Brandie+William’s Backyard Wedding

Brandie and William are two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and it saddens us a bit that they live in Nashville, Tennessee now because we can’t really see them, but we’ve assured them that we’ll come visit (and we mean it) because they are great and because Carolyn is their dog Quinn’s bff. Their other dog, Parker, is slightly less well adjusted (no offense, Parker) and was originally going to be boarded for their wedding after it was decided that he would be too scared to be in the actual ceremony. However, it was also then decided that he would be too scared to be boarded as well, so he came to the wedding but sat upstairs and hid under Brandie’s dress and pouted the whole time, essentially taking the place of a 3-year-old flower girl. Carolyn had to hide her ridiculously high level of enthusiasm that the dogs were there (because they are so cuuuute) and try to avoid taking only pictures of the dogs (look how cuuuuute).

The wedding was held at Brandie’s parents’ backyard in Stem. They bought the property and built the house a few years ago, but the backyard was wooded. They slowly cleared it out and landscaped, building a path and a gazebo for the wedding, and doing an incredible amount of hard work to make it a beautiful place for Brandie and William’s ceremony. Brandie and William put together a ton of the decor (all peacock themed) and transported a car full of cupcakes (and two dogs) all the way from Nashville successfully, which we consider to be a substantial feat. Their officiant had married Brandie’s parents 39 years ago and, coincidentally, her parents won the longest married anniversary dance that same evening. :) At the end of the night their families had put together a fireworks display and Geoff took some beautiful pictures while Carolyn ran and hid in the woods (I’m quite terrified of fireworks). It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we are so grateful for Brandie and William being awesome people and clients! Congratulations! 

Date: August 3, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Brandie’s parents’ home // Stem, NC

First Dance Song: “Lost Without You” – Robin Thicke

Brandie’s Occupation: Med/peds Hospitalist

William’s Occupation: Sales specialist for Home Depot

How You Met: We met in Chapel Hill, NC while visiting friends on Cinco de Mayo

Interesting Bride Fact: Not happy unless reading 4 books at once.

Interesting Groom Fact: He is a Words with Friends champion.

Honeymoon Destination: The Florida Keys

Vendor Credits: Officiant – The Rev. Dr. Edward O. de Bary (Interesting fact: He married Brandie’s parents 39 years ago and is a family friend) | DJ – Tim Hazell from TJDJ Music | Florist – Ashley Jordan Florist | Cake – The Cupcake Collection in Nashville, TN | Caterer – Simply Delicious | Hair – Courtney Difluvio from Urban Edge Salon | Makeup – Dawn Hicks, family friend | Coordinator – Beth Lewis, friend | Landscaping Flowers- Coley Bunch Nursery

Megan+Andrew’s Downtown Raleigh Wedding

I believe the first time Megan came over to our house for their wedding consult she was derailed by our discussion of Breaking Bad for so long that her roommate probably suspected foul play. Needless to say, we’ve loved Megan from the minute we met her and while we hadn’t met Andrew until the wedding, we knew we’d love him just as much – and we did. :) We loved them both even more when we discovered that one of their favorite television show characters is also our long-standing favorite of all-time: Secret Service Aaron (man, we miss 24). When you meet another couple with as deep of a love for Secret Service Aaron, it’s a bond that cannot easily be broken.

We ran around their wedding discussing 24, hanging out on sidewalks in front of historic Raleigh homes, discussing the Maid of Honor’s orange kitten named Waffles of whose fan club I’ve delightfully declared myself president of based on his Instagram pictures alone, and watching the ring bearer do the most amazing dance I’ve ever seen at any wedding which basically included him shifting his hips from side to side with no expression on his face whatsoever for several hours… hours… in the tiniest pleated pants I’ve ever seen. There was also a dog there in a tiny tuxedo. I don’t know what else to say – clearly this should all convince you that this wedding was awesome and that Megan and Andrew are awesome and that tiny dogs in tuxedos are awesome (and heavily photographed by us at all weddings where they make an appearance).

Date: July 27, 2013

Ceremony Venue: All Saints Chapel // Raleigh, NC

Reception Venue: Capital City Club // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “You Can Never Hold Back Spring” – Tom Waits

Megan’s Occupation: Third Grade Teacher

Andrew’s Occupation: High School Band/Choral Director

How You Met: That depends on who you ask!

