Posts in Category: Weddings
Outdoor Rock-A-Billy Wedding Photos in Wilkesboro NC
When you decide to get married and important members of your family cannot travel, what do you do? You bring your wedding to wherever they are. That is exactly what New Yorkers Elisabeth DeMaio and David Gross did when they married at the Doc and Merle Watson Stage at Wilkes Community College on July 13th. Elisabeth lost her own parents not long ago and David’s folks moved to Wilkesboro, NC a few years ago. Since the elderly Gross’s are not able to travel, Elisabeth and David made the decision to come south for their ceremony and share the day with their family. We were honored to be their photographers.
David, a tattoo artist, and Elisabeth have been together for more than a decade. With their son and daughter by their sides, they planned and pulled off a completely cool and off-beat wedding: a Jewish ceremony with a Rock-a-Billy theme. While the weather was some of the worst we’ve ever shot through for a wedding ceremony – sheets of rain and lots of severe lightning – it still managed to be joyous and fun. The Rabbi who performed the ceremony shared that lighting during vows was a sign of good luck and that this couple was being blessed with more luck than they would know what to do with.
The groom’s mother surprised the bride by having a family friend bring their classic Mercury for photos. It was one of many times Elisabeth shed tears of joy since it went perfectly with their Rock a Billy theme.
This event was all hands on deck. The venue and food were provided by Wilkes Community College. The decorations, wedding planning and desserts for the reception were handled by family and friends. These newlyweds are loved! Some of the sweetest moments included the bride and groom’s first dance, followed by dancing with their children. Most touching was a dance between David and his Mom who only a few weeks prior had suffered a heart attack. When she wasn’t able to dance on her feet any longer, she sat and David laid his head on her lap for the duration of the song. There wasn’t a dry eye anywhere, including ours.
We sometimes forget that weddings aren’t just about the couple who are joining their lives; they really are about bonding closer to our own families while broadening our family to include new members. The Gross’s are perfect examples of the love and how it’s manifested. Good luck David and Elisabeth. Come back to Wilkesboro soon!
august wedding anniversaries
August sometimes gets a bad rap. It’s hot; it’s the end of summer; it’s back to school time (“AND ALL GOD’S CHILDREN YELLED: NOOOOOO!!!); it’s buckle down, “we’re done with the beach for a while” time for families and we all start slouching toward fall. But really, it’s a pretty great month. It’s transition time and it always feels to me like there’s elbow room between summer and the cooling temps and tasks that come with autumn. It’s also the month Ryan and I got married. Our marriage stands up in August and says, “yes! Another year, peeps!” In that spirit, it’s time to wish our couples who were married in August a very Happy Anniversary! You’ll notice two faces below who were mere babies when they got married in August of 2003.
We’ve loved being a part of your journeys, watching your grow, have kiddos and enter new phases of life. We raise a glass to us all.
We join this month’s anniversaries celebrating 14 years of marriage on August 2nd. Photo ©Laura Auman Photography
Lindsey & James Roberts, 8 years August 1st
Amber & Andy Shumate, 2 years August 1st
Heather & Joey Sowell, 9 years August 2nd
Melody & Pierre Banks, 3 years August 2nd
Erin & Diego Moldonado, 10 years August 3rd
Amy & Tom Davies, 4 years August 3rd
Christine & Frank Crowley, 7 years August 7th
Meghan & Josh Roberts, 2 years August 8th
Stacia & Adrian Phifer, 9 years August 10th
Mia & Lawrence Naylor, 5 years August 11th
Edith & Kirk Irish, 1 year August 13th
Micala & Tyler Rash, 2 years August 15th
Sierra & Casey Tevepaugh, 3 years August 16th
Barbara & Will Vulcano, 7 years August 21st
Heather & Jayson Parker, 8 years August 22nd
Kendall & Nathan Williams, 2 years August 22nd
Heather & Jason Rice, 6 years August 27th
Laura & Jeremy Coviello, 8 years August 29th
Whitney & Preston Parsons, 2 years August 29th
Madi and Preston’s Jefferson NC Mountains Outdoor Wedding
Madison Ball and Preston Roberts made it official on July 8th of this year in a small ceremony followed by an epic, large reception. The ceremony was intimate and romantic, and on the groom’s family farm in Warrensville, near a bend in the river, surrounded by 30 or so of their nearest and dearest. No rain, but some tears while they were saying their vows. The reception with 200 guests was held later at Jefferson Landing Country Club in Jefferson, NC and included lots and LOTS of dancing, drinking, karaoke and laughter. 
