radiant.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the great things about having two photographers is that while I was at the hotel photographing Marla and her bridesmaids, Frank was at Dan's parents' home, photographing the groom with his family. Then he followed the groomsmen over to the gardens to get ready for the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as we got the word that the groom was on his way to the gardens, Marla and her bridesmaids went to Dan's parents' home too,

to honor a request by his mom for portraits on the stairs.

Beautiful surroundings, beautiful light and beautiful girls. Sometimes I wonder how we get so lucky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding days always fly by so quickly. Before long, the ceremony was underway at the pergola in the terraced gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After photos at the gardens, we made our way back to the Millennium Hotel for the reception. While Frank was covering cocktail hour,

I was inside the ballroom, grabbing some detail shots, including floral designs by Floral Dimensions and yet another beautiful cake by the always-fabulous

Lorie at Simply Cakes. Have I said yet how much I love this color combination? If not, let me say it now: purple and blue is gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

 

Dan's parents are champion ballroom-dancers, so naturally, the First Dance was going to be special. Marla and Dan worked hard to master the intricate footwork.

If it's possible to rock a waltz, they absolutely did (or was it a tango?). I know Dan's mom and dad are so proud!

 

 

 

 

 

 L-O-V-E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think I ever really gave much thought to the importance of having a great DJ until I became a wedding photographer. Troy Coghill did a fantastic job keeping everyone dancing all evening.

We love it when people have a great time; it makes our jobs that much more fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Dan and Marla, thanks for allowing us to celebrate your wedding day with you, your family and friends. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

 

 

 

 

P.S. I'm trying some new blog templates; let me know what you think!

Jun 06, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

Why I Am A Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography has been my full-time job since 2006. Before I was a wedding photographer, I specialized in portraits of babies, children and families. When asked if I photographed weddings, my answer was always an emphatic "No!" Too much pressure, too much stress…too important. I didn't think I was up to the monumental task of capturing all the things that a wedding photographer is tasked with: details, action, reaction, emotion and iconic moments in the life of a family. It was challenging enough getting a two-year old to stay still long enough to get a great shot. I knew if I really messed it up, I could re-shoot. But weddings?? A one-shot deal? No way, no how.

But then, something happened. My grandmother decided to remarry. And she asked me to photograph her wedding. I was terrified. But how do you say "no" to your grandmother? I couldn't.

So I read everything I could about wedding photography. I talked to photographers I knew who shot weddings, taking notes furiously. In the weeks leading up to my grandmother's wedding, I tested and re-tested my equipment. I practiced stopping motion. I played "what if?" long into the night. "What if" my camera broke? (I'd use my back-up.) What if the light in the church was horrible and I couldn't use my flash? (I'd make my camera as sensitive to light as I could with a high ISO…and pray.) What if I missed the kiss? (I couldn't even think about it.) What if my grandmother hated the pictures? (Was I crazy? She was my grandmother. She was going to love anything I did).

I don't remember much about the actual wedding, but I'll never forget my grandmother's face when I gave her the proofs. She cried. I cried. She told me I'd made her look beautiful. I told her she was beautiful, no matter what I did. And just like that, I was in love…with wedding photography.

It took quite a while (three years, actually) before I could make the leap to photographing weddings full-time. For the first year, with Frank's help, I worked like a madwoman. We shot 30 weddings our first year in business at ridiculously low prices. If I'd known then what I know now about the amount of time, energy and  resources (of both the financial and emotional variety) it would take to shoot and fulfill those 30 weddings, I would have known to triple what I was asking for.  I made next to no money that first year. But those 30 weddings reinforced what I suspected was true after shooting my grandmother's wedding: this is a deeply fulfilling job.

And one that is often really, really hard work.

Anyone reading this who thinks it must be fun to be a wedding photographer  -- you're right. It is fun. It is also pressure-filled, emotional, stressful, often frustrating and at times, maddening. The actual "fun" part -- the act of photographing someone or something -- is only a small part of what I do each week. The rest is all business: marketing, accounting, record-keeping. Shipping. Answering emails. Over-seeing the production of albums and coffee-table books, prints and canvases. I do more "project management" now than when I was employed by an advertising agency as a Project Manager.

 

Wedding photography is also an expensive business. While the cost to hang out your shingle as a photographer is fairly low compared to, say, opening a restaurant, the costs to build and maintain a successful business are high. The hours are odd and long. Best time to photograph outdoors? Sunrise and sunset. And honestly, the next person who asks me if it's great to only have to work one day a week is going to get clocked. The cost of heirloom-quality products is high. I believe we've become a society that is satisfied with "good enough." We've become used to stuff wearing out, breaking down, going bad. When that happens, we throw it away and go get another one. I've chosen to be a part of an industry that places a high value on things that last. Things whose value increases with each passing year.  Ken Luallen, a photographer I greatly admire, says that what he does is more than taking pretty pictures of a couples' "Big Day." Instead, he creates a tangible reminder of the day two people promised, come hell or high water and damn the divorce rate, that they would stay true to each other. He's giving them something that they can hold in their hands, show their children and say, "See this? This is the day we became a family."

