Lauren+Justin // Married.

Lauren and Justin were married in March in a small courthouse ceremony in Asheville. :) They thankfully contacted us to take their wedding portraits in Saxapahaw as they’re frequent visitors of the Haw River Ballroom and often walk along the river trails. We said YES! (because Saxapahaw rules, because they listed the Neverending Story as their favorite movie, and because they have two cats and sounded really nice). It turns out that all of those things are true! They are indeed very nice and Saxapahaw is still awesome and so is the Neverending Story (of course). They also weirdly enough live in the same neighborhood as us!

Anyway – we had an awesome time getting to know these guys. They love music and hiking and generally hanging out being awesome (Lauren does graphic design and Justin purchase ordering). Bonus points: Justin is the first person I’ve ever met besides myself that owns Songs in the Key of X: Music from and inspired by the X-Files (hah!). I’m thankful to know that I don’t own the only copy and that I’m only kind of nuts. ;) Please join us in wishing these two a very heartfelt congratulations on their marriage!

Kristine+Kevin’s JC Raulston Arboretum Wedding

I met Kristine a few years ago when I did promotional photos for a local veterinarian’s office where she was the receptionist. I liked her a lot because she was holding a bunny since she had cats that wouldn’t be good photographic subjects (I was doing head shots of the office staff with their pets). Fast forward a few years and she was engaged, contacted us, and we met with her and her fiancé, Kevin, and her amazing parents (who have been beyond helpful to us in this entire process). We knew they were incredible people inside and out. They were planning an intimate afternoon brunch wedding at the JC Raulston Arboretum in spring with close family and friends and were making their own cupcakes (!!) since Kristine’s an amazing baker (Kevin’s also an amazing cook and it’s their hope to one day open a restaurant which I would then frequent all the time).

And so finally it came to be that CSP encountered its first black wedding dress since its beginning in 2008. :) Yes! We were pretty pumped about this as we had a Halloween wedding and I (Carolyn) looked for a black wedding dress for some time but finally gave up since in 2010 they didn’t really exist so I was so happy to finally see someone get and wear one. And it was very Kristine and Kevin. :) I can’t really picture her wearing a white dress. And oddly enough, our getting-ready roles were kind of reversed for this wedding too. Kristine wore her hair normally while Kevin got his cut and straightened, so Geoff saw more hair-primping action than I did this weekend. ;) Which was, again, very Kristine and Kevin. Everything was! From their black and red color scheme to the cupcakes that they baked to the tattoo that Kristine got specifically for their wedding to the sandbox that they stood in for their ceremony (Kevin proposed by drawing a circle on the beach in which they stood for his proposal… so they were married in a circle in a sandbox!)… it was all very them. And they had a beautiful day filled with people who meant the world to them and we couldn’t be happier for these two. :)

Date: April 12, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: JC Raulston Arboretum // Raleigh, NC

Kristine’s Occupation: Receptionist at Cat Clinic

Kevin’s Occupation: Delivery driver for Chinese restaurant

How You Met: Kristine went to school with Kevin’s two cousins. Kevin saw Kristine’s picture on Facebook under the “People you may know” section. He requested to add her and she added him back since “he couldn’t be that crazy, she knew his cousins”. They started talking and eventually after a few weeks of talking on Facebook and on the phone, they decided to go on a first date. They agreed to meet at the Food Lion up the street from her and they then would drive to “The Upper Deck” (a bar right up the street). Kristine needed some alcohol to calm her nerves, as did he. Once she actually got out of the car and was facing him, she knew he was the one, and he had felt the same way. It was total love at first sight. After some talking they drove to the movie theater to continue their date. And the rest is history.

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Barbara Lodge | Florist – The Blossom Shop | Cupcakes – Kristine and her mother | Caterer – Food Lion & Harris Teeter

Mary+Jerem’s Wedding at the Haw River Ballroom

Mary and Jerem live in Chicago with their calico cat Ella who is one of those adorable two-faced cats where her fur is split down the middle of her head with two different colors. She tried to be a part of the wedding festivities but decided in the end it would be too much of a hassle to make the flight and instead held down her parents’ fort in Illinois. She was, however, part of our Skype consultation with Mary and Jerem, and she must’ve given them her cat-paw of approval because we booked them shortly after (the longer I’m making this paragraph the more delusional and crazy-cat-lady-like I’m seeming, but it’s Friday so give me a break).

We were so excited to finally meet Mary and Jerem in person and work with them on their phenomenal wedding at the ever-amazing Haw River Ballroom! These two have a lot of passion for each other and just about everything else they’re involved in, and it’s evident by how much work they put into this wedding. It’s also evident by the present that Jerem gave Mary the morning of the wedding. When they met, they went on a date. On that date, Jerem received a fortune cookie fortune that said, “Stop searching forever, happiness is just next to you.” Mary, of course, was sitting next to him, and he showed her the fortune. They laughed. Little did she know that Jerem then pocketed the fortune in his wallet and carried it around. For years. Years! He had known that she was the one and kept it with him, only to frame it and give it to her on their wedding day. What! This is romantic movie material right here you guys. Mary cried every time she looked at the frame, and cried every time someone mentioned it to her while she was getting ready (sorry if you’re crying right now again, Mary).

Anyway, their wedding was amazing and these two clearly have a lot to be thankful for. We’re thankful that we had the opportunity to work with them and know them as beautiful and generous people. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to leave you here to look at their pictures while I sneak into Mary’s closet, steal her wedding dress, and wear it around my house every day for the next few months.

mary-jerem

Date: April 5, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Haw River Ballroom // Saxapahaw, NC

First Dance Song: “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green

Mary’s Occupation: Attorney (public defender 4 lyfe!)

Jerem’s Occupation: Commercial film editor

How You Met: The old fashioned way: online! OkCupid, baby. Fun fact: Jerem was Mary’s very first online date, ever. Mary was Jerem’s second. Weird, right?

Interesting Fact About Mary+Jerem: We are almost always one of the first couples to start dancing at any wedding. Jerem is a pretty incredible dancer. Mary..less so, but has SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM.

Honeymoon Destination: Belize! We hear there is no snow there. Which is VERY IMPORTANT to those who have survived Chicago’s winter.

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Robin Renteria | DJ – Blake Burney | Coordinator & Florist – Heather Cook of Shind!gs | Cupcakes – Sugarland Bakery | Caterer – Saxapahaw Catering Co | Hair – Sarah Nathan | Makeup – Rene Lofland