Wedding photographers for the wild at heart

There are few things I love more than a rainy day in the mountains. And when you sprinkle in a glowing bride and an adoring groom, it just gets better.

Remember Nicole and Brandon? They had a fun and festive engagement shoot back in December and I’ve been so excited for their wedding ever since! Nicole and I worked together way back in the dark ages at a local coffee shop when she was at UNC and I was still in high school. She was actually my first paying customer for photography when I did her graduation photos years ago! We reconnected through Facebook shortly after she got engaged and the rest is history.

With every email, text, and Instagram about her and Brandon’s wedding at Sherrill’s Inn, I got more and more excited. I heard about handmade lace lanterns, live bluegrass, and delicious local beer (Brandon is a manager at Asheville Brewing Company…check them out if you’re ever in town!). And amongst all the details and preparations, I caught glimpses of the amazing love shared between these two. And on their wedding day, that love shined through even though the sky was full of rainclouds.

Y’all, I am not ashamed to admit I cried not one, not two, but three times during this wedding. It was such a beautiful and emotional day, with lovely moments between Nicole and her father, laughter with the crazy bridal party, and quiet moments between Nicole and Brandon before and after the ceremony. But I’ll let you see for yourselves; the emotion and love shines through the photos in a way I couldn’t describe.

Special thanks to Maria van Aalst (soon to be Estes!!!) of Maria Estes Photography for second shooting with me!

Details:

Dress: Dimitra Designs, Greenville, SC – Designer: Justin Alexander

Shoes: Toms

Bridesmaid dresses: Modcloth

Groom’s clothing : Men’s Warehouse

Flowers: Becky’s Florist

Cake: The Cupcake Place – Hendersonville, NC 

Catering: Moe’s Barbeque

Programs/Invites: Invites: Paper and Thread Studio

Band/DJ: Nitrograss

Beer: Asheville Brewing Company

Nicole’s sister-in-law did an amazing job with her hair and makeup!

Photo below by Maria van Aalst

Right below photo by Maria van Aalst

Pretty sure every wedding should have Hulk hands.

Photo below by Maria van Aalst

Most adorable flower girl ever, right?? Alaina, Nicole’s niece, wrote her this sweet note to read before the ceremony.

Photos below by Maria van Aalst

Below left photo by Maria van Aalst

LOVE this detail by Maria van Aalst!!

This lovely moment of Nicole and her dad brought to you by Maria van Aalst.

This interaction below nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Maria hung out with the groomsmen and got these next 5 hilarious photos. Again, every wedding should have Hulk hands.

Wide shot by Maria van Aalst.

The first time tears came to my eyes today was during Nicole’s vows. She graciously allowed me to share some of her words with you all…grab the tissues.

“My wish for us is a porch and rocking chairs when we are older, with a raised family and a life well lived and you looking at me as you do now. And in that moment I’ll know the hard times that came, because they alway come, and the sacrifices made were all well worth it. That’s what we’re starting today, the journey to our weathered hands holding and I think if we bear that image in mind always, we will get there just fine. I love you and I can’t wait.”

How gorgeous is this view??

I couldn’t believe this dessert table put together by The Cupcake Place. SO yummy.

Photo below by Maria van Aalst.

Time number 2 when I cried during this day; Nicole’s father made good on a promise he made when she was a little girl to sing the song “Butterfly Kisses” at her wedding. I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the place.

Maria captured this moment from a better angle than I did: In the middle of the father-daughter dance, Nicole’s dad called Brandon over and handed her off for the last time. Suddenly I was shooting through a mist of tears.

Congrats, Nicole and Brandon, may this be the beginning of a love-filled  lifelong adventure!