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Weddings
Holden Beach Elopement Photographer | Courtney & Jeff
- July 11, 2022
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- by Allison
I had SUCH a great time with Courtney, Jeff, and their families as they said their vows in a small, intimate wedding ceremony in Holden Beach, North Carolina. We had the most GORGEOUS evening, and I genuinely appreciated how excited Courtney was when I suggested having the ceremony shortly before sunset, for the most dreamy photos possible. It was perfect. They ate cake, toasted champagne, played on the beach with their kids, and finished the night off with some sparklers on the water! I love being a photographer and getting excuses like this to hang on the beach with a really fun family and catch these moments on camera to remember forever. Thank you both so much for having me!!!
Weddings
Las Vegas Elopement Photographer | Dianna & Joseph
- July 4, 2022
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- by Allison
I don’t even know where to begin. A (very hot) June afternoon. In Las Vegas, Nevada. With some amazing friends of mine. Dianna & Joseph GOT MARRIED. They already knew they wouldn’t want to do anything “traditional” when it came to planning a wedding, and they quite literally agreed to elope when they were sharing a hotdog one night at Costco. This is why they are my friends. They were planning a big adventure this summer out West and they decided to throw in a wedding while they were out there, too! A super small group of their closest people hopped on planes (and battled so many cancellations) and headed to Vegas. Not only do I love elopements and non-traditional weddings, but I ALSO happen to love my friends, and when they asked me if I’d join them on the big day, I didn’t hesitate. Give this girl a plane ticket and she will go anywhere you ask. I absolutely LOVED this day. First of all, they chose Vegas Weddings Chapel which was right by our hotel in Old Vegas. It was awesome being a little farther away from the strip, unlike every other time I’ve stayed in Vegas. That didn’t mean our hotel was calm or quiet in any way, shape, or form, but it was still nice. And let’s just talk about the chapel. I was bummed that I wasn’t allowed to take any photos (aside from my phone) because that was the rule at the chapel, but I was IMMEDIATELY distracted from my sadness as soon as Elvis came into the room. THIS GUY. I honestly feel like I was at a performance instead of a wedding ceremony. He nailed it, and we all laughed out loud the entire time, and it was SO FUN. Afterwards we wandered the area, including Fremont Street, this RIDICULOUS dive bar called Hogs & Heifers (which I can only suggest you go there next time you’re in Vegas because it involves bartenders in bras screaming at you to drink more on a megaphone while also dancing on the bar), and ended with an accidental find of the CLASSIEST rooftop bar on top of the hotel Circa. I’m talking 60 floors up, insane city skyline views, and the best craft cocktails (of course I had an Aperol Spritz). If you two could just pick a new place every year and make a trip this much fun, I’ll meet ya there, EVERY TIME. Even if we have to fly back on a red eye and land back in NC at 7am and die for a couple days after. It’s worth it.
Weddings
The River Room Wedding Photographer | Amanda & Chris
- June 20, 2022
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- by Allison
Amanda and Chris planned an AMAZING wedding. Though they were one of the unfortunate couples who had to postpone their wedding due to Covid, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it was WORTH THE WAIT! They got married at the outdoor patio on the riverwalk at The River Room in Downtown Wilmington, NC. The patio sits right on the water and has the BEST views. I absolutely love working at this venue because of the historic brick walls, and the ability to transform the inside into whatever you want. The vendor team that Amanda & Chris chose did a wonderful job helping their travel-themed wedding come to life. As someone who is also obsessed with travel, I really loved what they did with their guestbook! They were postcards that they asked people to sign! How fun! Check out this awesome wedding with this awesome couple!!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: The River Room

Planner/Coordinator: Brittanie Raquel Events

Rentals: L&L Tent and Party Rentals

Dress: Dora Grace – Fort Collins, CO

Hair Stylist: Jasmine Kay Hair Co.

Makeup Artist: Meraki Beauty

DJ: Coastal DJ & Video

Catering & Desserts: Sweet N Savory

Bartender: Brewmasters Mobile
Weddings
Kitty Hawk Pier House OBX Wedding Photographer | Morgan & David
- June 9, 2022
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- by Allison
How do I begin to describe how amazing this wedding day was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? It was my first time visiting the Outer Banks, and it did not disappoint. I met Morgan and David back in 2020 when David did an AMAZING JOB of finding me on the internet and hiring me to hide in the trees for his proposal to Morgan. Not only did he have the most epic proposal I have EVER SEEN (including a full musical number), but I bonded with these two immediately. When it came time to start planning their special day, Morgan told me she knew I needed to be a part of it, and I agreed!!! A long two year wait later, the day finally came!!! And it was absolutely worth the wait. Kitty Hawk Pier House was located directly on the ocean, with the most STUNNING views of the water and the sunset. I couldn’t have asked for a better day, better weather, or a better couple. So grateful for meeting these two by chance, so lucky to get to work with them a second time, and they picked a group of amazing vendors, too! Now check out these highlights from their big day!

