Natalie and Thad’s Peaks Island Maine Wedding

The weather is always a very important consideration for any outdoor wedding, and Thad and Natalie’s wedding was no exception. They lucked out ten-fold with the weather on their wedding day. Dan and I could barely get over how absolutely beautiful it was. The overcast skies made all the colors POP and set a mood that made us feel like Mainers, even with our Carolina blood. The heat stayed away and created a very comfortable setting for their intimate, tender and personal ceremony. We called the only cab on the island and rode out for some couple portraits on the back side of the island. It practically took our breath away. Adding this Navy Helicopter Pilot and his Navy Nurse wife into the scene was almost too much to bear. It was hard to hold the camera steady! As the day progressed we came to learn how close everyone there was to the bride and groom. It felt like an intimate gathering of people who love each other, which is exactly how a wedding should be. Thad was so tender with Natalie, and she was one of the most laid back brides I can remember ever having. Her Maid of Honor made the bouquets and they spent most of the morning decorating the place themselves. It was a sweet wedding to be able to be a part of. Most importantly of all, Natalie and Thad are now married and ready to set sail on the most exciting voyage in life thus far… married life.

P.S.- Yes, there was Lobster!



Las Vegas with Annie

The west is wild. They weren’t kidding! My good friend Annie and I took a little trip to Las Vegas to see Maroon 5, Death Valley, the Vegas Strip, and each other. I had never been that far west before and I was so surprised at how STARKLY different it is from the East Coast. Of course I have “seen” it in photos and I know how it is via movies and photos all my life, however… being there it a totally different ball of tricks. I was amazed at the lights and the SCALE of everything in Vegas. I had no idea that the casinos were basically cruise ships that were not on the water.  We stayed at the Palms Casino where we got to enjoy the greatness that is Maroon 5 in concert. We also took a day trip out to Death Valley, where it was 106 degrees, silent, alone, and enormous. I can’t even begin to make you understand the way it feels to be there. Annie read me an excerpt from her book about death valley and they described it to have “deep solitude” and “awful silence.” I absolutely could not have said it better. I felt like our car was a space ship that we could only exit from for short moments of time and then needed to rush back to the car for safety. It truly felt like another planet. I was so thankful that I wasn’t a person in a covered wagon- lost in death valley. It was awesome and terrible all at the same time.

Things I learned in Nevada:

  • Never take children with you when visiting Las Vegas, nuff said. What were those parents thinking??
  • Make sure to bring water with you to the desert.
  • Just because something looks like it really that far away doesn’t mean it’s close.
  • Neon signs are scrumptious.
  • I am not a club going party girl. I have no real interest in it at all, which was evident by my reading of Harry Potter in the hotel room.
  • The iPhone camera really is pretty darn sufficient for snapshots. Don’t try and make something amazing out of it however. I need to force myself to take out the huge 10lb camera when I really really want to take a photo for keeps.
  • I love the east coast.

So… we had an amazing time.



Chris and Katy’s Raleigh NC Wedding

You may remember Chris and Katy from their engagement session at UNC Chapel Hill last January. It was a far cry from chilly weather for their wedding. It was so hot that when we went outside for a few shots our lenses fogged up!

I immediately got excited for their Ceremony when I was witness to Katy’s happiness in marrying Chris. She had requested that we take a photo of the two of them on either side of a door, before their ceremony. They held hands and Chris smiled. Katie smiled too but she also filled with tears. She was so happy to be marrying him. It reminded me of the emotional response that comes with a first look, without actually having one. She also took a few moments during all the bustle of getting ready and found a secret quiet place so that she could wrap her mind around things. I could tell that she knew the importance and significance of what was about to occur and she did not take it lightly. It really touched me to see a bride so in touch with the day and the moments within it.

Congrats Chris and Katy! May God bless your marriage and fill your days with happiness!