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My anniversary. Their anniversary. September 26th. A great day to be married.

All I can say is I’ve completely bonded with these two over the course of the year. Just delightful as a couple. Very much in love and are special people whom have a way of making you feel good about you. In fact, the same holds true for all of their friends and family. Very warm and welcoming.

Their event took place at none other than The Sutherland, Estates and Gardens in Wake Forest. It was a personal first for me and I’ve come to know the venue owners and really value them as people. Here’s to Ashlee & Jennifer. Thank you for making me feel like family!

Well as you would guess, and so holds true for all of my Saturday Fall weddings, it rained. It challenged me and for clients whom you truly want to do right by( which is actually all of my clients  : )     ) and give them pretty pics together, it left me a little sad. Still got some fun artsy shots in  . . . .the . . .  . rain. I just hoped for a better day for them.

It truly did not keep them down or held them back from FUN! The largely Carolina(UNC)crowd partied it down and rounded out the evening with the Tarheels fight song. This wouldn’t happen at a Rutgers wedding, hahahaha!

Contributor’s to the very chic event included florals by Fresh Affairs, Raleigh, NC. A sweet treat of a cake by Sweet Memories of Apex. Catering Works fed the crowd and then the crowd burned off the calories to Joe Bunn dj’s.

Perhaps the craziest sparkler exit ever . . . . I think everyone was still present, they walked the long, sparkly walkway out to their limo and called it a night. Left the next day for their honeymoon in Mexico.

I know these two are going to be happy together so I’m just going to wish them good health! Love you two!

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Love this moment and I’m not sure they really know it, but I remember it clearly. I had caught this moment at the end of Delia whispering, “I love you.” I cried. It was endearing.

What a wedding! I met the sweet couple back at the bridal show last January when Allison came gimping up to me on crutches. Joel Hurley from the Preston Woodall House in Benson was at the same show and sent them my way. Thanks Joel!! We talked for awhile and later wrapped things. They were to have a formal military cadence ceremony incorporated into their 220+ guest wedding.

With so many details at hand, they hired the help of the wonderfully talented, Shawn Schindler of  Your Special Day to pull the navy and gold color scheme together. There were so many pretty touches to the magnolia clad wedding which was evident at the altar and on the cake. Flowers by Kelly Odom graced the centerpieces as well as the altar and the navy blue cake(no pun intended as Brett seerves in the United States Navy) was done by no other than Donna of Sweet Memories in Apex.

It was a lively reception as the 6 piece band The Fabulous Shades played on through the night. I think everyone stayed until the end which made for the most impressive sparkler exit.

Best wishes to Brett + Allison! And Brett, hats off for serving our great nation and to the both of you for your sacrifice!

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Allison’s glamorous and glowing look was the vision of Jennifer Parker-Buenviaje – http://www.makeupforyourday.com

I don’t know that I’ve ever not been shooting a wedding at Highgrove when it’s less than 90 degrees. Yeah the temps were high the day Tim & Jenna got married. Not a big deal as the tent that hosted their 150+ guest reception was quite the party-like air conditioned atmosphere and the groomsmen played quite the part in the entertainment. Yes, those boys have certain panache on the dance floor.

The day for me did not start with my impression of the boys. That was taken on by my fine associate shooter Rebecca. Kudos to her for knocking out some very candid and fun moments of the guys.

I was with a very cram filled room of women and their accessories. Shoes, bags, dresses, bags, makeup bags,  . . . . you get the picture. It was all good. The atmosphere was happy as a glowing Jenna made her last minute enhancements(she doesn’t need much in the first place). Her bouquet by Fresh Affairs was a fine accessory to her stunning dress from Victorian Rose Bridal in the popular Glenwood South of downtown.  The flora also graced her reception tables with varying heights of glass vases of the greens and white. And in all it’s grandeur, and gracing it’s own table was the elegant 4 tiered wedding ‘art’ by no other than Donna Ford of Sweet Memories. She’s one of my favorites in the industry as she’s done my childrens’ birthday cakes.

Below are some of my fav pics of the day. There were a ton of goodies. It’s hard to choose. To see the complete collection of images, please friend me on Facebook.

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Picture this . . .Benson, NC. You may not know Benson, but to me it embraces all that is Carolina ‘country’. Old farmhouses with a history. Fields of rye, hay, and cattle. 

This country farming town played backdrop to my most recent wedding of Stephanie and Scott. Scott the owner of a trucking company and his bride a former NC Watermelon Queen met through mutual friends and fell in love against some skepticism of some friends and family. Despite their age difference, Scott & Stephanie were committed to each other and making their relationship work and 2 1/2 years later landed themselves on a significant date, their wedding date: May 16, 2009. 

