Posts Tagged: Blowing Rock Wedding Photography
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.
pixels 10th anniversary ~ an accomplishment celebrated with gratitude, a big party, reflection & magic
Being married AND being in business together is hard work. It’s a balance of being a wife and husband and being bosses. Trying to maintain a household and a relationship while growing a business adds an enormous amount of pressure and stress. Because of this, we felt that 10 years was an even bigger accomplishment than most and we wanted to celebrate. – Misty
Ryan & Misty Case – Owners of Pixels on Paper
Ryan was always artistic as a kid. The problem was the he was artistic on the walls and mom didn’t like that so much. He spent a lot of time in time-out.
Misty manages to dance between creative and chaotic fun and precise technical skill. It shows up in her pictures. Crazy, chaotic fun during a photo shoot is perfectly framed, perfectly lit, and beautifully captured.
The secret to a magical marriage is not to merge with the other person and become one. It is about each member of the marriage learning to honor, respect, and embrace the differences of the other. There is strength in those individual differences that allows a couple to see and experience things better than either individual alone. Ryan and Misty understand that in their own marriage and it is particularly evident when they photograph an event together. Each brings a unique perspective to their photography and when their perspectives are combined, ordinary events become magical and magical events become memories that last a lifetime.
– Ryan’s brother Scot
Misty and Ryan are salt of the earth kind of people. They are honest, caring, witty, and have become like family to us. Misty has inspired me to become a better version of myself through her friendship.
– friend and client, Rachel
Before the party began, our friends Stephanie & Brad Huxter prayed with us. They prayed for our marriage, for the past 10 years, for our clients and even for those clients we haven’t met yet. They prayed strength, creativity and for grace for the next 10 years as Pixels. It all happened outside on the studio property and was the BEST way to begin the evening. – Misty
Prayers for the past 10 years, the big day ahead, our family, our clients, and the next 10.
There was such build up to the event for months before and loads of work went into the preparations. From doing house projects, fire pit stone work, sunflower garden planting, yard work, general sprucing up, to working with the vendors on all the big and little details, …. then the day of was such a good time. We have always heard brides and grooms say that they don’t remember all of the little details of the day, and that we captured things they never saw. Well Mike Anderson did that exact thing for us.
– Ryan
Ryan and I didn’t even see the food on display much less get to eat it. The caterers brought us plates of food after they had packed everything away but after a bite or two we would be distracted by being with our guests. We still talk about the disbelief that it even happened. One day the entire property looked like a carnival and in less than 24 hours there wasn’t a trace that it was ever there.
– Misty
I loved seeing and hearing 30+ kids playing together or being entertained at the kids tent. That brought the biggest smile to my face and even now brings tears because of the tremendous blessing it is to watch them grow. Having so many families together in one place at one time was/is inspiring. I wish I could have given every guest the amount of time and attention that they fully deserved and that I could have personally told each one thank you for making my dream a reality, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life and for being a part of mine, thank you for allowing me to preserve your memories.
– Misty
I feel that through all the weddings, portraits and designs we have been a part of over the last 10 years, that we have made more than just clients, we have made lasting friendships. We love to see them grow as well, both as families and as individuals. We have been fortunate enough to celebrate good times with them, as well as a few really hard times, and have built memories to last lifetime.
– Ryan
It was such a pleasure working Ryan and Misty on this event as the planner and as their friend. As business owners it is inspiring to see their inspiration and innovation for their work with clients and vendors alike. I don’t think any vendor who knows and was a part of this event did not leave inspired to do something new/different with their own business. Their studio is like no other and is the reason they have the amount of continued business….from senior portraits to weddings to first born sessions. The repeat business speaks volumes of this husband and wife team!
– vendor, client and friend, CeCe
What a well designed, well executed party. The love that went into ensuring every detail was perfect made the evening flawless. The entertainment was great, atmosphere was comfortable, and the dance floor was awesome. It is sometimes hard to attend a party when you only know the hosts, but that was not the case. Everyone we met was friendly and engaging and I expect nothing else from the circle that surrounds Misty and Ryan.
– friend and client, Rachel
We so appreciated having family come in from Pennsylvania, Raleigh and Charlotte to help us celebrate meant a lot. It was awesome to see them interacting with our clients and have them understand why we have been as successful as we have from someone other than us.
