Laura+Josh // Married

We first met Laura and Josh online as we Skyped with them from their place in Brooklyn, NY. Later, as the wedding got closer, we met with them on their family’s property where the wedding ceremony would take place. They thought I’d be taller. I thought they’d be taller (even though they were still taller than I am). Geoff’s tallness seemed accurate to everyone. These guys are real and authentic. They knew what was going to be “them,” and what wasn’t. Nixing a first look that they thought would be too staged, they opted rather for just kind of running into each other in the hallway of the house. In lieu of a wedding party, they had a group of friends dubbed The Special Helpers from all parts and periods of their life, but with no assigned clothing choices for the wedding and with all sorts of different assigned tasks (that they preformed amazingly – especially the ones wielding fake swords to guard Laura and Josh after the ceremony). They wanted a wedding with their close-knit family and friends involved. Many people played a special part, and the wedding was all about family and community.

Josh’s dad is a Rabbi and, strangely enough, was Laura’s childhood Rabbi despite her not ever meeting Josh until much later, in New York, and online. It’s kind of amazing to see that whole storyline come full circle with Josh’s parents discussing what she was like when she was a little girl at the wedding reception of their son. There was a ton of joy, a lot of laughter, and even (my favorite) Locopops. :) We were so thankful to be able to a part of Laura+Josh’s wedding!

Date: August 17, 2014

Ceremony Venue: Private Residence // Chapel Hill, NC

Reception Venue: Judea Reform Congregation // Durham, NC

Laura’s Occupation:  Dancer, dance/yoga teacher for kids and adults, and a graduate student in Education.

Josh’s Occupation: PhD student in Anthropology and Jewish Studies at U Michigan

How You Met: OkCupid in Brooklyn…but it turned out that Josh’s dad was Laura’s childhood rabbi!

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rabbi John Friedman | DJ – Harren Hunicutt | Florist – Heather Cook | Dessert – Locopops | Caterer – Boxcarr Farms (Austin and Dani) | Hair – Malinda Crump | Makeup – Nikki Johnson | Coordinator – Shind!gs (Heather Cook) | Photobooth – Celebration Photobooth (Paul Syros) | Sound for Ceremony – Brian Pate Entertainment | Dishware – China Dolls | Rentals – American Party Rentals

Raleigh Wedding Photographer in Stem, NC: Jenna+Josh

Jenna and Josh’s wedding was one of those super chill, relaxed, southern, backyard weddings that makes a northern girl like myself want to say “ya’ll.” There was BBQ, a little friendly dog, the cutest flower girl in the world, and homemade sweet tea that Jenna and Josh bottled themselves. They were married in front of huge North Carolina pines in Stem in the backyard of Josh’s parents’. Then they ate, danced, and played cornhole on the gorgeous property until the stars came out (and then they danced some more in the car port).

Jenna and Josh have been wonderful clients this whole year – having me do their engagement photos and pictures of the adorable Jack and Lola (their dogs) – and I was happy to see their wedding finally arrive. Josh works in the narcotics department for the police, and Jenna is a 911 operator. Together, they are a super sweet and nice couple with equally super sweet and nice family and friends. Enjoy their southern wedding!

Date: September 10th, 2011

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Private Residence

Officiant: Pastor Ronnie Bradford

Cake: Judy Kendrick

DJ: Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment

Florist: Lisa’s House of Flowers

Decor: Lorna+Fran Perry and Rhonda+Bobby Walters

They had a lovely little space between two trees where they attached a large rope and had pictures hung up with clotheslines across it. There is nothing better than seeing little kid pictures of people who you didn’t know when they were a little kid. :) These cracked me up! Little adorable Jenna and Josh grew into very beautiful Jenna and handsome Josh. :) Loving Little Jenna’s hair clip and Little Josh’s rad Ninja Turtle sweater!

Congratulations, Jenna+Josh! We hope you had a wonderful honeymoon and wish you nothing but the best with your new family (yourselves and the dogs… which, obviously, were already family… but, well, you know what we mean). ;)