downtown wilmington

This was my first time at the venue Highgrove Estate in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina and just… wow. We ended up having the stormiest, most aggressively rainy day ever, and I was so happy we were at this venue that Billy-Gray and Oakley had chosen for their wedding day. The main house is just a big gorgeous southern home, with pretty fireplaces and charming decor, with multiple rooms to use with big windows and pretty chandeliers. These two were just so happy to be getting married to each other they didn’t make a single comment or complaint about the weather, and to me that says everything. We had such a good day with dinner, dancing, friends, and family. And I couldn’t write this blog post without commenting on how CREATIVE and AMAZING Billy-Gray is. She quite literally made her own wedding dress. She made a lot of the decor and details herself. I love artists because I KNOW they will put together something beautiful, and Billy-Gray did absolutely that. Grateful for clients like these two, and I’m so lucky I got to be there for their big day! Congratulations you guys!!

Photographer: Allison Eding

Venue: Highgrove estate 

Planner: Allie Teo

Cake: Heather Sutton

Rentals: CE Rentals

DJ: Raleigh Wedding DJ and Video

Officiant: Liz Johnson

Invitations: Zola

Ring: Jared

I am slowly but surely blogging my way through the final weddings of 2023, only a couple more to go! Warehouse on Water in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina is just a GREAT fall/winter venue. It’s got those big old warehouse vibes with classic brick walls and industrial flooring, which you can dress up or dress down for the occasion. It looks so good in there with even minimal decor, no wonder it’s so popular! Felicia and Andy chose this for their wedding, and I couldn’t have been happier to be back with these two! They sure know how to throw a party, and even for a Monday wedding, the party did not stop until the last song of the night. I had such a good time with them, but for some reason my absolute favorite part was during cocktail hour, I got to wander downtown with Felicia and Andy and their bridal party. We stopped at the bar that Felicia has worked in for the last decade, we shopped at Gourmet Market, we stopped at some Christmas lights. It was a blast. Now check out some highlights from their big day!

Venue: Warehouse on Water

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

The Brooklyn Arts Center is located in Downtown Wilmington, and has two different options to book. For larger sized weddings, the main church is the perfect choice. For smaller sized weddings, the Annex is a dreeeeam, and that is exactly what Jessie and Alex chose for their big day. Another perk? It rained nearly the entire day for their wedding, but we had no shortage of pretty indoor areas to take photos in at the Annex, so choosing a venue with great indoor options is always a good idea in case of poor weather outside! No matter what the season, it will forever be unpredictable weather in Wilmington, so back up plans are huge. This may have been the year that it’s rained the MOST on wedding days in my entire career – so I’ve really utilized the indoor space of venues lately!!

These two had an incredible team of vendors, who all came together to set up this stunning day. But my favorite part? I just LOVE the dance party that ensues every time someone hires a wedding band, and that’s exactly how this day went. So much fun, so much laughter, so much dancing. A new trend that I’ve had a lot this year is that the bride and groom stay at the very end when everyone heads outside for a sparkler exit, and they have a private last dance just themselves. This was the cutest private last dance I’ve ever witnessed. They pure JOY radiating out of Alex and Jessie as they realized THEY DID IT – it was so genuine. I’m so obsessed with their love for each other.

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: The Annex at Brooklyn Arts Center 

Planner: Social butterfly

Florist: DIY with Flower Moxie

Cake: Publix 

Rentals: Design perfection, Party Suppliers & Rentals

Dress: Mj bridal 

Hair & Makeup: Wisp salon

Band: The Dickens – Sam Hill Bands 

Catering: A Thyme Savor 

Ring: Perry’s Emporium

The 2023 season is getting closer to coming to an end and I’m wrapping up the year with some amazing winter weddings. Jamie and Bryce got married in November at Ironclad Brewery in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. I used to bartend at Ironclad for 3 years when I was still growing my photography business to full time, so every chance that I get to come back here is always so much fun. I know this building so deeply, after spending so much time there, and I have so many favorite locations outside of it for photos! We had a gorgeous day for Jamie and Bryce, beautiful fall weather, a perfect sunset and the perfect rooftop view to see it. I loved the moody details and table decor, the pretty florals, and of course, HOW STUNNNNNING was Jamie!? Magic. Followed by the most fun dance party. 10/10 would attend another party hosted by these two.

