Posts Tagged: Wedding Photography
wedding redux #4: nice and simple
This wedding, between Jamie Goforth and Daniel Harrison, was windy and gorgeous. The two can coexist, and if you check out their portraits from the day, you’ll see. As part of our series where we ask the bride and groom for feedback to share for future nuptials, here are some insights from Jamie.
“I wish that I had used more flowers in my ceremony and reception, but both locations had lots of natural beauty.
We were married at an outside chapel in Glade Valley, NC. It was windy and cold on the day of the wedding. My bridesmaids wore leggings under their dresses (LOL). I would tell those planning a wedding to remember to think about how the weather will be on the day of your wedding.”
Number in the wedding party and number of guests — any thoughts or changes? “We had 6 bridesmaids, 6 groomsmen, 1 flower girl and 1 ring bearer. This was a large party but I knew that I wanted and needed them all by my side the day of the wedding. We had around 150 guests and I think that was a nice number, but more than we really wanted. I personally think the smaller the better with the amount of guests.” [As a couple who’ve photographed more weddings than we care to count, we loved the honesty in that answer. It’s important to know who you want and need with you on your wedding day. It will matter later more than you can imagine. Just saying…]
Time of year? Time of day? “We had a fall wedding in the mountains, 4PM and the leaves were beautiful on the trees that time of day. It was a little chilly, as I mentioned, though.”
DJ vs. a band? “I preferred a live band, but they were much more expensive, so I went with a DJ and the reception was great… a LOT of participation on the dance floor!”
Wedding planner or “family-and-friends-all-hands-on-deck” approach to planning? “I think that having a wedding planner is better than all hands on deck. This is so there is only one person to go to for everything. That one person will know what you want in your wedding and if others want to assist they can. Just have the wedding planner approve it.”
Name 3 things you would do differently, if, by some strange wrinkle in the universe, you could do it all again (to the same person of course). “I would have had a cocktail hour while taking our pictures after the ceremony. I feel like the whole day was a blur, I would try to slow down and take it all in. I would have eaten, instead of just taking a few bites, but of course I wanted to talk with all of our guests.”
Most important piece of advice: “Tailor the ceremony to who you are as a couple. Daniel and I love camp fires and s’mores so we had a fire in the fireplace at the reception with a s’mores bar for our guests.
Make the day about what you envision and not what other people want or think it should be. It was honestly the best day of my life and I got to enjoy it with all my family and friends.”
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.
a late summer wedding that captures the setting, the details and the romance
Any wedding planner, wedding photographer, wedding magazine editor or veteran wedding attendee has a list of elements they feel make a wedding sublime. The invitations, the setting, the music, the food, the personal touches and now the many ways to share the day via social media. We love the details as far as the ceremony and reception go (we love seeing how each couple “brands” themselves on their big day), but way more importantly, it’s the couple. It’s always the couple and everyone who loves them and surrounds them with that love. The Bare-Rash wedding was one of those perfect weddings and we do not say that lightly. From the personal to the paid-for, everything was just right from beginning to end.
Pre-ceremony hugs and prayers.
Micala Bare and Tyler Rash got married this August at Bethany Church in Todd, NC and held their reception at Doughton Hall Bed & Breakfast in Laurel Springs, NC. The setting was simply amazing, complete with an historic stone church, quaint red barn and miles of green in a landscape of rolling hills and mountains.
(YAY, North Carolina landscapes. For the millionth time – you ROCK!!)
I spoke of “the elements” that make a wedding successful…. we photographers cherish light and the weather was the headliner, just behind the bride, groom and setting. From first thing in the morning until late in the evening, the lighting was our friend. Both inside and out, everyone shined.
Men who wear argyle together, stick together.
These two shared what is now being called a “First Touch” before the ceremony. We do everything we can to orchestrate these moments so that they’re private, unobtrusive and romantic. The couple don’t lay eyes on each other during this time, but can touch, speak to each other, exchange letters and just be near each other before really meeting when the bride first walks down the aisle.
“We cried when the wedding was about to begin and we knew we were about to see each other for the first time.”
The best moment of their wedding ceremony?
“When we were finally able to kiss each other and when we were pronounced as Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Rash!”
We took Micala and Tyler’s engagement photos in June and this pair continues to get more and more romantic. [Check out how they got engaged…. particularly romantic. The groom-to-be played the guitar. Just saying….]
