We’ve been looking forward to working with Sarah ever since she continued to hire us after we found out her last name was Palmer and decided to send her the Twin Peaks clip of Sarah Palmer removing her face with nothing but space and a Cheshire Cat smile underneath. This did not deter our own personal Sarah Palmer from responding to us. Instead, it seemed to encourage her. We liked that. Her and her husband Brandon also like Steely Dan and Monty Python and Halloween so they literally check every single one of my personal boxes of coolness (not sure if this is a low or high bar – probably depends on who you ask). Their wedding was going to include a Monty Python intermission as well as tacos and we were already all in, but then they threw in costumes and we were sold completely. Then they told us that Brandon would be performing “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney for Sarah Palmer, but then their friend would come out to “Jump” by Van Halen and he did…in complete spandex leggings with see-through mesh sides. Then a banana got dressed up and a space man danced like a robot and somebody put on underpants on the outside of their real pants and things got real strange. Not Sarah Palmer removing her space face strange, but a happy, wedding strange that only people who really prefer Halloween to every other holiday can enjoy and appreciate. We love you Sarah Palmer and Brandon – thank you for having us be a part of your world.

Date: September 28, 2019
Ceremony+Reception Venue: The Barn at Valhalla // Chapel Hill, NC
First Dance Song: “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young
Sarah’s Occupation: School Psychologist
Brandon’s Occupation: Musician
How You Met: Brandon went to college with Janelle and Michael in PA (Juniata College). Grad school at UNC (school psychology program) brought Janelle and Michael to NC, where they met Sarah. After a year of working for Habitat for Humanity in LA, Brandon moved to NC on a whim. About 6 months later we started dating!
Interesting Face: Brandon and Sarah play Mario Kart together at least once a day, will always order fried pickles if they’re on the menu, and throw a killer Halloween party.
Honeymoon: Mexico
Officiant: Michael Meadows
MC: Adam Stanley
Florist: Pine State Flowers- assembled and delivered by friend Natalie Reder
Donuts: Monuts
Caterer: Nuvo Taco (formerly NanaTaco)
Hair: Rachel from Syd’s Hair Shop in Carrboro
Makeup: Sarah Palmer
Coordinator: Michael Meadows

Crystal and Jason seem to be like an adorable rain magnet. And if raining in the form of a hurricane on your wedding day is some sort of good luck, then having it rain againnnn during your anniversary portrait session you drove in from Charlotte to accomplish, then I’d say that they’re neck-deep in luck and need to play the lottery ASAP. 1870 Farm, where they were married, were gracious enough to have us return to shoot their portrait session. I got to pet a goat. It was great. They showed me all the areas that they were supposed to take pictures at had Hurricane Matthew not been an uninvited guest at their wedding. And this was the lake we were going to take pictures at! And this was the tree we were supposed to get married under! The tour was lovely, but interrupted halfway through by a turkey that meant business, and stopped me from spending as much time with the adorable goat as I would’ve preferred. Atlas, Crystal and Jason’s really cute little teddy bear dog, was also hell bent on killing said turkey, although I’m fairly confident he would’ve lost due to his small stature and the look of utter annihilation that the turkey had in its eye, and we moved on. We were supposed to shoot in the evening, but we moved it up to try and shoot in the space between the rain and were mostly successful, but it did start to rain toward the end. They busted out the white wedding umbrellas they used to shield themselves a year ago at their wedding and we continued onward. Rain cannot stop them. We are so glad to have been a part of their rainy wedding and their rainy anniversary shoot and their lives. Now please play the lottery and share some of it with us, thanks.