“One word, that’s all you said
Something in your voice called me, turned my head
Your smile, just captured me
You were in my future as far as I could see
And I dont know how it happens, but it happens still…” – Kenny Chesney
The Sand Ceremony. Heard of it? At weddings, it is very much like the lighting of a unity candle. Some of her. Some of him. But for Kendall Shepherd and Nathan Williams, this ceremony includes Christ. They believe that He should be a part of their ceremony and lives in every way. Kendall told us, “We will be using a picture shadow box to hold the sand instead of a vase. Also, instead of using two colors representing one another, we will be using three. An ivory color will be placed at the base of the shadow box representing Christ as the foundation of our relationship and home. Then we will have a color representing each of us to be poured in to symbolize that we are becoming one. We hope to pass this tradition down to our children one day.”
But back to Facebook. (You didn’t think you’d get away from it, did you?) That’s how these 2 connected in the first place. They started chatting after Nathan spotted a picture of Kendall at their local gym where her family works out. They “friended” and decided to go on a date. This led to a second date. And, the rest is …….. we’re not even going to say it, because you know already. History. Ok, we went ahead and said it.
2 dates quickly became love and commitment – and the first commitment was Nathan staying with Kendall when she had emergency surgery. How’s that for showing “for better or worse?” He gave up his hospital blanket for her to stay extra warm and once home waiting on her every need, nursing her back to health. We’re pretty sure that sealed it. Even Kendall said, “the love, care and commitment we showed one another is what formed us into An US!”
Their wedding in August of this year will be largely traditional, elegant and classic, and they have devised a way to include a very special member of Nathan’s family – his late grandmother, Mary, “who will be watching from Heaven.” A pearl pendant of Mary’s will be placed on Kendall’s bouquet for the ceremony. The pendant was a gift from Mary’s husband Ernest to Kendall and is a treasured possession. Since Kendall never met Mary, this gesture is a way for the couple to honor her.
We feel pretty confident that these two are an “US” that will last. They told us that they laugh together, love to listen to tunes together (Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello” is a personal fave that reminds them of each other – see the quote at the top!), love to be outside together and are clearly inseparable. Their plans for the future are to start a family, but first with a Labrador puppy.
Learn more about Pixels on Paper’s portraits.
There’s a great moment in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” – no not THAT ONE – when Harry introduces Sally to his friend hoping Sally will like him and Sally introduces Harry to her friend in the hopes that she and Harry will hit it off. They do NOT. Their friends, however, fall in love with each other instead and pretty quickly know that they are perfect for each other. This leaves Harry with Sally,… as it was meant to be and let’s all raise a glass to the late, great Nora Ephron for being a genius of insight, humor and writing.
But I digress. Our story is about Whitney and Preston, who met through friends in a similar situation and found out that in fact they were the ones who were supposed to be together. They too fell in love, dated for 5 years and will be married in just under 3 months. These engagement portraits were the first real photos they have of themselves as a couple outside of cell phone photos.
Their love for each other is evident in their body language, laughter and ability to listen to and really see one another. Always a good sign and so fun to watch. The lyrics from one of “their songs” – My Best Friend by Tim McGraw – describe them perfectly.
“Oh we just get closer – I fall in love all over – Every time I look at you…
And I don’t know where I’d be – Without you here with me – Life with you makes perfect sense – You’re my best friend.”
These two are serious about the foundation of their relationship – a combination of friendship, lots of laughter, commitment and a very strong faith in God. They’ve made plans to incorporate traditional vows into their late summer ceremony and have also added braiding the God’s Knot into the day. For the uninitiated, the God’s Knot is made up of 3 strands of cord: one for God, one for the bride, and one for the groom. During the ceremony, holding the cords as a couple, Whitney and Preston we will braid them and as they are being braided the pastor will read a piece of scripture that describes each strand. They told us that, “God is the biggest factor in both of our lives and we know that as long as we have our faith in God, He will make our marriage and lives together as success and full of love as He sees fit.”
As we prepare to capture their wedding, we asked them for some thoughts about anticipating both the day and their future. “Our wedding day will be the one day in our lives that all the people we love, both family and friends, will be there to help us celebrate such a special time. We are also very excited about all the photos that will be taken! Pictures serve as memories and this is one moment we never want to forget!”
[A quick interjection/aside here]: People talk about the importance of making memories through photos all the time. It really does take an occasion – like a wedding – to show you how fleeting those moments and those days are and how grateful you are that someone documented your joy, your youth, your hope and your character in that particular moment in time.]
Pixels: What do you want to tell your families?
