Posts Tagged: charlotte nc wedding photographer

Wedding redux part 2 ~ MORE SAGE ADVICE

“Don’t worry about pleasing everyone else. It’s YOUR wedding, so do what you want to do!! You will enjoy it even more if it’s everything you imagined it would be.”

Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On PaperPart II of our series, Wedding Redux, takes advantage of the insight of Whitney Pegg Parsons, married last year at Williams Farm. Have a peek at their wedding and then enjoy Whitney’s feedback.
Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper

Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper

What would you do less?
Stress about the situations you can’t change. Something is going to end up happening which causes some detail to perhaps not turn out the way you wanted. It’s just like life; you have to roll with it. 

Positive or negative feelings or comments about any of the following?
Attire.
Do your research! Look at more than one place before deciding who you’ll buy your gown and dresses from.
Gifts.
Go with what is sentimental. You want to look back, with friends and family, and all be able to say ‘I remember that day perfectly.'”
Flowers.
Don’t get stuck on using a florist as your only option. Sometimes asking around, ordering flowers in bulk and decorating yourself can be just as beautiful and more cost effective.
Location.
Choose somewhere that is memorable and most fits your style. Google can be your friend here. There were a lot of local places I would never have known about if I hadn’t looked online. Most importantly, choose the location first. It will determine the date of your wedding and help with other details.
Decorations & Decor.
PINTEREST!!! Everyone has their own ideas of what they want their wedding to look like, but sometimes it’s harder to execute than you think. Enlist the help of those online, your friends and family and they will help you better determine what is going to be the most feasible.
Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photoParsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photoParsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

Number in the wedding party?
Choose the few who are most important to you. You shouldn’t feel that just because someone is your friend that it means they have to be in the wedding party. Some friends don’t even feel comfortable being in the party to begin with. Choose people who, when you look back in 50 years, you’ll see the photos and appreciate that they are still your friends and people you still talk to.

Number of guests?
It is always bigger than you think it’s going to be and that is okay! I was so worried because my list kept getting bigger and bigger due to family members and I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Some people will never come but just like to get an invitation. I would recommend setting a maximum number of guests and never going above that number.

Time of year?
There is always going to be some weather issue that may possibly get in the way. I’d say choose whatever you want and can handle and then go for it. As for time of day, it depends on the season.Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On PaperWedding Planner or “family-and-friends-all-hands-on-deck” approach?
Don’t choose a family member or close friend. Planning a wedding can be stressful and you don’t want to depend on someone you may end up having a falling out with… a falling out over something stupid. Choose someone you can rely on who has experience. They will be able to help you plan out a schedule so you don’t forget any details.

Name 3 things you would do differently if, by some strange wrinkle in the universe, you could do it all again (but with the same spouse):
My main things would be stress less and enjoy more. I would worry less about the little unimportant things and enjoy the big details even more. When the day actually came, I felt like it was over in a matter of minutes and would have loved to have had more time to enjoy it! I would also have done more research on attire for dresses and suits and saved myself a lot of last minute stress!

Name 3 things you would NOT change:
Even though it was stressful at times, it turned out to be a mostly perfect day. One of the most important things I would never change are the people I chose to spend my special day with. They enjoyed it as much as I did! Secondly is the photography. There is no other way to go back to that day other than through the pictures. Choose a photographer who is relatable and whose style you love and you won’t be disappointed (Misty & Ryan, of course)!!
Finally, and most importantly, find the right person – choose the right spouse! If you know that no matter what goes wrong with the wedding that they are with you, it’s all that matters.
Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photoParsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo
It’s only going to happen ONCE, so stand back and take a minute to really live in every little detail that you can.

In case you missed them, click here to read Redux part 1.

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 babies and kidsengagements and weddingsbrides 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.

Wedding Redux…. What would YOU do if you could do the day again?

