Category: Weddings

Susan and Michael have fast become some of our favorite people. Previously Carolyn had declared herself and her sister as the unofficial presidents of U2’s fan club, but I’m happy to say that we’re going to scootch over a little bit to make some room for Susan and Michael, and we’re happy to do it. I could say a lot about these guys… and how they are awesome and kind and funny and genuine… or about how they made a bunch of paper cranes for their wedding and then thought, “Is this enough paper cranes?” and it turns out that it was way more than enough paper cranes… or about how all of their guests were so sweet to us and there were a lot of Jamaicans there wearing hats and were highly entertaining people… or about Susan and Michael’s super good fashion sense that makes me want to raid both of their closets. But instead I’m going to leave a bit of the reading that they read to each other here. They edited it a bit, and I’m writing down what I can remember from a combination of my memory and the actual book text. (so forgive me when I inevitably get this a little bit wrong) But it’s too sweet to not put in the blog post and has been one of my favorite wedding readings ever.

“I like you and I know why. I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special, and you remember it a long, long time. When I think something is important, you think it’s important too. We have good ideas. When I say something funny, you laugh. I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too. I like you because if I am mad at you, then you are mad at me too. It’s awful when the other person isn’t. If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one. if I find four, I give you two. If we only find three, we keep on looking. I like you because I don’t know why, but everything that happens is nicer with you. I can’t remember when I didn’t like you. It must have been lonesome then. If you and I had some drums, and some horns and some horses, if we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines, we could be a HOLIDAY! We could be a CELEBRATION! We could be a WHOLE PARADE! Even if it was the nine hundred and ninety-ninth of July. Even if it was August. Even if it was way down at the bottom of November. Even if it was no place particular in January. I would go on choosing you, and you would go on choosing me, over and over again. That’s how it would happen every time.” – Excerpt from I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg.

Date: May 31, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: NCMA // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “The Way I Am” – Ingrid Michaelson

Susan’s Occupation: Career Counselor at George Washington University

Michael’s Occupation: School Administrator at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

How You Met: In a French class at North Carolina State University

Interesting Fact about Susan: Studied Arabic in Morocco and Jordan. Mumtaz!

Interesting Fact about Michael: Went to Space Camp…twice!

Honeymoon Destination: Santorini, Greece! Bookended on either side with a night in London.

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Dan Holodnik (friend of bride and groom) | Band – The Swinging Swamis | Florist – The Watered Garden | Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes | Caterer – NCMA (Iris) | Hair/Makeup – Body Bliss Salon | Coordinator – Morgan Greer of the NCMA

This wedding had all of my favorite things: cats, Mediterranean food, light-up star lanterns, and stories about Tim Robbins. It also had one of my least favorite things: creepy baby dolls. Granted, the creepy baby dolls weren’t the bride and groom’s fault.

Welcome to our recap of Brooke and David’s wedding! It was pretty great. I was glad that for once I got to photograph inside the bride’s house and thus was able to photograph the couple’s cat (Geoff for some reason always gets this opportunity and I’m always missing out on the cute furry parts of weddings). Of course, Geoff still got to photograph the furry adorableness of their friend’s dog who was also insanely cute, and so we both had a good morning. The rest of the wedding was just as awesome (including an impressive guitar solo overhead during the ceremony on the steps of Haywood Hall courtesy of Artsplosure). The food was some of the best wedding food we’ve everrrrr had, and we got to spend some time taking portraits inside a historic house among other portraits of people (some of which creeped David out, but not to the extent of the effect that the baby doll collection had on all of us).

