Leigh & Matthew | Anne Springs Close Greenway Engagement

Living up in the Lake Norman area I absolutely love to photograph anywhere where there is water. On the South side of town one of my favorite venues is Anne Springs Close Greenway. The greenway is made up of many different hiking trails, horse stables, lake views and a beautiful dairy barn. If you catch it in the right season, you can even photograph in the peach blossoms!

With Leigh and Matthew we decided to photograph their wedding at the Adventure Road entrance to the greenway.

Fall is the perfect time to photograph at the greenway to take advantage of the gorgeous trees as they are changing colors.

Another plus is that the greenway is pet friendly. Make sure to bring a friend along to help watch your furry friend while we finish up the session though!

Anna & Zach Say I Do | Anne Close Springs Greenway Dairy Barn, Fort Mill SC

Being engaged myself, I can’t imagine the stress and disappointment that brides are going through having to make the difficult decision on postponing or downsizing their wedding day. Anna & Zach had to do both. You may have seen their elopement on the blog back in March. They chose to have their ceremony on their original wedding date with just the two of them, Candace their planner, the officiant and myself. Scroll back to snoop! I was so excited for them on their postponed wedding date.

To see Anna happy and surrounded by her girl tribe made me so excited for her! The Cambria in Fort Mill was gorgeous and what photographer + hair/makeup team dreams are made of. Megan Oliveri & Ali Smit crushed the bridal party hair and makeup. Everyone looked stunning and stayed that way into the evening.

The boys were getting ready just one floor down. They were having a blast catching up. They may or may not have enjoyed their groomsmen gifts, you decide!

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I am detail obsessed. I had both bride and groom set aside their details for the day so that I could grab and photograph them together once I arrived at the hotel. I try to match the vibe of the lay flat to the wedding venue. Often times hotels don’t match the venue perfectly. I’ll let you in on a little secret, here I climbed onto of bar height chairs to photograph the details on top of one of the restaurant tables in the lobby area of the hotel.

Anna & Zach picked a venue that I have been itching to photograph a wedding at. I’ve been to the Dairy Barn many times for engagement sessions and bridal portraits but this is the first wedding for HOH. The venue has the BEST light. The reception room is so dreamy but you’ll see more of that later.

The front of the Dairy Barn was the perfect place for the wedding party portraits. It was the perfect overcast day, albeit a little warm. Zach & Anna has such a strong tribe that you can tell lifted them up and truly supported them on their big day.

Anna was stunning and ready to see her groom. These are the last few moments of a single (or maybe already married) woman. I’m so happy for her to get to wear her gorgeous gown and walk down the aisle at the Dairy Barn to promise forever to Zach

Zach cleaned up well himself. He went to Indochino for a custom suit. There were so many great details, like their initials and wedding day inscribed inside the suit breast pocket.

One last thing to do before ceremony time, Anna’s dad needs to see her for the first time. The anticipation of a first look kills me and this one was worth the wait!

One thing I love about the Dairy Barn is that the ceremony and reception space look completely different. The ceremony space is darker and gives a more moody vibe. The dramatic tones fit perfectly for a ceremony. The florals provided by Weddings with Barbara were just perfect.

The natural light flooded the loft where Anna and Zach said I Do. They have a videographer, Clint Boland, live stream the ceremony which is so neat and innovative. You have to get creative in these unusual times. For those that couldn’t travel or were cut due to the Corona Virus restrictions, this was the best way for them to witness the ceremony in real time.

It was over as soon as it started and the two were officially married. Now time to get some wedding party portraits before the reception begins.

Even though Anna & Zach had to postpone their original wedding date, this time everything went flawless. It was worth the wait.

Even though they had to cut their guest count nearly in half, the most important people, their family, were there. Both sets of parents were gushing about the couple and their relationship. It’s inspiring to see so much support for their relationship.

The benefit of having an engagement session (and a prior elopement) is that I know what poses work well for this couple. I also know their favorites! We were able to breeze through the wedding portraits smoothly and efficiently.

Here is the dreamy reception space that I talked about earlier. Candace Sharpe with Erin Padgett Events designed this space to be what Pinterest dreams are made of. Together with Barbara, she absolutely crushed it!

Anna & Zach had a beautifully choreographed first dance. I got to see it for the first time in the peach blossoms during their portrait session following their elopement in March. Go stalk our Facebook page to see the drone footage! They wanted to practice their first dance before anyone came into the reception. It was flawless!

Their first dances with their parents nearly had me in tears. You could see the emotion in their dancing. Such sweet moments.

Their cake was simple and delicious. My favorite part though was little Pepper, their lab, on the side of the cake. Pepper attended their elopement, and engagement pictures.

Often times toasts are the perfect opportunity to tell embarrassing stories about the bride and groom. The toasters definitely gave us that but also told us stories of their pasts, how they met and what they meant to each person. They were very well done.

The weather was perfect, all the way down to the epic sunset.

Good old Sweet Caroline to bring everyone out onto the dance floor.

Even though Carolina DJ Pros killed the entire reception, my favorite thing they do is encourage a last private dance. The last dance is full of emotion and is very sentimental to a bride & groom. It’s the last few moments of the day they’ve spent months planning and tens of thousands of dollars on. It’s the perfect moment of reflection.