Interesting Bride Fact: She is a veritable encyclopedia of World War II facts.

Interesting Groom Fact: He has been dropped in a bonfire.

Honeymoon Destination: Saving up money to go backpacking in Europe (and to go to Alaska!)

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Reverend Barbara Lodge | DJ – Lenny Fritts | Florist – Fresh Affairs | Cake – Simply Cakes | Caterer – Capital City Club | Hair/Makeup – Darrell Johnson | Coordinator – Nicole Barton

Melanie+Nicole Get Married in North Carolina

Our first e-mail from Melanie said, “Two girls getting married in Durham seek cool, laid-back, easy-going, ridiculously talented photographers to capture every detail of this illegal venture on June 7, 2013 at Duke Gardens. Two wedding dresses, two mothers of the bride, two step dads, one dad, two maids of honor, zero bridesmaids and one awesome party. We met at a white trash party, Nicole took Mel’s stitches out after ACL surgery and impressively told the surgeon “I got this.” A year later Mel saw Nicole doing Soulja Boy moves on the dance floor and knew she needed to get to know this girl better. So she did. We are celebrating the fifth anniversary of our first date on 12/12/12. Mel asked Nicole to marry her on Labor Day and gave her a ring. A month later Nicole asked Mel to marry her back and gave HER a ring. Because you can do cool stuff like that when you are two girls.” For reference – Melanie is in the pink dress, Nicole is in the ivory dress.

We loved them instantly. Then they came over to our house and Nicole wore this sweater. At that moment, we may or may not have begged them to let us shoot their wedding. They agreed. Then all went out to see Jurassic Park in 3D. They screamed really loud when the velociraptor attacked. Then we photographed their “gay and awesome” wedding ceremony (our first gay wedding!). And then went out two days later to see Iron Man (not in 3D… and no screaming this time). We found out that the paths behind our houses connect so they’re going to be seeing a lot more of us (provided they like their pictures) so that we can visit their elderly cat named Syd (see below) whom Carolyn befriended at the wedding.

Besides it being the first gay wedding we’ve photographed, it was also the biggest wedding heist we’ve EVER seen pulled off in the history of our career. I’d use this blog to lecture all of you ladies out there who are afraid of the rain on your wedding day, but I’m kind of sure that the pictures speak for themselves. Red/orange radar from a tropical storm and two brides who didn’t care at all but who were determined to take pictures outdoors come hell or high water (quite literally very high). We were soaked (and changed our clothes before the ceremony; Carolyn blow-dried her shoes in their bathroom) but the girls stayed relatively dry thanks to umbrellas… and this should prove to ALL of you that it’s better to dance in the rain than to have indoor pictures. Anyway – it was wet. The ground was flooded. Duke Gardens wouldn’t put out chairs because they would destroy the extremely saturated grass. But Melanie and Nicole are like the honey badgers of the bride world and had their wedding outside anyway with standing guests. The sun came out one hour prior to ceremony time. It was amazing and totally unreal. Their pictures after the ceremony at Duke Gardens are a sunny day. One of their guests asked us the evening before what’s the craziest thing we’ve ever seen at a wedding – and now we have an answer. :)

Date: June 7, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Duke Gardens // Durham, NC

First Dance Song: “I Remember” – Whitley

Melanie’s Occupation: Healthcare Market Consultant

Nicole’s Occupation: Physician Assistant

How You Met: A sequence of events that included a white trash party, stitches, and dancing the Soulja Boy.

Interesting Melanie Fact: Had ancestors on the Mayflower, can be spotted as an extra in the movie Whip It, and can’t fold a fitted sheet to save her life.

Interesting Nicole Fact: Swam with sharks and touched the Pope, though not at the same time.

Honeymoon Destination: Italy next year! We hope.

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Antoinette Polito (friend) | DJ – All the Right Grooves | Florist – Melanie and Nicole and Whole Foods :-) | Cake – Durham Catering Co | Caterer – Durham Catering Co | Hair/Makeup – Angela Goldman, owner, A Go-Go Salon | Coordinator – Nicole Conder, Premier Party Planning