last month i got to photograph a party…where Marlea and Chris happen to get married:)  when we first started discussing her wedding, Marlea told me she was not a traditional bride.  her flowers were a surprise the day of.  when her hairdresser tried to give her a mirror to check out the back of her do, she was all like eh, i don’t need to see it.  if you say it’s good then it’s good.  she was nothing but calm and happy all day.  if you know Marlea, you know how fun and outgoing she is.  i doubt she meets a stranger.  then you have her social opposite Chris, who is shy and quiet.  but equally kind.  together they are a perfect match.

she totally could have paid me in Sidestreet’s veggie deluxe pizzas, veggie subs with sauted veggies and italian dressing on the side,  maybe some cheese ravioli, and…  but this isn’t about my love of all things meatless at Sidestreet.  it’s about the beautiful day that Marlea and Chris tearfully said their vows and then partied it up with their family and closest friends.  it really was a perfect fall day.  but i tell you what, it turned cold that evening.  i admit to not being super spontaneous.  i like to know what i am doing and to be fairly prepared.  i checked out the weather…high of 65, low of 55.  totally mild.  nothing a sweater couldn’t handle.  especially bopping and moving around all night.  well, the weather channel app does not give you a heads up for the wind chill factor.  i nearly froze.  until a super sweet guest insisted that she wear her husband’s coat and give me hers.  i should totally send her flowers.  despite the cold temps, everyone had a fabulous evening.  dancing until there was no light left to even get a focus on all the fun.

so anyway, on with a peek from Marlea and Chris’ wedding…

i am still not sure if sweet Grey was trying to give me the flower or whack me with it. either way he was not a big fan of the family photo portion of the day:)

rather than individual small family photos, Marlea wanted group shots. Chris’ family on the left, Marlea’s on the right. a little out numbered…

and everyone all together!

one of my life’s regrets will always be not grabbing one of those chocolate cake pops.

when i receive a wedding inquiry, before quoting a price i first launch into my rambling and questionably nerdy view on love.  what it means to me to document a wedding and my creative process for doing so.  i know that i am not for every bride and groom and rest assure, some probably shake their heads at my reply to their inquiry and mark me off their list.  but i tell you what, when they email me back and say that my view on it all is “exactly what they are looking for” i immediately get excited.  because i know that it is their love that they want captured.  love first.  the show second.  moments first.  place settings second.

after a few email exchanges with Carter, she sent me a picture of her and Patrick as well as a “messy self-made Pinterest” page of her ideas so far.  i was smitten.  no only were they such a beautiful couple, her ideas were natural, summer-y, and…fresh.  they decided on a wedding date for next year that just happens to fall on this old lady’s birthday.  fate i tell ya.

we met in Bristol for their engagement session.  this is about a 2.5 hour drive for me.  a beautiful drive that i love taking.  especially this time of year.  i make a bet with myself as to how far up 26 the leaves will really start changing.  the oranges and reds began to pop right around where i thought they would.  only i had to struggle to see them through the downpour that seemed to follow me from Asheville all the way to Johnson City.  then off and on to Bristol.  i really didn’t want to have to move their session indoors.  it is just so lovely outside right now.  luckly, a few minutes after i arrived at The Virginian, that moody sky decided to hold off on the rain for a bit.  we made our way to a little field nearby that was perfectly overgrown and proceeded to get soaking wet from our shoes to our knees.  Carter and Patrick were as wonderfully in love as i expected from our emails.  not even one complaint from the groom to be.  how could he complain about being made to “keep kissing Carter” he said.  they made my job ridiculously easy.

i was lucky enough to get to spend several days at Song Hill Reserve a couple weeks ago.  there is something about that place.  besides the obvious natural beauty, being there is almost therapeutic.  you can stand at any spot on that property and you have 360 degrees of sigh-worthy scenery.  there are days in front of my computer that i daydream about stringing up a hammock by the pond and just breathing it all in.  and there i go again…

Erica and Chris’ wedding finished off my week at Song Hill.  it was the most amazing day.  blue skies, a slight breeze, and tons of love and laughter.  the comment i heard most on that day was “it’s about time!”.  Erica and Chris have 12 years of history together.  there is no doubt that these two are made for each other.  and it was such an honor to be able to witness (and document) this day so long in the making.  erica’s dress was crazy beautiful and her flowers (thanks to her brilliant mom Tina) were perfect.  their wedding party consisted of both siblings and their closest friends.  everything about this wedding screamed Erica and Chris.  the day was filled with laughter, tears, amazing cakes, and dancing until well past dark.  by far one of the most fun weddings i’ve been a part of.

and of course, the biggest thank you to mr. wilson for shooting this wedding with me.  the best darn second shooter a wife could ask for.

there is something so intimate about elopements.  maybe a hand full of family and/or friends.  or in Tonya and Derek’s case, just the two of them and their officiant.  few frills and even less stress.  just a beautiful afternoon to profess their love and make a life long commitment to each other.  with no distractions.  so romantic.  two weekends ago at Song Hill Reserve Tonya and Derek made that commitment to each other and it couldn’t have been any sweeter.  and i was super honored to be able to document it.