Whitney and Preston: “We want our families to know that without them our relationship wouldn’t be as strong and successful as it is. Both sets of our parents have shown us what lasting relationships need and how they should be.”
We have every confidence that these two will work to make their relationship last, surrounded by the support of family and friends (it matters, folks!! you need your tribe around you) and grounded in a strong relationship with God. They are looking forward to the next chapter in their adventure and to starting a family in the next few years.
We LOVE you guys, Whitney and Preston and wish you only more fun, more cracking each other up, more quiet time at home listening to tunes and watching favorite movies and only the best as you build a full – a TRULY full – life together.
Weddings in the NC mountains are always a favorite for us, especially when the ceremony is held outdoor at Leatherwood Mountains located in Ferguson NC near Boone in the NC High Country. The backdrops that the mountains offer are second to none with endless possibilities around Leatherwood resort.
Long before Sarah and Jeremy’s wedding day, we had the opportunity to photograph Sarah’s bridal photography. We have been wanting to do a “peach blossom shoot” for a long time, and when the timing was right, we were lucky enough for great weather. We photographed among the peach and apple blossoms in orchards in Brushy Mountain, NC. Sarah’s dance background allowed us to push her posing a little farther than we normally get to do, and the results were simply stunning! We got creative by incorporating Sarah’s life as a dancer and love for horses as you can see in her bride photos shown below.
Sarah and Jeremy chose the perfect wedding day. With a nice breeze blowing through the NC Mountains and fair temperatures, they said their “I do’s” at the main Leatherwood cabin in front of their families and closest friends. When you are surrounded by horse stables and have a love for horses, what better way to arrive at the ceremony site than in a horse-drawn carriage. Sarah stepped out of the carriage and walked to a waiting Jeremy at the end of the aisle where they exchanged vows that they wrote for each other. After they lit the unity candle and exchanged rings, they were announced as husband and wife and had their first kiss as a married couple.
Following the post ceremony photos with Sarah and Jeremy off in the meadow and in the stables, all of the guests were treated to a wonderful reception in the covered riding ring surrounded by details of hand made decor and plenty of personal touches. A BBQ dinner was catered by Tipton’s of Wilkesboro NC while Ball and Ball DJ entertained the guests.
After a long afternoon of celebration, it was finally time to let the newlyweds head off to their honeymoon, but not before one last dance. While guests headed out of the riding ring to line up for the bubble send-off, Sarah and Jeremy got the chance to have the place to themselves for one final wedding dance.
Be sure to check out Sarah and Jeremy’s engagement portraits here if you have not seen them.
We are grateful to have been Sarah & Jeremy’s chosen wedding photographers and we wish them a life full of romance.
Photography: Pixels On Paper
Location: Leatherwood Mountains Resort
Bride’s Gown & Veil and Bridal Party Attire: Bridal Traditions Wedding and Prom Attire
Entertainment: Ball & Ball
Caterer: Tipton’s
Videographer: Divine Treasures
Vendor Resource: Wilkes Bridal Association
Want to learn more about our wedding photography packages or portrait photography in Boone, Blowing Rock, Wilkesboro NC and the NC High Country or for NC Mountain destination wedding photography? Call 336-990-0080, visit our website www.pixelsonpaper.biz or send us and email at mail@pixelsonpaper.biz for more information.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2013 Pixels On Paper. Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Wedding, Boone NC Wedding Photographer, NC Mountain Weddings, NC Mountain Destination Wedding Photography, Ferguson NC Wedding, Wilkes NC Wedding, Blowing Rock, NC Mountain Wedding Photographer, Boone Wedding and Portrait Photographers, Boone Wedding Photography, Boone Wedding Photographers, High Country Wedding Photographers, NC Wedding Photographers. Husband and wife team providing creative photography for weddings and portraits in NC, specializing in the NC High Country, Charlotte, Destination Weddings and in the NC Mountains.
We are always honored when we find out that a couple contacts us because of a referral from a past wedding client. Caroline and Andy took the advice from not one, but two of our Bride and Groom couples and contacted us all the way from Boston to capture their NC Mountain destination wedding photography.
The entire day was a great blending of two different families and cultures with nods to both sprinkled throughout the wedding ceremony and in to the wedding reception.
We started the day off with a “first look” with Caroline and Andy and rolled right through the family photos and wedding party, so that after the wedding ceremony, we could get to the wedding reception and photograph a few more wedding photos before starting the party for the rest of the evening.