That's an idea that really resonates for me. But. I'd be lying if I wrote that the pressure doesn't weigh me down like an anchor some days. It's my clients who bring me back up. Every little note, every email, every Facebook wall post that tells me I've done a good job is so sweet.  Sweet as in precious. Highly desired, greatly appreciated.

Some weddings are easy. Some are not. Some weddings I have all the time I need to create the kind of photographs that have grace and beauty and will be valued, not just today or tomorrow, but in 50 years. Some days I barely have enough time to squeeze off a full-length portrait of the bride and groom before it's time to rush to the reception (guess which days are my favorites?). I feel such deep gratitude to and affection for the couples who grant us the privilege of documenting their weddings. With every anniversary, every new baby, I celebrate with you. It gives me such happiness to be able to look back at each wedding, remember and say, "See that? That's the day they became a family. And I got to photograph it." 

 

May 31, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Carolina Inn Weddings: Stephanie and Scott are married!

There's a corner of my heart set aside for couples who get married at the Carolina Inn because that's where Frank and I got married years and years ago. It's such a special place for us. Anytime we get to shoot there, it is always a pleasure. And when we have clients like Stephanie and Scott, we're just in seventh heaven. The inn was the busiest I've ever seen it -- two weddings, a prom and a good-size corporate party all going on more or less at once, but the staff was on top of everything, even when the threat of rain forced some last-minute reconfiguring of spaces. So while things were hopping downstairs, the atmosphere upstairs where Stephanie and her bridesmaids got dressed was much more relaxed.

 

 

 

 

In true Carolina Girl fashion, Stephanie choose the perfect shade of blue for her eight bridesmaids' dresses.

 

 

 

 

 

What would a wedding be without giggly flower girls...

 

 

 

 

...and a reluctant ring bearer?

 

 

 

 

Love these two shots of the couple with their grandmothers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite the color-coordinated (and good-looking) wedding party, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Hamm and her team at Bliss by Sam did a great job of coordinating the ceremony. Here's the wedding party lined up, ready to go.

I think we were all holding our breath, hoping that the rain that was threatening to pour would hold off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It did.  :)

 

 

 

 

Best. Recessional. Ever.  I couldn't pick a favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had just enough time for a few couple portraits and the wedding party shots before the rain poured down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sampling of all the Carolina Blue and orange-accented details, featuring another edible work of art by the always-amazing Lorie at Simply Cakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason at Island Sound did a great job keeping everyone on their feet all night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie and Scott welcomed quite a few kids to the reception. I think they had as much fun as the adults did. Who doesn't love the Casper Slide (Part 2)?

 

 

 

 

 

Ah...so inspiring to see the older generation passing along dance tips to the whipper-snappers.

 

 

 

 

I think he's got it.

 

 

 

 

So does the flower girl...

 

 

 

 

 

until a nap calls.

 

 

 

 

 

Last dance.

 

 

 

 

 

Whether it's walking down an aisle or making their grand exit from the reception, Stephanie and Scott are one couple who really know how to make an exit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie and Scott, thanks for letting us share your amazing wedding day!

May 28, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

Becky and John: Engaged!

For Becky and John's engagement session, we traveled to Wendell, the little town on the outskirts of the Triangle where Becky grew up. I love exploring and shooting in these small towns; you never know what you'll find! Becky and John were so fun and easy to photograph. Obviously, our cameras love them almost as much as they love each other. We're looking forward to Becky's bridal portrait session this week and the wedding in July. Here are just of few of the many images that made the "favorites" list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guess what day they're getting married?

 

 

 

 

Becky has the best smile. She just lights up when she's with John.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved the color of Becky's dress. When I saw this teal-ish door, I knew I had to have a shot of them in front of it, loose bricks and all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 24, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

May Madness

Goodness, but it's been a while since I posted! I'm blaming it all on May.

You've heard of March Madness, I know. Well, we in the wedding photography world have our own crazy month and it's May. More people get married in May now than in June. (I think that's because it's just too hot here by the time June rolls in.)

 

There are two months that I know for certain, year after year, will always be full-to-bursting with weddings. One is October (usually perfect weather in North Carolina); the other is May.

 

I love May. As I sit here writing this on a Friday night, I'm so excited about the wedding we'll photograph this weekend. And next weekend. And the weekend after that. And the weekend after THAT. By the time May 31 rolls around, I'm going to be exhausted and the real work will only be just getting going: editing images, creating slide shows, designing albums. It's a happy tired because nothing gives me more joy than photographing weddings.

