Posts in Category: Weddings
bridal portraits – a fairy in the woods
The fairy poet takes a sheet
Of moonbeam, silver white;
His ink is dew from daisies sweet,
His pen a point of light.
~Joyce Kilmer
Painter Maxfield Parrish loved showcasing light, lush settings and often women of pure beauty in his work. Rebekah would have been one of his studies or models for sure. We love light in the mountains too and we took these photos of her in the gardens and forest in Blowing Rock, NC. It was a place where she roamed as a kid, running around and playing make believe.
We met Rebekah at the High Country wedding expo in Boone in February of this year and our conversation was not so much about wedding details as about travel, growing up in the high country of North Carolina, our shared love of the arts, Scottish roots (check out her tartan below), and dreams of woodland fairies.
In 2011, we photographed bride Erica in a forest in Banner Elk. Photos from this session have remained one of my all time favorites. I loved how magical the forest looked and the juxtaposition of Erica’s couture gown in the midst. One of the images is in our studio and on display at tradeshows. In passing I mentioned to Rebekah that I believed fairies lived there. Instantly we connected and shared our enthusiasm and she mentioned wanting a similar portrait for herself.
While Parrish was not our inspiration, our bridal session with Rebekah had that feel… lush, bright and magical. When we planned Rebekah’s bridal portraits, our goal was to find a magical location that reminded her of where fairies might live.
Do you have a theme or idea in mind for your bridal portraits? Please share it with us. We would love to recreate or create a look for your session.
Mr. & Mrs. Shumate ~ a wedding of authenticity, beauty, intimacy and family
Authenticity is a word so entirely overused, and poorly I might add, that its meaning and importance have been pretty much hijacked. As with other things of value, authenticity can become diminished and ultimately ignored. In an effort to take it back (“she said, shaking her fist in the air”), we present Amber and Andy Shumate and their August wedding photos.
Rather than put down the many ways we falsely refer to things and people, causes and characteristics as authentic, here’s a quickie review: authentic means true. It means real. It’s not something that needs to be self-important or self-referential, or high end to make a statement or low end to make a statement – it just is undeniable. That’s who Amber and Andy are – they are real and they don’t pretend to be anything other than themselves… happy to be together, solid, and in love.
They said their vows in Rendezvous Mountain State Park in Purlear, NC where the views are amazing and seemingly endless. The chapel in the forest is a naturally secluded backdrop with a large picnic shelter just steps away that accommodates a reception. Honestly, it is one of Wilkes County’s best-kept rustic wedding locations.
Andy is a fireman and works for the NC Forestry Service and he and Amber spend a lot of their time together in the great outdoors. Photographing them in the forest and overlooking the mountains seemed – pardon the pun – only natural.
We photographed their engagement in June and their wedding was quite similar because of their desire to include family and focus on the people, faith and values that ground them.
Andy’s daughter Ashlyn is central to their lives.
While she is Amber’s step-daughter, the two are already incredibly close and because of this, Ashlyn’s role in the wedding was primary… and particularly tender. Together they were all creating a new life, a new thing, a new family.
The details at the wedding were also perfect for the day and the couple: they were hand-made, heart-felt, creative and deeply personal.
Is there anything more powerful than seeing families blend? Than seeing a couple come together after beating life’s odds, and then make a plan not just for themselves, but for the next generation?
Isaiah 43:19: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Congratulations and nothing but love and joy to you guys!
bridal portraits ~ a day just for her
There are more than a few inspirational quotes about girls. Girls and cars. Girls about to become brides. Girls and their dreams. Girls being domestic. Girls being daring, etc. So we’d like to pause here and let you conjure your favorite lines or even images…
Done? Ok. So meet this glorious girl, Jamie Goforth, now Jamie Harrison. Her wedding was October of this year, [you’ll have to stand by for the photos of the day], but THIS DAY in August was just about her. We photographed Jamie at the home of a family member in Wilkes county and her mom, grandma, great-aunt and great-uncle all came with her to enjoy the experience and watch her.
The views were spectacular as they tend to be in late summer in the western part of NC, and Jamie looked so fresh and happy. Honestly, this day seemed to increase her excitement about her wedding day. Every bride deserves a day as BRIDE that isn’t her wedding day, don’t you think? The wedding day blur is exhilarating yet inevitable, so we love being able to spend time with brides (and their family members and pals) before the actual nuptials.
I mentioned the views, but the entire home was perfect for showcasing a girl just about to start a new chapter. In particular, the pair above where she appears to be the queen of the estate, but still so young and fresh and contemplative.
Jamie’s family loves antique cars and they have a large collection, so including one in the portrait session was an easy and fun choice. She had a huge assortment to choose from, too. While classic cars are as different as individual girls, her groom is a big fan of the convertible red classic Thunderbird. Photographing her elegantly draped over it was too fun and it is a shot that any car guy can love and appreciate.
