winter wedding

I think my favorite thing about working weddings is being able to go to work each weekend and never photographing the same thing twice. I remember when I was in college I was studying film photography and in classes, we’d always have to pick a theme to focus on and do our current project on at the moment. As I got more into my senior level studio classes in photo, I told my professor, “I want to photograph everything. I don’t want to pick one subject, I want to do it all.” His reaction to that, as my most respected teacher I’ve ever had, was something I’ll never forget. He laughed at me and said, okay, Allison, let’s see you do it all! And I did. I ended up winning an award in my juried senior art show with all my fellow classmates, as I hung up over 100 images in one giant collage – while everyone else picked their favorite 5 or 6 to frame. I think that mindset has really stuck with me in my wedding career. I don’t like to do the same thing twice. I like change and different views and different angles and working with different people. Remi and Daniel’s wedding was no exception! One weekend, I’m at the beach, the next weekend, I’m buried in the middle of the country at a completely hand-built reception venue on the family’s property. I’m not kidding when I say that these two and their families built the reception all by themselves! You never really know what to expect when someone tells you they’re planning a backyard wedding on their property, but this did not disappoint! I will always remember this wedding because of how much hard work and heart went into it, and honestly, how much fun their dance floor was. Shout out to the DJs for that one, and the awesome group of people at this wedding! I couldn’t stop myself from joining in half the night! Thanks to Remi and Daniel for the amazing day, I’m so glad I got to be there!

Ceremony: Nobles Chapel Baptist Church

Reception: Sharp Farms

Videography: Heartline Films

Flowers: Kyle and Dana McQueen

Video: Heartline Films

Cake: Cakes by Andrea

Hair: Pattie Blanton

Makeup: Merle Norman

DJ: Impultz Entertainment

Catering: Fat Fella’s 

Officiant: Chase & Brittany Caldwell

Ring: Vaughn Jewelers 

Hollis and Andrew found me online after initially hiring a different photographer, and having a wild mishap with them, which in the end I’m grateful for (except for all the craziness they had to go through) because it brought them to me!! After chatting with Hollis on the phone and adding each other on instagram and realizing just how much we had in common, I knew I was going to have a great time at their wedding. They had endless amounts of pampas grass, velvet decor, beautiful jewel tones, and of course, my favorite, their adorable sassy potato dog, Nyx. Hollis and Andrew got married in January *which means I played “January Wedding” by the Avett Brothers on repeat while editing* at the GORGEOUS venue just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, called The Bradford. It was my first time at this venue, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Every single corner of this place was perfect, from the bridal suites to the beautiful southern charm of the entire property, to the sunset view in the back surrounded in tall trees and woods, I was over the moon with photo opportunities. Of course, we HAD to do a first look with their dog, and it turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the day and I totally ruined the audio for the videographers because I couldn’t help but squeal. DOG LOVE IS REAL LOVE, OKAY. Hahahaha – but seriously. I’m so lucky to work with people as amazing as this, who even after having a terrible original photography situation, they still trusted me endlessly. Thank you for being so much fun to work with, for planning one of the most beautiful weddings for me to capture, and for choosing all the best vendors to work with to make the day go so smoothly! Now check out all the highlights from their big day!

Venue: The Bradford 

Planner: The Gathering Co. 

Caterer + Bar: Rocky Top Catering 

Videography: Miles Film Co. 

Rentals: CE Rentals 

Specialty Rentals: Greenhouse Picker Sisters

Florals: Mood Fleuriste 

DJ: Island Sounds 

Transportation: EcoStyle 

Officiant: Kevin Holland 

Makeup: Chelsea Regan Makeup

Cake: Bestow

I am so grateful that I was able to start off the new year with this GORGEOUS wedding at Malachi Meadows in Currie, North Carolina. It was my first time at this venue and let me tell you – it’s easily one of my new favorite spots! I swear it was built with stunning photography in mind. It was open and bright and filled with light and it was crisp and clean and I LOVE the grand staircase, I can’t stop picturing Andrea ascending them as she prepared to walk down the aisle! It was EPIC. Andrea and Eric planned a beautiful wedding, with perfectly designed tables and black accents and so many candles, it was stunning. Andrea was one of those brides that you start out liking each other but then by the end of the day you’re like, actually can we please be best friends? But really, I felt so welcome and so appreciated and I am endlessly thrilled to be able to work with such amazing humans and call it my full time job. Okay I’ll stop gushing now – go check out the highlights from their big day!