 

So when things get busy, the blog gets the short end of the attention-stick. I've got lots of posts with the word DRAFT in big red letters beside them, just waiting for me to show them a little love. They're on their way, I promise. Until then, how about a sneak peek from Stephanie and Scott's April wedding. One of my all-time favorite recessional shots. I love it.

 

 

I love the pure emotion on their faces. I love that they're not paying any attention to me. I love that their happiness is just jumping right out of the image. This is why I love weddings. If you're getting married this month or have been honored with an invitation to a wedding, soak all that pure joy up. It's a rare thing.

 

Soon, there will be lots of new stuff on Pixel Dust, I promise. Happy May!

 

May 08, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 3 Comments »

Marla and Dan: Engaged!

Meet Marla and Dan. They are in love with each other. Our cameras are in love with them. They have a beautiful connection that was amazing to capture.

 

 

 

 

For their engagement session, we met the couple at Umstead Sate Park . I like engagement session locations to reflect something about the couple, rather than just choosing a generic location because it's pretty or has flowers blooming or is easy to get to. Marla and Dan both enjoy spending time together outdoors and Umstead is one of their favorite places to hike, so naturally, it was the perfect place. The beautiful light in this image is courtesy of the lake to the right. It was a bright sunny day and light was bouncing off that lake and flowing into the woods like crazy. As photographers, we look for the light first and background second. If you have beautiful light, you can make great images no matter what's in the background. Beautiful background, bad light? You either have to make the light you need or move on to another location -- it's that simple. In this case, we had both -- plus, one seriously gorgeous couple.

 

 

 

Dan is a police officer in Durham. I confessed that I'd never made the acquaintance of a law enforcement officer outside of the very few times I've seen one walking up to my car in the rear-view mirror. I was a little intimidated but he put me at ease right away. I won't call him a sweetheart because that might hurt his street-cred, but he was relaxed, fun and obviously crazy-in-love with Marla. 

 

 

 

 

Marla is sweet, easy to talk to and works for an insurance company as one of the good guys. Plus, hello? Gorgeous much? I cannot wait to photograph this woman in a wedding gown. My camera just might melt, so Marla, I will be sure to bring back-ups for our back-ups!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One for the Parentals...

 

 

 

 

...and one for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun was really, really bright by the lake, so we played with it a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's one reason why Umstead is a special place for this couple: their tree. See the date? Dan carved their initials on the tree back in December of 2007. They're getting married in May, so I think a return trip is in order to add their wedding date. Everyone say it with me now..."Awwwww...."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marla and Dan, we are so excited to photograph your Duke Gardens wedding in May!

 

You can see more from Marla and Dan's e-session here.

 

 

Apr 09, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 5 Comments »

Heather and Dave: Engaged!

Meet Heather and Dave. The couple met and fell in love at Duke while working towards their masters degrees in Really Important Stuff. Heather works safe-guarding open spaces in Northern California; Dave works to make sure the water stays clean. These two left the (relative) warmth of San Francisco to come to NC for a weekend of wedding planning and their engagement session. They were troupers during a very chilly afternoon in February at West Point on the Eno and downtown Durham. The line in that old song, "I've got my love to keep me warm" kept popping into my head -- I definitely think that's why they don't look frozen in these photos! Frank and I are looking forward to their May wedding at Duke Gardens, when I can guarantee it will be significantly warmer. Here are a few of my favorites from their session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather and Dave, we are so excited to photograph your wedding this May. See you soon!

Mar 19, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 4 Comments »

Wedding Album Traffic Jam!

I had such high hopes when the start of the winter downtime began. I was going to blog at least every other day and finally get caught up on showing off the amazing couples that we were so blessed to work with last year. The blog was going to be a fount of information with our "So We Were Just Thinking" series and yet I've only managed two entries. What in the world happened?

Albums. Albums happened.

 

I love wedding albums. The album is the first heirloom of the new family that is created when a couple speaks their vows on their wedding day. We are proud to partner with Pictage and Leather Craftsmen to deliver books that meet the "heirloom" standard. Each album is a one-of-a kind, custom-designed creation requiring many hours of work and meticulous attention to detail. I am notoriously picky about the wedding albums that leave the studio with "Sweet Life Photography" embossed on the inside. We have so many albums in production right now (12 to be exact) that I would swear somebody sent out a memo to my 2009 (and some 2008) clients that NOW was the time for everyone to get their album picture requests in. I honestly can't remember a year that album production hasn't been spread out more evenly. Was there a fax? A conference call I missed? Anybody?

