April 17, 2014

Kristine+Kevin’s JC Raulston Arboretum Wedding

I met Kristine a few years ago when I did promotional photos for a local veterinarian’s office where she was the receptionist. I liked her a lot because she was holding a bunny since she had cats that wouldn’t be good photographic subjects (I was doing head shots of the office staff with their pets). Fast forward a few years and she was engaged, contacted us, and we met with her and her fiancé, Kevin, and her amazing parents (who have been beyond helpful to us in this entire process). We knew they were incredible people inside and out. They were planning an intimate afternoon brunch wedding at the JC Raulston Arboretum in spring with close family and friends and were making their own cupcakes (!!) since Kristine’s an amazing baker (Kevin’s also an amazing cook and it’s their hope to one day open a restaurant which I would then frequent all the time).

And so finally it came to be that CSP encountered its first black wedding dress since its beginning in 2008. :) Yes! We were pretty pumped about this as we had a Halloween wedding and I (Carolyn) looked for a black wedding dress for some time but finally gave up since in 2010 they didn’t really exist so I was so happy to finally see someone get and wear one. And it was very Kristine and Kevin. :) I can’t really picture her wearing a white dress. And oddly enough, our getting-ready roles were kind of reversed for this wedding too. Kristine wore her hair normally while Kevin got his cut and straightened, so Geoff saw more hair-primping action than I did this weekend. ;) Which was, again, very Kristine and Kevin. Everything was! From their black and red color scheme to the cupcakes that they baked to the tattoo that Kristine got specifically for their wedding to the sandbox that they stood in for their ceremony (Kevin proposed by drawing a circle on the beach in which they stood for his proposal… so they were married in a circle in a sandbox!)… it was all very them. And they had a beautiful day filled with people who meant the world to them and we couldn’t be happier for these two. :)

Date: April 12, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: JC Raulston Arboretum // Raleigh, NC

Kristine’s Occupation: Receptionist at Cat Clinic

Kevin’s Occupation: Delivery driver for Chinese restaurant

How You Met: Kristine went to school with Kevin’s two cousins. Kevin saw Kristine’s picture on Facebook under the “People you may know” section. He requested to add her and she added him back since “he couldn’t be that crazy, she knew his cousins”. They started talking and eventually after a few weeks of talking on Facebook and on the phone, they decided to go on a first date. They agreed to meet at the Food Lion up the street from her and they then would drive to “The Upper Deck” (a bar right up the street). Kristine needed some alcohol to calm her nerves, as did he. Once she actually got out of the car and was facing him, she knew he was the one, and he had felt the same way. It was total love at first sight. After some talking they drove to the movie theater to continue their date. And the rest is history.

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Barbara Lodge | Florist – The Blossom Shop | Cupcakes – Kristine and her mother | Caterer – Food Lion & Harris Teeter

say nice things

April 7, 2014

Amy+Jeff’s Wedding in Durham

Amy and Jeff are amazing and hilarious people and definitely saw to it that both Geoff and myself had a wonderful day alongside them and the rest of their family and friends. I’d be out of eyesight with Amy when I’d hear her shout, “Carolyn!” and I’d shout back, “Yeah!” and she’d shout, “I appreciate you!” and I’d shout, “I appreciate you too!” and it went on like that for a good while (when she wasn’t busy doing yoga moves). They’re both generous, lovely, and just so ridiculously nice to not only us but everyone else they encountered and managed to stay that way through the entire planning process and wedding day.

This was our first wedding at the Cotton Room where it didn’t rain (!!). It threatened to, but it held off and sent in its place a substantial amount of wind. The wind did a few wrestling moves with Amy’s veil throughout the photos but stayed on her head nonetheless… and eventually the clouds and wind parted to fill the giant windows in their venue with light for their ceremony.

We are so thrilled for Amy and Jeff (and their adorable dog who is happy to have his dog-parents newly married) and just a tiny bit jealous of their awesome honeymoon to New Zealand and Bora Bora while we sit here in the rain in Durham…. but we forgive them anyway because they’re so nice. :)

Date: March 30, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Cotton Room // Durham, NC

First Dance Song: “All of Me” – John Legend

Amy’s Occupation: Business Development Director at an engineering consulting firm

Jeff’s Occupation: Business & technology consultant

How You Met: Amy hit on Jeff at the gym…and then forced her number on him :)

Interesting Bride Fact: Amy used to believe that her name was spelled A-M-Y-Q- . (period) She is generally uncoordinated but very enthusiastic.