This was the wedding of Meghan and Josh in August of 2015. The groom made the arbor they stood beneath (a gift to his bride) and she walked down the aisle to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” There were amazing details in every direction – from the mountains behind them as they pledged to be together for life, to the bouquets, color choices, and reception where everyone danced and partied late into the evening and stayed for the weekend.
BUT. What if they could do it again….? Do it all over again.
If you’re planning your wedding – listen up.Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo

We asked Meghan and Josh what they would change and here is what they said. [insert the high-pitched rewind sound here and clip of everything moving at top speed in reverse]

Name 3 things you would do differently, if, by some strange wrinkle in the universe, you could do it all again (with the same person of course)?
I wouldn’t worry about a shuttle service to get people to and from town. I wouldn’t book vendors based solely on price and I wouldn’t try to do things I wasn’t completely happy with just to save money.

Name 3 things you would do again, if you could?
I would definitely do a small destination like we did where we all stayed in cabins together for the weekend so it was an extended celebration. I would still have my personal and humorous wedding. I would use my florist, caterer, and my photographers a million times over.
Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo
Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoTell us about vows. Any changes?
I LOVED our vows!  We wrote our own and they were completely original and US.  They were humorous, but still sweet.

How about the number of guests?
DO NOT invite everyone you have ever known and don’t worry about people getting their feelings hurt. Throughout this process, I started to notice that for every person we added to the guest list, we were adding approximately $75/head. This is where I should have cut my budget instead of scrimping on other things or trying to put too much work on myself.

Did you use a wedding planner or the “family-and-friends-all-hands-on-deck” approach to planning?
I had a planner and don’t know how we would have done it without her. I wish we had utilized her even more instead of me trying to do it myself to save money! I tried to do a lot of things on my own or use people who were “cheaper” to try to cut costs.  I would have paid the extra amount and had everything taken care of and not worried about it! Do you notice a trend here?! 

Time of year? Time of day?
I never wanted an August wedding, but then I never planned a wedding until I had to. August was perfect! Late summer was perfect for my colors and the time of day and location (on top of a mountain) made the weather absolutely unbelievable!

Location?
My fiancé and I wanted something that was natural and gorgeous, which is exactly what we got.  We had to go way out in the county to find this, and didn’t want people to worry about driving.  We wound up spending more money for a shuttle service to and from town and up and down the mountain than if we had just paid extra somewhere else.  We had to rent two sets of chairs because of two separate locations, get generators, and lug things up and down the mountain just to try to get everything we needed into this “natural” space.

Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo

What about the elements of the ceremony?
Make it ALL about you! Traditional or not, putting your personal touches on these makes all the difference in the world and it is what your guests will remember.

Decorations & decor?
Make sure they fit your venue. I wanted glitz and glamour mixed with the natural space and additional vintage elements. Sometimes your venue is decoration enough!

Number in the wedding party?
I would suggest going with the smallest number of people possible.  My 6 were perfect, but the smaller the better.
Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo

Positive and negative advice on any or all of the following:
Attire?
Dress in things that will look good, but also fit your location.

Food?
EAT!  I said, “oh we are GOING to eat!”…then we didn’t. We loved the food we selected and then we didn’t even get our to-go boxes.

Gifts?
Don’t register for things you have no intention of using, regardless of what people think you need!

Flowers?
My flowers were one of the TOP things that made my wedding!  The colors were gorgeous and tied together my color scheme perfectly!  In an attempt to save money, I tried to use potted plants at the altar, but I should have let my florist do those as well.

What, if anything, do you regret?
I don’t regret anything, however, there are a few family members that I wish I would have taken pictures with before they left. I wanted the majority of the pictures done before the ceremony so that we could use the full time for the reception. I had some older family members I assumed were going to stay through part of the reception, but they left right after the ceremony, so they aren’t in any of my photos.

What do you wish you’d done, but were afraid to do?
There are a few moments of my wedding that I wish had been slightly more serious, but that is just not my personality.  I was scared to have anything even slightly sentimental because I knew I would cry, so I did everything in my power to make sure that I didn’t break down.
Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding PhotoBoone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo
What would you do more of?
If I could do it over, I think I would have enjoyed things more. I don’t say that to mean I didn’t enjoy it, but it was a very stressful time, and I went through different phases and a boat load of emotions. I had days where everything mattered and I didn’t care about the cost; other days, I wasn’t spending a dime, and nothing was a big deal because it was just a “celebration.” 
Looking back, I see that these were things I will only get to do one time and I would have cherished every moment even more if I had truly had a concept of this.
Boone Blowing Rock NC wedding photographers Pixels On Paper Lansing NC On The Windfall Outdoor Mountain Wedding Photo
Stay tuned for more in this series — Wedding Redux, especially if you’re a bride-to-be, maid of honor, mother-of-the-bride or newly engaged. Hearing from those who’ve stood where you are about to stand can make all the difference in the world.