 

I believe without a doubt that I have the best job in the world. And I've always been proud of the fact that we are a small boutique studio shooting a limited number of weddings each year so that we can maintain a high level of customer service. But right now, I'd give just about anything for a whole squadron of photo editors and assistants at my beck and call. We're going to get through this unexpected craziness with beautiful albums as the result.

 

So hang in there with me...soon there will be a new crop of weddings, engagements and portrait sessions to share and celebrate on the blog. Until then, my nose is to the grindstone.

 

And since no blog post is really a blog post without a photo, here's a little promise of Spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth

Mar 18, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 1 Comment »

Quest for The Dress: a wedding photographer’s view

 

 

Last weekend, I had the privilege -- and just plain fun -- of covering the Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale at the Raleigh Sheraton downtown. I came away from the experience with a renewed appreciation for just how daunting it can be to find the wedding dress of your dreams. First, a little of my own history: I bought my wedding dress off the rack at Hudson Belks back when they still had a bridal department and Frank, not my mom, sister or best friend, went with me. I bought the first dress I tried on and -- gasp! -- he saw me in it right then and there. We were determined to do everything about our wedding differently. Shopping for the dress was just one more thing we weren't going to do the traditional way. I found out later that my mom's feelings were hurt that she didn't get to go with me when I chose my wedding dress (I was the first daughter in our family to get married) and I regret now not having her with me when I found my version of The Dress. Maybe I wouldn't have strolled down the aisle with an enormous bow on my backside if Mom had been with me.

It was heart-warming and eye-opening to watch brides with their moms, sisters and friends on the quest to find the perfect wedding dress. A portion of the Hanover Ballroom where the gown sale was held was closed off to create one big dressing room, Filene's Bargain Basement style -- no doors, just a large room of dressing "stations".  You don't spend almost ten hours over two days in a large room with dozens of brides and dresses and not come away with some observations about the process. Here are a few of mine.

 

• Take only one or two people whose opinion you value with you when you go shopping for a wedding dress. More than once I saw brides get frustrated and confused as they tried on dress after dress, only to have members of their Wedding Dress Posse express different opinions about each and every single dress. In this case, the fewer the opinions, the better.
•  
• Make sure you take someone with you who will give it to you straight. Someone who will block the door and say, "Girl, I love you, but you are NOT walking out the door with that dress. You are beautiful, but that is not the dress for you. Let's keep looking."
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• Pure white is a hard color for 80% of women to wear. Plus, if your wedding day is sunny and bright and you get married at high noon, your photographer is going to have to put you in the shade and then -- guess what -- that pure white is going to take on the blue-ish tinge of the light in shade. Soft ivory is the more flattering choice for most of us and for some weird reason doesn't go as blue in the shade as white does.
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• Be willing to be surprised. Be open to styles you might not have considered before. Strapless dresses continue to be the most popular style, but they're not for everyone. I have to admit, I don't get the popularity of strapless wedding gowns. I, for one, detest my upper arms and I haven't met many women who love theirs either. So, why all the strapless dresses? I think, to some degree, it's because that's the style featured most often in bridal magazines and boutiques. If you choose a strapless gown, the tailoring has to be impeccable. If not, you're going to spend over 8 hours under threat of exposing the Girls to all your nearest and dearest. Or the dress is so tight to keep it from falling down that you can't breathe, much less execute a perfect version of "Thriller" on the dance floor. Rule of thumb: you should be able to walk the length of a large ballroom and back without feeling the need to pull up on the dress. If not, it doesn't fit right. If your dress doesn't fit, you're not going to feel comfortable and it will show in your photographs.
•  
• Finally, when you look in the mirror and can't stop smiling, you've found The Dress. 

 

Happy hunting,

Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

 

   

Feb 17, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

NC State Engagement session: Kristin and Amin are engaged!

Remember Erin and Tom? The day before their engagement session at UNC, I met Kristin and Amin on the campus of NC State for their engagement session. NC State one day, UNC the next. That was a first for me -- engagement sessions at rival campuses back-to-back. Maybe I angered the ACC gods and that's the cause of the Tarheels' abysmal season? If so, I am very, very sorry...now can the Tarheels please, please start winning again?

 

I met Kristin at the wedding of Jen and Adam back in June (which is soon to be featured here on the blog). She is the talented stylist responsible for helping Jen to achieve maximum glow on her wedding day. I was like a little kid when she asked me to photograph her wedding to Amin this October at Highgrove. (Pecan chicken, here we come!) Amin is a brilliant numbers-guy who graduated from NC State and has a fantastic smile.

Here are just a few of my favorites from their engagement session.

 

Kristin and Amin brought their dogs for a few shots in the beginning of the session.

Those pups were so well-behaved they could have come out of Central Casting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you graduated from NC State, it's kind of a done deal that you've got to have a photograph in front of the bell tower.

 

 

 

 

 

The colors of the leaves on campus were at their peak. Kristin just happened to have on a gorgeous teal sweater.

