Category: Weddings

Meagan+Jonathan’s Wedding at Barclay Villa

Meagan and Jonathan had their wedding at Barclay Villa in Angier, NC. We had been hearing a lot about this venue for a few years but hadn’t had the opportunity to shoot there until now. But basically it’s a giant castle-house that the owners built to have weddings and is very Game of Thrones… without all the bad stuff. The DJ told me that he once had a Renaissance Fair wedding there where the bride and groom asked him to wear a Jester hat. Amazing.

I knew Meagan from a long series of e-mails over a long period of time and from her bridal portraits, but Geoff and I didn’t meet Jonathan until the wedding weekend. Knowing how sweet and lovely Meagan is, we knew that Jonathan would probably be nice, and he certainly was SUPER nice, as were all of his really nice but semi-rowdy with photobombing-tendencies groomsmen (I say that with love, gentlemen). Meagan and Jonathan were married by Meagan’s aunt which was really cool (we’ve been seeing a lot of family members marrying our couples lately!) and Meagan wore the first ring given to her grandmother by her late grandfather down the aisle.

The bridesmaids spent the morning/afternoon getting their hair and makeup done while the groomsmen spent the morning/afternoon playing pool and offering cigarettes to the lion statues out front in their Adidas sneakers. This is pretty typical (without the sneakers). In the evening they partied down and we were sat at a table of their very nice friends and had a lot of fun. Meagan and Jonathan were promptly sent on their honeymoon on a early flight the next day and are still there, so we’ll wish them congratulations and love from the States until they come back home!

Date: June 1, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Barclay Villa // Angier, NC

First Dance Song: “These Arms of Mine” – Otis Redding

Meagan’s Occupation: Recently graduated – still job hunting

Jonathan’s Occupation: Student/server

How You Met: Our freshman year in high school

Interesting Bride Fact: Meagan refuses to use any type of wooden utensil (knife, spoon, cutting board, popsicle stick) or to touch or stand on wooden objects if they’re wet. She can’t stand the feel of it.

Interesting Groom Fact: Jonathan is the only left handed person on either side of his family.

Honeymoon Destination: St. Maarten

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Janie Taylor | DJ – Island Sound and Video | Florist – Jeffrey’s Florist | Cake – Simply Cakes | Caterer – Barclay Villa | Hair and Makeup – Britt Murphy, Radiance Salon and Day Spa | Vidoegrapher – DJ Island Sound and Video | Coordinator – Cathy Honeycutt of Barclay Villa

Allison+Blue’s Wedding in Morgantown, West Virginia

Allison and Blue met at a bar in college. His last name is Brown, but Allison doesn’t like the color brown, so she’s taken to calling him Blue, and so has everyone else. I prefer calling people by primary colors whenever possible, so I think it’s a great idea. The two met in college at WVU and found us through another wedding we photographed at the WVU Erikson Alumni Center a few years ago in Morgantown, West Virginia. We Skyped, they booked, and we packed our bags and drove up West Virginia to photograph their awesome wedding weekend.

Morgantown is a unique place in that it’s in West Virginia, but still awfully close to Pennsylvania with its nearest rival city being Pittsburgh regarding college sports. But yet Pittsburgers like Morgantowners (unlike our feelings for people from Cleveland), and Morgantowners tend to identify with Pittsburgh ways (Heinz ketchup, for example, and the Pittsburgh Penguins who were cheered for several times during their playoff game that happened to take place during Allison and Blue’s rehearsal dinner). So it’s kind of like being home, except not really.

Morgantown is, if I dare say it, slightly better at partying than Pittsburgh. So though we knew they were cheering for the Pens, we also knew that it would be a rowdy (in a good, happy way!) wedding. And it was. There were polkas involved (another Pittsburgh/WV wedding staple which is always surprisingly crazy and enthusiastic and much more entertaining than the Wobble) and a cookie table and really, really delicious food. There was also lots of American flag light-up glasses and hats because it was Memorial Day weekend and who doesn’t love a good pair of light-up glasses!?

We had an awesome time being lovingly welcomed by Allison and Blue and their amazingly kind parents, siblings, and friends. We enjoyed our brief but lovely stay in Morgantown and we even got to stop at the Fiestaware Outlet on the way home (which I enjoyed despite them not having flatware on sale… sigh). A huge congratulation and thank you to Allison and Blue!

Date: May 25, 2013

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis de Sales Church // Morgantown, WV

Reception Venue: WVU Erikson Alumni Center // Morgantown, WV

First Dance Song: “Makin’ Plans” – Miranda Lambert

Allison’s Occupation: Physician’s Assistant

Blue’s Occupation: Civil Engineer

How You Met: At a bar in college :)

Interesting Bride Fact: Frequently talks in high pitched voices when she gets excited.

Interesting Groom Fact: Hates UGG boots – esp. when Alli wears them just to spite him. ;)

Honeymoon Destination: Bahamas

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Father Mark Ward | DJ – Ken Maisel | Florist – Toni and Liz from Memories in Bloom | Cake – Karen Rodkey Cakes | Caterer – WVU Erikson Alumni Center | Hair and Makeup – LKHA Salon | Videographer – Luke Nesler | Coordinator – Heidi Wiedebusch

Meagan And Her Dress

Meagan and Jonathan were married yesterday at Barclay Villa in Angier, North Carolina, so today I can finally share a few of my favorite bridal portraits I took of Meagan a few months back. :) The best part of the day was when someone said something about Keira Knightley and we instantly formed a bond over this amazing video that never gets old after Meagan started singing. I love this girl. “Now back to the good part!”