Fort Fisher │Engagement Tim & Amy
Beautiful Fort Fisher sunset engagement session in North Carolina by wedding and portrait photographer, Tiffany Abruzzo.
My wonderful second shooter, Erica, (whose own bridal session can be found right here)has worked with me on several weddings now which I am very thankful for. She also is an amazing teacher who works alongside Amy! When she learned of Tim & Amy's engagement, she sent my info her way and the rest is history! We cannot wait for your summer wedding at the beautiful 128 South in downtown Wilmington!
I am so looking forward to your wedding, Amy & Tim! And I am going to need a repeat of those dance moves, just so we are all clear ;) Congratulations on your engagement and see you before you know it for your wedding!
Richlands │Baby Kieran
Handsome little Kieran.
You may remember Katy & Peter from their recent Fort Fisher sunset maternity session (if not, you should check it out right here). Recently, I changed the way I photograph newborns in that I no longer carry a ton of props with me, or rely on baskets and bowls to tuck them into. I do think that style is adorable, but I am loving simply coming to your home and photographing how you are as a brand new family. I love to watch you interact, see how your little one snuggles into you, walk around your nursery and just photograph your baby in their most beautiful, simple light. As a parent, those first moments seemed so fleeting and I would have loved to have someone photograph our first days together just being.
Handsome little Kieran.
You may remember Katy & Peter from their recent Fort Fisher sunset maternity session (if not, you should check it out right here). Recently, I changed the way I photograph newborns in that I no longer carry a ton of props with me, or rely on baskets and bowls to tuck them into. I do think that style is adorable, but I am loving simply coming to your home and photographing how you are as a brand new family. I love to watch you interact, see how your little one snuggles into you, walk around your nursery and just photograph your baby in their most beautiful, simple light. As a parent, those first moments seemed so fleeting and I would have loved to have someone photograph our first days together just being.
Kieran, you are so very loved.
(And while I don't bring a ton of props anymore, it was VERY cool that Dad is a master carpenter and crafted unique Harry Potter wands for each of them for a little Harry Potter tribute moment in our shoot!)
Welcome to the world, little one xoxo
Fort Fisher │Family Session Andrea
Andrea and her adorable kiddos Jaimie, Connor and baby Delaney came to visit their family in NC this summer, and called me up to schedule a sunset photo session at gorgeous Fort Fisher. I swear, the most beautiful people keep booking me, would you look at these perfect little faces? Love them! Anyone who has taken a toddlers photo knows it typically involves about a million squats, and lots of sprinting, and with me, a lot of talking to your little ones to get them to open up and have some fun. I have always loved kids, and being able to photograph them as they really are, not just as they are when posed, is one of my favorite things to do!
Andrea and her adorable kiddos Jaimie, Connor and baby Delaney came to visit their family in NC this summer, and called me up to schedule a sunset photo session at gorgeous Fort Fisher. I swear, the most beautiful people keep booking me, would you look at these perfect little faces? Love them! Anyone who has taken a toddlers photo knows it typically involves about a million squats, and lots of sprinting, and with me, a lot of talking to your little ones to get them to open up and have some fun. I have always loved kids, and being able to photograph them as they really are, not just as they are when posed, is one of my favorite things to do!
Thanks for inviting me into your day, Andrea & kiddos!
Until next time, xoxo
Wilmington Coastline Convention Center │Brian & Amy Wedding
2016 was full of amazing new clients who I now call friends, and Brian & Amy are no exception. Love these two and their fantastic families!!! Amy & Brian were married in a beautiful beach ceremony on Wrightsville Beach on quite possibly the steamiest, but most perfect day of the year! The reception was held at downtown Wilmington's Coastline Convention Center wedding venue which I highly recommend if you love historic buildings with weathered brick walls and beautiful large windows throughout their Riverview Terrace room.
2016 was full of amazing new clients who I now call friends, and Brian & Amy are no exception. Love these two and their fantastic families!!! Amy & Brian were married in a beautiful beach ceremony on Wrightsville Beach on quite possibly the steamiest, but most perfect day of the year! The reception was held at downtown Wilmington's Coastline Convention Center wedding venue which I highly recommend if you love historic buildings with weathered brick walls and beautiful large windows throughout their Riverview Terrace room.
Let's jump right in with a look at the Brian & his boys, as well as Amy & her girls getting ready! Gotta love when a lifetime of friends comes together to celebrate your big day.
Amy is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. It's the best thing to witness friends who have been there for each other forever get to come together and spend the day watching one of their own marry their perfect match. Just the best!
- Dress-David's Bridal
- Makeup-Meraki Beauty
- Hair-Christie Drummond of Meraki Beauty
The ceremony was one for the books and took place at the couple's absolute favorite beach spot on Wrightsville Beach. How beautiful is the tree covered walkway to the ceremony location and I am loving the flower girls' floral crowns by Design Perfection of Wilmington!
This was my first time photographing a wedding at the Coastline Convention Center's Riverview Terrace and it was pretty spectacular. The space is large and can easily accommodate 150 guests. The soft string lights and large windows with views out onto the river were perfection.
