Raleigh Engagement Photographer: Annalisa+Michael

Annalisa (aka Annie) and Michael are my very own Jersey couple! :D Both hailing from New Jersey, they are currently living in North Carolina where they both attended NC State. They are high school sweethearts of 8 years! :)  Annie is a paralegal and Michael works for Wells Fargo, but they were both aspiring to become teachers when they first met (Michael – history, Annie – French). Michael opted out of the teaching career and Annie is still an aspiring French teacher, but they are comfortably doing their own thing in the south at the moment. :)

I met these two when they weren’t sure whether or not they were going to have their wedding in NC or NJ. They ultimately decided on New Jersey for May 2012, but decided to take Geoff and I with them (wooooo!!!), so we’re super stoked to be heading up to The Jersey next year with these guys! Annie is ridiculously prepared for their wedding and has everything bought, planned, and under control with the exception of the limo, which can’t be booked until next year, hahaha. Seriously – it’s pretty amusing. She showed up to our consultation with a binder bigger than mine and several 4×6 photographs of their wedding venue saying, “Keep them, I have a bunch.” Hahaha. I knew this girl meant business.

I’ve since had the privilege of photographing Sabrina, Annie’s dog, and Pookie, Michael’s cat. And now finally their engagement! :D We had an awesome time with them photographing on the NC State campus talking movies and TV and, of course, Annie’s love of the Doors and Michael’s love of the Beatles, but more on that later! Let’s start!

We started off in the free expression tunnel at NC State. There were several spray painters there while we were there, and I’m pretty sure all of us left the tunnel with a mild headache, but it made for good pictures. However, I will say that if you photograph there, you’ll just have to choose the place with the least amount of obscenities… since there’s no escaping them. Luckily this couple is rad, and a few vulgar doodles don’t scare them. ;)

Where’s Annie and Michael? :) Can you see them? :)

Annie – you have the best eyes!!! Ow owwww.

How cute are these two? Annie’s obsessed with the Doors, and Michael’s obsessed with the Beatles. Together they’re an adorable couple who belong in the 1960s wearing flower headbands and hanging out. They each brought their favorite record and matching reading material for the shoot. :) CUTE.

We closed the session in the stacks at NC State with a quick band wardrobe change!

Annie and Michael – you are too wonderful! We are honored to be photographing what is sure to be an AWESOME wedding up in Jersey with you two! We had a great time, lots of laughs, and think these are adorable. :) Hope you love them!

 

Raleigh Wedding Photographer in Southern Pines: Liz+Chris

Ohhh, Liz and Chris! Remember their adorable engagement session on Liz’s mom’s horse farm? I knew their wedding would be as great as they are, and it was. :) Not only are they beautiful inside and out, they are perfect together and have a wonderful and supportive system of family and friends. We had a great time. It was a perfect outdoor ceremony and reception on a gorgeous day and had that subtle but sweet touch of southern charm. :) I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful wedding to photograph on their day!

Date: June 4, 2011

Venue: Weymouth Center, James Boyd House // Southern Pines, NC

Flowers: Aldena Frye Custom Floral Design

Caterer: Sweet Feed

Cake: The Bakehouse

Officiant: Reverend Stephen Huber

Reception Band: Christabel & The Jons

Ceremony Musicians: Jan Johannson (violinist), Julie Elkins (guitarist)

This is one of most gorgeous floral arrangements I’ve seen. Aldena Frye did a magnificent job on the bouquets and boutonnieres.

Liz and Chris didn’t do a first look as they spent the morning preparing for the wedding themselves. They met in the James Boyd library along with the rest of their family for toasts before the ceremony.

Absolutely adore the multiple cake table in every single way. The Bakehouse did an awesome job and yes, that is a sword in the front. They used it to cut their cake (awesome!!!). It belonged to Liz’s grandfather and has been used to cut several wedding cakes in their family.

That pine tree to your left is over 400 years old! Imagine all the weddings it’s seen. :)

I love this cute candid to the right that Geoff caught as they were walking to their receiving line.

I was beyond words excited for Christabel & The Jons. Not only were they our first live band to photograph during a wedding (it’s way overdue!), but they didn’t play covers, but rather their own music, which was beautiful. They are from Tennessee and play a beautiful mixture of swing, blues, and jazz. SO highly recommend it’s not even funny. Check out their link in the above vendor section if you’re looking for a band or just want to hear some sweet music. They tour all over as well, so you might be able to catch them some night locally.

This is one of my favorite photographs I’ve ever taken. Liz, you’re beautiful! Weymouth Center, you’re beautiful!

CAKE CUTTING WITH A SWORD! Aaaaamazing. Watch out there, Chris.

Seriously, what a beautiful beautiful wedding. The following conversation took place between Liz and I about a wedding before the wedding:

C: Is there a tent?

L: No, I don’t like tents.

C: Is there a rain back-up plan?

L: No, we’re just hoping it doesn’t rain.

Hahaha I though that Liz’s faith in the weather was utterly amazing and it definitely worked. And I definitely have to agree with her on the fact that I think a tent would’ve ruined the mood of this particular wedding. It just had too much of a gardeny summer night feel and a tent would’ve taken it away. We shot the reception slightly different because of it, alternating methods between the two of us, but I love how it turned out (and it was infinitely less stressful, so we may be switching over soon).

Congratulations, Liz and Chris! We wish you and your family the very best moving forward into married life! We had an amazing day with you!