We look forward to showing off their wedding pics soon, but in the meantime, we encourage those who are planning proposals this season and want to capture it, those who are engaged and need portraits of you and your fiancé(e), brides-to-be or couples planning a spring or summer wedding, contact us. We’d love to help make your day perfect by ensuring you get the best portraits. Visit Pixels online or call us 336.990.0080.
a late summer wedding that captures the setting, the details and the romance
Any wedding planner, wedding photographer, wedding magazine editor or veteran wedding attendee has a list of elements they feel make a wedding sublime. The invitations, the setting, the music, the food, the personal touches and now the many ways to share the day via social media. We love the details as far as the ceremony and reception go (we love seeing how each couple “brands” themselves on their big day), but way more importantly, it’s the couple. It’s always the couple and everyone who loves them and surrounds them with that love. The Bare-Rash wedding was one of those perfect weddings and we do not say that lightly. From the personal to the paid-for, everything was just right from beginning to end.
Pre-ceremony hugs and prayers.
Micala Bare and Tyler Rash got married this August at Bethany Church in Todd, NC and held their reception at Doughton Hall Bed & Breakfast in Laurel Springs, NC. The setting was simply amazing, complete with an historic stone church, quaint red barn and miles of green in a landscape of rolling hills and mountains.
(YAY, North Carolina landscapes. For the millionth time – you ROCK!!)
I spoke of “the elements” that make a wedding successful…. we photographers cherish light and the weather was the headliner, just behind the bride, groom and setting. From first thing in the morning until late in the evening, the lighting was our friend. Both inside and out, everyone shined.
Men who wear argyle together, stick together.
These two shared what is now being called a “First Touch” before the ceremony. We do everything we can to orchestrate these moments so that they’re private, unobtrusive and romantic. The couple don’t lay eyes on each other during this time, but can touch, speak to each other, exchange letters and just be near each other before really meeting when the bride first walks down the aisle.
“We cried when the wedding was about to begin and we knew we were about to see each other for the first time.”
The best moment of their wedding ceremony?
“When we were finally able to kiss each other and when we were pronounced as Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Rash!”
We took Micala and Tyler’s engagement photos in June and this pair continues to get more and more romantic. [Check out how they got engaged…. particularly romantic. The groom-to-be played the guitar. Just saying….]
Three favorite things they want to remember about the day:
“The moment we exchanged our letters with each other and what each of our letters said.”
“The moment when we realized that the groom’s wedding band had been forgotten and a member of our wedding party had to crawl on her hands and knees for a replacement, which happened to be the bride’s great grandpa’s ring.”
“When everyone left the reception and we finally got to go up to our room for the first time, where we had a bottle of champagne and a cheese and fruit tray waiting for us.”
The reception was a blast. Even with a little bit of rain, everyone danced, played games, and partied! Micala: “When asked about the reception, we almost always mention when the DJ asked everyone to form the huge line and all of the guests joined in to dance around the reception area.”
Micala & Tyler wanted their wedding reception under the stars. And this again called for perfect lighting and it was there. Receptions with tents are elegant, but being out of cover was more festive and more beautiful than we could have hoped for.
“I Do.” “Me, too.” Forever.
beautiful wedding, beautiful day, beautiful beginning ….
“The best moment of the day was when we were pronounced husband and wife as Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Williams.
This put all of the hours of preparation and prayer into perspective that we are finally one.”
Let’s back up, though. We photographed Kendall Williams – nee Shepherd – for her bridal portraits in the luscious outdoors off the Blue Ridge Parkway. As much as Nathan and Kendall love being outside, the wedding was brought to town and took place at a church in Wilkesboro, NC.
Quick aside: we love the shots above….. her leaning on him and his back so straight and then the pair of them sharing a quiet moment after the intensity of the ceremony.
We asked them for some thoughts about the day: “The butterflies and anticipation leading up to the meeting in the altar. The joy, happiness and excitement that was expressed for us. To always remember that we are loved.”
These two wrote each other letters that they exchanged before the ceremony and then read. They are ridiculously thoughtful and what you hope a bride and groom are like on their wedding day – and all the days after.
As anyone can see from her bridal portraits, Kendall is a pure and classic beauty, but brides need to prep and we loved capturing the details of her with her maids, flower girl and of the handsome groom.
Nathan and Kendall’s reception took place on the Doc and Merle Watson stage used for MerleFest. It’s an epic spot in Wilkesboro and perfect for eating, chatting, dancing and being with your biggest fans and loved ones.
Kendall’s father gave a toast that brought the house down and the day into perspective. Nervous as he was (he paced, taking the mic in and out of range… very endearing), he spoke tenderly about how they needed to have God in their marriage and the importance of love in all of its forms. It’s no wonder this couple is so special; they come from good stock.
“Our favorite moment from the reception was our first dance together … as we swayed to ‘You Had Me From Hello.’ It was as if we were the only ones there in that perfect moment of carefree peace, pure happiness and true love.”
How do you top that? It’s the quintessential wedding ideal. Everyone blurs into the background and you’re with the one you get to leave with and live with and grow with going forward.
We love events of all shapes and sizes….. weddings, engagements, Fall portraits, family pics, baby sessions and any chance to capture you doing what you love to do with those you love. Contact us at Pixels on Paper and let’s discuss your ideas and set a date.