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 babies and kidsengagements and weddingsbrides 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.

 

 

 




bridal portraits embracing romance, imagination, and books

Do you ever look at a photo and think about the zillion captions that could be written? There are contests out there and most are about funny photos or cartoons, but this shot below evokes so many thoughts.
What would her groom write? “Hurry to me!!”
Or her father? “There goes my girl….”
What would her big sister say? “Wait up!” or “I miss her already.”
Or her great-great grandmother if she could see this photo? “How romantic.”Riccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portaitBut she’s off and this image of Elizabeth (Eli) Rickard walking down the steps has become one of my favorite bridal portraits to date. It’s another image that I conceived once I saw this stairway in the Green Park Inn. I described my thoughts to Ryan and along with Eli’s sister Kari, we made my vision come true. I like it because it’s different from many other bridal portraits we’ve taken. For me it portrays movement, anticipation, and represents the marriage journey that Eli was embarking on. It’s always deeply rewarding to try something creative when you have a bride so deeply ensconced and in love with her favorite things – in this case, books, fantasy, romance and Kyle.
Riccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portaitElizabeth is a classic romantic, a dreamer, a lover of fantasy, has a super hero spirit and a smile that’s as big as her heart. She just married her beloved Kyle Bishop on March 5th (portraits and blog to come), but these bridals were taken indoors due to rainy and cold January weatherElizabeth loves to read (this will be this week’s understatement), so the historic Green Park Inn’s library made a perfect setting. To note: Eli’s favorite book is Black Beauty and the horse portrait fit brilliantly. Her sister Kari used pages from Black Beauty to create Elizabeth’s bouquet.
Riccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portaitRiccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portait
Books were incorporated throughout the wedding details (and we STRONGLY encourage you to check out their engagement photos to fill in more of the story). 
Riccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portaitI always encourage brides to include friends and family in the portrait session and day. It’s fun to witness the relationships, and time with each other on these days is often the most time they’ll get since the wedding day itself can be whirlwind. For Eli, this session included her mother, sister and niece, all of whom came in from out of town. It was a girl’s day to play dress up and they were, to the person, emotional and giddy throughout the portrait session.Riccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portaitRiccard Bishop Blowing Rock Green Park Inn Bridal portait

Our caption for this photo above would be “She’s ready.” We promise when the wedding photos have been processed and we can share bouquets of books and the stories that made their day the fairytale that it was – you’ll be the second to see them.

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 babies and kids, 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.

2015 Pixels highlight reel ~ part deux – WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY!

Pixels on Paper wedding portraits outdoors - 2015 highlights photo

Starry, starry night in the mountains

As a followup to our engagement highlight reel for 2015, you knew we had to do a wedding version; I mean, c’mon. It’s fun for us to remember and reminisce about the couples and their families, but also about the locations, the weather, the unexpected moments that entered our lenses and the magic that happens when a planned photo has an element of surprise. Whether these couples were basking in “end of the night starlight” or nestled on a rainy church lawn, in a field with horses or smooching under a glass roof, they were in their own perfect moment. Here are just a few of our favorite shots from the weddings Pixels had the privilege to photograph.
Above are Micala and Tyler at their reception. See more of their wedding in Todd, NC and reception in Laurel Springs.
Below are Rebekah and Josh. Their wedding is a guide for any couple who have a theme in mind. They didn’t miss a single detail.

Pixels On Paper Photographers Blowing Rock NC Mountain Scotish High Country wedding photo

Wedding with Scottish details and Scottish weather

This outdoor wedding provided us with so many opportunities to experiment (including the shot below) and so many moments of tenderness with the couple and family.