Blue + orange = complementary colors = beautiful backdrop for photographs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To: Whomever painted the colorful graffiti at the free expression tunnel at NC State

From: Me

Re: THANKS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hands down, favorite.

 

 

Kristin and Amin, we cannot wait for October 2. It's going to be awesome and we're so excited we get to be there!

Feb 13, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

Sheraton Raleigh: Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Gown Sale this weekend

 

 

I am really excited to be a part of the BABC Charity Wedding Gown Sale, coming up this weekend at the Sheraton Raleigh hotel at 421 South Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh. Ladies, if you haven't found the perfect dress yet, please come out this weekend -- the dress may be waiting for you downtown!

 

Brides Against Breast Cancer is a major fund-raising event for the Making Memories Foundation, an organization whose mission is to bring some joy into the lives of women who are losing their fight against breast cancer.  Some of the gowns for sale have been donated by brides, but more than half of the gowns are donated by designers and bridal shops and have never been worn. Gown prices begin at $99; Couture Collection gowns are 35% to 75% off retail prices!

 

Friday night's VIP event features a Mother/Daughter dinner and fashion show. I'll be photographing the gown sale on Saturday and Sunday. I am literally beside myself with excitement to be a part of this -- I'm imagining it will be like getting to photograph an episode of "Say Yes to the Dress," a show with which I'm completely obsessed. (Yep, that's me you hear screaming, "$10,000 for a dress??? Are you kidding me??)

 

I'm donating my time and images to the organization and I'm really hoping some Sweet Life brides decide to head downtown this weekend to attend the sale. If you go and you find the dress, email me a copy of the receipt and I will add a $150 print credit to your package! I hope to see you there!

Feb 03, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Shady Wagon Farm: Kim and Tim are married!

Something about this snowy day made me want to revisit the warm and wonderful April wedding of Kim and Tim at Shady Wagon Farm in New Hill, NC. It was such a beautiful day -- blue skies and warm sunshine abounded, bringing hints of summer weather to come. Kim and Tim are two of my favorite people on the entire planet. Plus, it's just so much fun to type (and say) their names: Kim and Tim, Kim and Tim, Kim and Tim. It makes me happy. So enjoy some of my favorite shots from their wedding day.

 

Geese are the unofficial greeters at Shady Wagon Farm. Good thing they don't bite!

 

 

 

Kim's hair and make-up was done by Lanni Hatfield from Unforgettable Beauty. I've worked with Lanni on several occasions and she is super-sweet and so talented. If you're looking for a hair stylist and make-up artist for your wedding day (and I highly recommend that you invest in both), you can find everything you need all rolled-up into the one adorable package that is Lanni. She also makes beautiful custom wedding jewelry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this shot of Kim coming down the steps. Her bridesmaids' reactions are great.

 

 

 

 

 

The detailing on Kim's gown was so gorgeous...

 

 

 

...and so was she!

 

 

 

The interior of the house is a beautiful location for portraits, filled with color and light. Every photographer's dream.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the guys were cleaning up nicely downstairs. All the shots of the guys were made by my friend and fellow photographer Rick Ward, while Frank continued to recover from knee surgery. Here, Tim multi-tasks while helping out the ring bearer with his tie.

 

 

 

Then gets a little help with his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutie-patootie flower girl and ring-bearer made the wedding party complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ceremony begins as Kim and her dad make their way from the house and onto the drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick positioned himself on the other side of the pond and used a telephoto lens to capture this great shot of the lighting of the unity candle.

 

 

 

Rick told the ducks exactly when to swim into view. And they obeyed. That's how good he is.

 

 

 

It's official: Kim and Tim are married!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were shooting the family formals, the guests headed off on foot to the barn for the reception. I love this shot of Rick's of the interior of the barn. What a great space: rustic and elegant all at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

The first dance.

 

 

 

I squeezed behind the cake table to get a wide-angle view of the toasts.

 

 

 

This dancing shot of Rick's cracks me up. The lady in the middle is holding a baby bottle as she dances. Something only a mom can get away with!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta love a bubble departure!

 

 

 

Kim and Tim, it was an honor to photograph your wedding! We wish you lots of love, luck and happiness in your lives and know you're going to be so happy together!

 

 

Kim and Tim's wedding dream team:

Event Coordinating and Catering: Kenton Jenkins, Xu Catering, 919-451-2192

Floral Design: Greg Kennedy, Brides and Bouquets

Videography: Mark Holland, Ron K. Smith Productions

Music: Joe Bunn DJ Company

Wedding Cake: Lorie Watson, Simply Cakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan 31, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 1 Comment »

Duke Gardens Bridal Portrait: Jessie

How about a little beauty, grace and style to start off your Monday morning? With the wedding behind us, I can finally showcase Jessie's bridal portraits on the blog!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

Jessie chose to wear a veil that has been in T.J.'s family since the early 1900's. It was absolutely beautiful.

