Doug and Kim are a super sweet sushi loving couple and I was so honored to photograph their wedding this past week. Doug is a software architect that grew up in Bristol, PA and went to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic and Cary High School. Kim grew up in parts unknown somewhere in Connecticut because she moved around SO much but if she had to pick a hometown, it would be Farmington CT. She moved to NC to attend UNCC and finished her Masters in Education at Winthrop University and has been teaching high school for the past six years.
It seems to be more popular these days to meet on the internet. I actually where I met MY wife through an online matchmaking site… although WE were pioneers… We didn’t have Match.com or Eharmony back in those days. :) Kim and Doug met on the latter of the two. After making an online conection… their first date was at Thomas St. Tavern in Charlotte where she spilled her beer as soon as she sat down and watched to see what Doug would do! He took it in stride but was too nervous to eat the food they had ordered. They then played a game of pool in a very smoky hall and Kim won almost every game… and she told me that she didn’t think he let her win. ; ) At the end of the night she wouldn’t leave Doug’s car until he gave her a kiss.
They were together for three years before surprised Kim with a trip down to Antigua where he proposed to her. She didn’t even know where they were going until they were on the plane! The second night they went down to watch the sunset on the beach. He cleverly put the engagement ring in a small pouch and tossed it into the sand so it looked like somebody had dropped it. Doug told me that Kim said in a graceful fashion… “Well, nobody left that just lying around.” She didn’t suspect a thing!
I absolutely love photographing at The Sutherland in Wake Forest. They are always updating it. The groom’s room is very cool and rustic and is perfect for couples that don’t want to see each other before the ceremony. Catering was executed to perfection by Mitchell’s Catering and Events From appetizer’s to the cake their food was amazing and courteous staff made sure I wasn’t running on an empty stomache.
The whole afternoon had called for rain and we were a little worried as to whether we would be able to have the wedding outside.
I told the couple that they may not have noticed but… I put “sunshine” into every one of my wedding contracts! I like to think that between the three of us we were able to think positively and break the clouds apart to provide some sunshine for the wedding ceremony.
I’ve been able to work with Elizabeth Tolley on several occasions and she always impresses me with her wedding makeup skills! She is in Charlotte but travels a lot and is highly spoke of on The Knot
A nervous groom gathers his thoughts on paper for a very meaningful and personal wedding vows to be delivered at the ceremony.
After taking this photograph Kim’s mom told me that she was glad that I took it because she and Kim used to do the exact same thing when she was a little girl.
It’s actually not often that I see mirrors this large in the bridal suite or getting ready rooms. It’s perfect for stunning photography that shows off both the front and back of the wedding dress at the same time.
I photographed a few creative wedding ring detail shots. Eveyone loves cute birds and wedding rings right? I fashioned the wedding band into a tiara? Too cheesy or do you like it?
Some ring shots on an orchid plant.
The grandparents… doing want grand parents do best… RELAX in style on the front porch!
Kayelily Middleton is one of my favorite wedding ministers in North Carolina. Her a assistant even took a great photograph of me right before the ceremony. You can read her perceptive on the wedding by CLICKING HERE.
Kim’s dad interchanged some of his words a bit during the beginning of the ceremony… What was supposed to come out something to the effect of “Kim and Doug are here by their own choice and they do not require our consent” came out much closer to something that Yoda might say. :)
Everyone got a bit of a nice chuckle out of it but he’s allowed to be a bit nervous as the father of the bride. Once he got to the reception though he was awesome on the dance floor though!
The couple did make sure that no one “objected” to them getting married though…
I’m so happy that I caught this photograph. During the ceremony Kayelily mentioned about how miraculous it was in how the sun came out just long enough to have a bright, beautiful ceremony. At that moment Kim looked up to the sky with a beaming smile on her face… as if to say. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
In the Jewish tradition of stomping and breaking a glass Doug’s first attempt didn’t work out quite as planned… I think his heel hit first and his foot kind of rolled across the top…
… but then he showed that glass who was boss!
This was unique and kind of cool! They played an upbeat song on the wedding recessional and Doug gave Kim a twirl! I apologize for not remembering the song but it was a really fun moment.
We posed for a group photo on the side of The Sutherland home. There is a great variety of areas on the historic estate to take some unique shots.
Off to the wedding reception…
I really do love live bands at any reception. I had the pleasure of working with another band that is represented by Eastcoast Entertainment. They are called Rubberband and they rocked the tent!
I really like how I was able to frame this photograph. I noticed that there was a pink light on the left and a blue one on the right. Sometimes it’s a happy coincidence like this that can really make a photograph great!
I LOVE this photograph though… This authentic moment was captured as grandma gave Kim a card and gift. I love the way they are holding hands and the deep emotional connection they are sharing through their facial expressions.
The couple enjoyed a great first dance…
In fact… everyone was having a great time dancing. Especially the moms!
Just in case Doug had any ideas of smashing wedding cake in Kim’s face, she shot those down immediately by pulling out “the big guns”… a full plate of cake… locked and loaded! Doug decided to call a truce instead.
I’ve never had these before and they were awesome! Cheesecake on stick anyone? They are cheesecake lollipops provided by Mitchell’s Catering and Events. I’ve come to believe that there isn’t anything that you can’t put on a stick anymore… except maybe soup.
I thought that this was a nice photograph to end on… Just enjoying themselves in the midst of the swirling energy around them.
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