Monica+Graham Like Each Other and Honey Badgers

There was a 100% gluten free cake at this wedding (carrot cake, yum!) that I could eat, but that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was the honey badger cake toppers. They are sharing a snake. The catering staff stood around and all made guesses as to what sort of animal they were. “Is that skunk?” “Why do they have a ribbon in their mouth?” Next to the cake sat a stuffed honey badger, a gift from their friend, who walked by and told me, “He says inappropriate things. He came with a parental advisory sticker.”

Monica and Graham became our clients at some point last year when we bonded over our gluten allergy and invited them over for gluten-free pizza and Woodchuck cider. We’ve forced our friendship upon them ever since and get together for pizza when we’re all not busy. They exploded Mentos and Diet Coke in their engagement session with us and have since bought a cat that they named Tesla. They’re a lot smarter than we are but they don’t hold it against us. They had an awesome wedding at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences surrounded by sciencey things and dinosaurs and honey badgers and lived happily ever after.

Date: December 15, 2012

Monica’s Occupation: Perpetual student (PhD candidate, Environmental Toxicology at NC State)

Graham’s Occupation: Continuous student (PhD candidate, Particle Physics at NC State)

How You Met: North Carolina Governor’s School during high school

Interesting Bride Fact: Played the bassoon in middle and high school. Fact: it’s the coolest instrument ever. Look it up.

Interesting Groom Fact: Has an irrational fear of being hit by a meteorite.

Honeymoon Location: Big island of Hawaii

Ceremony and Reception Location: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences // Raleigh, NC

Officiant: Rev. Robin Renteria

DJ: DJ Stephen Scott Professional Entertainment // Rob

Florist: Catering Works // Joe Barnes

Cake: The Celiac Cakery // Noreen Fitzmaurice

Catering: Catering Works

Hair: Alter Ego Hair Salon

Makeup: Belle Trachtenberg

Honey Badger Cake Toppers: Bonjour Poupette (Etsy)

Quentin+Lady Hang Out With Betty+Madeline

My first e-mail from Quentin just said, “I warn you… I look like Shrek. But my wife is an angel so we balance each other out.” His questionnaire said stuff like, “Some place that makes me look like Brad Pitt” in response to where they wanted their pictures taken and, “We do NOT like to do naked photography” as their basic vision for the shoot. For anything else that they might want us to know about them, they wrote: “It is very important to know that we are awesome. I take that back, we are VERY awesome. Strike that… we are the most awesomeest. And our dogs don’t suck.”

Thus has been our relationship with Quentin and Lady. Us laughing and nodding and me being naive and asking for clarification as to when Quentin is joking and when he’s not. Note: he is always joking. Well, except for the fact that they are actually awesome, their dogs don’t suck, and Lady is an angel. We had a super fun time running around with these guys and their adorable pups (Betty is skinny, Madeline is a little bit fatter and has the turned down ears). Madeline was horribly abused in her previous household and is now spoiled rotten with Beggin’ Strips (Quentin says they don’t taste very good) and living the high life in Raleigh with her new sister and parents (who like food and baseball and indie music and are awesome). Guys – we hope there’s at least one picture that you don’t hate. ;)

Becky+Steven Get Married in Raleigh

Now, unfortunately I can’t take credit for the amazing first photo you see here:

This is Becky’s Facebook profile picture (used with her permission). She said that since they didn’t have engagement pictures taken that she would make their own. By photoshopping her cat in. Three times. My favorite is the one peeking over Steven’s shoulder (Steven and the cat do not get along but are working on it). Anyway, this is clearly better than all of their wedding pictures combined so I had to open with it because it is amazing.

Becky and Steven are clearly awesome based on the photo above. They met in February and tied the knot the first weekend in December and were SO excited for their morning/afternoon wedding at Caffe Luna. It was freeeezing outside for their 8:30am pictures but neither one of them ever complained and were really good sports. They’re  both incredibly sweet people and it wasn’t hard to keep Becky laughing at all times despite the open toed shoes and strapless dress and my lenses fogging up in 30 degree weather.

Their wedding was attended by all of their sweet family members and their brothers, who were the Best Man and the Man of Honor. :) The Amazing Jenny, Becky’s friend, acted as a wedding coordinator who was so well coordinated that I pulled her aside and asked if she was really just a friend or actually a legit coordinator. She was a friend. And was great! There were also super cute sock monkeys and invitations that were hand drawn by Becky herself (who can do awesome calligraphy!) and holly accents as a shout out to Steven’s merry last name (and the time of year). :) They were even so, so kind to get a gluten free cake for me and another guest with allergies!! I WAS SO EXCITED TO EAT CAKE AT A WEDDING YOU HAVE NO IDEA. It was delicious!!! So nice and unexpected and kind.

Congratulations, Becky and Steven! Please keep in touch with us on your adventures around Raleigh and we hope that you enjoy the photos when you get back from your honeymoon!! You guys were awesome to work with!!

Date: December 1, 2012

First Song: “At Last” – Etta James

Becky’s Occupation: I graduated with a degree in illustration, still trying to figure out what I want to do with it… artist? I still do a little work on the side.

Steven’s Occupation: Mechanical Engineer

How You Met: We met at church. We started talking between services and hit it off so well he asked me on a date that same day.

Interesting Bride Fact: Can’t dance.

Interesting Groom Fact: Best griller in the world…according to the bride. :)

Honeymoon Location: A cabin near Gatlinburg, TN. Yay mountains! :)

Ceremony and Reception Location: Caffe Luna // Raleigh, NC

Officiant: Doug Van Ness (friend)

DJ: Keshan

Florist/Hair/Makeup/: Becky

Cake: Cinda’s Creative Cakes

Caterer: Caffe Luna

Coordinator: Jenny