Kai+Josh Engaged at Home

Kai and Josh contacted us way back in January about their wedding while they were looking for venues and trying to decide between some awesome ones in the mountains. Kai was a bridesmaid in a previously stellar wedding where we loved all the people involved and we spoke for a long time regarding wedding venues and preparing for their engagement session. Unfortunately fate was not with us as the only date their awesome venue had open (Hawkesdene House, we love you, and will return someday!) we were already booked for, and then their engagement session was cancelled once for no leaves on the trees back in early April and then again for rain in later April. :) But we didn’t let it deter us – and we soldiered on to finnnnally shoot their engagement session at their home and meet these wonderful people! There was a lot of poison ivy and I discovered the next day that I was bit by a tick, so he’s remaining in a Ziplock bag in our refrigerator for 30 days just in case I have any symptoms… since that’s how our luck has been going with their session.

Despite said luck, we think their pictures are adorable. And they’re adorable! And we talked about tv and books and music and had fun with their ridiculously cute and friendly dog Kora, whom they rescued together when they were still friends. They then made excuses to go see their joint-adopted dog which basically translated to them watching the whole series of Lost together and, let’s face it, what couple hasn’t been brought closer by watching Lost, right? All the time travel and the polar bears and the button pushing every 108 minutes is bound to turn any meaningful friendship into a lifelong marriage. We wish Kai and Josh the absolute best and just may invite ourselves over again to eat their bean dip and S’mores.

Andrea+Mark Have a Raleigh Wedding

Our favorite getting ready spot is always the couple’s own house. We really like seeing other peoples’ houses, for one thing, as it tells you a lot about them. This is always substantially more relaxed, for another thing, especially if they get ready in the same house at the same time. But the third and most important reason why our favorite getting ready spot is the couple’s own house is that we’re typically surrounded by cats or dogs who make everything better for cute, furry, obvious reasons.

There were 3 cats in this house, but only one visible, unhidden cat who had taken a fond liking to Andrea’s wedding dress. The dog’s name is Sweet Penny Scoot Scoots, age 4. She’s possibly won the award for the most nervous flower girl ever, and we’ve seen a lot of nervous flower girls. She was won over eventually with treats and a bow and walked bravely down the aisle for her very doting parents, Andrea and Mark.

Andrea and Mark were married at Mark’s uncle’s house and had their ceremony officiated by Mark’s other uncle. The ceremony was the first we’ve attended to mention Tupac and a vow to “seek help before quitting the marriage,” and was clearly the best ceremony ever. Family threw Hersey Kisses at them afterward (no dresses were harmed) and the DJ actually still spun real records with a set list that was epic and reminiscent of every 90s roller skating party I’ve ever attended (in a good way). They drove off at the end of the night to Mojo’s where their pictures are up on the wall 3 times for eating hamburgers. :)

Date: May 4, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Private Residence // Raleigh, NC

Andrea’s Occupation: Massage Therapist

Mark’s Occupation: Superintendent

How You Met: Through a friend at the Pour House

Honeymoon Destination: Costa Rica

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Dr. Bobby Wineburg | DJ – Aharon Segal of DJ Gonzo | Caterer – Food Simply Fresh with Kelly Delaire | Hair/Makeup – Amanda Daniels