Katie+Cameron // Chapel Hill Family Session

Katie and Cameron were married in 2012 at Magnolia Manor in a wedding full of rope swing glory, and Katie and I have kept in touch since through our mutual love of cats. There has been good times with cats (YAY CATS!!) and bad times with cats (illnesses, and the unfortunate passing away of their adored cat Bug before our session), but through the thick and thin, I know I have someone to message and commiserate with when it comes to cats… and for that I am grateful. :) And now that they’re in a light-filled modernist house of awesome in Chapel Hill, we can also keep in touch with our mutual love of attempting to keep desert plants alive in a zone 8 climate with high humidity.

Now Katie and Cameron have an ADORABLE toddler named Grayson who enjoys playing with his furry brothers and sisters (brown doggo Birdie, black doggo Chevy, gray kitteh Tuna), as well as feeding them cat treats (dogs included), and picking up sticks and running around with them. His parents have excellent taste, so they bought him a Charley Harper tent which is the most beautiful and fantastic tent, but he doesn’t care to sit in it, so Tuna the cat has taken it over. When he’s not playing with sticks or throwing balls, he likes to pull flowering stems off Katie’s succulents despite our protests, and also throw his head back and make noises like a zombie (it’s a true skill). His parents are particularly proud of the zombie moaning that Grayson’s mastered, but Katie still maintains that her greatest accomplishment is having a kid who loves cats more than she does. We have a deep love for this family, and we’re so glad the incredible Grayson has joined their ranks (we’re pretty sure that Birdie and Chevy are grateful too since now they get to eat cat treats and bananas).

Caity+Kevin // Rigmor House Wedding

Caity and Kevin had the best weather ever for their December engagement session so I guess it only figures that it would come back and bite us later. Their wedding day was collllld and produced a constant rain that went kinda sideways under umbrellas so we didn’t go out in it much. Also, we were all freezing. But, because it was so cold, Caity decided to wear her badass colored leggings under her wedding dress on a whim which was highly encouraged by myself and all her bridesmaids because YES. She also occasionally busted out a pink leather jacket which was also praised and adored. And, because Caity and Kevin are very clever and thought ahead about things, the Rigmor House was decorated beautifully inside and allowed for plenty of colorful photo ops. Despite the dreariness outside, we were happy and colorful and warm INSIDE OUR HEARTS (and inside the Rigmor House). So much color, all the color, flag bunting forever and ever amen.

So a grand time was had by all – there was dancing and donuts and floral bridesmaid dresses and Rifle Paper Co. Keds that I’m currently ordering for myself and a dream team of vendors, some of which are friends and former clients of ours – and everyone had a wonderful time. Caity and Kevin didn’t let the rain get them down. They knew the most important thing about the day was each other, and that’s what makes a wedding run smoothly despite any sort of technical hitches you may run into. Also, it’s pretty brilliant to plan your wedding outside but to make sure that it’ll still look badass if you have to move it inside. Their use of color and whimsy in their decor was fantastic and made the interior quite happy. Everyone danced the night away, and the lucky ones among them stayed overnight at the Rigmor House, so they didn’t even need to leave (also brilliant to have your venue double as a hotel). We are so happy to have worked with these guys and wish them all the best in life and love and with their cat Haley who is really fluffy and cute.

Date: April 7, 2018
Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Rigmor House // Chapel Hill, NC
First Dance Song: “There Are Many Ways to Say I Love You” – Sylvan Esso
Kevin’s Occupation: Science and math teacher at Duke Hospital School
Caity’s Occupation: Occupational therapist for Durham VA Homeless Programs
How You Met: Caity messaged Kevin on OkCupid, our first date was at Geer St Garden and Cocoa Cinnamon!
Interesting Fact: We have a hilarious tortie cat named Haley who is friendly and feisty. Caity used to play flute in a salsa band. Kevin uses his chemistry knowledge to turn fire green. Kevin can lick his left elbow and either of anybody else’s elbows.
Honeymoon: Considering Banff! Or Idaho! Or Utah!
Officiant: NC Secular Weddings
DJ: DJ Ryan the DJ
Florist: Bluebird Meadows
Cake: Donuts from Rise
Caterer: Happy Cardinal Catering
Hair/Makeup: The Makeup Culture
Coordinator: The Details Events
Wreath: Haw River Wreath Co
Ties, Pocket Squares, Lapel Pins: Natty Neckware

Jen+Jon // Wake Forest Engagement

We are so lucky to have connected with Jen and Jon, and not just because Jen is also Celiac so pointed us to a great restaurant called Over the Falls in Wake Forest where we all went after their engagement session to eat gluten free chicken fingers, but because they are genuinely wonderful human beings who care quite a bit about themselves and their sweet dog. Before their engagement session, they warned us not to approach Sam, the adorable black fluffy face of a doggo that you see pictured before you. She isn’t aggressive and doesn’t bite, but she is easily startled and afraid of humans. The problem is that she’s really, really cute and really, really fluffy and anytime there is a fluffy animal in front of me I just want to hug it. So it required a great deal of self-control to not hug or pet Sam, and I spent most of the session clawing at my own face and gritting my teeth in baby voices in order to restrain myself. I did briefly forget and try to pet her, and she jumped really high and then I jumped really high and terrified reactions were had all around. Still think she’s cute.

They also warned me that Jon is the human version of Sam, but I’m pretty sure we gave him a hug at the end of the night and he didn’t jump. Him and Jen are pretty adorable human creatures who enjoy comics and Pokemon and good television shows and walking around with their pup and occasionally dressing said pup as Pikachu. Jon is a lifting instructor and lifted both Sam and Jen during their engagement session with great ease. Jen is an incredibly good sport who allowed herself to be lifted and frightened and tickled all for the sake of photography. We like them both a whole lot and are so excited to photograph their wedding at the new Wakefield Barn in November! It’s a new venue that looks incredible, and we’re sure Jen and Jon will make it look even better (also Sam, who will make it look fluffier).