The interior of Elkin Presbyterian Church is gorgeous and made for a perfect setting for the wedding. With Caroline raised in the Presbyterian church, and Andy raised in the Jewish faith, every effort was made in combining elements from both backgrounds, including closing the ceremony with the kiss, then the breaking of the glass before walking out of the church as husband and wife.
The day took a bit of a twist between their wedding photos after the ceremony and the introductions at the wedding reception. We received a phone call from Caroline’s sister and the Maid of Honor where she let us know that they were going to make a detour before the reception, to the Emergency Room. Yes, the E.R.! Earlier in the day, Caroline did as any Bride would do, and placed her engagement ring on her right hand for the wedding ceremony. But with the heat and humidity and nerves, her finger swelled to the point where the ring would not come off and began to cut off the circulation in her finger. The good news is, after a brief experience in the E.R. where the Bride and Groom were the center of attention, the ring was removed undamaged and they were off to Old Beau Golf and Country Club in Roaring Gap NC to celebrate their marriage.
And party they did. The dance floor stayed hopping all night thanks to All Around Raleigh DJ. At one point late in the evening, Andy and Caroline were each hoisted up in a chair for the traditional Jewish Hora, or Wedding Chair Dance, and danced around the room surrounded by friends and family.
It was such an honor to be a part of this wedding and we are grateful to Andy and Caroline for taking the advice of friends and choosing Pixels On Paper as their wedding photographer.
Want to learn more about our wedding photography packages or portrait photography in Wilkesboro NC and the NC High Country or for NC Mountain destination wedding photography? Call 336-990-0080, visit our website www.pixelsonpaper.biz or send us and email at mail@pixelsonpaper.biz for more information.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2013 Pixels On Paper. Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Wedding, NC Mountain Weddings, NC Mountain Destination Wedding Photography, Elkin NC Wedding, NC Mountain Wedding Photographer, Boone Wedding and Portrait Photographers, Boone Wedding Photography, Boone Wedding Photographers, High Country Wedding Photographers, NC Wedding Photographers. Husband and wife team providing creative photography for weddings and portraits in NC, specializing in the NC High Country, Charlotte, Destination Weddings and in the NC Mountains.
We are always on the look out for cool interesting places to look for photo props, and are not shy about introducing ourselves to people we run into that work in the places we stop. As it turns out, one of these stops in Hickory last year led to us speaking with John and Ruth as we bargained on a few items for the new studio. As we discussed the gumball machine, a cool folding chair and of course luggage, the conversation turned towards the photography business we owned. That seemed to peak interest on their part because as it turns out, they were in the process of planning their own NC mountain wedding!
It is amazing how God has his hands in people’s lives, and on this day He made sure that this meeting happened. Over the next few months, we got to hear more about John and Ruth’s wedding plans and then they asked us to shoot their special day. We were thrilled! We had made a couple trips back to the store for more items or just to swing in to check up, and grew closer to this amazing couple. So much so that being there at Castle Ladyhawke the day of the wedding just felt like family.
The castle is perched high atop a hillside just west of Asheville and was the perfect setting for the fairytale ceremony. In all the years that we have been shooting weddings, never before have I been so intrigued by the vows that John and Ruth spoke to each other. They each spoke what they were going to be and do for each other, how they were going to be there and love each other, but the important part and what made it so amazing, was the response where they each received what the other said. True communication and acceptance of the meaning of being married.
After the ceremony, we had lots of fun walking the grounds around the castle with the newlyweds, even making it onto the top of the turret! It was obvious that they were meant for each other and it made our job easier.
The reception was filled with special touches that you could tell shaped who John and Ruth are. From the art canvas where guests were invited to help create a special piece to display, to the pillow everyone signed with love, to the handmade king and queen cake toppers, all the details were thought of. The theme of bees also played heavy into the decor, with little jars of honey for the guests to take home as a thank you favor and reminder of the day. One touching moment was when a neighbor and good friend sang a couple of songs to and for John and Ruth that caused a few damp eyes in the room.
We wish John and Ruth all the best, and we will surely be there with them as friends for the journey ahead!
Be sure to check out many more of our wedding photos at www.pixelsonpaper.biz!
Wedding & Reception Venue: The Castle Ladyhawke
Wedding Photography: Pixels On Paper
Bride’s Gown & Headpiece: Sabastian’s Boutique & Design
Men’s Attire: Benjamins & Libbas
Caterer: Josh’s on Union Square, Hickory NC
Cake: The Cornerstone Bakery, Hickory NC
Favors: Pop Tops by aritist, Dana Peissel and local honey by Blue Ridge Apiaries
Vocalist: Julia Rush