Green & Golden Elegant October Wedding at All Saints Chapel || Raleigh, NC

My very favorite part of a DIY wedding is getting to watch the couple’s loved ones come together in order to give them the happiest, most enjoyable day possible. When Molly and Thomas’s wedding party and families arrived at the gorgeously sunlit All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh, they immediately got to work under the determined guidance of one of my fantastic former brides, Brandelin (Molly’s godmother) to add flowers, family photos, and other personal touches to the historic space. Throughout the evening, I got to witness just how loved these two kind people are by everyone around them, and then just how fun their whole crew is once the dance floor opened up!

Wedding Celebration at The Rickhouse || Durham, NC

If you know me, you know just how much I advocate for making your wedding celebration(s) perfectly tailored to you as a couple and as a family. When I met Jennifer and Pete at the Rickhouse’s February open house and heard them excitedly talk about their plan to get married in Aruba surrounded by family, then celebrate with family and friends back home in Durham, I knew that we’d be exactly the right fit for each other! And they absolutely proved me right - from their laid-back reception allowing them to interact with all of their guests, to their exceptional food choices (including an ice cream truck!), ending the evening with sunset portraits on the field “photobombed” by their children and children’s friends - it was the perfect balance of easygoing elegance, history, and joy.

Downtown Asheville + Crest Center Vibrant Fall Wedding || Asheville, NC

The absolute best thing I get to hear as a photographer is that a couple - who began our partnership weary of having their photo made - genuinely enjoyed the experience. When I first met Stephanie and Marc in person for their spring engagement photos, Stephanie had just had back surgery. So, not only were they both nervous to have their portrait made, but I was scared I’d somehow pose them in a way that wasn’t doc-approved! . By our fall engagement session (we’d split it into two to allow Stephanie time to recover) they were cautiously dancing together in the garden, preparing for their first dance. By their wedding day? They smiled for the camera as if they’d been doing it for years!