- Cake- Apple Annie's
- Catering- Hieronymus Seafood
Ummm... check out the boys' rendition of that famous "Titanic" scene hahaha! Love them!
I love that Amy & Brian decided to be a little rebellious with me and snuck onto the private docks for a quick Bride & Groom portrait session ;) Also love the fine detail of the butterfly pin which belonged to Amy's mother's mother on her own wedding day.
Let the celebration begin! The reception photos are always some of my very favorite parts of the day. Dancing, laughing, crying, you name it, it happens and it's so exciting the whole way through. The best! We were also lucky enough to celebrate the day with Brian's grandma and grandpa who have been married for 69 years and celebrated their anniversary just a few days after the wedding.
- Music-Jason of Absolute Best DJ Service *This guy was GREAT! Highly recommend!
- Songs:
- - Brian & Amy-Medeski Martin & Wood "Just Like I Pictured It"
- Amy & her Dad-Beatles "I Love You More"
- Brian & his Mom-Louis Armstrong "What a Wonderful World"
A little wedding day advice from the bride & groom:
My favorite part of the wedding? Marrying my best friend at our favorite beach spot.
My advice for someone planning their own wedding? Make a budget first, then make lists, lots and lots of lists. Then go over your budget. Haha!
Also: Marry someone that's OCD so you don't have to do a lot of planning.
Amy & Brian, congratulations and I am so excited to see what the future holds for you two!
Fort Fisher Wedding │ Frank & Jessica
Frank & Jessica wanted an intimate, no fuss wedding with just a few friends and a beautiful setting. That was exactly what they got and I absolutely loved being asked to photograph their Fort Fisher wedding! We couldn't have asked for a prettier backdrop for their wedding ceremony, Fort Fisher is amazing. Here are a few favorites from their wedding day. Enjoy!
Frank & Jessica wanted an intimate, no fuss wedding with just a few friends and a beautiful setting. That was exactly what they got and I absolutely loved being asked to photograph their Fort Fisher wedding! Jessica looked absolutely beautiful & Frank, I have to say you clean up nicely yourself ;) We couldn't have asked for a prettier backdrop for their wedding ceremony, Fort Fisher is amazing. Here are a few favorites from their wedding day. Enjoy!
There was no shortage of happiness for these two on their big day!
Congratulations, Frank & Jessica!
Wilmington │Melanie is One
Just LOOK at that baby face! Such a beauty! My friend, Gabrielle, has the most beautiful family so I just had to take them out to downtown Wilmington for a little family mini session followed by a birthday cupcake to celebrate Melanie's 1st birthday! Melanie and her sister, Mya, are adorable and my little girl absolutely loves them. I had a ball spending a little time with them on this morning family shoot!
Just LOOK at that baby face! Such a beauty! My friend, Gabrielle, has the most beautiful family so I just had to take them out to downtown Wilmington for a little family mini session followed by a birthday cupcake to celebrate Melanie's 1st birthday! Melanie and her sister, Mya, are adorable and my little girl absolutely loves them. I had a ball spending a little time with them on this morning family shoot!
After our neighborhood stroll, we found a shady place to let Melanie have a little birthday cupcake to celebrate the big O-N-E!
Happy 1st Birthday, Melanie!
Love, Tiff & Isla
Leland │Clifton & Tavia Wedding
“You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful, and then you actually talk to them, and five minutes later they're dull as a brick. But then there's other people, and you meet them and you think 'not bad, they're okay', and then you get to know them, and their face sort of becomes them, like their personality's written all over it, and they just they turn into something so beautiful...”
― Amy Pond, "Doctor Who" series
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Moses! Your "Dr. Who" wedding was so fun! Thank you for letting us photograph your big day!
Some brides are very "by the book" when they are planning their wedding day. And then there's Tavia! You have to admire a bride who is somehow both laid back, and at the same time, so on top of a seemingly endless amount of DIY projects! Tavia introduced her hubby, Clifton to one of her loves, "Dr. Who" and it became something they both grew to love, so much so that they incorporated a "Dr. Who" theme to all of their wedding day details! As you scroll through, if you see something that throws that theme your way, Tavia created it and brought it to life. Amazing DIY bridal skills!
The intimate ceremony was held in Leland, NC at the Grayson Park clubhouse, just the right size for their family and friends to celebrate with them. With the shows famous icon, the Tardis, as their backdrop, and a special love lock ceremony, the room was filled with love for the happy couple.
The love lock ceremony featured a quote from "Dr. Who" based on the relationship of characters Amy & Rory. The bride & groom then locked their love lock together which has no key, symbolizing their unbreakable bond.
“You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful, and then you actually talk to them, and five minutes later they're dull as a brick. But then there's other people, and you meet them and you think 'not bad, they're okay', and then you get to know them, and their face sort of becomes them, like their personality's written all over it, and they just they turn into something so beautiful...”
― Amy Pond, "Doctor Who" series
A quick ride through the community in their friends' golf cart (which was probably hilarious to see with two photographers, all of our camera gear, a groom, our driver-friend and a bride in her wedding gown all holding on for dear life, haha) and we were in full force wedding portrait mode.
