Posts in Category: Weddings
a church wedding | two cultures and two families come together
Our hearts go out to the parents of brides and grooms. I think about this every time that Ryan and I shoot a wedding. God Bless the parents. They are exhilarated and stressed, proud and nervous, but mostly in love with their kids – who are no longer kids. How do you go from diapers to driving and then big decisions? How do you go from watching them choose a sport in middle school to a spouse for life? And with grace? To the parents, this must feel like it happens in 72 hours rather than a couple of decades. We honor the parents and love watching them love a celebration of their kids.
The tender moments included watching Ashley’s father place a pearl necklace around her and seeing them both in tears. The mind goes to the number of times they stood that close together as he watched her grow up and now, here she was: a bride.
While Ashley Caudill and Oscar Orozco married young (please read about their engagement to learn how they met), their wedding showed astonishing wisdom, love and faith. Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom were blindfolded and they joined hands while Oscar prayed for them. I (Misty) was the only other person in the room and it was incredibly touching. I wish that there was a recording of the words in Oscar’s prayer for them, because they were filled with humility, grace and wisdom far beyond his years. 
Both Ashley and Oscar agree that the best moment of the day was seeing each other for the first time. Neither of them could hold back crying tears of joy and reflect on those moments whenever they look back and talk about their wedding day. 
A lasso binding ceremony is part of the Orozco’s culture. A beautiful rhinestone cross lasso was placed around Ashley & Oscar by their parents symbolizing a binding unity as they prayed together and said their vows. We would love to see how the lasso will be used in future generations as an heirloom.
Another outward gesture of unity and symbol of their faith was a binding of three cords which Ashley & Oscar created and performed representing the scripture verse from Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Oscar’s family is from Mexico, and they speak Spanish primarily, but it was amazing to see how these two families, two cultures and two language barriers were brought together in love. They combined elements from both into the wedding ceremony and the reception.
When asked, Ashley and Oscar said there isn’t one thing that they would change about their wedding day. The most memorable moments for them that they want to hold on to forever included performing the cross ceremony during the wedding, spending time with each other during pictures after the ceremony and of course Oscar said the vision of Ashley in her wedding dress.
Ashley and Oscar both recall laughing when seeing Oscar’s car covered in toilet paper after their reception exit.
Ashley was the couple’s wedding planner and she also hand-made all of the flowers, bouquets and center pieces, but their other vendors included:
Wedding Attire: Bridal Traditions
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Thanks Be To Calvary Baptist Church, Elkin NC
Cellist for the Ceremony: Steve Holman
Caterer: Oscar’s Father
Desserts: Kathy’s Creations in Sparta
Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brid
the angel in the details of your wedding
If you’re getting married in 2017, or any time for that matter, you start with the logistical planning and then little fairies of inspiration invade the whole process. I’m only sort of kidding. Ideas will come from every direction and while some of you will hire planners, you’ll be seeing great ideas everywhere and collecting them. They say that the devil is in the details, but really it’s more about having a few good people on your side to help you with working through everything.
As we book engagement sessions and weddings, we hope you’ll be thinking about where you want these taken: in a special setting, near a site or pond or vista you love. We’ve done a little bit of everything and a lot of many things and we’re in for the challenge, the haul and the laughs.
There’s the place, the people, the food and music to be worked out, but there is also the magic that will happen just because it’s your day. As wedding photographers for over a decade, we love the details … those you point out and tell us about and those we see because we’re paying attention. Is the handkerchief around your bouquet you are carrying your great-grandmothers? Were the flowers in your bouquet made from pages of favorite novels and poetry? Do all the groomsmen have on the same striped socks with team colors? Is the processional a song you listened to with your parents every summer? We love it all.
Cowboy boots, cathedral length veils, mountain destination or church, sit down dinner or buffet, summer suits or tuxes, big or small, if you have people around you to help you, people you trust and photographers who’ve gotten to know you, you’re three quarters of the way there. Most couples who book our wedding packages receive a complimentary engagement portrait session. It gives us an opportunity to get to know you, figure out your style and mojo, what makes you and your relationship special and how to help you relax “the day of” so we get the very best memories for you.We’d love to be the photographers to capture your engagement and every special detail of your wedding day. Get in touch with us and let’s start detail collecting.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
the party of a lifetime ~ your wedding
When was the last time you threw a party?
How many people were there? What was the occasion?
Unless you are a rock star party thrower or professional event planner (and we know plenty of both), the biggest party of your life is probably going to be your wedding.
When in your life do so many people who love you gather to celebrate you? Seriously. Think about it. And they don’t all know each other. YOU ARE THE REASON they’re there: relatives, coworkers, college buddies, favorite teachers, high school teammates, childhood besties, neighbors, your parents’ friends and new friends you’re inheriting because you’re getting married all show up to celebrate you ………… and party.