Three favorite things they want to remember about the day:
“The moment we exchanged our letters with each other and what each of our letters said.”
“The moment when we realized that the groom’s wedding band had been forgotten and a member of our wedding party had to crawl on her hands and knees for a replacement, which happened to be the bride’s great grandpa’s ring.”
“When everyone left the reception and we finally got to go up to our room for the first time, where we had a bottle of champagne and a cheese and fruit tray waiting for us.”
The reception was a blast. Even with a little bit of rain, everyone danced, played games, and partied! Micala: “When asked about the reception, we almost always mention when the DJ asked everyone to form the huge line and all of the guests joined in to dance around the reception area.”
Micala & Tyler wanted their wedding reception under the stars. And this again called for perfect lighting and it was there. Receptions with tents are elegant, but being out of cover was more festive and more beautiful than we could have hoped for.
“I Do.” “Me, too.” Forever.
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.
the Spillman wedding at tanglewood park creates an epic southern event ~ hats and all
Dear Wedding Guest: We decided to buy a house.
So, we’re taking our big wedding plans and making some changes.
Thanks for understanding, for being present and for loving us. 
This is how it went down and this couple is nimble to say the least.
Elisabeth Bolick & Isaac Spillman were planning on a 2016 wedding. Elisabeth was a bride-to-be we met at the Wilkes Wedding Expo in March of 2015 and she was looking forward to her wedding: planning it, grabbing info, meeting vendors and extremely excited. Then just a few months later Pixels got a call. The couple found a house and were ready to invest in a home versus a big wedding. Big change of plans – and for a good reason. Now, they were talking about 50 guests, no attendants and a ceremony during the middle of the day on a Friday.
The reconfiguration of plans was seamless and the ceremony took place at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC and the reception at WinMock. The church on the Tanglewood property is rustic and old world. It was built in 1809 and is one room with open windows for a breeze, and it was perfectly decorated for them. Decorations included Southern magnolia garland branches from the Spillman’s new house property. 
Even though they changed the ceremony, Elisabeth and Isaac are self-described “big softies,” and they paid attention to the little details. Lady guests were invited to wear Derby hats. Elisabeth’s shoes were a cross between Marie Antoinette and Annie Oakley and her bouquet was created from broaches, tie pins, cuff links, coins, and other important pieces that she requested from both sides of their family. She even had a sixpence in her shoe.
A change in plans can cause a change in emotions sometimes. This was not true for Elisabeth and Isaac. “Our favorite moments from the day were the special time of just us doing the post-wedding pictures before the reception, the looks on our faces as we recited our vows to one other and how much fun it was (and not stressful)”
Yes. That (above) is the Groom’s cake. Isaac loves to fish. And below – check out the Magnolia garlands.
Congrats to Elisabeth and Isaac. Much love to you both. Your wedding was magic.
50 years of marriage and finally a wedding reception
1965, like any year in the US, was filled with tragedies that made you shake your head and moments that made you cheer and filled you with hope.
The Beatles were touring and fans were spilling out of every continent.
Muhammed Ali dropped Sonny Liston like a sack of dirt in the boxing ring.
Tear gas filled the air in Selma, Alabama as demonstrators stood up for equal voting rights on “Bloody Sunday.”
Lew Alcindor, New York City’s basketball wonder hit the scene. We knew him later as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The U.S. was active in Vietnam and struggling to determine our role, our commitment and our potential losses.
Ed White became the first American to conduct a spacewalk for Gemini 4.
And the earth turned on its axis. People met and fell in love and got married.
And this is exactly what Lucille and Frank Vannoy did.
On March 20, 1965, along with two of Lucille’s friends as their witnesses, they “ran away” to South Carolina to get married by a justice of the peace.
No big ceremony, no pictures, no party.
So for their 50th, Lucille wanted a wedding reception and that’s what their children gave them.
Like all great wedding receptions, the Vannoy’s included a beautiful cake, a fabulous spread of food and drink, family, friends, stories and laughter.
Frank was upfront with us that he wasn’t a “take my picture” kinda guy, so we took the list of photos one wants at a wedding reception and before we knew it, Frank was coming to find either Ryan or myself to photograph him with friends and neighbors!
Any couple who can make it work for 50 years deserves a party this great!
So that they could remember the day and enjoy the memories, Pixels created a custom formal wedding album for Lucille and Frank. Cheers to them and to the next 50 years!