Venue: @kittyhawkpierweddings
Coordinator: @jordan_toole
Officiant: @idoobxweddingsandevents
Bakery: Icing on the Cakes
Videographer: @sixteen9films
DJ: @coastaldjvideo
Photobooth: @coastaldjvideo
HMUA: @caitystarkmakeup @_beautybyblair
Florist: @hanky_panky_blooms
Weddings
128 South Wedding Photographer | Melanie & Adam
- May 31, 2022
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- by Allison
What a GORGEOUS DAY for a wedding at 128 South in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. Melanie and Adam had an intimate ceremony on the deck facing the lovely Cape Fear River, with just 5 people in attendance. Followed by a small reception with their favorite people. I was able to walk around downtown for a little while after the ceremony with them and stop for a glass of wine, and some lovely photos, of course. The reception was so much fun because 1) the food was incredible 2) the DJ was SO MUCH FUN because he doesn’t normally do weddings and it was such a fun dancing vibe, and 3) because they had tarot card readings available all night for their guests! I LOVED it. Getting to be a part of weddings like this one are why I love my job. I love how unique every wedding is and how personal each one is to each couple. Check out the highlights of Melanie and Adam’s big day!!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: 128 South

Planner: Chris Bazemore Events

Florist: Mother of Wild

Cake: One Belle Bakery

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Martha My Dear

Dress: Anthropologie – BHLDN

HMUA: Marybeth Dermody, nSalo

DJ: DJ Dub

Catering: 128 South

Officiant: Angela Kelley

Invitations: Etsy

Tarot Card Reader: Lorri Gifford

Lighting: High Performance
Weddings
Bakery 105 Wedding Photographer | Sara & Kyle
- May 23, 2022
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- by Allison
I remember talking to Sara about how she was planning out her wedding day back on our very first phone call. I remember her using the words “disco ball and neon” and I knew immediately she was a bride I wanted to work with. I met Sara and Kyle for their engagement photos one night out at Fort Fisher and the Fat Pelican at Carolina Beach. Not only did they pick the most FUN locations, but they also were just absolutely electric to be around. Their energy together is magnetic, and they are seriously so much fun to watch interact with each other. I absolutely love working with people like that. On their wedding day, I would start to pose them for a photo and then I’d stop because whatever they just did together naturally, was WAY CUTER AND MORE REAL than any pose I could’ve given them. Their natural connection was just amazing. Their setup at Bakery 105 was a DREAM. I loved how everything came together and I loved getting to be part of their day! I love this venue and all the fun weddings it brings. Thank you to Sara & Kyle for having me there, and shout out to ALL the vendors who brought it to life! Now check out some highlights from their wedding day!!!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Assistant Photographer: Neal Lewis, Lewis Film & Photo

Coordinator: Meg Henson Events

Florist: Fiore Design House

Venue: Bakery 105

DJ: Absolute Best – Jason

Rentals: L&L Tent and Party Rentals, White Birch Rentals

Lighting: High Performance

Desserts: DIY

HMUA: Beauty & Bloom, Beauty Crew Mobile
Weddings
Ironclad Brewery Wedding Photographer | Marissa & Tommy
- May 16, 2022
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- by Allison
WHAT. A. DAY. Marissa and Tommy said “I do” on a GORGEOUS spring day in April, with a ceremony at St Therese Catholic Church at Wrightsville Beach, followed by a reception at Ironclad Brewery in downtown Wilmington. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Marissa and her family for awhile now, as I used to work at Ironclad Brewery for about three years, and her dad is the owner! So what a treat it was for me to get to be there for this extra special wedding day. What an amazing family, and their friends were an absolute blast, as well. Endless dance parties and champagne, seriously insane decor and floral arrangements, calligraphy signs, basically every single detail was my favorite. This team of vendors was absolutely the best of the best, and I feel so grateful to get to work with such talented people. Marissa and Tommy are so easy going and just wonderful to be around, I can’t even begin to describe how calm of a bride Marissa was. I’m thinking of trying to learn how to clone her so that I can work with her over and over and over again. She literally just let me do my thing and trusted me completely, and to me, that’s how the photos will turn out their best. Hiring vendors that you trust to do their job is everything, and not micromanaging them all day allows them to be free to create and do what they do best. So THANK YOU to Marissa and Tommy, thank you to the magical vendor team, and thank you to both of their families. It’s a day I won’t forget, and I hope you all felt the same! Now CHECK OUT THESE HIGHLIGHTS!!!!

