Anna+Winston // Haw River Ballroom Wedding

When I first spoke to Anna on the phone, we clicked like old friends. And every time I’ve spoken to her since, it’s been the same way. She’s easy to talk to and hilarious, and her friends all echoed the same sentiments (her friends, likewise, are the same way!). We didn’t actually meet Anna or Winston until the day of their rehearsal dinner, but we very quickly realized that Winston is exactly the same. Easy to talk to, extremely funny, very friendly. They like cheese, dogs, and Paul Simon, so I’m not sure exactly how you could go wrong with them as clients. They’re both super intelligent but neither takes themselves too seriously and they’re a perfect match. Plus they’re good looking.

Rain was scheduled at 100% this day. Then it went down to 10%. Then up to 50%? Then I think it went back to 100%, and then down to 0%, but it rained anyway (thanks, North Carolina forecast!). But thankfully it was a brief rain that then cleared up and then left us with beautiful weather for their incredible wedding at the Haw River Ballroom (which is our very favorite wedding venue). Some bright yellow wild flowers were out in full-swing and we took advantage of them fully for their portraits (one of the reasons Anna had chosen the Haw River Ballroom was that she loved the mix of linear architecture combined with the wild plants surrounding it). Then we went inside to celebrate with the band Punch (also our favorite wedding band!) and Anna and Winston’s friends and family. We’re so grateful that we got to spend the weekend with these guys and so glad we got to be their wedding photographers!

Date: October 19, 2019
Ceremony+Reception Venue: The Haw River Ballroom // Saxapahaw, NC
First Dance Song: “Graceland” – Paul Simon
Interesting Fact: Both left-handed! Bride lived on a street with the same last name as the groom when they first met, which would later become her married name.
Officiant: Reverend Bob Bauman
Band: Punch
Florist: Brides & Bouquets
Cake: Sugar Euphoria
Caterer: Saxapahaw Catering
Hair/Makeup: Perfection by Patricia
Coordinator: Kathy Swope of Sally Oakley Weddings & Events

Emily+Dan // Wedding at Leslie-Alford-Mims House

The first time we met Emily and Dan, we had a Skype meeting where they held up their tuxedo cat and we held up our tuxedo cat and we were both pretty thrilled at the greatness of our cats having a meeting over the internet (the cats, pictured below, for reasons unknown don’t look as thrilled about it as we do).


But what we didn’t really realize at the time was exactly how much Pax and Buckles look alike, and how we’d come to confuse them on Instagram. Actual conversations with Geoff go like this:

– I show a picture of Pax to Geoff. Geoff looks at picture.
– Geoff, alarmed: When did you take Buckles to someone else’s house?!
– Me: That is Pax, Emily and Dan’s cat, the one that looks just like Buckles.
– Geoff: No, that is Buckles.
– Me:… No, it’s really not.

Annnnnd repeat. Emily and Dan are currently living in Pittsburgh, and someday when we’re up there visiting our families, I am determined to stop by unannounced and swap our cats for a few days and see if they notice (they’ll forget this by the time I actually do it).

But before I do that, I need to back up here and talk about their wedding. It was fabulous! And involved a flower crown that currently holds the title of Supreme Queen of Flower Crowns everywhere and I imagine it will continue to hold that title for quite some time. I was concerned about her ability to move, but that flower crown held fast and strong and did not shed one single petal all day, nor move from its exact spot on her head. It was like a being from another world. I’m not sure what happened after they left the wedding, but I can only imagine that some sort of spell had to be cast to a.) release it from her head and b.) set it free into this world. She asked me how to preserve it, but I imagine now, after observing its powers firsthand, that it’ll just do that itself.

Their wedding was so summery and gardeny and funnnn. There were little tiny cake toppers (one shaped like our cat – thanks, guys!) and wonderful floral elements and a flag representing Pittsburgh (that I think they also did for us – thanks, guys! wow, you thought of us a lot). AND they went to Iceland for their honeymoon and we spent way too much of their final consultation giving them advice on Iceland rather than their wedding (they didn’t need the wedding help anyway). But come to think of it, they didn’t really need the Iceland help either, especially when we saw that they gave each other hiking boots for their wedding gifts. We had an awesome time at their wedding and love how rad our clients have been this year! No pressure, the rest of you. Congratulations, Emily+Dan!

• Date: May 28, 2017
• Ceremony + Reception Venue: Leslie-Alford-Mims House // Holly Springs, NC
• First Dance Song: “Lovin’ You Baby” – Charles Bradley
• Emily’s Occupation: Neuroscience PhD Student at University of Pittsburgh
• Dan’s Occupation: Media & Marketing Manager
• How You Met: High school AP English class
• Interesting Fact about Emily: Name twin will be at the wedding and they were also roommates in college at UGA
• Interesting Fact about Dan: Played the role of “Sk8er Boy” in a independent film in 2004
• Interesting Fact about Emily+Dan: Emily made a Pro’s and Con’s list before she decided to date Dan and Dan’s Mom wanted Dan to date Emily after she saw Emily reading “Catch-22” at the pool.
• Honeymoon: ICELAND!
• Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Patrick Ballard. DJ – Eric Hodgden of All Around Raleigh DJ Company. Florist – The English Garden. Cake – Sugar Euphoria. Caterer – Belle’s Catering. Makeup – Michelle Clark. Hair – Jennifer McDonald. Coordinator – Annie Truesdell of Orangerie Events. Classical Guitarist – Ed Stephenson.