Jeremy & Elizabeth’s Wedding

I’ve known Jeremy for more than thirteen years. Our families grew up playing together and being crazy as kids. I have some of the best memories hanging around the Teel family. Great, great times. I knew that shooting this wedding would bring me so much joy, being around old friends again.

The Duncan Estate in Spartanburg, South Carolina  is absolutely stunning with its gardens, bamboo, large windows and glorious trees. Elizabeth and Jeremy had their ceremony and reception all outdoors. I’m super excited for both of them. They have been dating for seven or eight years, and their day was beyond perfect! (Here is a shoot I did of them a few years ago.)

I hope these photos do their day justice!

Congrats Jeremy & Elizabeth! So happy I got to photograph these moments!

And a special shout out to my husband who second shot this day with me. (So many of these photos are his! He did amazing!) He helped carry my pregnant self around and cover me! <3

 

Below: one of my favorites that my husband took! loooove…..

 

The groomsmen all came in to the Star Wars “Imperial March.” Hilarious!

Groomsmen dance! OMG! Hilarious! I’ll try to post the video once it up!

The End ;D

 

Biren & Melissa Indian Wedding

Well… Its coming up on almost a year ago I helped second shoot this wedding with Tara Mauldin Photography . (End of May 2011) I have been dying to share this day with you all. It was definitely hands down the coolest (and hottest) wedding I’ve ever shot. Fifteen hours, two outfit changes and grueling 90′s heat. The day started about seven AM and it was late when we finished. I’ve never seen a bride so beautiful, so decked out, so much preparation. I felt like I had to catch my breath over and over at the layers of beauty that they put her in. ah! Everywhere I looked was eye candy. Color, fabrics, bangles, sparkles, beads….. so incredibly lovely. I may have gone a bit overboard on sharing a ton of photos of Michelle. But I’m so sorry, I couldn’t help it..

The Hindu ceremony was not like I would have expected. (t was held at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Hickory, NC.)It was very interactive, layers of rituals, tears, joy, and extremely light hearted. I can seriously say I loved it. I may have teared up here and there.  I don’t know how the bride and groom were able to stand the unbearable heat with their apparel but they did. I felt like I could have passed out a few times.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy just a snippet of this extremely long fifteen hours. Be sure to check out Tara’s blog with the two days leading up to the ceremony. Gorgeous!

Thank you Biren & Melissa for letting me share this day with you! ;D I loved it.

These next four were taken with 35mm film.

Jason & Jami’s Wedding

Back in October I had the amazing honor to shoot Jami’s sister’s incredible barn wedding. Here I was super excited when Lauren approached me about shooting her sister’s small intimate December wedding ten days before Christmas. If you saw Lauren’s wedding, you saw her mom’s amazing handy work in making the reception amazing. Well… she did it again!

They chose to get married at the small St Mary’s church in uptown Charlotte. Where pink flowers were blooming all over the bushes. (Crazy for December!) The reception was in the back yard of Jami’s home. Lights decorated all the bushes and trees and shrubs, three or four chandeliers hung from trees, and a tent was pitched in the back yard. Inside the tent was the most beautiful table seating for 50ish people with china, and silver. Every plate was different. It was so incredibly beautiful. Fabulous planning.

I’ve had the best time getting to know Jami and her family the last year or so through shooting her sister’s wedding and having dinners and coffee dates with their family. I’m so glad I got to be apart of their day. I sure love all of them.

Congrats Jami & Jason!!! Love you both!

And a special amazing shout out to my second shooter and one of my closest friends, Colleen Kirk who flew in from Kansas City to help me, shoot with me and love me. She fed me crackers the whole day (making me forget I was in my first trimester of pregnancy

 

 

 

Dustin & Laura’s Wedding

So Laura is a best friend of one of my dearest friends, Ashley Fragas who I’ve known since I was like 7 (maybe?)

Ashley approached me about shooting Dustin and Laura’s December wedding. It was going to be held at the Post Chapel on the Fort Bragg base in Fayetteville, NC.  I agreed to it, and was excited to find out that my parents and brother has actually spent some time getting to know Laura in Israel a few years back on a trip. I’m sad to say that I haven’t gotten to know Laura and Dustin hardly at all, but in my brief coffee date with her I found her spirit so charming. She is full of so much beauty and hope. I’m sad they don’t live in the area. Her and Dustin have now relocated up north.

I would like to give a HUGE shout out to my amazing second shooter and assistant- (aka, my husband) He does such an amazing job.

Congrats Dustin & Laura! Thank you for everything!

 

 

Katie & Corey’s Wedding

Katie & Corey have been so beautiful to work with. They met at Queens University and I got to know them during their engagement session (here)

Their day started at the Westin Hotel in uptown Charlotte, Ceremony was at Caldwell Presbyterian Church, and Reception at the Pewter Rose.

