Lexie and Michael were introduced to us a long time ago by our friends Monica and Graham, whose wedding we shot back in 2012. Well, I guess we knew Lexie first (I spy her in one of their reception photos) and Michael later. Lexie is an identical twin (oddly enough, our third identical twin this season, but our fourth identical twin ever), and for a while we had absolutely no idea how to tell her and her sister Ashley apart. Later someone gave us the pro tip that Ashley has bangs and Lexie doesn’t, and it’s been somewhat easier since then, but if they aren’t standing next to each other it’s still not a fool-proof method and I’m never 100% sure in my answer. But, now that Lexie has been our (wonderful!) client, I think my chances of figuring out who is who will now have a 90% accuracy rate, white dress or not, and I think that’s the best you can really hope for with identical twins. So now that Lexie and Michael are married, it’s going to be Michael’s job to stand next to Lexie all the time so I don’t mess up.

These two were married at the courthouse in Raleigh surrounded by close family and friends, then they had a reception at Watered Garden Florist a few days later (Lexie’s mom is a florist at Watered Garden and did all the flowers for this wedding, which were amaaaaazing!), then a few days after that they had another reception in Chicago with Michael’s side of the family. We happily were able to keep her dress pretty clean throughout the courthouse ceremony and the pictures afterward roaming around the gardens so she could use it at the receptions. Michael studies trees for a living and is really into plants. Lexie rehabs turtles (very jealous of this) and has dogs and is also into plants. Together they are very nature-y and excited to take pictures by some trees and we were excited to take their pictures by trees and everyone was very, very happy. But not as happy as me, who received gluten-free cupcakes care of Monica and Graham from Lexie and Michael’s reception a few days later. ;) Mmm, cupcakes.

We had a long distance Facetime consult with Molly and John many months ago for their wedding down here in Raleigh, NC and have been so excited to shoot their wedding ever since. They were planning from afar in Washington, D.C. and somehow managed to snag the best team of vendors, all of whom have a special place in our wedding vendor hearts. When we showed up on their wedding day and finally met Molly and John in person, we were amazed at how they immediately opened up to us. They both have great senses of humor and kept us all laughing all day, and everyone had a great time. Fun fact: this was our second wedding with a bride who has an identical twin sister, and I only confused them once initially (of course it helped that Molly put on her wedding dress shortly after I got there). John, while not having an identical twin, does have an amazing head of hair that was admired by many that day. Together with their families and DJ Randy Bennett, the dance floor was officially torn up (figuratively) and ice cream was eaten (literally) and we conquered our first Merrimon-Wynne House wedding. Congratulations to the wonderful Molly and John! Thank you for having us be a part of your day!

  • Date: August 26, 2016
  • Ceremony Venue: Dinwiddie Chapel at Peace University // Raleigh, NC
  • Reception Venue: Merrimon-Wynne House // Raleigh, NC
  • First Dance Song: “I Want You Back” – Jer Coons & Jackson 5
  • Molly’s Occupation: Senior Director of Operations for Nothern VA Chamber of Commerce
  • John’s Occupation: Creative Strategist for VIVA Creative
  • How You Met: Elon University
  • Interesting Fact: We love to dance. We love sports (John is a huge Wiz fan and Molly is a huge Tarheels fan). We love to travel. We have a really interesting dating story. We did four years of long distance – reconnected at a friend’s wedding (good story!). We both love God and our families more than anything.
  • Honeymoon: Maui, Hawaii
  • Vendor Credits: Officiant –Reverend Ray Warren. DJ – Randy Bennett of Joe Bunn DJ Company. Florist – A Watered Garden. Cake – Sugarland. Caterer – Catering Works. Hair/Makeup – Jamie Sturdevant & Shana McLoud. Videographer – M2 Productions. Coordinator – Sally Oakley. Ice Cream – Two Roosters.

We like to make Abby and Rachel physical uncomfortable by throwing leaves at them or making them sit on logs full of caterpillars and their wedding day was no different. In 90+ degree heat we trekked them into the forest by the river that was full of bugs and mud and water and oddly, teenagers. I think they are used to us taking them into uncomfortable territory by now. When we’re not physically exhausting them, and I’m making sure that Abby can’t get anything done by Facebook messaging her a lot about Prince during work hours. Now that their wedding is done, they’ve been on their honeymoon and we’re knee-deep in wedding season, so we haven’t had the time to bother them quite as much as we’d like, but I’ll find a way sooner or later. In the meantime, there are photos of them at their absolutely lovely wedding in Saxapahaw. Complete with old timey plates. And cardboard cutouts of their dog Clifford.

  • Date: June 26, 2016
  • Ceremony + Reception Venue: Haw River Ballroom // Saxapahaw, NC
  • First Dance Song: “Stars 4-Ever” – Robyn
  • Rachel’s Occupation: Retirement plan consultant in Raleigh.
  • Abby’s Occupation: PhD candidate in English at Duke.
  • How You Met: On the internet! OKCupid. Abby messaged Rachel first because she liked her taste in books, but it quickly turned into a conversation about our shared love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  We then met for a dinner date at Geer Street Garden, went to the Pinhook after, and the rest is history!
  • Interesting Fact: Long before we knew each other, we both used “What Is Love?” by Haddaway as our ringtones circa 2006.  We discovered this on a road trip when that song came on.  We have a nine year old Chowbrador named Clifford who is incredibly anxious and likes to hide under tables.  Rachel was once bitten by a copperhead and lives to tell the tale; Abby did poorly in the 1997 Missouri State geography bee.
  • Honeymoon: We are going to Hawaii’s Big Island shortly after the wedding.  We are going to attempt to learn to surf.  Neither of us think this is going to work very well.
  • Vendor Credits: Officiant – Daniel Picus. DJ – DJ Playplay. Florist – Brides and Bouquets. Cake – Pies from Weaver Street Market. Caterer – Saxapahaw General Store. Coordinator – Patricia Gallivan from Saxapahaw General Store.