The attention to detail was amazing. Every item was thoughtfully planned and held special meaning. Preston’s family’s farm has been in the family for several generations, so it was saturated with memories. In fact, Preston’s gift to Madi was a horseshoe that he found while preparing the property for the ceremony. Family members believed that it probably belonged to his great-grandfathers’ mare. They plan to hang it in their home for continued good luck. Madi’s gift to Preston was equally thoughtful and cool: she gave him a hand-crafted watch, made from wood with a special inscription on the back. The beautiful details were everywhere. What was not at the wedding were their rings. They’d been left behind in someone’s car. So they improvised and used Preston’s father Tom’s ring for him and Preston’s sister Meghann’s ring for Madi. It was too funny – and sweet!
Favorite memories of this day for the bride and groom include when they were reading their vows, first seeing each other when Madi and crew made their gorgeous river side entrance and when Preston sang the song he wrote for Madi. Karaoke, drinking and dancing were obviously on the list as well. The reception was an absolute celebration.
Madi told us that they wouldn’t change a thing about their wedding day. In fact, she said her only advice to future brides and grooms would be to make the party last longer and do not hesitate to take it all in. “It flies by!” We’re so happy for you guys! Thanks for letting us a be a part of what was a truly great day and part of your family. We love you two!
Interested in their vendors? Here’s a list:
Wedding Gown: New York Bride and Groom, Charlotte, NC
Hair: Jamie Ball, Shear Shakti, Boone, NC
Makeup: Lorna Vega, The Cutters Edge, West Jefferson, NC
Reception Venue: Jefferson Landing Country Club, Jefferson, NC
Flowers: Four Gals and A Florist, West Jefferson, NC
Flowers: Nic Ball, High Country Greenhouses, Jefferson NC
Cakes/Desserts: Ugga Mugga Bakery, Blowing Rock, NC
DJ or Band: John Hawkins, Boone, NC
Caterer: Jefferson Landing Country Club, Jefferson, NC
Videographer: Honey Dew Films, Greensboro, NC
Madison’s NC Mountain Outdoor Bridal Photos
This was a fun shoot for a number of reasons. Madi was excited on this day. She was dressed as a bride for the first time completely and the trial run was sort of her first opportunity to feel all bride-y. She was practically jumping out of her skin.
Secondly, this young woman is an only child, which I “get” entirely. I am one too and watching her mom get chocked up during the session took me back. Her mom shed tears multiple times and made me think about my own mom – how critical that relationship is and how much we’ve shared and will share in the years ahead. I loved watching them relate as bride and mother of the bride – that mix of unbridled excitement and nostalgia.
Madi chose well in Preston. He’s a great guy and their engagement portraits and the questionnaire they completed for us showed how in sync they are – and how funny. Here’s to many, many great years ahead and to gorgeous summer brides.
Madi’s dress: New York Bride & Groom, Charlotte NC
Hair & Makeup: Shear Shakti, Boone NC
A Leatherwood Mountain Resort Outdoor Wedding for a Princess and Her Engineer
Katie Vance loves Disney Princesses and Patrick Carlson is a computer engineer and self proclaimed geek. Together they are absolutely perfect for each other and their wedding was perfect too. Perfect location, perfect weather, lots of sentiment and love, laughter and tears. It’s what you hope for when you decide not to elope.
From the tiaras and sparkling purple sneakers to the roses under glass centerpieces, Disney – and specifically The Beauty and the Beast – was on display when these two said their vows at Leatherwood Mountain Resort (and a BIG shout out to our friends there). We loved getting outdoor shots of all the flowers and purple sashes, the smiling friends and family and the many details, including Patrick’s boutonniere which contained a circuit board and wire. He really is a computer geek and we’re allowed to say that because he said it first!
The couple told us that their favorite moments were the toasts from the maid of honor and best man, watching Katie’s dad try to keep it together while dancing with her and Patrick dancing with his mom. 
Family and friends from all over and from various cultural backgrounds came to Leatherwood to celebrate with these two and boy did they ever. The dance floor was jumping. The DJ and vendors they chose are listed at the end of this blog and everyone worked well together to keep the stress to a minimum — something Katie shared with us that she was so grateful for. 
Katie arrived to walk down the aisle and the couple departed in Katie’s Dad’s classic muscle car, a Supersport Nova. Not bad, huh?
Key Vendors at Katie & Patrick’s Wedding
Location: Leatherwood Mountain Resort
Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal, Charlotte
Wedding Planner: Abbie Hanchey
DJ: Soundstorm DJs – Boston Bobby Cavanaugh
Catering: Woodlands BBQ
Cake and Desserts: Lowes Foods
Another big shout out to our close friends Anna & Devin Ulery of Boone Photobooth.
CONGRATS to the newlyweds! We wish you nothing but happily ever after!