Lucy+Kevin // Wedding at the NCMA

Lucy and Kevin booked us without first meeting us as they are living in New York City and have very busy schedules, and we were down here with very busy schedules, and we kept trying to make meeting work but it just didn’t. Then we were up in Manhattan for an engagement session and so we met up with Lucy and Kevin over burgers at a super tasty place somewhere in the city where peanut butter milkshakes were had both by Lucy and myself and everything was great. They showed us pictures of their cat, as well as pictures of their cat sitter who is about to have a podcast about cats. We showed them pictures of our cats. We briefly discussed a preliminary timeline for their wedding and then went right back to talking about our cats. I started following Lucy on Twitter and Instagram, where now I can see regular updates on her cat.

When I got to Lucy’s parents’ house while Lucy was getting ready, I said, “How is your cat? How is the guy who is taking care of your cat?” and Lucy promptly pulled out her phone to show me a picture of her cat cuddled up with her beloved cat sitter. Then other bridesmaids starting showing me photos of their cats too. One showed us a picture of her dog but it was a really cute fluffy dog that had cat-like ears so it’s okay. So what you’re about to see below is less about Lucy and Kevin getting married so much as it is about their cat Masha gaining two official parents. We’ve reached out to Masha’s representatives and we’re awaiting a comment on how she feels, but our guess is pretty thrilled, but that she’d also like fed.

In a rare move where I’m about to say things that don’t involve this couple’s cat, I’d like to announce that Lucy and Kevin are a wonderful couple, talented musicians (Kevin plays trumpet and Lucy plays violin and we’re talking like official music school musicians of music musicology and all that music stuff), and we loved working with them both. Lucy is wonderful and Kevin is the Best Kevin and it was a joy photographing them looking really serious in front of a painting of a giant button.


– Date: November 4, 2017
– Ceremony + Reception Venue: NCMA (North Carolina Museum of Art) // Raleigh, NC
– First Dance Song: “Mango Tree” – Zac Brown Band
– Lucy’s Occupation: PhD student in Historical Musicology
– Kevin’s Occupation: Software Product Manager
– How You Met: At a party for admitted Vanderbilt students before the start of our freshman year of college back in 2008.
– Interesting Fact: We have a tabby cat named Masha and our most longstanding argument concerns yellow vs. dijon mustard (ed. note: obviously dijon is superior (nope))
– Honeymoon: Somewhere warm TBD!
– Vendor Credits: Officiant – Katherine Burson (Kevin’s aunt). DJ – Mitch Woodard of Joe Bunn DJ Company. Florist – The Watered Garden. Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes. Caterer – Iris Cafe. Hair – Katelyn McGinn. Makeup – The bride. Coordinator – Morgan Greer with the NCMA. Ceremony Music – Jonathan Kramer on cello (he played at Lucy’s parents’ wedding almost 30 years ago!)

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

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Will Vasaly (Amanda+Derek’s friend) | DJ – Mark McNally of Joe Bunn DJ Company | Florist – Watered Garden Florist | Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes | Caterer – Iris at NCMA | Hair/Makeup – Salon Blu Brier Creek | Coordinator – Morgan Greer at NCMA | Bride’s Dress – Paloma Blanca, Traditions by Anna | Bride’s Shoes – Kate Spade | Groom/Groomsmen’s Suit and Ties: J. Crew

Susan+Michael’s Wedding at the North Carolina Museum of Art

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