It seemed all too befitting to have a lovely and large country wedding. The Johnston County Agricultural Center which hosted the reception was equipped with a table specially dedicated to recipes for watermelons and sweet potatoes. With 250+ guests in attendance, the wedding was anything, but small.  But what you didn’t lose from this wedding was the sense of family and community that gathered around them. Their reception was adorned with a candy bar and the NC Watermelon Queen imparted a piece of her history with candied watermelon pieces at the candy bar.

The celebration ended with a jovial and crowd packed sparkler exit. To date, it is my best sparkler exit picture. 

Congratulation Scott & Stephanie. Hope you had a great time in Hawaii!

A special shoutout to Dan Glasgow for second shooting with me. You did a great job, Dan!

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I’m not just making fun of my May 2nd couple, but rather referring to the favors of a beer cozy that graced the bar at their wedding. ‘They Finally Did It!’.

I guess an ongoing sentiment amongst Tray, Nicole and their family and friends. The couple had been dating for almost 8 years before their ‘I do’s’ at the local winery, Hinnant Vineyards in Pine Level, NC. It only seemed all too apropos, a relationship perfectly aged, like wine. The irony of their reception site.

I don’t have much to go on as far as their relationship history is concerned, but this I can tell you. This couple is one in love couple. It’s entirely sweet and endearing. In my 5th year of shooting weddings and having seen many approaches to the same result, the one thing that sets my weddings apart is the relationships of my couples’. Nothing more inspiring to me photographically than a couple that really connects and adores each other. I totally got this vibe from Tray & Nicole. And I’m not saying this loosely, but I got goosebumps saying goodbye to them because they really touched me. They inspired me and it was hard saying goodbye to them. 

Come back to me with your babies, but enjoy the honeymoon period first!

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And special props to my associate photographer, Rebecca. Girl, you did a bang out job! Thank you!

The Falcon’s Hamlet, the ultra-exclusive brand new venue in Clayton, NC launched it’s first event yesterday and I was honored to be asked to document it for them. I was doubly honored that it also happened to be the wedding of Mike Morse and his bride, Lindsay Frahm.

The event went off without a hitch under a gorgeous blue sky day. From an outsider’s perspective, one would’ve never known that it was the Falcon’s Hamlets first event. Supported by the staff of Triangle Catering, one of their preferred vendors, the day was flawless.

Mike and Lindsay married to a standing crowd of 250+ guests whom enjoyed champagne while gathered around Falcons Hamlet’s spray fountain pond; the couple’s ceremony site.

Immediately following the ceremony the guests enjoyed the culinary stations hosted on the East and West terrace’s of the palace. The toast led off by Bob Dumas of the G105 Morning Showgram with a strong supporting, might I add theatrical role by Kentucky Kristen and a light-footed guy sporting a rainbow twirly ribbon, otherwise known as Jon, proved to be the entertainment of the evening as they sang, interpretively gestured, and danced a personal rendition of Bette Midler’s The Rose. My only two questions are 1. Jon are you for hire outside of weddings? And 2. When did Triangle Catering’s finest hors d’oeuvre, macaroni and cheese croquettes become a good toasting drink? All I kept thinking was someone get the man a drink!

For more information about Falcon’s Hamlet, to take a tour of their estate, or to have your wedding hosted there, please visit their site, www.falconshamlet.com

Also special thanks to Touch of Class Limo’s for their top notch service and for giving my sore feet a lift back to my car later that evening. Thanks Willie, Nick, Rick, Tony, and Steven, I believe?!

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Not that I don’t mind a good rainy wedding as it makes for some great images, but it tends to subdue the tone of weddings and the guests.

But nothing stood in the way of my super laid back bride Lisa and her groom to be, Chris. They were served up for the day of the wedding some super soggy atmosphere and grounds and did I mention their wedding was scheduled for an outdoor terrace wedding at Duke Gardens? 

Windshield wipers full blast, I placed a call into Lisa on the way to her wedding as they had a back-up plan in case of rain. I was sure we’d be going to the little historic chapel on 751; never assume. Lisa said they were going with their original plan for the gardens. I dig the spirit of a bride who just decides that a little rain isn’t going to spoil her day and I love the challenge it poses and of course how it affects the scene. Golf umbrella a must!

God has a funny way of smiling down on you sometimes and was true for Lisa and Chris’ wedding because by the time it was time for her to walk down the aisle to Chris the rains had subsided. We had a few intermittent showers during our groups post wedding, but nothing that we couldn’t jostle around and umbrellas make for cute props during shoots. 

The candlelit reception was held in the Hilton RTP ballroom, otherwise known by the locals as ‘The Mansion on the Hill’. Floral art provided by Fresh Affairs, dotted all of the tables with tall and short vases with simple arrangements of autumnal colors and lime greens. And while the flowers were a definitive focal point of the wedding, one thing else was for sure; the mutual love and affection shared by this amazing couple. I reflect on the laughter shared by the two of them. A great ingredient in a happy marriage.