-Ryan
The days after the party were almost depressing. After such a build up and such excitement, when the tents were down and gone, the dance floor was taken up and the yard was empty it was sad. It truly seemed like a dream since there was little evidence that anything happened (other than being sore from dancing and having such a good time). But the comments from those that were able to make it only makes me want to do it again at our 11 year anniversary.
– Ryan
Watching the magician perform …. there was disbelief, head shaking, surprise and laughter.
We are more than just a photography and design studio. We are creative and caring people, and we pour ourselves into what we do and give our all to make our clients’ memories special. – Ryan
This business is about sharing the blessings that God has given us. Opening our home and hearts and honoring the talents and opportunities that God has granted us. We hope our clients realize that they are precious and beautiful and loved. – Misty
Click here to see more photos from the day, where you may view and download.
Special thanks go to those who served our guests and us at this party. We could not love and appreciate you more!
Event Coordination & Design: CeCe Hampton Events
Invitations: Stephanie Huxter
Floral Deisgn: Lily Bee’s Floral
DJ: Gordon Hensley, Digital DJs
Face Painting: Fun & Creative Expressions
Magician: Jay Spry, Spry Guy Magic
Deserts: Indulge Bakery
Produce, Meats, & Cheese: New Appalachia
Appetizers: Jared Yelton, Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & RestaurantBeer , Wine & Bar tending: Kirk Irish & Boondocks Brewing
Catering: Reids Catering
Rentals: A&J Rentals
Linens: Party Reflections
a mountain top wedding – filled with color, light and perfect outdoor views
Meghann and Josh know how to do it up right. Their August 2015 wedding goes down in our book of faves. Meghann told us several times that she didn’t realize everything that was going on at once or recall all of the details until she saw all of the photos we shot. That, to us, says mission accomplished. Brides and grooms plan for everything, but can’t be a part of Every Single Thing.
That’s why they hire photographers.
We loved the color palette of this wedding, we loved their families and friends and we loved the property – On The Windfall in Lansing, NC. This wedding, sports fans, was literally at the top of a mountain and guests were delivered to the site via designated 4 wheel drive vehicles. There were no other buildings around. The views in every direction were spectacular.
And we loved the million little thoughtful details. (Their wedding coordinator was Sammie Roberts of Something Perfect Wedding & Events and the attention to detail was unerring. Nice job!) When we meet with engaged couples, we advise them to put as many personal and significant details in their wedding ceremony as they can and these two went above and beyond. One example…. Meghann had small portraits of her late grandparents sewn into her bouquet.
Josh’s job centers around being outdoors and he and Meghann spend their free time outside and in the woods as much as possible. So, one of Josh’s personal touches/contributions was that he built the arbor/altar where they said their vows. The mountain-top setting took everyone’s breath away and then, topping it off, was this hand-made gift Josh made for his bride. I mean, C’MON!!!
Meghann countered his personal touch by choosing to walk/dance/strut down the aisle to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” Josh LOVED it, and so did everyone else. The mood was already electric and this just goosed it that much more.
Part of their ceremony included a beautiful representation of them joining their lives and they did it in form of something that will live on and grow. The couple planted a tree together using soil that they brought from each family homestead. Like the Unity Candle or the Sand Ceremony, the blending of families in this way was beautiful and touching and incredibly apt in that setting. These two are just so cool!
The reception……. oooooooooh my. The sun started to fade as the toasts were made and food was served and then the karaoke got started. It was a PAR-TAY!! So much joy, so much dancing and storytelling and singing and silliness. Meghann told us that she’d cried several times while planning the ceremony and reception (the Good Cry; the “I love him and can’t wait to be his wife” cry) and was certain she would “be a mess.” But she said afterwards, “I can honestly say that no tears were shed that day…which is surprising. When we look at our pictures, we are laughing in so many of them – and not just with each other – it’s during every phase of the day. Mostly, I remember laughing when we read our vows. Some of it could have been nerves, but for the most part, it was hearing that we had chosen some of the very same things to say to each other without even knowing.”
We want to end this blog with quotes directly from the bride and groom about their day and their feelings about life ahead. We asked them the 3 things they want to remember about their wedding day and here’s what they said:
1 – The biggest thing I want to remember is a lesson: Above all else, we have each other and everything is okay.
2 – Life is easier and you can relax when you put things “in your garden”. Minor details never matter! Smile, breathe, and LAUGH!
