i am totally in love with this new venue, the contemporary art museum in downtown raleigh.  there is a mix of funky old urban buildings, the modern architectural design of CAM and there is even some wispy grass and pretty trees to soften the urban feel.

jenna and jac had one of the sweetest first looks ever.  i think we were all crying!  they decided to do a first look and all of the family photos before the ceremony.  at first i admit i was a bit intimidated by jenna’s 6 page timeline (LOL), but in the end we worked together to create a great timeline that made for a no stress, great day with lots of amazing photo opportunities!  right after the ceremony everyone walked straight to the bus and right into party time!  and i have to give jenna and jac a special shout out for being so sweet to mel and i.  we actually had our own little “sweetheart” table set up at the reception with the fancy dinner wares and delicious food.  thanks guys!

cake:  cinda’s creative cakes

catering:  mitchell’s catering and events

flowers:  serendipity designs

videography:  simile productions

rentals:  themeworks and ce rentals

officiant:  vintage 21 church

hair and make-up:  samuel cole salon

ceremony:  all saints chapel

reception:  CAM

dj:  joe bunn

happy sunday with a happy, colorful wedding!

venue: west belmont place

make-up- erin kelly

hair- rania hosn- aillage salon

dj:  dj oz

cupcakes: red velvet

flowers: flower gallery of manassas

dress: kitty chen

shoes: jimmy choo

suits- brooks brothers

i love shooting bridal portraits!  the only bad part is that you can’t share them until after the wedding.  jenna and jac tied the knot last saturday at CAM in raliegh.  while she and jac are lounging by the pool in mexico recovering from the festivities i thought i would share some of my favorite images of her from her bridal portrait shoot at the raleigh museum of art.

jennifer and ben’s wedding was the perfect combo of sweet, stylish and elegant.  they said “i do” at the gorgeous duke chapel.  makeup for your day did a great job making jen and her girls look fabulous!  i fell in love with jennifer’s lovely vintage feeling dress the moment i saw it!

we had beautiful light after the ceremony for some great portraits with the new mr. and mrs. before we headed to the renaissance hotel for a fab party put together by erin mclean events.

planning:  erin mclean events

ceremony:  duke chapel

recpetion site:  renaissance hotel in north hills

videography:  heart stone films

dj:  joe bunn

cake:  cinda’s creative cakes

flowers:  the english garden

hair and make-up:  makeup for your day

transportation:  carolina livery

we photographed liz’s sister, erin’s, wedding a few years ago and have had the opportunity to see their little family grow from two to four when we see their family for portraits each year.   we were thrilled when we found out we were going to get to work with erin’s sister, liz, on her big day!

liz and dave are such a great couple!  they are so sweet with each other.  they said “i do” at in intimate ceremony in erin’s back yard in pinehurst.

Wedding day coordinator: Crystal Blue of Southern Pines
Flowers: Sabrina Andisco   the flowers were amazing!  sabrina is liz’s friend.  what a good skill to have in a friend when you are getting married!
Wedding party flowers:  Crystal Blue
Make-up artist: Heather Anderson  heather is also a family friend.  liz has connections!
Hair: Denise from Beautopia Salon
Cake: Acorn Bakery
Caterer- Sweet Feed
Dress:  Elizabeth Fillmore
Shoes:Aldo
DJ: DGEntertainment 

sister love.

dave and his sister.

the first look.  we love it when we get to do a first look because we have so much more time to create beautiful photos of the bride and groom!  liz and dave were hesitant at first about doing a first look, but due to the late ceremony time they agreed to a first look.  i wanted to share a bit from an email from liz that she sent right after the wedding.  she said, “The best decision we made was doing the pictures first.”  check out the gorgeous shots of this super-cute couple that we were able to get during the first look.

erin + mitch’s little guys.  how cute are they?!

the first dance.

the grove park inn was a fabulous setting for lucy and chris’ big day.  there was a threat of thunderstorms, but the clouds blew by and the sun smiled down on the patio overlooking the blue ridge mountains where lucy and chris said “i do”.

venue:  the grove park inn

good eats:  the grove park inn

flowers:  bloom

dress: betsy robinson bridal

shoes:  lulu townsend bridal valissa pump

hair: lindsay owen, theory salon

make-up:  melissa markis, adelaide spa

music:  the crystal clear band

cake:  cakes by jane

ceremony band: allegro

wedding director:  evelyn gerdes

the grove park inn

multitasking at its best.

lucy’s dad married them.  so sweet!

lucy + chris and their crew were a blast to work with.

i love the connection in this photo.

jump for love!

the dance party at the reception was epic!  “if you ain’t sweating, you ain’t dancing!”  all of the groomsmen had shirts with this little gem of a slogan printed on them.  the band even turned it into a song.  the crystal clear band rocked it!  there were some awesome dance moves going on.  : )

kate and renato had a gorgeous celebration at the cairnwood estate in bryn athyn, pa.  everything was perfect.  a beautiful estate, a beautiful couple and a beautiful day!

mix a little bit of sunshine, some southern charm, a gorgeous mountain setting and a whole lotta love and you will get hillary and patrick’s wedding day!

hair: Stewart & Company
make-up: Timeless by Paula
flowers: Oakleaf Flower & Garden
planning/coordination: Elizabeth Fletcher at I Do Events
dress: Anna Maier
shoes: Kate Spade
band: Savannah Jack
cake: Pastries by Sid Jackson
venue + food:  old edwards inn

i could not pick my favorite ring shot.  which do you like best?  the moss or the hugs and kisses?

amazing ups!

congrats hillary and patrick!

we are always so excited to see one our fabulous client’s wedding in print!  carrie and gregg are featured this month in the knot of nc.  on stands now, check em out!

what a gorgeous day to get married!  kate and elliott’s happiness was contagious.  i had so much fun photographing them because they are so clearly in love and so happy!
Dress: Watters & Watters

Shoes:  Jimmy Choo

Caterer: Groovin Gourmet

Cake:  Shyndigz

Florist: Eddie Sturgill

Rentals: Grand Rental Station

DJ: Roof Raisers Inc.

Transportation: Affinity Limousine company

Hair/makeup: Trisha Rone (Daniel Alan’s Salon & Spa)