Photographers: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography, and second photographer Neal Lewis of Lewis Film & Photo

Ceremony Venue: St. Therese Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Ironclad Brewery

Coordinator: Knot Too Shabby

DJ: Active DJ

Organist: Kevin Connelly

Calligraphy: Tapered Ink

HMUA: Tyler Kent

Videographer: Will Fryar Photo & Film

Specialty Rentals: Design Perfection

Cake: Pink Baking Co

Catering: A Thyme Savor

Florist: Designs by Dillon

Table, Chair & Linens: Party Suppliers

Transportation: Azalea Limo

Recorded Guestbook: After the Tone

Stationary: Minted

Attire: T Dress Shop
Weddings
Wilmington NC Backyard Wedding Photographer | Jana & Matt
- May 2, 2022
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- by Allison
When one of your closest friends wants to book you for their wedding day in the backyard of their parents home in Wilmington, NC, you don’t hesitate, you say YES. It’s really hard to know what to expect when someone tells you they’re planning a wedding in their backyard, so Jana and her mom had me out to show me around the property before the big day. I have to say, this was no regular backyard wedding. The property was EPIC, the vendors they hired were INCREDIBLE, and it all came together so well. I loved every single detail down to each flower, Jana’s wedding ring (I mean, wow), and it was by far one of the most fun receptions I’ve ever been to. Not only were there choreographed dances, endless amounts of champagne (with flavors you could drop in!), a food truck for dinner with multiple options, but it was also just an absolute blast, and yes, there were even puppies. I knew it would be, since Jana is easily one of my most hilarious friends. Watching her get to marry Matt was so special. He’s an amazing human, and the way he loves my friend and her daughter is SO heartwarming. We won’t talk about the part in his vows that were for Hayden. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house! Thank you both for letting me be part of your special day, for letting me switch into guest-mode at the reception, and for literally just trusting me to do my thing. WHAT A DAY!

Venue: Family Home, Wilmington, NC

Coordinator: Port City Event Planners

Videographer: Lewis Film & Photo

Catering: On Thyme Food Truck

Cake: One Belle Bakery

Charcuterie & Desserts: Collective Law

HMUA: Hill & Klutch Studio

Florals: Fiore Design House

Transportation: Azalea Limousine

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Martha My Dear

Lighting: High Performance Power & Lighting

DJ: Party Gras Entertainment
Weddings
Ironclad Brewery Wedding Photographer | Michaela & Amber
- April 25, 2022
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- by Allison
Ironclad Brewery will ALWAYS be one of my favorite places for a wedding. After working here as a bartender for 3 years, every time I get to come back and photograph here makes me happy. And the BEST PART about Michaela and Amber is how we met. So they had booked me online and we didn’t get a chance to meet first, and then my friends and I decided to have a group birthday party where we all did a granny-themed bar crawl downtown. I’m standing at Ironclad, on a scavenger hunt, ordering shots, and the two granny’s next to me start talking about how great of a spot Ironclad is for weddings. And I chimed in and said I agreed, that I used to work here, but now I just photograph weddings here. And they both stared at me and said, wait, are you Lightbloom? So. We met while drinking, on a bar crawl scavenger hunt, dressed as grandma’s, and then we took shots together. I don’t think I’ll ever top that story on how I met my clients. LOL.

But anyway back to their actual wedding day. I had the absolute best time with these two and I will never forget the moment that they walked down the aisle together officially as Mrs and Mrs… and they played “I kissed a girl” by Katy Perry on the walk out. Literally the best. Thankful for amazing clients like these two, with amazing leather jackets, amazing senses of humor, and amazing taste in photographers, if I do say so myself :)

Venue: Ironclad Brewery

Cake: Publix

Rentals: Event Excellence

Dress: David’s Bridal

Hair & Makeup: Hill & Klutch Studio

DJ/Band: BTA Entertainment

Catering: Middle of the Island

Officiant: Tara Webb

Calligraphy: Tapered Ink
Weddings
Bakery 105 Wedding Photographer | Kegan & Ryan
- April 18, 2022
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- by Allison
Bakery 105 in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina is easily one of my favorite venues in town to photograph in. Brick walls, open floorpan, great in-house catering, prime location to walk around within a 1 block radius for a ton of my favorite photo locations downtown, and of course my favorite part – the huge outdoor patio covered in ivy climbing up the walls. I’ve got a bunch more Bakery 105 weddings coming up this year and I’m so excited!

Kegan and Ryan are two very special clients – I almost always have a very very very positive time at weddings, because I really do work with awesome people. But Kegan and Ryan basically adopted me for the day and welcomed me into their family with open arms. I think it helps that Kegan and I both have the same weird sense of humor and affection for very cute dogs (okay, all dogs). If you want to know the secret to getting excellent photos on your wedding day – it’s exactly that. Be yourselves and let me just do my thing and I will capture the day as it happens. If you can let loose and just forget I’m there and totally be yourselves (or don’t forget I’m there and just be yourselves anyway), the memories I catch on camera are absolutely unbeatable.

They had SUCH a gorgeous wedding – and their group of friends and family that were there with them, really brought the party. They were on the dance floor ALL NIGHT and I was having so much fun I literally couldn’t leave the dance floor either. If I could sum up their wedding in one word it would probably be ENERGY. There was so much energy and good vibes floating around that place it was impossible to not have a great time. And of course, we had to get some photos with the cutest flower girl of all time, their sweet pup, Mauve!!!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Planner/Coordinator: Meg Henson Events

Florist: Fiore Design House

Cake: Pink Baking Co.

Rentals: Party Suppliers

Lighting: Event Excellence

Dress: Savvy Bridal Boutique in Charlotte NC

Hair Stylist: Bridal Styles with Kristen

Makeup Artist: Bridal Styles with Kristen

DJ/Band: Active DJ