Outer Banks wedding photographers Archives

Patrice and Ben are two of the friendliest, happiest, most fabulous people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They booked us a very long time ago, and we’ve been exchanging random Game of Thrones updates and Hodor videos since. Residing in NYC, they’ve been long distance with us, and we were super excited to finally meet them in the Outer Banks for their wedding. Patrice is always really, really smiley in her pictures and she is just as smiley in real life. Geoff has mistaken her Facebook photos for Topanga several times. She’s also like a happy, fun combination of the Olsen Twins if they ever smiled in anything ever past the age of 6. She is gorgeous and generous and kind. Ben doesn’t look like Topanga or an Olsen Twin, but is handsome and funny and calm. Their friends and family are outgoing, enthusiastic, energetic, and it was the most musical theater of any reception we’ve ever photographed, and I can say that having graduated from a musical theater college. There were a lot of complicated dance moves, a couple people ended up in the pool, and at least one adult-themed costume was worn on the dance floor. Also, pirate gear, party confetti poppers, and our first Wedding Piñata. It was a fabulous ceremony, reception, and weekend, and we were so glad to be there with them. Check it out!

Date: September 18, 2015
Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Woodmere House // Kill Devil Hills, NC
First Dance Song: “It’s Only Time” – The Magnetic Fields
Patrice’s Occupation: Actor
Ben’s Occupation: Senior Marketing Specialist
How You Met: At Philly’s finest drinking establishment, Dirty Franks
Interesting Fact: We met at the same bar where Ben’s parents would frequent when they lived in Philadelphia over 30 years ago. (They lived around the corner from Dirty Franks and it was their neighborhood bar! We thought of having our wedding reception there, but for better or worse, Dirty Franks truly lives up to it’s name.)
Honeymoon: Minimoon on Cape May, followed by Jamaica in 2016.
Vendor Credits: Officiant – Nancy Reichelt (Ben’s aunt) | DJ – DJ Bruce | Florist – Alex Michaels (Patrice’s good friend) | Cake – Duck Donuts | Caterer – Currituck BBQ | Hair – Alex Michaels | Makeup – Alexandra Brock | Coordinator – Heather Clark of A Premiere Event | Lettering and invitations – Susanne Layton | Save the Date + Wedding Graphics: Stephanie Layton

1 nice things said

Dear Marcus Savage, I’m not sure if you read this thing, but you basically booked me this wedding. You rule.

Marcus, my musical mentor in high school, introduced me to a band called the Weakerthans and it quickly became one of my favorite bands. We’d drive around for literally hours when we had nothing to do (back when gas used to be kind of cheap) and listen to them. They’re still one of my favorites and remind me of Marcus and high school and everything else. Thankfully, my musical taste has been totally unwavering throughout the years so they’re still in the forefront of favoriteness, and it totally won us this wedding.

Kelly had been e-mailing me for a while, and we had another wedding in the Outer Banks the weekend that we met them for the consult. I liked them. They looked beachy. That’s the best way I can describe it. They also looked like they liked good music (I have good music sense radar). We sat down. Talked about their wedding for a bit. Somehow got on the topic of music. Asked Danny what bands he liked and listed among his top 3 answers were the Weakerthans, and it was pretty much all over.

I distinctly remember me and Danny getting really excited, and Kelly going, “OHhhhhh, no. Well, that’s it. I’m sure Danny’s made his decision.” It seemed like this had thrown a total wrench in the plans of them making any sort of objective decision about their photographer, and we were IN. Yesss! (Side Note, Marcus: Fallow was Danny and his mom’s first dance song and I may or may not have sang to myself the entire time).

And it’s been great from there. We’ve been in monthly contact with these two for a long time and have looked forward to their wedding for over a year. We stayed in the bridesmaids beach house and were welcomed like family. I’m not entirely sure what Kelly plans on doing with her time now that the wedding is done, or exactly how little sleep she’s been functioning on for the past year due to the following facts:

1. Kelly designed and planned the event herself. She made all of the details. Each table was designed so that the centerpieces on it would reflect and represent each person sitting at the table, so all of the tables were themed differently depending on who sat there. She spent a long time collecting the random things to represent their guests who appreciated it greatly and thought it was awesome.

2. She’s been learning guitar from Danny and they sang their first dance instead of danced it.

3. She booked Paleface, one of Danny’s favorite musicians, to play at the post-rehearsal party at Corolla’s Beer Garden as a surprise for Danny (some pictures included to start off the blog)… who basically wigged out for two solid hours straight.

4. Kelly’s aunt made her dress. Go ahead. Go scroll down and find the dress. Then read this sentence again: KELLY’S AUNT MADE HER DRESS.

So I apologize in advance for the crazy long blog post, but this was a pretty cool weekend staying with this crew. Not only was their wedding on my birthday (yay!) but it was our first wedding on the beach. Ever. Really? We’ve been doing this since 2008 and that was our first wedding on the beach? Way overdue. WAY way overdue.