wedding details — Adrian Etheridge Photography

Posts tagged wedding details

Warm October Golden Hour Destination Wedding in the Mountains at Appalachian Lodge at Rivers Bend || Marshall, N

Warm October Golden Hour Destination Wedding in the Mountains at Appalachian Lodge at Rivers Bend || Marshall, N

Far and away, my favorite trend right now is couples making their vows to each other privately, allowing for a few minutes of both raw emotion and quiet togetherness before diving into the chaos of their full public ceremony and celebration. Rhaisa and Jack’s private vows were particularly heartfelt, leaving all four of us a bit choked up as they soaked in the special moment and the spectacular view.

As we moved from the tranquility of their private vows to the gregarious jokes, tributes, and impressive dances shared with their loved ones, it was obvious just how loved this couple is.

Texas-Meets-North Carolina October Mountain View Wedding at The Crest Center || Asheville, NC

Texas-Meets-North Carolina October Mountain View Wedding at The Crest Center || Asheville, NC

Of course, rain it did. And a mountain rain at that, forcing everyone to run inside mere minutes before the ceremony as the skies unloaded. But, Kristen and Suzanne had already made their vows to each other privately, surrounded only by the fall foliage and the peaceful scenery and we three photographer/videographers - removing all nerves and allowing them simply to soak up their time with family, both blood and chosen alike.

Once the bad weather rolled through, the skies gifted us a beautiful - if chilly - evening for their Mountain View ceremony which was equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. Getting to experience their deep and genuine affection for and from their loved ones made the evening all the more cozy, bested only by a cuddly portrait session in their vintage getaway car.

Romantic Purple & Burgundy Gothic-Inspired Fall Wedding at the Grove Park Inn || Asheville, NC

Romantic Purple & Burgundy Gothic-Inspired Fall Wedding at the Grove Park Inn || Asheville, NC

Their dark romantic theme carried through the candlelight reception in the photographer’s dream of a floral color palette. Then, thanks to Amber & Sierra’s genius planning, we got to fully lean into the spooky vibes with a perfectly-matching smoke bomb to kick off their tiny-but-mighty dance party (followed by late night grilled cheese and milkshakes!) However, amidst all of their visual beauty and artistic details, it was their devotion to each other that wove through their celebration the most, leaving every person out on the lawn a little teary-eyed as these two made their deeply heartfelt vows to each other.

Relaxed and Vibrant Lakeside Summer Wedding at Montague Lake Pavilion || Raleigh, NC

Relaxed and Vibrant Lakeside Summer Wedding at Montague Lake Pavilion || Raleigh, NC

There are beautiful weddings that make you cry (and I’ve teared up during every single ceremony!) and then there are the weddings where you watch your college roommate marry her best friend (I didn’t even make it to the ceremony before I started tearing up!) 14 years and change ago, Heather and I were moving into Mills, deliriously jamming to the Wicked cast recording as we set up our dorm room, trying to survive our first college preseason. A year later, my second ever professional photoshoot featured Heather in goal. After another year as roommates and several classes together, Heather’s seen my dream of a business grow since the very beginning.

Artistic & Retro Inspired Garden Wedding at SPAF || Saugerties, NY

Artistic & Retro Inspired Garden Wedding at SPAF || Saugerties, NY

When two artists get married, the wedding is automatically bound to be beautiful. Sarah and Brandon’s May celebration was no exception; beginning with the invitation suite hand drawn by the talented bride herself, framed by the many lines & lights of Saugerties Performing Arts Factory, and ending the evening serenaded by a live band. In the ultimate test of friendship, the couple also trusted their wedding party to, without any coordination, select their own attire in order to create an eclectic and vibrant spring color palette - a feat which they pulled off so perfectly that the bridesmaids’ dress colors inadvertently came straight out of one of the paintings in the getting ready suite.

Untraditional and Vibrant Spring Wedding at Emerald Ridge Farm || Weaverville, NC

Untraditional and Vibrant Spring Wedding at Emerald Ridge Farm || Weaverville, NC

The beauty of getting legally married first is that you then truly have the opportunity to celebrate your wedding however you want. One white dress for the ceremony and then a black dress for the party? Absolutely. Turning your thank you toast into a birthday surprise for the groom? Celebrate to the sounds of Bob Seger, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Metallica? No question. And that’s exactly how these two celebrated their special day: relaxed, full of love, and with their own flair.

Traditional and Sophisticated Winter Wedding at Duke Chapel and Aria Events || Durham, NC

Traditional and Sophisticated Winter Wedding at Duke Chapel and Aria Events || Durham, NC

Ever since moving to the Triangle, I’ve dreamed of getting to photograph at Duke Chapel; while I’ll always love the mountains, it’s epic architecture and stunning spotlights that I love using to frame my couples the most. And, after being a part of Aria Event’s vendor showcase last year thanks to the generous introduction of Premier Party Planners, I’m thrilled to have gotten to photograph my first of hopefully many weddings there - the owners and staff truly care about making each event special and stress-free.

Autumn-Colored Destination Mountain Wedding at Ridgeview Venue || Asheville, NC

Autumn-Colored Destination Mountain Wedding at Ridgeview Venue || Asheville, NC

Though October is usually a bustling and joyful month here in WNC - particularly for the wedding industry - this year has, for obvious reasons, been both quieter and much more uncertain. So, it was with even more excitement than usual (is that possible?) that Anna and Andrew’s family, friends, and wedding vendors came together to create what was one of the most relaxed, seamless, and happy celebrations that I’ve ever been a part of in my 12 years of photographing weddings.