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Chris McCord, a native of Michigan, found himself in NC two weeks before a friends wedding, getting acquainted with the girl he’d later spend the rest of his life with. 

It wasn’t a set-up. Chris was helping his friend hang crown moulding in his house when he got caught up in a long gaze out the window and down the driveway at the neighbor next door, Jennifer Autry. The gazes didn’t go unnoticed as Jenn cants she recalls the grey sweatshirt he was wearing. Chris fondly recalls her red top and hippie skirt and her equally unforgettable long locks. But neither was in the mood for a relationship because they had no place to go from there. Chris was going back home to Michigan after the wedding.

The reception revealed another little plan for them. Jenn’s parents had caught wind that Chris was ‘sweet on Jenn’ which apparently stirred some emotions for both of them. Jenn admits going up to him during that reception and calling him out on the southern expression and retorted with a coyly phrased, “Perhaps, I’m sweet on you too.” It was the ice-breaker they both needed. 

With so much in common and a very easygoing beginning to their relationship, saying good-bye and going back to Michigan posed a challenge and Chris’ lost watch. He accidentally left it with Jenn and told her he’d be down to get it in two weeks. Not falling short of his promise, two weeks later, Chris packed and moved himself down to NC. Not being assumptious, the new couple took it very slow only to realize that they were very much in love with one another and meant to be together.

Which leads us to present day. Their love story won the essay contest for the Wedding Giveaway. They were the lucky couple whom received my photography services and the event planning services of Cara, at A Southern Soiree. The couple was also blessed with DJ services provided by Complete Music, rustic autumnal flowers and fauna by Gwen Romig of Princess Petal, hair and makeup by Cynetha Williams, and an always sweet treat and piece of art cake by Edible Art. The wedding and reception were held at Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh.

As I was documenting their day, one sentimental moment I witness comes to mind. When Chris caught eye of his bride Jenn as she rounded the courtyard at Brier Creek, the emotion got the best of him. From a distance and with my long lens, I caught him saying, “Wow! Wow!”. Proof positive of how much he was taken aback by her and how much he adores her. Now that’s sweet!

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And yes, this was a fall wedding, so the daffodils weren’t readily available, but Allison managed to have her florist find her a petite daffodil to adorn her autumnal colored bouquet.

The significance to the daffodil carries over in the couples’ lives. Allison had revealed to me that throughout all of her first dates with Jimmy at WFU, he always would manage to bring her a daffodil. So it was almost befitting that when Jimmy was going to propose to Allison, that he showed up with a large bouquet of the flower. How could Allison say no?!

Their romance continued on the front drive and steps of Berry Hill Estates where they were to say their ‘I do’s’. It was a first time for me taking in the beauty of this venue in South Boston, VA. It was almost too much. John, the event planner for the estate, had to keep me in line and on time when it came to getting back from their post-ceremony pictures. There was so much to take in and you take an adorably affectionate bride and groom and you throw them in the backdrop of something entirely, visually stimulating; well it was hard not to explore the grounds and just enjoy my newly married couple and let them just enjoy their time.

And their love is so inspiring. For 20 minutes after the ceremony, I had to just be an observer and documenter as I witnessed a very profound expression of love through the tears of Allison and the eyes of Jimmy. He just couldn’t take his eyes off of her as they continually requited, “I love you”!

As the evening wore on, the couple was welcomed into the cozy and warm ballroom. Tabletops were named after famous love songs and were accented by warm autumn colors and wire pumpkin tealight holders. The doors of the ballroom remained open throughout the entire reception as the cool evening added a refreshing element. The food was absolutely fantastic! And the cake done by no other than Donna from Sweet Memories of Apex, NC, succeeded the dinner.

In a nutshell, this wedding was perfect in every sense of the word. Great couple. Great venue. Great day. God really smiled down on this couple for the day of their wedding!

What started out as rehearsals for the Spring play at Durham Academy during high school has taken my August 16th couple down the aisle of the Courtyard at Treyburn Country Club in Durham.

The road from highschool sweethearts to rival college schools UNC(Brienne’s alma mater) and Duke(Richard’s alma mater) to now husband and wife was paved with what Brienne quoted as ’4 days of a drama-filled break-up’ during the Summer of their senior year in highschool. Clearly, they were meant to be together because after patching the silly squabble, they have now survived bitter rival basketball season’s during their undergrad years.

Since Brienne had been looking into Harvard Law, Richard fortified the decision to trek north by securing an accounting job in Boston. So, when Brienne the law student, and Richard the traumatized southern accountant(he misses his sweet tea and Carolina BBQ) moved to Boston, Richard sealed the deal with an October 2007 proposal.

And the rest is passe`. Best wishes Richard and Brienne!