This was also our first wedding with a super comfortable and low-maintenance wrap dress and our first couple with a prominently displayed Andy Warhol print in their living room. They also have about 90% of the same books as us, so we think they’re pretty good people, but we didn’t have to necessarily scour their reading material to tell you that. We’ve had a great time getting to know Brooke and David and the awesome people that we think they are, and this was reinforced by spending their wedding weekend stalking them with cameras from a short distance away. And now without further ado…

wedding photographers in raleigh north carolina

Date: May 17, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Haywood Hall // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “There is No Greater Love” – Billie Holiday

Brooke’s Occupation: Health Promotion Specialistc

David’s Occupation: Underwriting Manager

How You Met: Brooke and David met through the persistent matchmaking of their mutual friend Sara. Brooke remembers eating drippy tacos, David remembers eating edamame. They both agree there was Bang Bang Shrimp.

Interesting Fact about Brooke: Brooke once lost her cellphone at a fossil dig. The phone was eventually recovered…along with prehistoric turtle and alligator skeletons.

Interesting Fact about David: David once shopped with Tim Robbins. They looked at and discussed vintage concert t-shirts for the Violent Femmes and the Pixies. Also, invented Bubble Tape. You’re welcome.

Honeymoon Destination: Mexico! Margaritas! Mayan ruins!

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Allan Maule | DJ – Shelby Merchant | Florist – State Farmer’s Market | Cake – Teal Petal Cakes | Caterer – Charlie’s Kabobs | Hair – Jenna Emory | Makeup – Dora Hargittai | Coordinator – John-Michael Gillivan | Invitations – Lovely in Ink Designs

Andrea and Bobby kindly asked us to photograph their wedding in Madison and Athens, Georgia on Bobby’s family farm. How did we get so lucky to accompany this amazing crew of people into the more southernly south? We photographed Betsy and Jeff’s wedding in Chapel Hill a little over a year ago and Andrea was Betsy’s bridesmaid. :) We remembered Andrea and how lovely she was and we were SUPER excited to photograph their wedding in Georgia! And we were excited that Betsy and Jeff would be there for us to continually harass/talk to. But then we discovered upon arriving that most of Betsy’s bridesmaids were there too because they all went to college at UGA and we never mentally put this together! So YAY for this being a whole bunch of bridesmaids we already knew and loved and we had a seriously good weekend with these guys (you might also recognize the Hunger Games wedding pin which seems to be a theme with this crew. The odds can never be too much in your favor on your wedding day).

And there were cows! And adorable flower girls! And chickens! And rain that we kept miraculously dodging! And s’mores and pre-wedding campfires and I ate too many Reese’s. :) And of course, there was Andrea and Bobby, who made absolutely no huff or puff all weekend about anything and were an oasis of calm wonderfulness and absolute southern hospitality. You could never meet two nicer people who were ecstatic about getting married and truly knew and understood the whole reason being the giant party they were throwing. We are so thankful we were able to be with them, and we wish them so much love and joy in their lives!

Date: May 10, 2014

Ceremony Venue: Bobby’s family farm // Madison, GA

Reception Venue: East West Bistro // Athens, GA

First Dance Song: “Fishing in the Dark” – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Andrea’s Occupation: Pharmacist – UNC Hospitals Pharmacy PGY1 Pharmacy Resident

Bobby’s Occupation: Pharmacist – Barney’s Pharmacy PGY1 Community Resident

How You Met: First day of chemistry class freshmen year (began dating halfway through sophomore year during organic chemistry)

Interesting Facts about Andrea and Bobby: Our first date was at Georgia Theatre. Bobby likes to sing to himself, me, or the dog (Wyatt) in the mornings. I do things like pick up stray cats and bring them home (Colby the Cat). We like to play on the farm, do craft projects, raised chickens in our bathtub until they were bigger, and enjoy cooking dinner together.

Honeymoon Destination: Will be going on a honeymoon after Andrea’s second year of residency (most likely to Alaska)

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Sam Mixon | DJ – Kevin Cheeks of Dawgtown DJ | Florist – European Floral Designs | Cake – Sweet Afternoons | Caterer – Annette Eaton for the farm reception and East West Bistro for the formal reception | Hair/Makeup – Mitzi Everette of the James Madison Inn and Spa