 

 

Thank you, Jessie, for the privilege of photographing you!

Jan 25, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 4 Comments »

Erin and Tom: Engaged!

Erin and Tom are the kind of couple that, were I a certain type of photographer, I would stalk them in Crate and Barrel as they selected items for their wedding registry, waiting for the perfect moment to ask them if they had a wedding photographer and hand them my card. Not that that happened. But they are so awesome, I would have totally stalked them. I can't wait for their wedding in June. Here are some of my favorite shots from their engagement session.

 

Hmmm...colorful leaves, a certain shade of blue...could we be in Chapel Hill on the campus of UNC on a Fall afternoon?

 

 

 

Why yes...yes, we could. Erin teaches writing and American Lit to undergrads at UNC while finishing up her Ph.D. Tom lives in Greensboro, but went to UNC for his master's degree in Environmental Science (my, but I have brilliant clients, don't I?).  Tom says that from the first moment he saw Erin in a yellow sundress in the Newman Catholic Student Center, he fell in love. This being real life and not Hollywood, things were a bit complicated, since Erin was dating someone else at the time. But as with all things that are meant to be, the path smoothed out and four years later, he proposed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin has a very photogenic laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was heavily overcast, but the rain held off. Erin got brave and changed into a sundress, even though there was a definite bite to the air. The Carolina blue sweather came back out soon. (Look at Tom, gamely putting up with this goofiness. A little goofy never hurt anyone, my cerebral friend.)

 

 

 

 

FAV-O-RITE.

 

 

 

 

I'm like a bloodhound; if there's graffiti on a college campus, I will find it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin and Tom, June 12th will be here before you know it! We can't wait to share your wedding day with you!

Jan 14, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Canvas Sale!

If you've seen the yummy canvases we love to display in our studio and at the bridal shows, great news:

all canvases are 30% off now through January 31st!

 

 

(Just 'cause we love our clients!)

 

Happy 2010!

Jan 08, 2010 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

So We Were Just Thinking…

Welcome to the first in what will be a new feature here on the Pixel Dust blog. So We Were Just Thinking will be a column of sorts (a blogumn? a collog?) where Frank and I can share our experiences as wedding-industry insiders with our readers. We're going to tackle a different subject in each column. I'll go first with my thoughts, then Frank will chime in on the same subject and I can almost guarantee he'll have a different (read: male) perspective. It might not always be photography-related, but it will relate to our experiences as wedding photographers. Kind of a "he-said, she-said" but about all things wedding-ish.  What we've learned from other professionals. Things we've seen that made us go "hmmmm...." Maybe something that's burning our chops that week. We thought beginning So We Were Just Thinking at the beginning of 2010 would be just right. Follow us through the year, find out what we find out, and join in the conversation. I'll go first.

 

Today, we're thinking about: Wedding Planners.

 

Not the three-ring binder that becomes the constant companion of every bride-to-be and the nemesis of many a groom, but the living, breathing dynamos also known as Event Coordinators. Maybe it's because we just finished the 2010 Wedding Show, but I can't help wondering why more couples don't hire event coordinators. Personally, if I'd just gotten engaged over Christmas and then walked into the Jim Graham building a mere week later to be confronted by the reality of all that had to be thought about, considered, planned and purchased, I might have turned to Frank and said, "Book some tickets baby 'cuz we're getting married in Vegas." Flowers. Linens. Stationery. Transportation. Catering. Venues. Gowns and tuxedos. Wedding cakes and crab cakes. Music and lighting. The honeymoon. And OMG, all those photographers. My blood pressure is going up just thinking about it. How do modern day couples DO this?

 

Frank: Being a guy, thoughts of the playoffs take up more room in my head than wedding coordinators do.  But I gotta tell you, when I am running around a church frantically trying to find the boutonnieres so that they can be pinned on the groom and his guys before the pictures (that's a pretty important detail and believe me -- brides notice if the guys are actually wearing their flowers in the photos) or trying to find Great Aunt Doris who wandered off during the family formals -- I am thinking about how great it would be if there were someone to help figure all of this stuff out. So that I could actually, you know, take pictures.

 

Elizabeth: Often, one of the first questions I ask couples who come in for a consultation is: Who's your event coordinator? (And I don't mean the lady at the church who's going to tell you when to walk down the aisle.) Most of the time, the response is: "Oh, we're just going to do it ourselves." As if you're not throwing the average person's version of a State Dinner at the White House. Or "my aunt is going to do it." Doesn't your aunt deserve to enjoy your wedding too? Often it's "we can't afford it." I think there's a misconception floating around that event coordinators are just for couples with unlimited resources. I think we have TV shows like The Style Network's "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway" and WE's "Platinum Weddings" to thank for that particular misunderstanding. Whether your budget is $10K or $100K, an event coordinator can mean the difference between actually enjoying your wedding or experiencing repeated melt-downs on your journey to "I do."