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: Ironclad Brewery

Florist: Mother of Wild

Rentals: Party Suppliers

Dress: Justin Alexander

Hair Stylist: Kristen Martinez – The Babe Cave

Makeup Artist: Amber Mitchell

DJ: Active DJ

Dessert: The Donut Inn

Catering: A Thyme Savor

Ring: Perry’s Imporium

Ashley and Raevin got married on a gorgeous fall day at Warehouse on Water in Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. A stunning day for a STUNNNNNING couple. These two had so much love for not just each other, but for everyone at the wedding, and it was so apparent how much they were loved in return by their people. They had the most fun dance party, the most fun bridal party, they had gorgeous colors, dresses, vibes, ALL OF IT. I’m forever obsessed with both Ashley AND Raevin’s wedding dresses, and just how much fun they are to be around. They make everyone feel welcome, and they even planned a choreographed dance to Thriller!? WHAT!? It was epic. Every single part of it. Grateful for clients like these two who make my job so easy just by being themselves! Congratulations to Ashley and Raevin! I can’t wait to see what’s next for this power couple!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: Warehouse on Water

Planner: Brittanie Raquel Events

Florist: FauxReal Flowers – Wilmington

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals

Dresses: Duchess Bridal Boutique (Raevin), David’s Bridal (Ashley)

Hair Stylist: Reign Beauty (Ashley), Gifted Hands Salon And Boutique (Raevin)

Makeup Artist: Reign Beauty

DJ: DJ Brannu

Catering: Middle of the Island

Officiant: Tammy Williams

Invitations: Zazzle

Cake: Publix

Caitlin & Travis chose the gorggggggg Bakery 105 for their wedding day in October, and it will forever be one of my favorite venues in Wilmington to photograph. The outdoor patio with it’s classic brick walls covered in ivy is my favorite part of the venue – especially when we get a clear day and we get to NOT have a giant tent covering the whole patio. So when I walked up to Caitlin & Travis’s big day to no tent, you could say I was elated. Their ceremony took place on the patio and the reception was inside, with beautiful floral displays, delicious dinner, drinks, and of course, dancing. Shout out to these two and their hilarious families for throwing such a fun event, and congrats to Caitlin and Travis!!!!

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: Bakery 105

Planner: Meg Henson

Florist: Eco Chic Blossoms

Cake: Pink Baking Co.

Rentals: Party Suppliers and Martha My Dear, High Performance Lighting

Dress: Savvy Bride Boutique (CLT)

Hair Stylist: Bridal Styles Beauty – Jamie

Makeup Artist: Bridal Styles Beauty – Cornia

DJ: Active DJ Entertainment

Catering: 128 South

Some weddings just leave you breathless. Some couples are just the kindest, most welcoming people, and their love is so genuine you can actually feel it just from being around them. Taylor and Ben are those kind of people. They had their wedding day on a gorgeous day in October, just as fall was finally starting to set in in costal North Carolina. It was the first sign of fall colors, but still nice and warm outside, and they had chosen one of my favorite venues – the Brooklyn Arts Center to host their big day. I was absolutely blown away by the decor and details that they had planned, and the way it came together was a DREAM. I’ll be thinking about this wedding for a long time. Taylor just made me wish she was my actual best friend all day, and oooooooh the way Ben looked at her. I’m so happy for these two, so happy I got to be there, so happy they trusted me to document this day. Obsessed with their love, and can’t wait to see what comes next for Taylor and Ben.

Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography

Venue: Brooklyn Arts Center

Planner: Brittanie Raquel Events

Videographer: Heartline Films

Ceremony Musician: The Wedding Violinist

Florist: Designs by Dillon

Hair & Makeup: Beauty Crew Mobile

Rentals: Design Perfection / Party Suppliers / Alpha Lit

DJ: Active DJ

Catering: Spoonfed Catering

Dessert: Boombalatti’s Sprinkles Truck