It was an absolutely perfect October day!

Congrats Katie & Corey! Thank you so much for letting me photograph your day! Y’all have been super special to work with.

And a special thanks to my 2nd shooter Kate Gazaway. <3

 

As soon as Katie’s brother came out to take pictures she burst into tears. Soooo… sweet.

Katie has twin nephews…. omg!

Here comes the tears….

 

Pewter Rose Bistro. mmm…. gorgeous!

Yeeeeah!! Best Wishes Katie & Corey!

 

Drew & Elizabeth Anne Engagement

Drew & Elizabeth Anne are great friends of Matthew & Lauren (See wedding here). Elizabeth Anne wanted to do their engagement session at her childhood home in Gastonia. It’s being sold and the property holds dear memories for her. A big red barn, a sweet white home, her mother’s rose garden (her mom passed away a few years ago,) her horse, her twin labs, and a beautiful little pasture.  I almost choked up when she told me how much it meant to her.

Their wedding is next June in uptown Charlotte at the Charlotte City Club. Exciting!! ;D

Congrats Drew & Elizabeth Anne!

 

*Bottom photo: I didn’t photoshop this photo to look like this. I brightened it a bit. I actually shot through flowers and plants and it created this yummy texture. hmmm… I like

 

Andrew & Daphne Wedding

Daphne and Andrew’s wedding took place at the end of August at Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC.  The Ceremony and Reception took place on the parks island under lovely willow trees, very breezy (effects from Hurricane Irene) and blue sky. It was gorgeous. Really great.  If you haven’t already seen Daphne & Andrew’s engagement session – check it out here. Daphne and Andrew have such great taste. All their details were handmade and so romantic. The smallest things made the biggest difference in decorating. Simple and romantic. I loved, loved, loved shooting their day.

Daphne pretty much has the best facial expressions when she is happy and excited. I loved it. She was/is a beautiful bride. (Her dress is an Allure if anyone is interested)

Andrew and Daphne are leaving in a few weeks to move to Korea to teach English. They will be missed. Great adventures await them on their new married life together.

Thank you Anna Hollingsworth for being a great 2nd shooter.

Thank you  Daphne and Andrew for letting me a part of of your day, I have enjoyed getting to know you both, and its been great to work with you guys! Congrats!!!

I hope you enjoy these photos!

 

*Anna’s photo (above)

*Anna’s photo (above Left)

*aren’t her Bridesmaid dresses ammmmaaazing?

*Above- You can see that people stopped in the park to watch the ceremony… I love that!

*Anna’s photo (above)

*this is where the food and dancing took place

*Anna’s photo (above- Willow branches)

*During the reception, I had to break away and capture this amazingness in the trees…hahaha!!

*I have to say, best lighting I’ve ever had at a wedding…. so so yummy.

*Daphne and I <3

 

*Yah, thats Andrew on the bass. He totally tore it up for like 15 minutes. He plays in a band here in Charlotte.

*one of my favs (above)

*I took this with my film camera. (above)

 

yeeeeah! Congrats!!

Candace & Oscar Wedding

Asheville, North Carolina. Gorgeous!! It all started when I picked up my friend and mentor up at the Charlotte airport. She flew in from Minnesoooota  (as they say) Shelley Paulson has a been the biggest influence in my journey of photography. Countless hours spent being mentored, taught, and critiqued. She has had patience with my growing. I’ve had the honor of shooting quite a few weddings with her the last three summers. We’ve somehow always found a way for me to visit her in MN or for her to come to the Carolina’s. She had this gorgeous wedding booked in the mountains of North Carolina and wanted me to second shoot and assist her. I jump at the chance to learn from Shelley. I’m blessed to have her in my life. (for real— <3 you Shelley!)

We had a wonderful weekend in Asheville, getting lost every time we got in the car together. The roads in and highways in Asheville are insane!

When we arrived at the rehearsal of Candace and Oscar’s wedding we were stunned at the view surrounding the venue (The Fields at Blackberry Cove).

The wedding was just so, so beautiful. Every detail was perfect and totally “my kind of wedding”. I have posted quite a bit of details from this day. Mostly because I just loved them so much. Candace and Oscar were so wonderful to be around. I’m so happy that I was able to be at their wedding.

The day after the wedding Shelley and I were able to spend the day in Asheville and surrounding cities shopping, and giggling all the way home. It was a fabulous weekend.

I shot quite a few rolls of black and white film with my Canon Elan 7. So I’ve mixed in a few here and there. I hope you enjoy these photos. I really love them.

Congrats Oscar and Candace! I’m so happy I met you both!

 

 

So the night before we shot this wedding, Shelley was teaching me about “Rim lighting” (The photo below) I spent quite a bit of time at the wedding looking to find rim light and learn how to expose for it. It is yummy. I need to use/do it more often.

 

 

 

Please check out Shelley’s photos from this wedding!