That’s all folks! Thanks for having us Anna & Zach Plummer!!

HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VENDORS:

Planner - Candace Sharpe with Erin Padgett Events

Florals - Barbara Dearborn with From This Day Forward Wedding and Special Event Design

Venue - Anne Close Springs Greenway, Dairy Barn

Videographer - Clint Boland with Discover Love Studios

DJ - Jeff Smith with Carolina DJ Professionals

Violin - Christine Robinson

Officiant - Don Morphis

Catering - Best Impressions

Hair & Makeup - Aly Smit with Aristry by Aly

Laura & Cooper Say I Do | Langtree Wedding

If you live in the Charlotte area and love historical sites, do yourself a favor and visit Langtree Plantation. It is one of the most beautiful venues with gorgeous grounds. I highly recommend it to any bride and groom looking for a venue! Plus, it’s only a very short drive from our studio so that is a huge win.

Langtree is amazing because they have a historic getting ready area, which is in their plantation house. It has epic balconies and the dreamiest driveway. The barn is the ceremony location. Plus Langtree has a separate newer event hall for the reception. It’s bright and airy and looks so classy when it is decorated with twinkle lights and drapery. Pictures below are from the masculine getting ready building which is the newest addition, separate from the plantation house.

Whether you are traditional or modern, a first look with your parents is always a good idea! It’s great to let them see you for the firs time, away from a crowd so their true emotion can show.

For our nontraditional couples, a First Look is amazing! It is a great opportunity to have a quiet moment for just the two of you amidst the crazy hectic day. Plus, it eases all anxiety and let’s you get started on the couples portraits before the ceremony.

Just because you had a First Look with your fiance does not mean that he will not cry when you walk down the aisle! Typically the nerves are away and he is able to be more present in his emotions!

Back to talking about the gorgeous venue, I mean seriously, do the grounds get any better than this? Well yes, but only at sunset!

If you’re on the fence about a barn wedding, definitely don’t cross Langtree Plantation off your list without seeing all it has to offer.

Kelly & Matt Say I Do | COVID Elopement | Lake Norman, NC

During this unusual time of the pandemic, while many couples are choosing to postpone their big day, Matt & Kelly decided to elope!

Kelly originally had dreams of an intimate elopement, but as wedding planning often does, the original plans grew and grew into a much larger wedding guest count. The pandemic brought this sweet couple back to the basics and allowed them to focus on each other on their big day.

Kelly & Matt’s wedding day couldn’t have been more perfect. the wedding was great. The views were amazing. It was short but very sweet.

Even though their families coudn’’t be there in person, they were able to Zoom into the ceremony to watch the nuptials.

I truly can’t think of anything they missed out on by choosing to have an intimate ceremony instead of holding out for the larger ceremony later on.

Their best friends, who were married and their Maid of Honor/Best Man, were able to attend as witnesses to their promises.

Erin Padgett truly pulled it all together effortlessly, like she always does! She found this amazing venue, very last minute, so this sweet couple could get married right on Lake Norman.

After the ceremony, the best friends enjoyed some champagne before couple’s portraits.

How amazing do these two look? I mean seriously, every area of this property was amazing. I wish I could photograph elopements here every weekend!

Big congratulations to the newlyweds. I will be seeing you soon for your reception.

Gabriela & Adam | Air B&B COVID Wedding | Raleigh, NC

I know rescheduling or adapting weddings during COVID can be hectic and require a little out of the box thinking but let me tell you, I am all for it! The smaller guest count and nontraditional venue choices really allow for intimate ceremonies where as the photographer, I can focus more on the couple and less on logistics.

Gabriela & Adam were referred to me by Adam’s sister, also named Amanda. I have been Amanda’s family photographer since their sweet little Brynlee was born 3 years ago. Gabriela & Adam were looking for a wedding photographer in Raleigh and kept coming up short. Amanda suggested that I come in for the wedding and after speaking with them, I knew it would be a great fit. More on little Brynlee later as she put on one heck of a performance as the flower girl.

I think what a lot of couples are losing sight of during this time, is that the wedding is just the vessel to the marriage. The marriage is truly what is important, in the end, the wedding is just a day. A very special day, just one day of the marriage. So when everything changed during the pandemic, I love that Gabriela & Adam held steadfast to their commitment of marriage on their original wedding date, even if that meant altering their original plans.

Some fun backstory for those of you who believe in love at first sight. Adam was walking his precious little puppy on NC State’s campus when he came across the beautiful Gabriela. He swooned her with the adorable pup and asked her to take a walk with him. That night he called his mom and told her that he had found the one. He knew from that very first walk that Gabriela was the one and he was determined to marry her. After a few months of dating, Adam proposed, with photographer there to capture it and all! They quickly began planning their wedding day, which ballooned bigger and grander than they originally planned.

Well, with the governor’s restrictions, Gabriela & Adam decided to reign in the guest list to essentially immediate family and their wedding party of their closest friends. I think if you were to ask them, they would have no regrets.