 

Frank: Just having access to the knowledge in a talented coordinator's brain and a little bit of guidance can really go a long way. They don't think the way the rest of us do, which is a good thing.

 

Elizabeth: I'll be honest: when there's an event coordinator on board, I enjoy my job more. Weddings run smoother, stress levels are lower and smiles come easier. I see people relax and actually have fun on their wedding day. I've shot weddings where the bride is looking at me when it's ten minutes past the time her wedding should have started and her cousin/wedding coordinator still hasn't come to get her yet. That's stress, folks. Half the time, the cousin/wedding coordinator is running around like a chicken with her head cut-off, in tears, because she doesn't know what she's doing, she's worried about letting you down and she KNOWS it's ten minutes past the time you should have walked down the aisle. What are YOU, the bride, likely to remember about that moment? Worry, frustration, anger. Not excitement. Not anticipation. Not joy...on what should be a very joyful day.

 

Frank: While I love to help in any way I can during a wedding -- anything from showing the guys how to use the button covers and cuff links on the tuxedos to pinning on flowers or showing the ushers which arm they should offer the ladies to walk them down the aisle -- I don't do a great job of time-keeping and crowd-herding because I have a job to do as well. If I'm working as the de facto event coordinator, I'm not able to capture candid moments.

 

Elizabeth: This is not a blanket endorsement of all event coordinators. Like wedding photographers, there are some good ones, some great ones and some awful ones. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that trying to get our work in front of some coodinators is like trying to get an audience with the Pope. It can be tough to get on their list of trusted vendors.  But that selectiveness is something that really works in your favor if you're a client.

 

Are coordinators for everyone? Possibly not. If you're a super-organized bride who drinks stress for breakfast, you'll probably be fine on your own. And I've worked with a Mother-of-the-Bride or two in my time that I'm pretty sure are super-human. But if you don't have a lot of support on the home front and the thought of coming up with a color scheme or seating arrangement makes you want to hide under a rock...consider recruiting an event coordinator to be a member of your wedding dream-team. This weekend at the Wedding Show, I met some lovely people whose entire purpose in life (well, that's most likely an overstatement, but you get my drift) is to make your wedding day as smooth, as stress-free, as joyful as possible. Like us, most coordinators have packages that allow you to choose the level of investment and involvement you get from them. They know that for many of you, the fun of planning a wedding is in finding ways to make it uniquely you. Don't worry that an event coordinator wants to take over the reins and make it all about her (or him). They, like us, want their clients to be happy. Most will move heaven and earth to make sure that you are.

 

Happy planning! :)

Jan 05, 2010 | Wedding Photography | 2 Comments »

The Wedding Show: January 2 and 3, 2010

 

I have a confession to make: I like bridal shows.

 

I know I risk sounding like a total wedding geek, but I love the sights, sounds, color, chaos and -- yum -- all the itty-bitty wedding cake samples. I love seeing all my colleagues in the wedding business; the "Hey!"s and "How are you?"s and "Did you have a great 2009?"s that we call out to each other as we're busy carting in and setting up all the components that make up the booths. Some of the best people you will ever meet are in the business of making wedding dreams come true. And even though we're supposed to be fierce competitors, I love seeing all my photographer friends. There are so many extraordinary photographers in the Triangle area and it's awe-inspiring and humbling to look at some of the work they've produced over the past year. I feel proud to be in their company. Over the years, I've gotten pretty Zen-like in my philosophy about the clients we book from these shows. I truly believe that the clients who commission us to photograph their weddings are the clients we're supposed to have. So it's not hard to wish my fellow photographers good luck and hope that they have a successful show too. 

 

But the best part of bridal shows? YOU. The brides, their moms, mothers-in-law-to-be, sisters, maids-of-honor, even those reluctant grooms showing how much they love their fiancees when they tag along on these orgies of all things wedding-related. The excitement in your faces. Hearing your engagement stories. Finding out what's important to you when it comes to your wedding day photography.

 

Wedding planning can be truly over-whelming. I'm convinced that it's like having a second job. Attending The Wedding Show is one way to make it infinitely easier. Any person, any thing, any service that you could possibly need to plan, execute and pull off the wedding of your dreams will be under one roof. You'll get amazing ideas. I can promise you that if you're one of those lucky newly-engaged couples, you will experience a little shell shock from the sheer number of vendors. You'll start thinking: Oh wow, I never even thought about that. Or that. Or that! Bring comfy shoes, your support team and enjoy the chaos. And definitely plan to stop by our booth! Frank and I will both be there and ready to help in any way we can. So come say hi and tell us your stories. We'll be offering 10% off any of our packages at the show.

