August 17, 2012

Kimberly+Dan’s Raleigh Engagement Session

So in writing I have an easier time calling them Kimberly and Dan, but it person it didn’t work out so well as I kept almost calling Dan either Daniel or Dinberly and calling Kimberly Kim… so we had to shorten it so I could stop making a total jerk out of myself. Thankfully, these two are totally cool and laughed obligingly at my cheesy jokes all night and braved the rain with no umbrella and were down.right.awesome.

Kimberly and Dan were introduced by Kimberly’s sister at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh in 2011. They hit it off and went on their first date to Goodnights Comedy Club (where we were able to take a few pictures!) and the rest is history. Both at in the United States Air Force… Dan in the reserves and Kim in active duty as an air traffic controller. Dan does IT guy stuff. They’re getting married on October 6th (my birthday!) in Las Vegas but, unfortunately in my opinion, not by Elvis. They have impeccably good taste in TV (Lost and Game of Thrones… Joffrey’s such a punk) and music (although we’re forgiving Kimberly’s affinity for country). They were super goofy and cute and did whatever the heck I asked them to without hesitating and I loved them immediately. I hope I get to see these two again in the future but for now I am wishing them the best.luck.ever for their wedding in Las Vegas in October! Cheers to you guys!

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August 16, 2012

Meggie+Tanner’s Smoky Mountain Wedding at Hawkesdene House

This was a fabulous wedding. I knew it from the minute I saw the llamas. And Meggie and Tanner, of course. This was one of our Skype consultation weddings and we couldn’t have been happier to meet the wonderful pair in person. They were living in two different states at the time of the consult… and then we’ve come to realize that together both of them (and their friends) have probably lived in about all 50 states between them. I’d need some sort of large map with lots of strings and pushpins to adequately explain the states and all of the relationships involved, but you’ll just have to trust me that there’s been a lot. I do know that Meggie was born in Texas and Tanner was born in Kansas and that they both live in Minnesota now, but in between there was Florida and California and North Carolina and several other places that I lost track of quite quickly. But the good news is that they were engaged in Asheville and wanted to have their wedding in the North Carolina mountains, so luckily for us they picked the fantastically amazing wedding venue that is the Hawkesdene House and hired us to photograph it. Yesss! The wedding was in the Smoky Mountains (very close to the Tennessee border) and was awesome.

There was a venue cat (the best type of cat) named Polar and these giant fluffy dogs that lived down the street on the appropriately named Bear Dog Drive. There were llamas and mountains and adorable flower girls and lots of grasshoppers that were attacking Meggie’s dress during most of the portraits. There was an outdoor ceremony by a gorgeous stream and in lieu of traditional wedding venues, Meggie and Tanner bought a cow as part of a program that donates cows to villages to support themselves via the milk and cheese, etc. The venue had a gator (think large, 4-wheel drive golf cart) and hiked Meggie, Tanner, and myself up to the top of the mountain in one of the most treacherous transportation adventures I’ve ever had (worth it!). All in all, it was super awesome, and it was great seeing Meggie and Tanner so adorably in love in one of the prettiest settings on Earth. (P.S. My promise to blog 50 pictures for weddings has clearly gone out the window as of lately… I seriously have no culling self-control).

First Dance Song: “Lucky” – Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

Meggie’s Occupation: Associate Brand Manager for ConAgra

Tanner’s Occupation: Financial Analyst for Syngenta

How You Met: In business school at the University of Iowa. Meggie asked Tanner to be her VP in her run for presidency of the student organization and Tanner turned her down. But Meggie was persistent and finally got a date.

Interesting Fact About Meggie: Loves Pho (a Vietnamese noodle soup)

Interesting Fact About Tanner: Can touch his nose with his tongue

Honeymoon Destination: British Virgin Islands

Date: August 11, 2012

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Hawkesdene House // Andrews, NC

Officiant: Adam Strauss (friend of Meggie and Tanner)

DJ: Alex DJ Entertainment

Florist: Jane Schuelke (mother of the bride)

Pies: Merciers Orchard

Caterer: Hawkesdene House

Hair/Makeup: Rachael Hoch

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August 9, 2012

Sarah+Adam Have a Downtown Raleigh Wedding

Sarah and Adam like Seinfeld and their Beagle named Crosby (after the Pittsburgh Penguins player) and good beer. Adam plays in a band and Sarah watches a lot of House Hunters. They met online and it turned out pretty good for them, huh? We think so. We’re glad it worked out because we’re happy to call them clients and friends, and I’m happy to drop off Sarah’s bridal portraits at 10pm and then proceed to get chased around the kitchen in circles by their dog. We’re looking forward to dropping off their wedding pictures so I can do that again. :)

They’re really good people and had a super fun wedding downtown at All Saints Chapel and Marbles. Their bridal party was pretty phenomenal and I even got in some dance moves myself by the end of the night. There was awesome Larry the Bellhop, plastic dinosaurs, stuffed dogs that looked like Crosby, flip flops in lieu of high heels, and a guy who danced wearing a miniature child’s life preserver. I even taught the 8 year old flower girl about depth of field in a DSLR. Everyone won! It was a cool wedding. We love you, Sarah and Adam and wish you nothing but happiness and tasty tasty milkshakes from Fresh.