Sunlit & Nature-Inspired October Wedding at Fields of Blackberry Cove ||Asheville, NC

Sunlit & Nature-Inspired October Wedding at Fields of Blackberry Cove ||Asheville, NC

October 14, 2023: beautiful day with the very sweetest family. The meticulously hand-stitched wedding gown designed by the bride’s sister, the ceremony officiated by her parents, the pages worth of tear-inducing vows from both partners, the first dance set against the just-changing leaves, the exceptional toasts, and the happy couple even taking the time out of their special day to congratulate all of the recently married and engaged couples. We had the most perfect October day in the mountains possible - first cozy under a blanket of fog and then brilliantly colorful once the festivities began - and it was such an honor to get to document a day full of love like this one.

Wedding Celebration at The Rickhouse || Durham, NC

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.

Joyful Sunset Summer Wedding with Family || Mt. Hood, Oregon

Joyful Sunset Summer Wedding with Family || Mt. Hood, Oregon

Set against the formidable Mt. Hood, decorated with home grown flowers, catered by their families, and featuring many sweet speeches from loved ones, their wedding day was full of beautiful and personal touches. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a couple cry so many happy tears, a testament to just how happy they were to have finally found each other.

It’s a great honor for another photographer to trust you to document their day, and I had an exceptional weekend on the West Coast capturing their joy!

Picturesque Spring Wedding Surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain Vistas || Asheville, NC

Picturesque Spring Wedding Surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain Vistas || Asheville, NC

Bringing together large groups of people can be daunting, particularly when planning a wedding in the middle of Covid not knowing what everyone’s exact circumstances might be. But when Amanda and Harrison’s families and friends came together for their wedding last month, I was struck by just how amiable every single guest and vendor was. Amanda’s bridal attendants especially were completely devoted to ensuring that the happy couple have the best (and smoothest) day ever. So I have to give a shoutout to that exceptional group of ladies for helping me to round up people for photos, for being conscious of time so that we remained on time to the minute all day long, and for putting together a really sweet getting ready playlist!

Lakeside October Wedding with Hand-Made Decor || Rochester, NY

Lakeside October Wedding with Hand-Made Decor || Rochester, NY

In true Jenna and John fashion, their ceremony featured a clinking of their wedding rings. This was one of many personal touches, as they also spent countless hours creating and painting every floral bouquet, designed dice with their wedding date specifically for the occasion, and were serenading by many of their extremely talented musical friends during the cocktail hour and reception. These two also smartly took care of the legalities of their marriage the morning of so that their good friend could preside over the ceremony, which resulted in a ceremony equally full of giggles and happy tears.

Golden Hour Wedding Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

Golden Hour Wedding Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains || Asheville, NC

Seeing their faces light up, eyes shining, as they saw each other for the first time in their wedding finery, it was like no one and nothing else in the world mattered at that moment. I love first looks for that reason, but particularly because even in the middle of a hectic day, the instant they were together they both breathed easier, seemed so much more at peace.

After an engagement session, a bridal portrait shoot and several hours spent planning, I felt like I really knew these two, so watching them exchange vows left me just as teary-eyed. To get to celebrate two people who are unendingly caring and sweet to all they encounter was such an honor!

Summer Beer Garden Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountain

Summer Beer Garden Wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountain

I’ve been doing things differently this year simply offering coverage of the entire wedding day rather than trying to condense it into one smaller packaged set of hours. And this especially came in handy when we decided to drive separately up to the Blue Ridge Parkway 25 minutes away for their first look! The first look is almost always my favorite part of the day anyways, but getting to coordinate one with the sunlit mountains in the background, no one else in attendance and only the sounds of birds chirping and breeze blowing? Absolutely perfect.

Sunset Inspired Family Wedding at Butler Farm || Lenoir City, TN

Sunset Inspired Family Wedding at Butler Farm || Lenoir City, TN

Intimate Family Wedding at the Historic Southern Railway Station || Knoxville, TN

Intimate Family Wedding at the Historic Southern Railway Station || Knoxville, TN

By nature of their small event, we actually spent much of the day taking portraits together, enjoying the long afternoon golden hour that November brings and then running off to the Old City after their short and sweet ceremony. We spent the whole day ahead of schedule, allowing for plenty of time for them to safely mingle with their families without feeling the rush that a big wedding can bring. And finally to end the night, these two ultra runners changed into their much-preferred shoes and literally ran off into the distance (towards ice cream.)

Beautiful Family Home Wedding with a View on September 6, 2020 || Asheville, NC

Beautiful Family Home Wedding with a View on September 6, 2020 || Asheville, NC

But most of all, to document their commitment ceremony precisely two years to the minute from the start time of their first date - an evening when each realized that the other was something very special - may have been the most meaningful piece of all. Particularly since Nick’s vows left every single one of us in tears.

Reliving this wedding, I still can’t believe how quickly these two pulled together such a beautiful and flawless event. I’m honored that we not only got to document the occasion, but that we could also live stream their intimate ceremony so that her parents and other family and friends back home still got to very much be a part of their day.