June 18, 2014

Caitlyn+Joe’s Wedding in New London, Connecticut

Caitlyn and Joe kindly sent us a few initial pleading e-mails asking us if we’d come to Connecticut to photograph their wedding after she found our photographs on a wedding blog. They thought we’d say no or we’d be unavailable or it would cost them their first born son, but we’re a lot nicer than that and we Skyped and all fell into a mutual love for each other. True, type-A, spastically-organized, obsessional love. Well, Caitlyn and Carolyn anyway. Geoff and Joe kind of cooly, quietly, type-B-ingly watch Caitlyn and I spazz out from the sidelines. I was recognized at their rehearsal dinner as “possibly as organized as Caitlyn”… and that girl had an itinerary printed out for everyone that was the size of Game of Thrones. Because of this, though, everyone knew exactly what they were doing or Caitlyn and I spazzed out until they did, and thus everything went according to glorious plan.

This wedding taught us many things. It taught us that staying in college dorm rooms when you’re in your late 20s/early 30s has a surprisingly nostalgic effect despite the communal showers. It taught us that colleges can have really non-threatening-even-kind-of-smiling mascots. It taught us that Connecticut is exactly as we all picture it with the little cottages by the sea and the stone walls and the ivy and the rounded shingles. It taught us (or rather confirmed) that everyone from Boston is a horrible driver. It taught us that the sun is significantly brighter in the far northeast than in the southeast (actually true!). And finally, it reminded us of why we do what we do… and how lucky we are to have people fly us to cool new places so we can see new things and be there for them on their wedding day. We had an amazing time and are looking forward to seeing these two when they vacation down here in the future! And now at least Caitlyn can relax while Carolyn continues to obsess over weddings and timelines. ;)

Date: June 7, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Connecticut College // New London, Connecticut

First Dance Song: “My Best Friend” – Tim McGraw

Caitlyn’s Occupation: Federal Human Capital Consultant

Joe’s Occupation: Financial Examiner

How You Met: In 8th grade, braces and all ;)

Interesting Fact about Caitlyn: Caitlyn truly believes that ice cream is a food group, and eats accordingly

Interesting Fact about Joe: Joe has visited over half the states in the country and plans to visit all 50… Caitlyn may skip out on a few locations ;)

Honeymoon Destination:Charleston for a honeymoon preview and Jamaica around the holidays!

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Mike Webb (friend, mentor, former 8th grade teacher) | DJ – Atlantic Coast Entertainment (Erv) | Florist – Jordan Florist in Windsor, CT (Karen) | Cake – Dairy Queen ice cream cake and family-baked desserts | Caterer – Merrill Collins | Hair/Makeup – Larissa Lake Makeup Artist ( Laura and Danielle) and Alli Bizeau (family friend) | Videographer – Forever After Studios (Kevin and Kevin) | Ceremony Coordinator – Marilyn Burnett of Connecticut College | Reception Coordinator – Merrill Collins of Connecticut College | Ceremony Guitarist – Morgan Brown

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June 10, 2014

Caroline & Brian’s Downtown Raleigh Engagement Session

Caroline and Brian came into Raleigh all the way from Charlotte to have their engagement portraits taken, and we are lucky to have had the opportunity to meet them! Finally, Carolyn was able to unite with someone who loves school supplies as much as she does, despite no longer being in school and despite not longer being a teacher. :D They also shared our love of 80s movies and reminisced about past job horror stories. On top of all this, we were pleased to find out that only one half of Caroline and Brian enjoy the Goonies and the Princess Bride, much like only one half of Carolyn and Geoff. We wish they lived closer so 50% of us could try to convince the other 50% that the movies are good (or bad, depending on what side you’re on).

These guys met in Raleigh, went on their first date to Gravy and the Raleigh Times (both of which we visited during the session), and have since moved to Charlotte. They’re getting married in Wilmington next spring as a middle ground of their families’ and their own locations. Brian likes golf and refused Carolyn’s suggestion that they go mini-golfing for their engagement session, and Caroline wouldn’t let him bring his golf clubs into downtown. Caroline was both her high school mascot and their prom queen, and also cries at emotional stories about children throwing out the first pitch on ESPN. They’ve both solidly convinced us that the West Wing is probably a good show to start after we run through House of Cards. We had a great time with these two, and we are so happy they came out to Raleigh to see us! Here’s a few of our favorites.
engagement photographer raleigh nc

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June 5, 2014

Susan+Michael’s Wedding at the North Carolina Museum of Art

Susan and Michael have fast become some of our favorite people. Previously Carolyn had declared herself and her sister as the unofficial presidents of U2’s fan club, but I’m happy to say that we’re going to scootch over a little bit to make some room for Susan and Michael, and we’re happy to do it. I could say a lot about these guys… and how they are awesome and kind and funny and genuine… or about how they made a bunch of paper cranes for their wedding and then thought, “Is this enough paper cranes?” and it turns out that it was way more than enough paper cranes… or about how all of their guests were so sweet to us and there were a lot of Jamaicans there wearing hats and were highly entertaining people… or about Susan and Michael’s super good fashion sense that makes me want to raid both of their closets. But instead I’m going to leave a bit of the reading that they read to each other here. They edited it a bit, and I’m writing down what I can remember from a combination of my memory and the actual book text. (so forgive me when I inevitably get this a little bit wrong) But it’s too sweet to not put in the blog post and has been one of my favorite wedding readings ever.

“I like you and I know why. I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special, and you remember it a long, long time. When I think something is important, you think it’s important too. We have good ideas. When I say something funny, you laugh. I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too. I like you because if I am mad at you, then you are mad at me too. It’s awful when the other person isn’t. If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one. if I find four, I give you two. If we only find three, we keep on looking. I like you because I don’t know why, but everything that happens is nicer with you. I can’t remember when I didn’t like you. It must have been lonesome then. If you and I had some drums, and some horns and some horses, if we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines, we could be a HOLIDAY! We could be a CELEBRATION! We could be a WHOLE PARADE! Even if it was the nine hundred and ninety-ninth of July. Even if it was August. Even if it was way down at the bottom of November. Even if it was no place particular in January. I would go on choosing you, and you would go on choosing me, over and over again. That’s how it would happen every time.” – Excerpt from I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg.