family

  • Toledo Zoo Wedding Photographer | Kristen & Bill

    I don’t often head back to Ohio to do weddings these days, but when it’s for an old friend, of course I do! Living in Wilmington for the last five years, I’ve really limited the amount that I go back to Toledo for weddings, but when Kristen reached out to me, I knew this was one wedding I couldn’t miss. Kristen and Bill planned their September wedding at the Toledo Zoo, which, by the way, is one of the coolest Zoo’s you’ll ever go to in your life. I definitely took it for granted as a kid because we went so often it lost it’s excitement, but now that I’m a “grown up” I am in total awe of this place. They had their ceremony at the Formal Gardens, surrounded by their family and friends, in a gorgeous little private garden. It was absolutely stunning! Their reception was held at the Great Hall, and yes, there was a real live sloth at their cocktail hour. Zoo perks!!!! I’m so grateful I was able to be there on their wedding day, and watch as they had the time of their lives while they said their I-do’s. CONGRATS KRISTEN AND BILL!!!!!

    Ceremony: The Formal Gardens at the Toledo Zoo
    Reception: The Great Hall at the Toledo Zoo
    Florist: Something Bold Bouquets
    Videography: Josh Nagel Productions
    Cake: Eston’s Bakery
    Dress: The Bride’s Project
    Hair: Destry Blanchong
    Makeup: Jeanne Hooven
    DJ: Decorative Sound
    Transportation: Extreme Class Limousines

  • Fort Fisher Elopement Photographer | Genna & Gareth

    Genna and Gareth flew to the United States to elope in our beautiful beach town of Wilmington, North Carolina. They live in Canada and had to postpone their wedding day because of travel restrictions, but as soon as they opened up the boarders, they hopped on a plane and couldn’t wait to tie the knot officially. We had crazy monsooning type of rainfall that day, and Genna decided to not let that (quite literally) rain on her parade. We risked it anyway, drove out to Fort Fisher in the pouring rain, and as soon as we pulled up, the rain stopped, and let us do our thing! We called it “Gareth luck” – and it absolutely was! I’m so happy to work with couples like these two. Their smiles were so big as they said their vows and put rings on each others fingers. They were practically skipping around Fort Fisher as we did photos after the ceremony. I even got to sign the marriage license as a witness! LOVE their love!

  • Nazareth Hall Wedding Photographer | Miranda & Auggie

    I don’t travel back to Ohio very often, but when I do, it’s for totally amazing weddings like this one. Miranda and Auggie got married on a gorgeous July day at Nazareth Hall in Grand Rapids, Ohio. They had an incredible team of vendors (so many of which I used to work with regularly before I moved and it was so much fun to get to work with them again 5 years later!) that made the day come together beautifully. Miranda’s family has been friends with my family for YEARS, so of course I wanted to come back for her big day! It was extra fun for me because I was able to bring my little sister with me for the whole day, and got to sit with my parents at dinner! I can’t say enough good things about this day, I’m so happy for you Miranda and Auggie! Thank you so much for having me be a part of your special day! Here are some highlights from their wedding :)

    Venue: Nazareth Hall

    Florist: Beautiful Blooms by Jen

    Videographer: Bliss Cinema

    Cake: PM Frosted Fantasies

    Dress: The Gown Shoppe in Perrysburg

    Hair Stylist: Diane Matlin

    Makeup Artist: Sydney Price

    DJ/Band: DJ Jay

    Catering: Nazareth Hall

    Officiant: Chuck Campos

    Invitations: Etsy 

    Ring: Jared’s

  • Oak Island Wedding Photographer | Gina & Vincent

    Gina and Vincent had an intimate wedding with only their very closest family members and friends in Oak Island, North Carolina. These two are the reason I love my job. People that I don’t even get the chance to meet before their wedding day, and then we meet and it’s like we’ve been friends for years. They were 100% themselves all day, which really translated into the BEST PHOTOS. I love when people open up and just let loose on their big day, instead of being panicked and stressed. They laughed, they joked, they shotgunned a beer. I loved every second. They had a seafood boil for their dinner, they danced, and then they ran into the ocean at the end. WHAT A PERFECT DAY! Thank you guys for having me be a part of your wedding day!

    Photographer: Lightbloom Photography

    Venue: 801 Ocean Event Center

    Florist: Brunswick town florist

    Rentals: 3 cheers – arch & chair cushions only

    Catering: Cape fear boil company 

    Ring: Jared’s

  • Beau Rivage Wedding Photographer | Amy & Joe

    Amy and Joe tied the knot at Beau Rivage Golf & Resort on a beautiful June day. We may have struggled with some rain throughout the day, but it didn’t matter. I love a couple that can roll with the punches, and just enjoy themselves, and Amy and Joe were no exception to this! They had their family and friends around them, some delicious food, some great music to dance the night away, and a LOT of awesome dancers. It was so much fun. I’m so happy I was able to be there for their big day!!! Check out some of my favorite highlights of their wedding!

    Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography
    Venue: Beau Rivage Golf & Resort
    Florist: Julia’s Florist
    DJ: Marcus from Coastal DJ

  • Sunset Beach Elopement Photographer | Allie & Zach

    Allie & Zach planned a perfectly tiny and perfectly AMAZING little getaway for their wedding day in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. They wanted to do a surprise elopement, and they pulled it off so well! We lucked out with the most absolutely perfect weather, with just their very best friends present to witness! My favorite thing about these two was their ability to forget the pressure of being photographed professionally and they were just themselves, and it made it SO much fun. We got tons of photos “posed” nicely but we also were able to capture their actual personalities, and that makes me so happy, that’s all I want from a wedding day! CONGRATS to Allie & Zach – thank you so much for having me there and I’m so happy for you both!!!

  • Carolina Home & Garden Wedding Photographer | Ashley & Joseph

    Ashley and Joseph got married in Newport, North Carolina at the absolutely stunning Carolina Home & Garden. I had never worked at this venue before, and it was a literal DREAM. This place is complete with multiple bars, multiple getting ready spaces (including a green house for the bride!), outdoor and indoor space, and more greenery than you can even imagine. It’s a true plant lovers dream. I’ve been lucky enough to know Ashley for years now, she’s been a bridesmaid in other friends weddings that I’ve photographed, she’s gone to bachelorette parties with me, I was so happy when she asked me to be there for her big day. Every single detail was stunning, and it was the very first wedding I worked where the mask mandate was lifted! It felt NORMAL – it was so much fun and so perfect. I’m so lucky to have such a fun job, and get to work with such amazing people. Congrats to Ashley & Joseph!!!!!

    Photographer: Allison Eding – Lightbloom Photography

    Venue: Carolina Home & Garden

    Planner: Jessica Guesno – Dream Makers

    Caterer: Middle of the Island Catering

    Ceremony Music: Crystal Coast Quartet

    DJ: Bob Lauverty

    Cake: Famous Bakery

    Floral: Stephanie Watson – Dream Makers

    Officiant: Charles Robl

    Video: Garland Shields – Stout Owl Media

    Tent and Rentals: Crystal Coast Tent and Event 

  • Ironclad Brewery Wedding Photographer | Hanna & Nathalie

    Let me just start this post by saying that I work a lot of weddings. I mean a lot of weddings. I have been to at LEAST 20 weddings every year since probably 2011, sometimes up to 90 in a year (I used to also bartend weddings). So I can be a little immune to the heavy emotions that a wedding day can have. I’ve heard a lot of wedding speeches, I’ve listened to many different officiants during a ceremony. I honestly tune them out most of the time, and I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but it’s just because it can get incredibly repetitive. But this wedding, however, did not. Hanna and Nathalie have a kind of love that you can feel from across a room. When their friend stood up with them at their ceremony to officiate the wedding, I think it’s safe to say that everyone had chills. She spoke of the court cases that had to happen in order for this marriage to be legal, she spoke of the doubts that she personally had with marriage, and she said that without a doubt, along with everyone in that room, she whole heartedly believed in THIS marriage. Their fathers both stood up and gave speeches about how all they wanted was for their daughters to be happy, and all of those dreams came true that day. Their friends stood up and spoke some of the kindest words I’ve EVER heard in a wedding speech. It spoke absolute volumes about these two as individuals, and together. I’m always grateful for my job and the connections it brings me with my clients, but I really mean it when I say that couples like this give me hope. Not just for myself, but for marriage as a whole. Yes, I work in the wedding industry, I fully believe in marriage, but not every couple is like this. They give me hope that love like this really exists and it’s out there and even after a year of isolation, human connection is not dead. It’s thriving and it’s beautiful and I’m so glad that I could be there to witness this day! Thank you so much Hanna and Nathalie for being your true authentic selves and for including me in your wedding day, I will literally never forget it. And CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I can’t wait until the next time you two are in Wilmington because you’re officially stuck with me!

    VIEW THEIR WEDDING FILM HERE

    Photographer: Allison Eding, Lightbloom Photography
    Venue: Ironclad Brewery
    Planner/Coordinator: Elise Does Events
    Florist: Fiore Design House
    Videographer: VSync Films
    Hair Stylist: Harbour Salon and Spa
    Makeup Artist: Habour Salon and Spa
    DJ/Band: Active DJ, Martin
    Catering: A Thyme Savor 
    Cake: One Belle Bakery
    Rentals: L&L Tent & Party Rentals
    Lighting: Event Excellence Light & Sound

  • Brooklyn Arts Center Wedding Photographer | Lithia & Brendan

    Lithia and Brendan were one of those lucky couples (I say lucky in full sarcasm) who had to deal with a postponement in light of the pandemic. We did their engagement photos in 2019 and they were originally going to get married last year, but moved their date to 2021 instead because they wanted to be able to have all their people at their wedding! I’m so grateful that they did, too, because what a day! We had a gorgeous April day of sunshine outside of the Brooklyn Arts Center. BAC is always one of my favorite venues to work in, you just can’t go wrong in that gorgeous old building. It has so much wide open space, you can do pretty much anything you want inside, and the outside courtyard is perfect all on it’s own, too. Lithia is hands down one of my most laid back brides in the world, and I’m so thankful to her for that. She had me cracking up all day, AND she had TWO incredible dresses. Her ceremony dress was made up from her mother and grandmother’s wedding dress, and her reception dress was all her own! This was one of the first weddings that I’ve worked in awhile where it felt almost “normal” again – and it felt GOOD! Cheers to 2021, and to Lithia and Brendan! You guys did it!!!

    Photographer: Lightbloom Photography
    Venue: Brooklyn Arts Center
    Coordinator: Meg Henson Events
    Catering: Culinary Creations
    DJ: Brian Hood
    Officiant: Lynn Glaros
    Cake: Whole Foods
    Rentals: L&L Tent and Party Rentals
    Lighting: Event Excellence

  • Wilmington NC Wedding Photographer | Styled Shoot at Warehouse on Water with SOUTH Tablescapes

    Styled Shoots in Wilmington are probably some of my favorite things. It’s such a fun chance to get to work with tons of incredible local wedding vendors, and create something beautiful. My friend Kelly has JUST opened her new business, SOUTH Tablescapes, and she decided what better way to start it off than with a BANG?! We gathered up this amazing team, grabbed some friends for our models, and it all came together so perfectly. Kelly designed the whole thing from that amazing brain of hers, and I’m so happy I was able to capture it! Thank you to EVERYONE who participated, scroll down for the list of awesome vendors!

    Design: South. Tablescapes
    Photography: Lightbloom Photography
    Venue: Warehouse on Water
    Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals
    Hair: Beauty and Bloom Tayler Camplin
    Makeup: Beauty and Bloom Kristin McLoughlin
    Neon signs: Something Bright Neon
    Suit: Cape Fear Formal Wear