Goforth/Harrison Pixels On Paper nc mountain outdoor wedding photographers photo

Caught in God’s perfect light…

This shot of Meghann is not from her wedding, but from her bridal session, but we had to include it. Taken near her family’s farm in Warrensville, NC, she took our breath away in every shot.

Clawson Wedding, Meghann Roberts Bridal Portrait Photo

Bride in a perfect mountain landscape

A Charlotte City Center wedding is an event unto itself, but these two only saw each other that day. Their wedding under a glass ceiling was gorgeous and special. We love this shot.

Jone/Johnson Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding portrait photography photo

Center City Charlotte rooftop kiss

Whitney and Preston’s wedding was deeply personal and rife with details about them.

Parsons/Pegg wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

Joy in the meadow

The best portraits aren’t always of the bride and groom. This one of Sarah and her decorated military dad was just too perfect. And so was her wedding to Danny. Not one shot of Sarah and Danny disappoints.

Clampett Wedding, Sarah Crisp, Danny Clampett, Wedding, Chetola photo

Father and bride….

Katie and Josh’s wedding managed to be Elegant Celebration and Crazy Party in one evening. Autumnal details for the groomsmen’s ties and bridesmaids’ bouquets at the wedding gave way to glowing necklaces and bracelets for the reception.

Katie Muskal and Josh Minor Blue Ridge Mountain Club Blowing Rock NC outdoor wedding photo

The Big Send Off in Blowing Rock, NC

A fan favorite as weddings and wedding stories go – Elisabeth and Isaac. These two decided to buy a house and up-end the whole wedding timeline. It didn’t stop them from having a brilliantly simple and gorgeous Tanglewood Park wedding, though.

Elisabeth Bolick and Isaac Spillman tanglewood wedding photos

“We did it!”

Amber and Andy’s wedding was special for so many reasons, not the least of which was that they were starting a new family with Andy’s young daughter and cementing a new life anchored in love, respect and joy. This shot captured part of that vibe.

Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photo

A New Family Story Begins

So many of our favorite shots of brides and grooms are taken outside where nature can play a role. This one of Kendall and Nathan though was just perfect. See some of them outside as well at their lovely wedding in Wilkesboro, NC.

Williams wedding photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

A private moment in the pews

We are booking weddings for 2016 and 2017 and would love to help capture the moments that solidify memories – both planned and unexpected. Call us at 336.990.0080 or email us mail@pixelsonpaper.net and let’s get started!

now booking winter portrait photography throughout the nc mountains

It’s winter. It hasn’t felt like it completely yet, but the cold is coming and winter in the NC mountains is stunning. Snow on the ground, leafless trees, broad meadows and our awesome mountains make a perfect landscape. This time of year is an opportunity for portraits that are unique, creative and cool (insert snarky laugh track here).
Pixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosPixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosPixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosHonestly, we wish more brides would consider portraits this time of year and not shy away from the elements. We’re all accustomed to the greens, yellows, and pinks of spring, but winter white is breathtaking and bridal portraits this time of year turn out to be singular, and with an equally beautiful palette. Barren trees and dormant grounds can still be amazing in the dead of winter. A beautiful bride will stand out even more against such a backdrop.
Even though not much snow remained on the ground during these shots, we set up this shoot with our gorgeous model, Tiffany Roope and once accessorized, she was the winter princess of each portrait.

Pixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosPixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosPixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photosPixels on Paper NC winter mountain bridal portraits photos

We live in a part of the country that knocks our socks off, and then requires that we promptly put them right back on. BE BOLD! Have you thought about bridal portraits that are different from what you’ve seen or taken into consideration engagement portraits that creatively showcase a fall or winter landscape? Don’t be afraid to try something that might not have occurred to you before. The results can be unforgettable. Our reviews will tell you that we are creative and adventurous, but we are friends and guides also. We will not steer you wrong.

Contact us for bridal portraits by phone – 336.990.0080 – or email. We’re booking and would love a chance to work with you to do something new!

By the way – Tiffany’s dress & accessories were provided by Bridal Traditions Wedding Attire.