3 – Everybody around us worked SO hard to pull this off … doing things behind the scenes that I didn’t even know about. Always remember to love and appreciate everything that everyone has done for you. It may not look like a lot, but for every little bit you see, there is a lot of deep rooted effort.
mountaintop bridal portraits ~ family participation, heirlooms and views of the family farm ~ a beautiful day
The photos of Meghann Roberts we took this July weren’t necessarily inspired by Keira Knightley’s famous shot as Elizabeth Bennet from the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice, but this one in particular pulls it into perspective. When viewed next to each other there is more than just flowing fabric and a gorgeous, panoramic setting. It’s an air of freedom, hope, grace, contemplation and courageousness in both women. 
The character Elizabeth Bennet loved the outdoors. She walked, read, thought, day-dreamed, escaped and generally lived a big part of her life wandering the small working farm owned by her family.
We photographed Meghann Roberts in Warrensville, NC – in, around and above her family farm. Their land is stunning, sprawling and has been owned and worked by her family for 6 generations. It was the perfect setting for her bridal portraits.
When we arrived for the shoot, we were greeted, of course, by ready members of her warm family (mom, grandmother, brother, uncle, cousin and a friend) and we all piled into 2 enormous 4×4 trucks and took off. This turned out to be a blessing, because we had lots of gear, lots of options and lots of terrain to cover.
A beautiful bride-to-be and almost too many places to photograph her, created a perfect day! (dramatic aside: this number of family members made for great chatter, but there was also the practical need to have a couple of people hold up Meghann’s gown so that it didn’t touch cow or goose poop on the land. If you’ve seen Pride and Prejudice, you know that Elizabeth’s boots and hemline were always caked in mud and …… dung!)
A week before our scheduled date, Meghann’s brother cleared a trail for us so that we could get to the most desired spots. One of these was the swimming hole (behind her just above and below) where Meghann spent summers splashing around, fishing, sunning and day-dreaming.
When we met Meghann at a bridal show 2 years ago, we immediately connected with her. Her values are our values and many of her experiences resonated with ours. When she called us to photograph her wedding, we learned that she hadn’t bonded with other photographers she’d spoken with and we certainly understand that. No one is necessarily at fault when this happens, but for us, fit and a strong comfort level and “getting” each other makes an enormous difference; at least that’s our feeling. The whole experience is more fun and the outcome produced tends to exceed client expectations.
A final note: The Roberts family prepared the property for us – not a small task. They fetched us and our equipment in their vehicles and hauled us around to get the best shots of their girl. These are family-oriented, do it right or don’t bother kind of people. So in keeping with that ethic, the bouquet they had for Meghann’s session was not prepared by a florist. It was Meghann’s mom’s preserved bouquet from HER wedding. Nice, huh?
blowing rock outdoor wedding includes a mustang, a singing pastor and NO RAIN!
Rain is the bane of anyone planning, attending, photographing or getting married at an outdoor venue. But the sun shined for the Clampett’s wedding day. After 11 years of commitment and love (and frankly being too busy), these two turned to each other said, it’s time! So we were called in and then…… rain. Several portrait sessions with the bride were rescheduled due to rain and the engagement portraits ended up being shot after the bridal portraits, but we prayed that Sarah and Danny would have a rain free wedding day and, sure enough, they sealed the deal at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock NC on May 31st in perfect weather.
Most of us have heard of the union candle ceremony, where the bride and groom each light their separate candles and the pair then lights a candle that represents their union. Well it has been updated in the form of the sand box ceremony. The bride adds her sand, the husband his and it’s grounded with a third portion of sand that signifies the presence and their trust in God. This was Sarah and Danny’s choice and it was truly beautiful. The officiant is not only a friend of theirs and a pastor, but he also sang and read a poem that he wrote.
Sarah and Danny embraced many of traditional elements for their photos: the bride with her bridesmaids, groom and groomsmen, their rings, Sarah’s first dance with her dad and the send off. All were just perfect and after being together for 11 years and not worried about planning so much, these two weathered the storms (yuk, yuk) and had a gorgeous wedding and reception.
Danny collects Mustangs and told us that choosing which one to bring to the wedding was harder than choosing his wedding wardrobe. He chose the right vest (we’re pretty sure Sarah played a hand), the right get-away car and the right girl.
Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.
– Langston Hughes
Like with all the other sessions we had with them, Sarah of course worried about rain on the wedding day, but it held out until just after the guests left the reception.
And then …. wait for it ……..it started to pour! <insert big smile here>