April 2, 2015

Ariana+Matt’s Wedding in Wallace, NC

Way, way back in February of 2010, we photographed our 5th wedding ever of Dottie and Jon (ignore the ill-fitted blog post pictures, they’re leftover from an old blog formatting, but here it is!). Ariana was the maid of honor, and Matt was the best man. They talked and danced and were generally adorable, so Geoff and I were under the impression that they were already dating. We found out recently that it was actually the first time they were meeting. :) Awesomely, we have pictures of it, and now here we are, five years later, photographing their wedding. It is not only awesome to be a part of their first meeting, but it’s amazing to know that they’ve followed us all this time and asked us to be a part of their wedding day as well. They’re lovely, talented, beautiful people and we’re so honored to be a part of their lives! Plus, we got to see Dottie, Jon, and their families (including their 3 year old son!) again after five years, so it was a great reunion for me and Geoff too. :) I’m not going to write too much as I’m trying to make my posts a little bit shorter (next to impossible), but enjoy the pictures, feel the love, and enjoy the first kickoff to our 2015 wedding season!

Bride getting makeup done Bride getting ready Bridesmaid getting hair done Earrings and wedding rings Bridesmaid steaming dress Getting ready for a wedding Ringbearer high-fiving bridesmaid Bride reflection in hand mirror Mom hugging son Closeup of bridal hair twist Bride opening jewelry from groom Bride reading letter from groom Ringbearer getting dressed Bride putting on shoes Bride putting on dress Bride and bridesmaid high-five Groom receiving guitar present from bride Groom hugging mother Groomsmen walking Groom portrait and wedding cake Ring bearer and How to Train your Dragon toy Bride and maid of honor laughing River Landing Lodge Wallace NC Bridesmaids laughing Wedding guests Black and white portrait of bride Bridal portrait and wedding table setup River Landing Wallace NC Grandmother waiting for wedding Groom's reaction watching bride walk down aisle Bride walking down the aisle with father Bride hugging father Wedding at River Landing Lodge Wallace NC Groom giving a thumbs up Riverfront wedding outdoors in North Carolina Reading during wedding ceremony River wedding ceremony Exchanging rings Recessing down wedding aisle Groom hugging grandmother Bride on beach Bridal party laughing Bride and groom walking Bride and groom portrait Bride and groom portrait on beach Bigfoot socks Bride walking on beach Bride walking in sand Bride and groom close up portrait Bride and groom portrait near water Bride and groom walking down beach Back of bride's dress Bride laughing on beach Bride and groom hugging on beach Bride and groom walking in sand Bride and groom in strange light Table setup for wedding reception Wedding guests looking at baby Fireplace at wedding reception Wedding at River Landing Wallace NC Wedding reception table setup First dance as husband and wife Cheesecake at wedding Speech at wedding reception Davis Messina Band Dancing at wedding reception Space heaters at wedding reception Wedding guests hugging Groom singing at wedding reception Guests at wedding reception Groom playing guitar at wedding Groom with Davis Messina Band Bride and groom hug Last dance at wedding Sparkler exit at wedding

Date: March 28, 2015
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The River Lodge at River Landing // Wallace, NC
First Dance: “The Luckiest” – Ben Folds Five
Ariana’s Occupation: Freelance musician and cello teacher
Matt’s Occupation: Bioprocessing Associate at Humacyte
How You Met: At our Best Man/Maid of Honor’s wedding. If I remember, you guys were the photographers?
Interesting Fact: We bonded over our love of music. Mostly The Beatles.
Honeymoon: The Earth.
Vendor Credits: Officiant – Pastor Mac Schafer | Band – Davis Messina Band | Florist – W Designs and jaGG Classic Wholesale | Cake – Uprising Bakery | Caterer – Mad Boar Restaurant | Hair – Keisha Mangum of Clip TeaZe Salon | Makeup – The Makeup Team of NC | Ceremony Musician – Victoria Walls, Piano

say nice things

November 17, 2014

Sarah+Paul // Wedding at Adaumont Farms

Sarah and Paul’s wedding was just a few days after we returned from Iceland and I’m pretty sure they were decently worried that a volcano would erupt or we’d fall into a crevasse while we were there, so kudos to them for not attempting to get their retainer back when we told them we were going on a trip. However, I feel slightly guilty about the added stress that I think we might’ve caused, but in the end we survived and emailed Sarah as soon as we got home so she’d know we outlived our vacation. ;)

But once the stress of their photographers potentially dying passed, the weather report came in and replaced their old worries with new ones as the previous 74 degree days suddenly turned into 51 degree days with a craaaazy wind that made it feel more like 30 degrees. :) Oh, and it was supposed to rain a lot. Turns out that it didn’t rain, but that the cold was indeed quite bitter and the wind was so strong that it blew Sarah’s veil straight off her head twice (kudos to Alex the videographer for literally catching it in mid-air). They made the call to have the wedding indoors, but that didn’t protect them from doing pictures outside (sorry guys) in the cold (seriously, we are so sorry).

But they were troopers and somehow held it together without cursing at us even once! And I’m pretty darn sure that they wanted to! They are even smiling in the photos! It is a Christmas miracle. We are super glad that they are REALLY nice people who were willing to put up with us out in the cold all while continuing to somehow be super nice (not sure my own patience would’ve held out quite as long). But we are thrilled with the pictures, and we’re thrilled with Sarah and Paul’s awesomeness (and their gorgeous wedding!), and we’re thrilled that there were donkeys and horses, and we’re thrilled to be sharing them with you. :)

Date: November 1, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Adaumont Farm // Trinity, NC

First Dance Song: “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran

Sarah’s Occupation: Freelance Writer/Designer

Paul’s Occupation: Software Consultant

How You Met: Mission Trip

Interesting Fact: Paul is a closet Sheryl Crow fan. Sarah was born with her two front teeth.

Honeymoon Destination: Bali, baby!

say nice things

May 2, 2014

Nikki+Max Marry at Museum of Life and Science

Nikki and Max! Also known to everyone as Mackey and Nix or Mickey and Nick or a variety of other combinations. I’m pretty sure I arranged their names into my own version quite a few times despite clearly knowing who they are, and so did their officiant, Geoff, and possibly a few other people. I’m not sure why their names were so combinable, but I’m pretty sure they’d be the best celebrity couple ever. Like Nix, or maybe Mixxey. Or maybe Nax or Ikkiax.. or. Hmm.

Anyway, this was our first opportunity to photograph a wedding at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and I have to say it quickly became one of our favorite venues. Awesome outdoor space, awesome indoor space, a ton of shooting variety, random sculptures of wolves with wings and bug eyes, and a whole lot of creepy crawlers that entertained the guests to no end (in particular was the giant orb spider who didn’t have an enclosure but rather lived on a tree inside the museum and just happened to stay there because that’s where they feed him. That’s right. He technically has free reign. Don’t set down your drink).

We had an awesome time getting to know Nikki and Max in real life outside their Instagram accounts that we’ve been stalking for some time. Geoff also had the distinct pleasure of meeting their cat Mickey (who is kind of like their celebrity combo name but the shelter had already named him when they got him so not really). I was a bit jealous because I had been waiting to meet Mickey for SO LONG and Geoff always gets the “getting ready” animals, so I just had to live vicariously through him through the pictures of Mickey trying to eat their snacks and unwrap their presents. A huge congratulations and thank you to our lovely couple, Nikki and Max!