We notice unexpected meetings and connections at every single wedding we photograph. It never fails. Two or more people are seated together at the ceremony or the reception and the only context they have to connect them is you. And then stories are swapped, jokes are told and there are moments of “oh, so you are THAT Jennifer!” or “you’re the gramma who sent the box of banana bread during exams.” Your childhood babysitter sits next to your college roommate and sparks fly! Just kidding. Well,…. maybe… But the point is, this is not a rally with a cast of thousands and it’s not your retirement party 40 years from now. It’s a blow-out love fest for you and your beloved.
We’re not going to throw shade at amateurs. Your friends and family are going to take their own photos anyway. But we’ve heard the stories of regret from those who’ve let their friends “take pictures” and there’s no do-over. For the party of your life you need photographers who are experienced; who know what to look for when people cluster and when they separate; photographers who can tell which moment is going to be epic; who understand lighting regardless of location or setting; who’ve done this long enough to anticipate every single photo that you’re going to share on social media, frame and return to 25 years later.
Couples who hire us have spent time with us and we’ve focused on them, understand the vibe and theme of the wedding, know what to capture and are ready. We are getting the photos you want from your wedding, but we’re also eagle-eyed during the reception because we know what to look for and what will matter to you when you view the photos later.
There are all sorts of parties, but those with a purpose have a unique magic. Your wedding celebrates the beginning of your lives together and those who love you want to be there. Get ready, start your list and give us a call. We’d love to capture the party of a lifetime.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
getting married, the rush of it all
There is a rush to this whole getting married thing.
I know, “newsflash,” but I’m going somewhere with this, so stick with me:
Naturally, there is the race to get everything planned, booked, selected, purchased and pulled together. Even if you’re not on a strict timetable, there is still a sense of urgency about making the right choices and not missing any detail that might make your wedding more memorable. That’s not the rush I’m talking about though. I’m thinking of the rush of actually realizing that you’ve done it.
Do you see it? See what I’m talking about? Some of it is the group celebration, but it’s also that first look and exhaled “phew!” between husband and wife that we love to capture. Those are often some of our favorite shots (and our clients’ faves as well) …. seeing the anticipation and then afterwards, when the officiant announces that two are now one. There is still so much energy in the space, but it’s new energy. It’s an absolute rush.
You cannot get to that moment though if you haven’t booked your wedding photographers and we would love to be a part of your team that day. Most of our wedding package includes a free engagement portrait session, allowing us to get to know you and help you to get comfortable in front of the camera if you aren’t already. We’re now booking weddings for 2017, 2018 and beyond. Contact us and let’s start planning.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
YOU’RE Engaged!! time to book your portraits
You can look at a couple and sort of see when they’re at the beginning of a relationship, of their journey together, or the beginning of something big. I love this scene from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He’s been daydreaming in hyper-drive about her, obsessing about what “they” might be and FINALLY – at the end (it’s a movie, folks, you know how it works), they begin what might be an actual love affair.
So, now you’re engaged! Tell us how it happened. Flash mob dancing to or singing your favorite song? A video journal with all the memories leading up to falling in love? Scavenger hunt? Did you order a pizza and just decide “let’s do this!?” Regardless: congratulations! You’re at the beginning and this is where we come in as seasoned husband and wife and experienced engagement and wedding photographers. Whether they are indoor portraits or outdoor shots at your favorite spot, we know how to capture the beginning of your life together, tell your story and make it fun.
AND! Engagement portrait sessions are complimentary in most of our wedding photography packages.
At a vineyard……. they love wine!
At a mill with family history …. with their sweet pup.
On the water …. remembering how they met.
With a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains …. you don’t need a reason for choosing this spot.
In Charleston, looking at the water and the future…
We take engagement portraits pretty much anywhere and everywhere our clients ask us to and so far we haven’t had any request too audacious. We always ask couples to think about a place that means something to them and we’ll make it work. There’s something about your first official portraits together as a To Be Married pair, so we want you to be relaxed, excited (you can do both!) and let us handle the results. Engagement portraits are a way for us to get to know our wedding clients better. We get to learn about you, see how comfortable you are in front of the camera and help you increase your comfort level before the wedding day. It’s great practice in posing, and figuring out if you can be candid in front of the camera without our guidance or if you need a little coaching. We’re on YOUR team, so we love the engagement session because it’s an opportunity to create a level of familiarity and comfort.
Engagement session at The Biltmore House in Asheville. These two brought their dog as well. Family is welcome, by the way.
Biltmore Estate, Asheville
In Blowing Rock, … these two ASU grads love this area.
As you plan your big day, don’t forget the engagement portraits can be dressy or casual and given as gifts, put on your wedding website or save the date cards or just sent out to friends via social media. Whatever you decide though, these shots are important and you’ll never regret having them made.
Autumn engagement in Blowing Rock – still a favorite.
A country barn setting for a pretty chic couple.
We were also the wedding photographers for each of these couples above and hundreds of others. If you’re looking for photographers for your engagement portraits and wedding day in 2017, it’s not too soon to start planning and booking. I know…. it’s the second week of January, but you’ll be glad you did. Contact us and let’s get started.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.