After portraits, we made our way back to the reception where the party was just getting started! Clif & Tavia have a great group of friends who are definitely not shy on the dance floor, haha! Love it! The couple ended their night with a sanding sugar toss at sunset, and then the crowd serenaded Tavia with the "Happy Birthday" song. YES, this awesome bride chose to have her wedding on her birthday! Unconventional, and so fun!
Congratulations, Clif & Tavia!
Airlie Gardens │Engagement Brian & Amy
I love a good botanical garden engagement shoot. I especially love a morning engagement shoot in beautiful Airlie Gardens followed with part two of their shoot at sunset on Wrightsville Beach. Yep, perfection! An engagement shoot is the perfect way to spend a little time not only celebrating and capturing your relationship as a couple, but also to really build a relationship with clients before their wedding day. Every wedding package I offer includes an engagement shoot for this very reason! Brian & Amy were so ridiculously happy and really fun to photograph, I am SO excited about their upcoming wedding in just a few weeks time.
I love a good botanical garden engagement shoot. I especially love a morning engagement shoot in beautiful Airlie Gardens followed with part two of their shoot at sunset on Wrightsville Beach. Yep, perfection! An engagement shoot is the perfect way to spend a little time not only celebrating and capturing your relationship as a couple, but also to really build a relationship with clients before their wedding day. Every wedding package I offer includes an engagement shoot for this very reason! Brian & Amy were so ridiculously happy and really fun to photograph, I am SO excited about their upcoming wedding in just a few weeks time. Let's dive into their photo shoot, shall we? First up, our morning spent at the gorgeous Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC!
One landmark we really wanted to take advantage of during their Airlie shoot was the "Airlie Oak". This oak tree is over 400 years old and is SO beautiful. I think my favorite thing about Brian & Amy is how playful they are with each other. My cheeks hurt from laughing with them, haha. Always a good sign!
Next up, Wrightsville Beach! Initially, we were worried about the weather but it could not have been more perfect! Love a sunset beach shoot, such beautiful natural light and the scenery cannot be beat.
Brian & Amy, we are so excited to photograph your wedding day. Congratulations!
Downtown Wilmington │The Spine Family
I tell you what, give me a downtown Wilmington early morning photo shoot with the Spine family any day! Adorable children, great parents, beautiful weather and no one out and about yet, the downtown area was basically ours for the taking. Perfect! Ashley & Joel, I loved spending time with your little family and it's such a bonus that we all happen to live in the same neighborhood with kids about the same age! Friends, Mason & Harper are about to make you say "awww" a time or two, you've been warned... ;)
I tell you what, give me a downtown Wilmington early morning photo shoot with the Spine family any day! Adorable children, great parents, beautiful weather and no one out and about yet, the downtown area was basically ours for the taking. Perfect! Ashley & Joel, I loved spending time with your little family and it's such a bonus that we all happen to live in the same neighborhood with kids about the same age! Friends, Mason & Harper are about to make you say "awww" a time or two, you've been warned... ;)
^ SUCH a Dad move, haha!
Spine Family, thank you so much for spending the morning with me exploring downtown Wilmington with your tribe! Let's repeat this in the fall, shall we? :)
128 South Wilmington │MJ & Barnes Wedding
If ever two people existed who were perfectly suited to each other, Marijayne & Barnes are those people. Their 128 South wedding in downtown Wilmington was absolutely amazing! It is such a gorgeous venue perfectly suited to their romantic, vintage literary decor. MJ was bridal perfection, Barnes has the world's best smile and their guests were F-U-N. Definitely one of my favorite weddings to date! Congratulations to the happy couple!
If ever two people existed who were perfectly suited to each other, Marijayne & Barnes are those people. Their 128 South wedding in downtown Wilmington was absolutely amazing! It is such a gorgeous venue perfectly suited to their romantic, vintage literary decor. MJ was bridal perfection, Barnes has the world's best smile and their guests were F-U-N. Definitely one of my favorite weddings to date! Congratulations to the happy couple!
- Wedding gown by The Wedding Dress Shoppe
- Hotel accommodations The Hilton Riverside in Wilmington, NC
Groom attire by and Men's Wearhouse & Express
Boutonniere by Olive Branch Gardens of Wallace, NC
Literary wedding decor by Old Books on Front
Florals by Olive Branch Gardens of Wallace, NC
Jewelry by Kay Jewelers
Cake by Hot Pink Cake Stand
Cake topper by Etsy
I loved the herb toss! The guests really got into it, and the herb colors were beautiful to photograph in the midday sun.
If only the guests had had a little fun. I mean the stoic faces, the yawns, the faraway looks in their eyes (INSERT SARCASM HERE). This wedding was so full of joy, it is really hard not to share every image we captured, but here are just a handful of some of our favorite moments!
^ Music SO GOOD you grab your plate and dance in the middle of your meal! Ha, love this!
MJ & Barnes, thank you so much for inviting us to photograph what we hope was one of the happiest days of your life. Here's to a lifetime of marital bliss!