Courtney+Seth // Saxapahaw, NC Wedding

We’ve only known Courtney and Seth for a short period of time, but in that time we’ve experienced the happiness of shared ice cream, the fear of trying to rescue Courtney’s lost glasses from somewhere in the Durham Bulls stadium during a crazy thunderstorm, and the joy of having your chips and salsa delivered to your restaurant table via a choo-choo train. What better experiences could you have with new friends? Seth has a beard and likes baseball like Geoff. Courtney prefers animals over humans like Carolyn. None of us like disco ball lights when they cast spinning shadows on the wall and ground. They’re definitely keepers.

Courtney and Seth’s wedding was at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC on a gorgeous September day! It was supposed to rain, but it didn’t, and Courtney put on her wedding dress outside. She met Seth down by the river for their first look and portraits. Some wildflowers were picked and stuck behind ears. Some sparkly shoes stepped on some crunchy leaves. There were a lot of thorns and mosquitos and slimy rocks and possibly poison ivy, all of which were navigated without care or worry… until the mosquitos started swarming and outnumbered us and too much blood was spilled. :) Then we went back to the Ballroom and had a good ‘ole time partying with their family and friends. Seth got on stage and played a set with some jam buddies from separate parts of his life who had literally just met each other the day before and practiced the morning of the wedding. They played a one hour set that was better than several bands we’ve paid to see, and a bride touring the ballroom asked someone if she could hire them for her wedding band (I think that was during one of the amazing 90s covers). We love you, Courtney and Seth… here’s to more chip-delivery-trains in our future!

Date: September 13, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Haw River Ballroom // Saxapahaw, NC

First Dance Song: “Ain’t it Enough” – Old Crow Medicine Show

Courtney’s Occupation: Health/Nutrition Specialist for Head Start/Early Head Start

Seth’s Occupation: High School History Teacher

How You Met: As friends in college

Interesting Fact: We had an epic prank war in college.  Seth (and Zach who is a groomsman now) beat the heck out of me and Hannah (bridesmaid). :)

Honeymoon Destination: Backpacking in Colorado

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Daniel Wilkers and Rev. Bill Sosebee | MC – Stratton Lawrence | Florist – McAdams Farm | Pie – Saxaphaw Baking Company | Caterer – Saxaphaw General Store | Hair/Makeup – Christen | Coordinator – Heather Cook of Shind!gs Events

Emily+Charlie’s Wedding at Snipes Farm

Geoff and I had several weeks there (12 weeks, actually) where we were out of town for almost every weekend. Emily and Charlie’s wedding was our first local wedding back, and we couldn’t have gotten back into the swing of localness with a better venue, better vendors or, of course, a better couple (granted, Charlie is a Phillies fan, but we don’t hold that against him). We love farm weddings as they tend to be really chill. This wasn’t actually chill because it was pushing 90+ degrees, but the people were absolutely lovely. :) Emily and Charlie were married by their friend (who gave them an amazing and humorous ceremony) and then joined their friends and family in the barn afterward for dancing.

Now – we see a lot of receptions and we see a lot of dancing. We typically know when there’s going to be a lot of dancing, and when there might not be so much dancing. This particular group of guests were very polite and well behaved and quiet, which usually means that they won’t be too much into the dancing. It was also very, very hot. Very hot. We were kind of sweating bullets all over the place. This is another sign that people will be fairly chill at the reception, usually talking and playing games as opposed to, you know, doing crazy dance floor gymnastics and jumping all over the place and dancing nonstop all the time WHICH THEY DEFINITELY ENDED UP DOING. I have no idea how they did it. Heck, their Grandma was on the floor! Geoff and I were sweating bullets just standing there and Grandma was dancing it up in the middle of a hundred some people. We were definitely impressed, and then even more impressed when one of the guests decided to toss ice into the mouths of people dancing which was a pretty ingenious idea. Anyway – it was pretty amazing and we were so happy to be there and be part of their fantastic party. Congratulations, to Emily and Charlie, and dance on, you crazy party guests. :)

Date: July 26, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Snipes Farm Retreat // Chapel Hill, NC

Emily’s Occupation: Was working as a Child Welfare Social Worker but is returning to school in the fall for Master of Social Work.

Charlie’s Occupation: Charlie is a high school teacher (Social Studies and English)

How You Met: We met freshman year at UNC, became close friends, but did not begin dating second semester of senior year.

Interesting Fact: Emily has only seen Charlie two times, in the 9 years they have known each other, without facial hair.

Honeymoon Destination: Spain and Morocco!

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Fennon Wisseh (friend) | DJ – Tim Hazel of TJDJ | Florist – Tre Bella | Cake – Scratch Bakery | Caterer – Beau Catering | Hair – Syd’s | Coordinator – Viva L’Event

Brooke & David’s Downtown Raleigh Wedding

This wedding had all of my favorite things: cats, Mediterranean food, light-up star lanterns, and stories about Tim Robbins. It also had one of my least favorite things: creepy baby dolls. Granted, the creepy baby dolls weren’t the bride and groom’s fault.

Welcome to our recap of Brooke and David’s wedding! It was pretty great. I was glad that for once I got to photograph inside the bride’s house and thus was able to photograph the couple’s cat (Geoff for some reason always gets this opportunity and I’m always missing out on the cute furry parts of weddings). Of course, Geoff still got to photograph the furry adorableness of their friend’s dog who was also insanely cute, and so we both had a good morning. The rest of the wedding was just as awesome (including an impressive guitar solo overhead during the ceremony on the steps of Haywood Hall courtesy of Artsplosure). The food was some of the best wedding food we’ve everrrrr had, and we got to spend some time taking portraits inside a historic house among other portraits of people (some of which creeped David out, but not to the extent of the effect that the baby doll collection had on all of us).

This was also our first wedding with a super comfortable and low-maintenance wrap dress and our first couple with a prominently displayed Andy Warhol print in their living room. They also have about 90% of the same books as us, so we think they’re pretty good people, but we didn’t have to necessarily scour their reading material to tell you that. We’ve had a great time getting to know Brooke and David and the awesome people that we think they are, and this was reinforced by spending their wedding weekend stalking them with cameras from a short distance away. And now without further ado…

wedding photographers in raleigh north carolina

Date: May 17, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Haywood Hall // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “There is No Greater Love” – Billie Holiday

Brooke’s Occupation: Health Promotion Specialistc

David’s Occupation: Underwriting Manager

How You Met: Brooke and David met through the persistent matchmaking of their mutual friend Sara. Brooke remembers eating drippy tacos, David remembers eating edamame. They both agree there was Bang Bang Shrimp.

Interesting Fact about Brooke: Brooke once lost her cellphone at a fossil dig. The phone was eventually recovered…along with prehistoric turtle and alligator skeletons.

Interesting Fact about David: David once shopped with Tim Robbins. They looked at and discussed vintage concert t-shirts for the Violent Femmes and the Pixies. Also, invented Bubble Tape. You’re welcome.

Honeymoon Destination: Mexico! Margaritas! Mayan ruins!

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Allan Maule | DJ – Shelby Merchant | Florist – State Farmer’s Market | Cake – Teal Petal Cakes | Caterer – Charlie’s Kabobs | Hair – Jenna Emory | Makeup – Dora Hargittai | Coordinator – John-Michael Gillivan | Invitations – Lovely in Ink Designs