November 5, 2014

Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm

October is, in my humble opinion, the best time for weddings. The light is always amaaaazing and the weather is always perfect and people seem generally more comfortable and relaxed. It’s also my birthday month (yay!!) and we had the good fortune of getting to spend it with this crew. :) When I got to Annie’s hotel room, she presented me with a beautifully wrapped birthday present of adorable ceramic measuring cup whales for spending my birthday weekend with them! LITTLE WHALES!!! We couldn’t be luckier. I was super pleasantly surprised that they a.) remembered my birthday and b.) bought me something, but it turns out that their kindness and generosity seem to be very well known (for obviously good reason).

They’re also have a great sense of humor and a good bit of geekiness to them in the best way possible. James is a bit of a Star Wars nut, much like Geoff, who was led into Geoff’s office/dungeon during our initial consult to see just how many Boba Fett figurines Geoff has (we’re pretty sure they booked us because they were impressed with his collection). He also requested that their harpist learn to play the Imperial March and Cantina Song for their ceremony (she did – it was amazing). It was one of James’s only requests. ;) In addition to them being super sweet and fun, their wedding party totally adopted us and took us under their wing for the night (and they had some of the best dance moves we’ve ever seen). We were super lucky to be at Annie and James’s wedding, and we are thankful to have met such fantastic people!

Date: October 4, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Shady Wagon Farm // New Hill, North Carolina

First Dance Song: “Everlasting Light” – The Black Keys

Annie’s Occupation: Policy Analyst

James’s Occupation: CAD Team Lead

How You Met: Match.com

Interesting Bride Fact: I have an ongoing ranking system of chocolate chip cookies.

Interesting Groom Fact: I collect Star Wars toys.

Honeymoon Destination: Barcelona, Spain

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November 4, 2014

Hannah+Harrison // Wedding at Solas

This wedding had so much personality, but we knew that it would from the second we met Hannah and Harrison, and continued once we met Hannah’s parents, and continued again once we met their bridal party and friends. :) Hannah and Harrison (from here on known as H2) were referred to us by their dear friend (and our photography friend!) Melissa Tuck. Her in-laws are great friends with Hannah’s family, and she so graciously referred us for the super important job of documenting this amazing wedding, and we couldn’t be happier. Hannah wore a vintage wedding dress that was worn by both her grandmother and her mother. It had an outstanding hoop skirt and was overall just fantastic. Harrison had on some badass suspenders on both evenings, and can rock a bow tie pretty hard. On day 1, Carolyn was introduced to the concept of “snack cheese” (which, apparently, is just cheese you eat for a snack, but instead of calling it… cheese… you call it “snack cheese”) and was schooled by an eight year old girl on how to tell a frog from a toad. H2 had their first look next to a giant mural of themselves painted on the side of her childhood home by a friend (it features Hannah driving happily with her eyes closed and Harrison being extremely terrified). Then Hannah and Harrison dug up some bourbon that they buried in the backyard, drank it, made some faces, and proceeded to go take pictures with us. Their wedding ceremony was held in Heater Park (where Harrison proposed) in Cary with about fifty people and some yay signs. Their reception was held in the backyard of Hannah’s parents which they had totally redecorated and landscaped for the occasion (it was beautiful). There was a chandelier made out of branches and some tin can people dressed up like a bride and groom. The second night involved a rooftop reception held at Solas in downtown Raleigh. Peter Lamb and the Wolves graced us with their amazing presence (we are super lucky and happy to be joining them for a wedding again in January) and everyone danced the night away (and spilled some glow sticks, which was kind of fascinating. If they break, it spills into a bunch of electric glowing droplets, which, as it turns out, can severely stain your shirt). They talked about epic and legendary family games of Risk, and a good time was had by all.

Date: September 26 and 27, 2014

Ceremony Venue: Heater Park // Cary, NC

Reception Venue (Night 1): Backyard // Private Property

Reception Venue (Night 2): Solas // Raleigh, NC

Hannah’s Occupation: Clinical Research

Harrison’s Occupation: Global Business Intelligence

How You Met: At a party. He thought she was Asian; she was not. Luckily it still turned out ok :)

Interesting Fact: The bride went to the hospital on her bachlorette party because she fell down 2 stairs and knocked herself out. The groom has impeccable coordination.

Honeymoon Destination: Beach now, Australia/New Zealand later.

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October 31, 2014

Amanda+Derek // Wedding at the NCMA

These guys are pretty much an absolute joy to be around. They’re both constantly smiling and laughing and nothing much terribly phases them. At one point during the first look, some of Amanda’s makeup got on Derek’s white shirt collar during some hugging, and they didn’t much care. However, in an effort to still try to look as neat as possible during the wedding, they did attempt to use a Tide stick and remove it. This didn’t work. We then called in reinforcements to bring Derek a new white shirt, which they dutifully delivered, only to have another relative’s makeup come off on that collared shirt as well, at which point they all smiled, shrugged, and Amanda said, “It was meant to be!” and they all carried on. That’s our kind of couple.

Their family and friends were all amazing, and we did inform Amanda at one point in the evening that in all of our years photographing weddings, we’ve never seen a guest break a glass or bottle on the dance floor and then immediately proceed to clean it up themselves (not to mention continuing to dance at the same time). Usually it breaks, everyone looks at each other awkwardly and they clear a space on the floor for the staff to clean it up (occasionally there’s some half-hearted attempts to clear the obviously large shards, but never a full-on-glass-and-liquid removal team). These guests broke a glass and actually fixed the problem! Amanda thought me noticing this was quite funny, but it does say a lot about the people at the wedding when you think about it, and we give the guests an A+ for niceness and consideration.

Amanda and Derek have been great great great. Willing, understanding, patient, welcoming, and all wonderful things in between. They are truly wonderful (and beautiful!) people, and we are so happy that they’re together because it makes us feel like the world is a little bit of a better place.

Date: September 20, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: North Carolina Museum of Art // NCMA // Raleigh, NC

Amanda’s Occupation: Financial Auditor

Derek’s Occupation: Nonprofit Communications Director / Graphic and Web Designer

How You Met: At UNC. Derek was suitemates with two guys Amanda went to high school with. But we didn’t start dating until more than four years later and after we both had graduated.

Interesting Fact: About a year ago, Derek launched a website where he sells maps he’s designed of different cities throughout the world. But ironically enough, Amanda’s the one who has been to four out of the seven continents in the past year.

Honeymoon Destination: Paris and the Seychelles

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Category: Weddings