Michelle and Jimi’s Wedding at Preston Woodall House

Michelle and Jimi are two pretty fabulous people who had their wedding at the Preston Woodall House in Benson, NC, with two adorable flower girls (their nieces), a ruffly dress, gorgeous weather, and a lot of funky indoor wallpaper. We liked photographing them (hello, attractive friends!) and we liked photographing their venue (hello, previously mentioned cool wallpaper!) but you know what struck me as the best part when I actually started photographing? Michelle’s hair. Michelle, I know what you are thinking (probably something along the lines of, “What?”), but we don’t get brides with dark dark hair and her fantastic coloring that often (let alone brides who wear their hair down), and I found it to be a refreshing break from normal (no offense to the rest of you with normal hair – don’t start dying it strange colors for us now). It was a day full of little quirky differences and we liked it a lot.

They’ve been some of our nicest, most welcoming clients to date – treating us like family and friends rather than vendors. They may look in our part of the neighborhood when they eventually go looking for a house and we hope they do (especially if they land themselves on Property Brothers, as is Michelle’s dream). They told us that they hoped that we’d go home and have a drink after their wedding, but in a good, celebratory way instead of a, “Wow, I need a drink” sort of way. And we totally did (White Russians!) and it was absolutely positively in a celebratory, “We love Michelle and Jimi” kind of way.

Date: May 11, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Preston Woodall House // Benson, NC

First Dance Song: “You Are The Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne

Michelle’s Occupation: Nurse

Jimi’s Occupation: Waiter/Bartender

How You Met: Bride’s good friend was dating groom’s good friend

Interesting Bride Fact: Completed a sprint triathalon

Interesting Groom Fact: Classified as genius on IQ test

Honeymoon Destination: Sandals Jamaica

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Rev. Carl Johnson | DJ – Perrin Smith at Blue Box Weddings | Florist – Kelley Kennedy at Teacup Floral | Cake – Katherine Boyce | Caterer – Preston Woodall House | Hair and Makeup – Kellie Matthews | Coordinator – Kristen Cox at Blue Box Weddings

Elise+Jeff Have a Wedding at Duke Chapel and The Cotton Room

This was a wedding with a lot of firsts for us. The first wedding of 2012. The first wedding at Duke Chapel. The first bridal party who all brushed their teeth for us. The first that ended with us drinking milkshakes from Cookout in a limo. I can’t say that it could have ended any better. Elise and Jeff are very comfortable with each other, and very nice and polite to everyone they meet, putting everyone around them instantly at ease. I’ve never been nervous around either of them. I think it’s impossible to be anything but relaxed and smiling, as I think it’s impossible for Elise and Jeff to be anything but relaxed and smiling. So this was a very happy crew: happy family, happy friends, happy Elise and Jeff. I think this shows in their pictures. Everyone who was happy was also fun and ridiculous, and this also shows in their pictures (in a good way). And we couldn’t ask for anything better than a really good, fun crew who welcomed us with open arms into our first wedding of the year.

I did one bridal show ever which is where I met Elise. She sent me an email afterward saying, “Our wedding is so far away that I really hadn’t even thought of planning anything, but visiting your booth and looking at your pictures made me SO EXCITED!” Two years and some contracts later, we’re photographing her and Jeff brushing their teeth in Duke Gardens using their custom toothbrush favors (Elise is in dental school) and riding around with them in limos, visiting the local Cookout in formal wear and drinking milkshakes. It is a strange world, and I can’t say that I didn’t sit in the back of the limo on the drive back to our car, sipping on my peanut butter milkshake, and wonder how I got here, but I’m so thankful for Elise and Jeff’s love and support of each other and of us. It’s a beautiful thing, and a great way to kick of the year. Congratulations, friends!

Bride’s Occupation: Soon to be Pediatric Dental Resident in Seattle!

Groom’s Occupation: Attorney – soon to be ex-attorney/unemployed because [Elise is] dragging him across the country.

How You Met: [Elise+Jeff] were in the same freshmen dorm at Duke – of the 100 or so kids housed there, 5 couples have gotten married!

Interesting Bride Fact: Bride has a double uvula (the hanging thing in the back of the throat) – this is Jeff’s go to weird fact about [her].

Interesting Groom Fact: Jeff’s own personal holiday is when the new Madden Xbox game comes out. Also has the uncanny ability to make Elise laugh on cue.

Honeymoon Destination: Elise wrote, “Motel 6 – This is what Jeff keeps telling me. In reality he says he won’t tell me until we’re boarding the plane (and he says not the first plane…)”. In actuality, it was the Bahamas. :) Jeff broke the news to Elise during the reception after a good chunk of the family kept nagging him to tell her. :D

Date: March 10, 2012

Ceremony Venue: Duke Chapel // Durham, NC

Reception Venue: The Cotton Room // Durham, NC

Hotel: Millennium Hotel // Durham, NC

Officiant: Reverend Bill Fowler (family friend and Duke alum)

DJ: The Perfect Beat // Apex, NC

Florist: Elise and her mother and aunt made all of the floral arrangements themselves!

Cake: Sugarland // Chapel Hill, NC

Hair/Makeup: Moshi Moshi Means Hello! // Chapel Hill, NC

Videographer: Daniel and Kevin // Heart Stone Films