Adam’s parents had rented out an Air B&B to stay in during the wedding weekend with his aunts and uncles. The original wedding venue was giving the couple a difficult time with accommodating during COVID and as they began looking at other options they realized that the Air B&B would be the perfect solution. Let me tell you guys, they hit the mother-load! The Air B&B is nicer than many venues I have photographed weddings at.

The house had a beautiful barn when you were driving in which not only could be a great backdrop for a ceremony but also was filled with games such as pool and darts. The house itself was huge! It was big enough for both the bride and groom to get ready with their friends in separate areas of the home. It’s filled with natural light! The yard had a large pond, which is where Gabriela & Adam decided to have their ceremony. The property had walking trails, a pool and even a putting green!

One question I often get asked when couple’s book me as their photographer, is my opinion on First Looks. Unless you are very traditional or having a super small and intimate ceremony, I also suggest a First Look!

Gabriela' & Adam’s First Look gives a prime example of why they are so special. The moment with the groom sees the bride for the first time, is so powerful! Often times men try to hold their emotions in because our society says that strong men don’t cry. Well, having a First Look allows a man more vulnerability. I get much more genuine reactions from both the bride and groom during a first look.

Further, a First Look allows both the bride and groom to ease their nerves and calm down. Until you see your significant other, there is always anxiousness and nervousness floating around, so strongly. You can cut it with a knife! Everything going wrong, is okay again, once you see each other on your wedding day. It puts it all into perspecitve. The small things going wrong, whether it’s a melting cake or falling off the timeline seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Gabriela told me that Adam was the softy and that she was the emotionally strong one. I expected sweet tears from him but I loved getting tear filled eyes from her. We may not have captured those emotions if she was walking down a longer aisle focused on not falling and looking straight ahead. A First Look allowed both Gabriela & Adam to be in the moment.

They actually did something else that I really LOVED and had not seen before. They wrote each other custom vows but instead of reading them during the ceremony, they chose to read them to each other in private. Their vows were filled with smiles, tears, laughter, promises, hugs and ended in a sweet kiss.

With all of the nerves subsiding and excitement for their future, it was time for these two love birds to walk down the aisle and profess their commitment in front of their closest family and friends.

It was June, and definitely warm, but the sun peaked out behind some clouds providing us nice diffused lighting, just in time for the ceremony. Arioso Strings played sweet songs as the wedding party filed in. Little Brynlee laid flower pedals to mark the way for her soon to be Aunt Gabriela. Gabriela floated down the aisle like an angel coming to say I Do to her emotional groom.

The ceremony was short and sweet with all of the normal formalities. There was a candle lighting, rings, vows and of course, it wouldn’t be complete with a first kiss.

Mr & Mrs Bosley were now ready to celebrate their their crew. & What a good looking crew it was!

Brynlee is Gabriela & Adam’s only niece and ate up the attention from the happy couple. At only 3 years old, she was a rockstar during the ceremony and during formals. Brynlee will have to share the stage soon when her baby brother is born in a few short months.

Several members of the wedding party traveled pretty far and unfortunately one was detained from coming due to her state’s quarantine rules. However, nothing was stopping this group from celebrating Adam & Gabriela’s wedding day.

Both families put so much effort into making sure this day was perfect for the couple and it truly showed.

The rehearsal dinner was supposed to be held the day before the wedding at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. The couple ended up changing their wedding date from Saturday to Friday to be able to enjoy more time with their families and friends in town for the wedding. Sullivan’s in Raleigh was very accommodating and allowed the couple to host their socially distanced reception there in place of the rehearsal dinner.

As we sent everyone else over to Sullivan’s Steakhouse, we spent some quality time with Gabriela & Adam photographing them all over the house’s beautiful property. The golden hour glow gave such gorgeous lighting. Plus, these two are just too cute!

We did get behind on the timeline earlier in the day when hair and makeup didn’t finish as expected. I know this was a big stressor for Gabriela. She didn’t want to miss out on any of the big moments with Adam as a result of hair and makeup taking too long. I reassured her that we can catch up on the timeline without sacrificing those key moments by shooting the family formals and wedding party portraits faster, which we did.

After we exhausted all areas of the home and we knew we had taken enough couple’s portraits, we also snuck in a few solo shots of the bride and groom before packing up and heading to meet everyone else at the reception.

Another perk of having a smaller guest list, everyone is able to speak! We had some amazing toasts by groomsmen, bridesmaids, siblings and even their parents. Gabriela & Adam are truly loved and their support network is so strong.

What’s a wedding without a first dance, right? They crushed it and the decor that Adam’s mom put up really helped to make the space look like a full reception.

Dances with your parents on wedding day can bring out strong emotions. For some, it’s happiness at gaining a daughter or son in law. For others, it’s sadness reminiscing over how fast their baby grew up and realizing they now have to share them. Sometimes, it’s gratefulness for being able to see this day happen as it once seemed so far off.

There were so many emotions through out Gabriela & Adam’s wedding day, mostly happy ones. I hope that as a couple you take away how blessed and celebrated you were. I hope you remember that bigger isn’t always better. & I hope that you will forever put each other first. Thank you for choosing HOH and allowing us to capture this day for you! It really was our pleasure.