i am rather selective when it comes to the weddings i photograph.  this is in no way because i put myself or my photography on a pedestal.  in fact, it is quite the opposite.  to do full justice to a wedding, i think you have to believe in it.  whole-heartedly.  in the couple, their bond, and what their wedding means to them.  weddings are by far one of the best reasons to throw a big ol’ party.  to be perfect hosts and to celebrate your love with friends and family.  though i think it is very easy to get lost in that show.  to be more concerned with everything and everyone looking perfect than the love you are celebrating.  i know my style and where my eye gravitates.  and i know that neither of those would mesh with bigger, brighter, and immaculate.  i would not be able to do an event like that justice.

i met laurie years and years ago when i ran a little coffee shop in town.  she was the sweetest person i had ever met.  seriously.  like when you first meet her you think maybe she is too sweet.  like something is up.  but nope, that’s just her.  she is the kind of person that makes you look at yourself and think that you are not as good as you could/should be.  i know that sounds hooky.  but if you know her, you know exactly what i mean.  and if you don’t, then well, you should totally meet her.  when laurie emailed me months ago about photographing her wedding, she wrote of several details and ideas that she wanted to include.  being super crafty and creative, i knew it would be just beautiful.  when we were finally able to sit down and talk, she told me that she couldn’t imagine anyone else documenting her wedding (i was floating on cloud 9 and blushing at this point).  little did she know that after hearing her gush about david and the celebration of their love that she was planning, i would have fought for it.

when the wedding day arrived, all the details were in place.  the vintage doilies were hung, the mix and match plates that laurie scoured thrift stores for months for were all stacked, her vintage dress was tailored perfectly, and all her handmade hair pieces were completed.  all that was left was to marry her best friend in front of their family and closest friends.  she kept commenting all afternoon about how calm she was.  how ready she was to marry this man.  the only person that may have been more ready was david.  he was completely over the moon.  the way he looked at her all evening was that of every girl’s dream.

laurie and david…thank you so much for trusting me to capture these moments for you.  your wedding was absolutely beautiful, but your love is truly bigger and brighter…

laurie's sweet daddy. i just loved him. seriously, i think i have a little crush on him.

and thank you so much to the wonderful mr. wilson for shooting with me.  i certainly could not have done it without you.

i have never, as a photographer or guest, witnessed such a beautiful display of two different traditions and cultures uniting as i did at Christy and Raymond’s wedding.  the wedding was held at FENCE.  their vows said under the Cedar of Lebanon.  this had been Christy’s favorite place on her frequent walks at FENCE, having no idea the name of  this giant tree with it’s sweet little rosettes.  or that it was native to Lebanon, the birthplace of Raymond, whom she had just began to get to know.  she brought him there on their first date and he nonchalantly told her that “they had those back home”.  long story short (because i am sure i could never do it justice) Christy and Raymond fell in love.  and what better place to be married than right under this tree that had played such an almost fateful part in their relationship.

it was such a amazing day.  mild temps, a slight breeze.  full of dancing and singing… such a happy celebration.  with the help of the wonderful (and handsome) Mr. Wilson, we shot until there was absolutely no light left.

Christy and Raymond, i wish you guys all the happiness in the world as you venture out on the newest chapter of your lives.  thank you for allowing me to be a part your day. xoxo

ok, this post is going to be a bit personal and indulgent so bear with me…

we’ll begin a ways back…  i met Tricia on her first day as the new girl at Tryon Middle School.  i remember it like it was yesterday…well parts of it anyway.  i saw this girl, and low and behold, she was wearing a dancing bear t-shirt.  these were the days right before the grunge trend hit and i swore no one else at our little school knew who the Dead was, much less would advertise it.  i knew instantaneously that she was going to be my friend.  and well, i was right.  Tricia and i were pretty much inseparable.  hanging out with her and her wonderful mom Kelly was pretty much all i did.  listening to Don Mclean on the old juke box at the lake, Spring Fling-ing it when they moved to Spartanburg, laughing and gossiping, borrowing that t-shirt whenever i got a chance!  all the things that girls do.  like peas and carrots i tell ya…

but, with that move to Spartanburg came the inevitable… it only made sense for Tricia to change schools.  and with that, sadly, we lost touch.  as the years passed i often thought about her…even looking to facebook to reconnect.  but i could never find her.  then close to a year ago… at a little outdoor concert in Spartanburg, there she was!  we gave each other that “she looks familiar” stare, which was quickly followed by shrieks and hugs.  she was there with the wonderful and handsome Chris.  this guy is so awesome, the first time you speak to him, he makes you feel like you’ve known him forever.  she was so happy and i knew it had so much to do with him.

a couple months later Chris proposed.  i was oh so flattered that she asked Nic and i to photograph the wedding.  with each new detail i heard about the day, i knew it was going to be just lovely.  a day full of love and celebrating…exactly the kind of wedding that Nicholle and i long to shoot and be a part of.

and it was a perfect day.  Tricia was seriously the most beautiful bride.  so relaxed.  she, her son Taylor, and Chris would bring their family full circle.  and not one of them could have been happier.

Tricia, going through all the photos totally makes me tear up.  the way Chris looks at you is truly that of a man who has found his lobster.  i see it every time i am around the two of you.  i love your love…  ok, enough!  we hope you guys enjoy your big ol’ peek!