November 17, 2014

Engagement Session

I used to teach with Jen back when I first moved to North Carolina and she was the best: a great teacher, a supportive coworker, and I was so happy to have met a new friend. When I quit teaching, she remained my friend and actually modeled for me when I started my photography career, agreeing to be pictured in the middle of some grass in a bright plastic purple chair without complaint. ;) Over the years we remained in touch and we knew she started dating this guy named Chris who seemed pretty great based on his Facebook profile (how else do you judge people?). When we finally got the chance to meet him, we were SUPER EXCITED to see that he was every bit as amazing and hilarious and personable as Jen… plus he had a pretty epic beard. Geoff isn’t known for striking up conversations with people he doesn’t know well, and I believe him and Chris sat at a wedding for a good twenty minutes discussing their beards when they first met. Plus Chris didn’t seem disturbed when I told him about my affinity for reading mountaineering disaster books.

Now we’re so excited to be their wedding photographers! They’re getting married in Asheville next year and we couldn’t be happier to be there with them as we love them both a whole lot. It’s that thing where you love your friend, and then they get a boyfriend and you’re not really sure what that person will be like… and then you meet them and they’re just like your friend and so it’s like having two of the exact same friend now so it’s like friendship amplified? It’s awesome. They are perfect for each other… they love the outdoors and nature and beards (Chris’s is longer than Geoff’s now) and they have an adorable one-eyed dog named Gunner who loves water, sticks, and the woods and is scared of cats and children. We hiked through the woods to take their engagement pictures in the fall (yay!) and down to the water. We occasionally stopped Gunner from running gleefully around in order to take his picture for a minute or two, then let him loose again. He only found one unidentifiable bone, so… that’s a plus.

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November 5, 2014

Annie+James // Wedding at Shady Wagon Farm

October is, in my humble opinion, the best time for weddings. The light is always amaaaazing and the weather is always perfect and people seem generally more comfortable and relaxed. It’s also my birthday month (yay!!) and we had the good fortune of getting to spend it with this crew. :) When I got to Annie’s hotel room, she presented me with a beautifully wrapped birthday present of adorable ceramic measuring cup whales for spending my birthday weekend with them! LITTLE WHALES!!! We couldn’t be luckier. I was super pleasantly surprised that they a.) remembered my birthday and b.) bought me something, but it turns out that their kindness and generosity seem to be very well known (for obviously good reason).

They’re also have a great sense of humor and a good bit of geekiness to them in the best way possible. James is a bit of a Star Wars nut, much like Geoff, who was led into Geoff’s office/dungeon during our initial consult to see just how many Boba Fett figurines Geoff has (we’re pretty sure they booked us because they were impressed with his collection). He also requested that their harpist learn to play the Imperial March and Cantina Song for their ceremony (she did – it was amazing). It was one of James’s only requests. ;) In addition to them being super sweet and fun, their wedding party totally adopted us and took us under their wing for the night (and they had some of the best dance moves we’ve ever seen). We were super lucky to be at Annie and James’s wedding, and we are thankful to have met such fantastic people!

Date: October 4, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Shady Wagon Farm // New Hill, North Carolina

First Dance Song: “Everlasting Light” – The Black Keys

Annie’s Occupation: Policy Analyst

James’s Occupation: CAD Team Lead

How You Met: Match.com

Interesting Bride Fact: I have an ongoing ranking system of chocolate chip cookies.

Interesting Groom Fact: I collect Star Wars toys.

Honeymoon Destination: Barcelona, Spain

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October 31, 2014

Amanda+Derek // Wedding at the NCMA

These guys are pretty much an absolute joy to be around. They’re both constantly smiling and laughing and nothing much terribly phases them. At one point during the first look, some of Amanda’s makeup got on Derek’s white shirt collar during some hugging, and they didn’t much care. However, in an effort to still try to look as neat as possible during the wedding, they did attempt to use a Tide stick and remove it. This didn’t work. We then called in reinforcements to bring Derek a new white shirt, which they dutifully delivered, only to have another relative’s makeup come off on that collared shirt as well, at which point they all smiled, shrugged, and Amanda said, “It was meant to be!” and they all carried on. That’s our kind of couple.

Their family and friends were all amazing, and we did inform Amanda at one point in the evening that in all of our years photographing weddings, we’ve never seen a guest break a glass or bottle on the dance floor and then immediately proceed to clean it up themselves (not to mention continuing to dance at the same time). Usually it breaks, everyone looks at each other awkwardly and they clear a space on the floor for the staff to clean it up (occasionally there’s some half-hearted attempts to clear the obviously large shards, but never a full-on-glass-and-liquid removal team). These guests broke a glass and actually fixed the problem! Amanda thought me noticing this was quite funny, but it does say a lot about the people at the wedding when you think about it, and we give the guests an A+ for niceness and consideration.

Amanda and Derek have been great great great. Willing, understanding, patient, welcoming, and all wonderful things in between. They are truly wonderful (and beautiful!) people, and we are so happy that they’re together because it makes us feel like the world is a little bit of a better place.

Date: September 20, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: North Carolina Museum of Art // NCMA // Raleigh, NC

Amanda’s Occupation: Financial Auditor

Derek’s Occupation: Nonprofit Communications Director / Graphic and Web Designer

How You Met: At UNC. Derek was suitemates with two guys Amanda went to high school with. But we didn’t start dating until more than four years later and after we both had graduated.

Interesting Fact: About a year ago, Derek launched a website where he sells maps he’s designed of different cities throughout the world. But ironically enough, Amanda’s the one who has been to four out of the seven continents in the past year.

Honeymoon Destination: Paris and the Seychelles

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