Team Emmerika’s Wedding at Babylon

Our Facebook fans (and my mother) have been waiting for us to post Erika and Emmanuel’s wedding since we shot it. They quickly became fan favorites after their engagement session (presumably on their good looks and charm alone) and people ask us about them often with inquiries such as, “Tell us more about that couple who was juggling vegetables in your kitchen,” and “That one couple with the guy who has dreadlocks looks fun and nice.” I’m pretty sure that if they became public figures or perhaps even opened their own Youtube channel that they’d skyrocket to fame and then we’d subsequently reap in the royalties by selling our photographs of them “from back when.”

But we must say that while looks can be deceiving and you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and all that – you’re all completely accurate in this case, and Erika and Emmanuel are in fact as fun, nice, adorable, and sweet as they appear. As in – people couldn’t stop giving toasts at their wedding. Eventually they had to STOP PEOPLE FROM GIVING THEM TOASTS OR IT WOULD’VE NEVER ENDED. That’s how much everyone loves them. And how nice their friends are (who are kind of exactly like them to the point where I told the best man, “We’re going to force our way into your group of friends now, okay?” to which he replied, “Oh absolutely.”).

Their wedding had a Plants Vs. Zombies cake topper and a Captain (their friend married them and the captain hat was bought to lend him more of an air of authenticity, which it absolutely did). They got married at Babylon, a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Raleigh, and one of the bridesmaids was a guest at the wedding we had shot the day before (her picture can be found directly below the goldfish) which, we think, says something about how our clients are pretty awesome and travel in the same awesome circles being awesome together. There were Dr. Who socks and Dr. Who reception bow ties. There was a spontaneous wedding party dance breakout to “Lean on Me.” And there was Erika and Emmanuel whom we love and cherish and cannot thank enough for being the most amazing people and I could go on and on but someone should probably take the mic away from me too or else the blog post will never end.

Date: July 28, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Babylon Restaurant // Raleigh, NC

First Dance Song: “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz

Erika’s Occupation: Optometric technician and office minion

Emmanuel’s Occupation: High school English teacher

How You Met: Ice skating at the Ice House in Cary, NC

Interesting Bride Fact: She makes weird faces when she has to take pictures (I tried to warn you), has a hard time reading directions (thanks for including a lot of them in this sheet, jerks) and prefers jumping into things.

Interesting Groom Fact: He is the best chef ever, is extremely adventerous but uncomfortable with heights, can walk on his hands and do flips off of walls.

Honeymoon Destination: St. Lucia

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Chalres “The Captain” Lindsey | DJ – DJ Madcow/Neu Romance | Cake – Jennifer LeGrande (Emmanuel’s cousin) | Caterer – Babylon | Hair – Niko Jones at Salon Jasmine | Makeup – Jackie Verbal

Ellie+Geoff’s Wedding at Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto, NY

One Ellie. One Carolyn. Two Geoffs with the correct spelling(!). Two beards. Two RIT alumni. One hotdog tie. One R2D2 table greeter. Several amazon women sculptures. A few Princess Bride references.

Two months ago, one Ellie e-mailed one Carolyn to ask if we would be available to travel to  upstate New York to shoot their wedding on a Wednesday (well, it’s kind of southwesternish New York… about an hour south of Buffalo, but our Geoff claims that when he grew up in upstate New York that everything outside of the city is often referred to as upstate, so we’re sticking to it). In her e-mail, Ellie mentioned that she was upset because she hasn’t been able to find her Ace of Base cd lately, to which Carolyn enthusiastically mentioned that she used to roller skate with her sister in their parents’ basement to the Ace of Base cassette tape on repeat when she was younger. Ellie responded that she has a scar from roller skating in her parents’ basement and she then forwarded the e-mail to her Geoff, who responded that he also used to roller skate in his parents’ basement, but not to Ace of Base. An immediate bond was formed. We found out that Ellie’s Geoff also went to RIT (where our Geoff went) and also has a beard (so does ours!!). Clearly, this was very much meant to be.

They chose their date because they thought it’d be nice to have fireworks on their wedding anniversary every year. They based their wedding colors off of Geoff’s BMW M series. They bought old mattress springs online, cut and stained wooden boards to attach them to, and used them as vases for their awesome fabric flower centerpieces complete with random keyboard keys. They bought us Dharma Initiative pins to wear around as button-eres. There was a hotdog tie as a reference to the groom’s last name.

I think if it wasn’t for the possibility of a lot of ticks in the tall grass and for the shred of dignity that I’ve managed to hang on to, I probably would’ve rolled around on the ground like a puppy in the sun for a good while when I saw their wedding ceremony location at Griffis Sculpture Park. I never thought giant naked stone women would make for such an interesting or useful background but it did. I could type a lot more but I’m tired and you probably want to see the pictures. Ellie and Geoff – we are forever grateful for this wonderful experience that you kindly bestowed on us this summer and the absolute kindness you all showed us while we were there. We look back on it with big smiles.

Date: July 3, 2013

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Griffis Sculpture Park // East Otto, NY

Ellie’s Occupation: Research Assistant

Geoff’s Occupation: Part of the IT Crowd

How You Met: At work

Interesting Bride Fact: Never lived in the state I was born in

Interesting Groom Fact: Has never seen Titanic

Honeymoon Destination: Cancun

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Wayne Schultz, PhD | Cake – Paula’s Donuts | Caterer – Dina’s on the ‘Mont | Videographer – Helen Cook of Love Delights Cinematography | Bottlecap Pins – MyHoard store on Etsy | Veil – BrendasBridalVeils store on Etsy | Design of flags, menu board, paper airplane programs, thank you cards and hair and makeup all done by the “Best Sister Ever!” – Ruth Baratta | Actual making of centerpieces and menu boards and all the cool stuff you see is credited to Ellie, Geoff, Ruth, and other family members.