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!
Fort Fisher │Mini Session Announcement
I have had a lot of interest in Fort Fisher photo sessions this year, and with good reason! Fort Fisher is such a gorgeous site for a photo shoot thanks to the beach, rocks, wooded areas, beautiful trees and so many more hidden gems which photograph so nicely. This year, I would love to offer my clients Sunset Mini Sessions at Fort Fisher on September 29, 30 and October 1.
Hi, Friends!
I have had a lot of interest in Fort Fisher photo sessions this year, and with good reason! Fort Fisher is such a gorgeous site for a photo shoot thanks to the beach, rocks, wooded areas, beautiful trees and so many more hidden gems which photograph so nicely. This year, I would love to offer my clients Sunset Mini Sessions at Fort Fisher on September 29, 30 and October 1.
These sessions are $125 (a $275 Value) and will include:
- 20 minutes of time (typically just enough to keep younger children engaged with what we are doing)
- 5 high resolution digital images of your choice with print release
- Immediate family only (up to 5 family members, please contact me for larger family info)
- Custom online watermarked gallery of your entire session to share on social media
The mini sessions will be held on the following dates & times:
Thursday, September 29th: 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm
Friday, September 30th: 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm
Saturday, October: 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm, 6:30pm
Click here to book! Time slots are reserved as payments are received.
Here are a few of my recent Fort Fisher favorites just so you get an idea of why I love it so very much!
Fort Fisher │Katy Maternity
Through this little camera of mine, I have been able to photograph some of the most amazing parts of my clients' lives: engagements, weddings, high school seniors, watching families grow over the years... but I do believe that maternity & the newborn sessions that follow have a BIG part of my heart! It's just a beautiful time. Katy & Peter are patiently awaiting the arrival of their first baby, a son, who is a few days past due now. We are ALL excited and I thought tonight would be the perfect time to reflect on their last photo session with baby in mom's belly. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Fort Fisher evening!
“There is such a special sweetness in being able to participate in creation.” – Pamela S. Nadav
Through this little camera of mine, I have been able to photograph some of the most amazing parts of my clients' lives. Engagements, weddings, high school seniors, watching families grow over the years... but I do believe that maternity & the newborn sessions that follow have a BIG part of my heart! It's just a beautiful time. Katy & Peter are patiently awaiting the arrival of their first baby, a son, who is a few days past due now. We are ALL excited and I thought tonight would be the perfect time to reflect on their last photo session with baby in mom's belly. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Fort Fisher evening!
Congratulations, Katy & Peter, I cannot wait to meet your little boy in the next few days when he makes his big debut! He is so lucky to have you two as his parents.
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
Raeford │Josie Kate Newborn
Josie, you beautiful little girl, you. If you are trying to decide whether having a baby right now is for you and are still on the fence, I'm warning you that this blog post is going to send you right over the edge into full on Baby Fever. There's just something about a newborn session in the comfort of your own home... images of your loved ones interacting with your baby, showing off those nursery details that you worked so hard on, your family in your space.
Josie, you beautiful little girl, you. If you are trying to decide whether having a baby right now is for you and are still on the fence, I'm warning you that this blog post is going to send you right over the edge into full on Baby Fever. There's just something about a newborn session in the comfort of your own home... images of your loved ones interacting with your baby, showing off those nursery details that you worked so hard on, your family in your space. I'm in love with this entire gallery and cannot wait to deliver their custom album so they can relive these first moments whenever they get that urge. Let's take a little peek at this adorable little peanut, shall we?
We took a quick walk outside into their yard for a little "Baby in Wilderness" moment, ha! So humid and hot, which kept Josie sleeping soundly, and loved the green tones to this series of photos thanks to their landscaping!
As I was packing up, the light became such a beautiful golden tone that I had to take a few images for them in their nursery. Such gorgeous light, I could not resist!
Justin, Katie & Josie, thank you so much for inviting me into your home during these first sweet moments for a little newborn photography time!
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!