 

Here are some of the amazing couples that we've meet through bridal shows over the years.

 

Heather and Jason:

 

 

 

Siobhan and Mario (who are expecting their baby boy any minute now!):

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle and Frank:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate and Randy:

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan and Michelle:

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsey and Clayton:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carey and Daryll:

 

 

 

Jaime and Craig:

 

 

 

Meghan and Preston:

 

 

 

Stephanie and David:

 

 

 

 

 

I'm so excited about 2010. I know it's going to be an amazing year. Some of the couples who'll make it so great we'll meet Saturday and Sunday, January 2 and 3rd amid the wonderful chaos of the Wedding Show. The anticipation is killing me! (Almost as much as my feet will be killing me at the end of the show!) Congratulations on your engagement -- we can't wait to meet you!

 

Dec 30, 2009 | Wedding Photography | Leave A Comment »

Kelly and Chase: Married!

Kelly and Chase were married on October 10 at beautiful Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. I knew I was going to love working with Kelly when she scheduled a boudoir session as a gift for her husband-to-be. Then she said they wanted to see each other before the wedding so we'd have plenty of time for natural light photography. I love it when the photography is so important to a couple that they're willing to set aside old traditions to make our time together on the wedding day a priority. I knew it was going to be a fabulous wedding and it was, from mimosas in the salon early in the morning to their bubble send-off. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

 

I was trying to sneak a shot of Kelly putting on her eyeliner, but she caught me -- and I like this result better anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite type of bridal portrait is what we photogs call 3/4-length. A face this gorgeous and a smile so radiant should be seen up close, but with a 3/4 length, we also get to see details like the beading on her gown and her gorgeous bouquet.

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Chase gets some help with his tie from his best man, Gary. They were teammates on NC State's Men's Golf Team.  Chase is a volunteer coach for the team now and is a golf pro -- so if you need lessons, call me and I'll put you in touch!

 

 

 

Whenever a couple chooses to see each other before the wedding, we insist that it be a private affair. That means no family, no wedding party -- just the bride and groom (and me and Frank, of course). We use long lenses so that we can be somewhat at a distance to give couples privacy when they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. We've done this many times and it never fails to move me to tears. It's a great moment and in my opinion, more powerful than seeing each other in front of 200+ guests. Plus, sometimes it's the only time you have alone together on your wedding day until it's all over.

 

Here, Kelly waits for the word that Chase is in position and she can head out to see him for the first time. In her hands is his wedding gift: an album of images from our boudoir session. I think I was almost as excited to see his reaction as she was! Look at this beautiful light on Kelly in this image. So gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

When we set up the First Look session, Frank and I get to the venue ahead of time (either earlier in the day or the week) and find a private place for our couple to meet. It was pretty challenging at Prestonwood on a gorgeous Fall Saturday, but we managed to scope out a path that was out of the way of both golfers and curious guests! I also like for the groom to have the bride's flowers with him so that he can present them to his bride. That's also a tradition, but oddly, one that didn't survive as strongly as the old "bad luck to see the bride before the wedding" superstition.

 

Here's Chase, with Kelly's bouquet. (Plus, don't you just love the unexpectedness of a shot of the groom holding the bouquet?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those raised eyebrows say it all! I think he likes his gift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention Chase is a golf pro? Maybe Kelly is his secret weapon.

 

 

 

 

Kelly's beautiful bouquet and all the flowers for the wedding were created by A Ming Rose.

 

 

 

 

 

I love how the reds, golds and oranges in the bridesmaids' bouquets pop off their black gowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the groomsmen and ushers were golfers, so of course, we had to make use of the props to be found naturally on a golf course.

Golf cart shot -- check.

 

 

 

Love the light pouring in through the windows as Kelly and the bridesmaids head to the ballroom for the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting married in a ballroom with huge windows? Sign me up!

 

 

 

 

Love these happy expressions!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prestonwood at night.

 

 

 

First dance.

 

 

 

A different perspective on a heart-felt toast by the best man.

 

 

 

 

The scrumptious three-tier chocolate mousse cake was made by the very talented pastry chef at Prestonwood.

 

 

 

 

 

With all the formalities complete, it was time to begin the party. Here, Kelly dances with her niece and flower-girl, Maya.  DJ Billy Ezzell with Complete Music had everyone on their feet and having a great time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A huge group hug to end the night!

 

 

 

 

Chase's mom lovingly hand-applied the customized labels to the champagne bubble bottles.

 

 

 

 

Bubble send-offs are so much fun to photograph! I love the way the bubbles show up at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to Happily Ever After!

 

 

Dec 30, 2009 | Wedding Photography | 1 Comment »