Interesting Groom Fact: Jeff’s dream job is to be a LEGO designer! He is also generally athletic.

Honeymoon Destination: Auckland, NZ and then on to Bora Bora!

7 nice things said

November 23, 2010

our wedding! lifted from the blog of david e. jackson :)

are you ready for a lot of text?! it will be worth it when you get to the pictures. :)

as you can imagine, it’s hard for someone like me to pick a photographer for the biggest day in my life. for the past year it has been a nonstop question and answer session that goes something like this, “so who takes a wedding photographer’s photographs?” everyone from clients to friends to family to my dentist to the ups man. i was probably asked at least every other day. in fact, i was in the ER two weeks ago and, already married but knowing my occupation from my charts, i was asked again, “so you’re a wedding photographer. who took your photographs?” i’m not sure that i’ll ever stop being asked this question.

so let’s answer this burning question for you all: who was our photographer? david e. jackson.

he’ll get a lot of promotion for the rest of my life. not that he needs it… his work speaks for itself.

dave’s from wisconsin, so i don’t remember how i found his website. it was before i started my own photography business two years ago, so sometime prior to that. all i remember thinking is that i had never seen photographs like it. the color, the lighting, and something about his style really stuck with me. for those of you who rigorously scour photography blogs, you’ll know that nobody has the exact same style. taking a photograph is kind of like signing your signature. although if someone’s style is particularly well pronounced and you’ve been stalking their work for long enough, you can pick one of their pictures out of a lineup and know who took it. and i feel as though i can definitely identify dave’s work out of the bajillion photographers out there.

when geoff and i got engaged, during the first week of our engagement we found a venue and a photographer. geoff told me that i could choose the photographer and he’d design the cake. that was our deal. now i had been following dave for over two years and other photographers as well as i grew my business. there are so many incredibly talented photographers out there. however, there was really never anyone that had that same funky style that i could identify with… his work was like an old friend. so after years of stalking his website, we signed a contract with dave, and it was like signing up to have your idol at your wedding.

needless to say, he and his assistant trevor were remarkable to work with. we all got along super well and had a great time. i had an awesome time not taking pictures. besides actually marrying geoff, the best part of the day for me was the ability to leave my camera home and to completely trust someone else to take the photographs. dave was the only one that i trusted to do this job and do it correctly and of course he did, and did it beautifully.

dave and trevor made our day and now, it turns out, made our life. we received our pictures yesterday and were beyond thrilled with them, although i can’t say i was surprised. we sat down, turned on the slideshow, and went through the photographs. awesome, beautiful, exactly how we remember the day and exactly what we wanted. we’re already plotting which ones we’ll be making large prints and canvases of, but it’s incredibly difficult to decide. i have a feeling some room in the house will become the wedding photographs shrine, but isn’t that how it should be? you should totally love your photographs that much. and thanks to dave, we do.

so, without further ado, these have been lifted from dave’s blog with his permission to share with my clients and the family/friends for whom i don’t have email addresses and who aren’t on facebook. ;)

please take the time to visit dave’s website and blog (our ridiculously badass engagement pictures are on there too!). he does incredible work in both the wedding/portrait world and the commercial world.

THANK YOU, DAVE.

and a special thank you to the rest of my fantastic vendors! you all made the day so wonderful.

venue: artspace

hotel: the sheraton, downtown raleigh

wedding dress: la sposa

hair: alter ego

make-up: carly byman

officiant: reverend barbara lodge

flowers: the english garden

cake: geoff’s aunt, leah lamotte-kerr with toppers by my mom, christine scott

dj: stephen scott

ceremony musician: jason campbell

transportation: raleigh rickshaw

we had a great time, a great wedding, and are so thankful for our many family and friends. we had a little over 100 people, 9 of which were from north carolina. you guys all rock for traveling so far. we love you.

2 nice things said