Michelle+Dennis // 1705 Prime.

We are so excited to kick off our 2016 wedding season with a wedding at 1705 Prime, one of the first locations we’ve ever shot a wedding at and a classic venue in Raleigh. And we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day or nicer people. It rained in the morning but it cleared up, and we can only hope that trend holds for the rest of our wedding season. The leaves were out, the grass was green, and we found approximately 15 inchworms on our clothing throughout the day.

The good weather lead to high spirits despite a debate over who should win the basketball game (UNC vs. Syracuse, where Michelle and her family spent quite a bit of time). While people debated this at the bar (as well as discussions on who Negan would end up killing on the Walking Dead series finale), the wedding guests danced, and the kids either slept on chairs or bounced off the ceiling, depending. We are so happy to show you our first wedding of the year. Congratulations, Michelle and Dennis!

  • Date: April 2, 2016
  • Ceremony + Reception Venue: 1705 Prime // Raleigh, NC
  • First Dance Song: “Drowning” – Backstreet Boys
  • How You Met: OKCupid virtually, Mecca in real life.
  • Vendor Credits: Officiant – Reverend Randy Ivie. DJ – Brian McGuire of McSound Productions. Florist – Fresh Affairs. Cake – Ashley Cakes. Caterer – Rocky Top Catering. Hair – The Parlor. Makeup – Family. Coordinator – Jenn Carlin with Rocky Top. Transportation – The Bridge Bus.

Caroline & Brian’s Downtown Raleigh Engagement Session

Caroline and Brian came into Raleigh all the way from Charlotte to have their engagement portraits taken, and we are lucky to have had the opportunity to meet them! Finally, Carolyn was able to unite with someone who loves school supplies as much as she does, despite no longer being in school and despite not longer being a teacher. :D They also shared our love of 80s movies and reminisced about past job horror stories. On top of all this, we were pleased to find out that only one half of Caroline and Brian enjoy the Goonies and the Princess Bride, much like only one half of Carolyn and Geoff. We wish they lived closer so 50% of us could try to convince the other 50% that the movies are good (or bad, depending on what side you’re on).

These guys met in Raleigh, went on their first date to Gravy and the Raleigh Times (both of which we visited during the session), and have since moved to Charlotte. They’re getting married in Wilmington next spring as a middle ground of their families’ and their own locations. Brian likes golf and refused Carolyn’s suggestion that they go mini-golfing for their engagement session, and Caroline wouldn’t let him bring his golf clubs into downtown. Caroline was both her high school mascot and their prom queen, and also cries at emotional stories about children throwing out the first pitch on ESPN. They’ve both solidly convinced us that the West Wing is probably a good show to start after we run through House of Cards. We had a great time with these two, and we are so happy they came out to Raleigh to see us! Here’s a few of our favorites.
engagement photographer raleigh nc

Team Emmerika’s Wedding at Babylon

Our Facebook fans (and my mother) have been waiting for us to post Erika and Emmanuel’s wedding since we shot it. They quickly became fan favorites after their engagement session (presumably on their good looks and charm alone) and people ask us about them often with inquiries such as, “Tell us more about that couple who was juggling vegetables in your kitchen,” and “That one couple with the guy who has dreadlocks looks fun and nice.” I’m pretty sure that if they became public figures or perhaps even opened their own Youtube channel that they’d skyrocket to fame and then we’d subsequently reap in the royalties by selling our photographs of them “from back when.”

But we must say that while looks can be deceiving and you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and all that – you’re all completely accurate in this case, and Erika and Emmanuel are in fact as fun, nice, adorable, and sweet as they appear. As in – people couldn’t stop giving toasts at their wedding. Eventually they had to STOP PEOPLE FROM GIVING THEM TOASTS OR IT WOULD’VE NEVER ENDED. That’s how much everyone loves them. And how nice their friends are (who are kind of exactly like them to the point where I told the best man, “We’re going to force our way into your group of friends now, okay?” to which he replied, “Oh absolutely.”).

Their wedding had a Plants Vs. Zombies cake topper and a Captain (their friend married them and the captain hat was bought to lend him more of an air of authenticity, which it absolutely did). They got married at Babylon, a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Raleigh, and one of the bridesmaids was a guest at the wedding we had shot the day before (her picture can be found directly below the goldfish) which, we think, says something about how our clients are pretty awesome and travel in the same awesome circles being awesome together. There were Dr. Who socks and Dr. Who reception bow ties. There was a spontaneous wedding party dance breakout to “Lean on Me.” And there was Erika and Emmanuel whom we love and cherish and cannot thank enough for being the most amazing people and I could go on and on but someone should probably take the mic away from me too or else the blog post will never end.

Date: July 28, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Babylon Restaurant // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz

Erika’s Occupation: Optometric technician and office minion

Emmanuel’s Occupation: High school English teacher

How You Met: Ice skating at the Ice House in Cary, NC

Interesting Bride Fact: She makes weird faces when she has to take pictures (I tried to warn you), has a hard time reading directions (thanks for including a lot of them in this sheet, jerks) and prefers jumping into things.

Interesting Groom Fact: He is the best chef ever, is extremely adventerous but uncomfortable with heights, can walk on his hands and do flips off of walls.

Honeymoon Destination: St. Lucia

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Chalres “The Captain” Lindsey | DJ – DJ Madcow/Neu Romance | Cake – Jennifer LeGrande (Emmanuel’s cousin) | Caterer – Babylon | Hair – Niko Jones at Salon Jasmine | Makeup – Jackie Verbal