Posts Tagged: NC Mountain Destination Wedding Photography

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.

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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.
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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.

 

 

 




the Wedding to complete the continuum of a couple’s journey

Every wedding contains a universe of memories that belong to a single couple.
And we love the continuum that leads to this… a gorgeous bride encased in her veil and a happy man waiting for her.

Goforth/Harrison Pixels On Paper nc mountain outdoor wedding photographers photoThanks to our job and God’s hand, couples share that continuum and universe with us.
How they met, who spilled a drink, who was nervous, who made the first joke, what the proposal was like, setting the date, the excitement, all of the weird and traditional family ideas, friends who got involved, elements that are particular to them …..
Each one is as different as each couple, because each one is a singular story that is theirs for the rest of their lives, to be told again and again. Our job is to capture and celebrate.

Jamie Goforth and Daniel Harrison’s wedding in October of 2015 was a celebration of their complete story…… to date.
Goforth/Harrison Pixels On Paper nc mountain outdoor wedding photographers photo

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Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photoPixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photo

Jamie’s bridal portraits were so fun to capture. You like mountains, cars and beauty? Have a look.

Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photoPixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photo

Quick flashback of their engagement: these two met in middle school, but reconnected many years later. After some time, distance and chasing, they sealed the deal at the luxurious Grove Park Inn. Now fast forward to the below. A new family made up of Jamie, Daniel and Daniel’s son. A kid in a suit. Are you kidding me?! He was a perfect groomsman and sweet as the day is long.

Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photo

Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photoPixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photo

The wedding ceremony was held at Camp Cheerio in Glade Valley, NC and their awesome and VERY LIVELY reception was in Roaring Gap at High Meadows Country Club where there was dancing, the shoe game, toasts and too much fun with their favorite people. We asked them about “best moments” from their reception and Jamie said, “How do we pick? Being announced as Mr. & Mrs. Harrison, our first dance as husband and wife, and talking to all of our friends and family.”

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If only there was a behind the scenes photo of us taking the images below….
Goforth/Harrison Pixels On Paper nc mountain outdoor wedding photographers photoBoth photos represent a far longer story (of collaboration and balance and coordination) than we can share in a blog post, so for now picture this: Ryan was kneeling down capturing the silhouette image on the left while I was leaning over his back with my camera directly above (almost on top of) his head capturing the image on the right. Both at the exact same time. Two different techniques and two different visions. When a couple of photographers, married no less, capture wedding photos, there is this crazy breaking of some 6th, 7th, 8th wall or entering of a new dimension that occurs. I’m still blown away that after 10 years working together how different and perfect our individual perspectives are in their own right. We continue to work together seamlessly to represent a moment in time. We are a team — both lead photographers — and we compliment each other in a way that only a husband and wife can.Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photoPixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photo

Pixels On Paper NC Mountain outdoor fall boone blowing rock nc wedding photographers photoPixels on Paper is now booking sessions for proposals, bridal, engagements, and weddings for 2016 and 2017 and we’d love to be a part of capturing and celebrating your continuum. Call 336.990.0080 or email us and we’ll do our part in making your story memorable.

Merry Christmas ~ with our deepest gratitude and love

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and give you our heartfelt thanks.

2015 has been an amazing year for Pixels On Paper and it wouldn’t have been that way were it not for our awesome clients, supportive friends, partners and families. Thank you to those who put your faith in us and invested in our talents. An additional & HUGE THANK YOU to those who have referred us to friends and family. We hope and pray that you will continue to do the same, as ultimately this is what keeps us in the business of fulfilling our crazy dream.

This year, we served new clients, for whom we fell in love – new babies, newly engaged couples, brides & grooms, parents who adopted and families who wanted to create memories and heirlooms. And there were recurring clients (many have become our lifelong friends) who we loved to plan with and serve for those milestones that are worthy of more than pics taken by a smart phone. In August, Pixels celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a big party surrounded by many of you and believe us, our hearts were full – and still are.

It’s also been our busiest year ever for graphic design. A special thanks to those business owners who have trusted us to help them build their brand identities and design marketing materials that will help their businesses grow. We hope for continued success in all of your endeavors.

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Pixels On Paper wilkesboro nc family child portrait photographers christmas photo Pixels On Paper wilkesboro nc family child portrait photographers christmas photo

Pixels On Paper wilkesboro nc family child portrait photographers christmas photo

As we enter into the season of proposals and engagements, if you or somebody you know is getting engaged, please keep us in mind for engagement and wedding photography. We are currently booking 2016 and 2017 dates!
To all of you out there, THANK YOU. Our wish for everyone in 2016 is health, happiness, peace, love and big dreams!

 

whitney & preston ~ a wedding of place, people, horses and special details

We are people people.
We love our clients and if you read these blogs, know us, hang out with us with any regularity, have hired us, then you already know this. There is NO WAY we’d be successful if we were not relational by nature.
But we also love the details and the wedding of Whitney Pegg and Preston Parsons was a perfect combination of personal details and character that reflected their personalities.

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Williams Farm is a beautiful spot and gave us almost too many options and gorgeous views – ALMOST. If you can consider that much perfect landscape “a detail” – then it was one of the better ones and Whitney and Preston had dozens of perfect details.

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Preston is in law enforcement and is an officer. When they asked us to integrate patrol cars and artillery into their photos, wellllllll, it was a fun challenge. We looked for and found creative ways to do this and they turned out to be some of their favorite images in addition to the classic ones we took.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Brides-to-be: TAKE NOTE. If you want an outdoor wedding – country or otherwise – these two nailed it. Check out the barn (OLD barn), the horses and the set up for both the ceremony and reception. The details around each aspect of their day were amazing and so much fun to shoot.

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Both Whitney and Preston seemed nervous before the wedding and we always expect this. Once they laid eyes on the other however it was as if no one else was there and you could see that this was the moment they had been waiting for. You could see them completely relax. They even told us afterward that this moment was one of their favorites of the ceremony and day.

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Whitney told us that she had “a photo to go with every aspect of the wedding” that they’d asked for and said “and you even did last minute shots” that they wanted to add.

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Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Whitney & Preston were both born and raised in Wilkes. They seem to be known by everyone in our small town! Every time we encountered someone that knew them and found out we were photographing their wedding had nothing but exceedingly kind words about this couple. (sweet, kind, loving, outgoing, outdoorsy, adventuresome, perfect for each other, etc.) We couldn’t agree more!
They’ve requested more photos of them in the future and we can’t wait!
Wanna see their engagement photos? Have a look!