Venue: Malachi Meadows

Coordinator: Amy McGraw – Do Me a Favor

Florist: Among the Wildflowers

Cake: One Belle Bakery

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Martha My Dear Rentals

Dress: The Coastal knot

Officiant: Donna Brown – Always Faithful Wedding Service

Cocktail Hour: Collective Law

Hair Stylist: The Babe Cave

Makeup Artist: Beauty Crew Mobile

DJ/Band: Jonathan Grady

Saint Thomas Preservation Hall was LIT UP and GLOWING with pleeeeenty of champagne popping for Jessie and Owen’s New Years Eve wedding this year. I’m always hesitant to accept a New Years Eve wedding because it can be CHAOS – but Jessie and Owen did it PERFECTLY. Not only were they the most laid back couple to work with and they were just absolutely down to go with the flow and take any suggestions and recommendations from me as they planned, but it all came together beautifully! An incredible team of vendors, paired with the coolest couple, the most fun bridal party, and a whole room full of guests just ready to get the party started. I had SO much fun on that dance floor with everyone, and they had an exit that I have never done before, probably never will get to see again, and I KNOW I will never forget. Instead of doing a sparkler exit, the decided to pass out what was I believe 24 bottles of Champagne to their guests, while Owen sliced one of them open with a sword, while everyone else popped their bottles simultaneously, just exploding it absolutely everywhere, and it was magical. The photos are chaos and magic all at the same time. Seriously, I’ve never seen a couple so willing to allow their guests to completely cover them in Champagne before. Props to these two. I loved every single thing about it.

Venue: Saint Thomas Preservation Hall

Videography: Heartline Films

DJ: Atlantic Premier Entertainment

Cake: Pink Baking Co

Catering: City Club of Wilmington

Flowers: Verzaal’s Florist

Rentals: L&L Tent & Party Rentals

Kate & Britt had a very small and intimate wedding ceremony at Station No. 2 in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. I had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous event, and I absolutely love being there on a wedding day like this one. Surrounded by only the closest people to them, they said their I-do’s and then sat down for one of the most delicious looking meals I’ve ever seen prepared at a wedding – which was actually the very FIRST wedding that True Blue catered, and I can’t say enough positive reviews about them! The decor was stunning, all of which was created by Amani Affairs, another company that I simply cannot talk up enough. These two were so easy to work with, so easy going and so laid back. Talk about dream clients! Love wrapping up my 2021 season with couples like Kate and Britt. Now check out the highlights from their big day! And for any of you crazy One Tree Hill fans – pay attention, you just might recognize someone!

Planning, Design, Stationery: Amani Affairs

Venue: Station No. 2

Catering: True Blue Events

Florals: Fiore Design House

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals, and Design Perfection

Violinist: The Wedding Violinist

Beauty: El BlueBird

Bakery: One Belle Bakery

McKenzee and Taylor got married in December at the LOVELY Barn at Rock Creek out in Leland, North Carolina. December weddings in North Carolina are actually incredible, because during the day it’s still sunny and gorgeous. And at night, all we need are a few heat lamps (sometimes we don’t even need that) and it’s enough to keep the party rocking outside all night! I absolutely loved working with these two, and every gorgeous detail of decor they picked out was PERFECT. The food, the drinks, the dancing – and have I mentioned the SNOW EXIT? Most people do a sparkler exit, but these two made it snow, instead. Highly recommend hiring a DJ with a snow machine, because this was SO MUCH FUN. Even the grandparents were twirling around in it. Maybe it helps that we don’t get to see a lot of snow in our area – LOL. Okay I’ll stop rambling but check out the highlights from their beautiful wedding day!!!

Venue: The Barn at Rock Creek

Cake: Cutting cake: Nancy Jo’s Bakery – Oak Island

Rentals: White Birch Rentals, Party Suppliers and Heirloom at Rock Creek

Dress: The Curvy Bride – Manalapan, NJ

Hair Stylist: Adrianne Lugo Professional Hair and Makeup Artists

Makeup Artist: Adrianne Lugo Professional Hair and Makeup Artists

DJ: Atlantic Premier Entertainment

Catering: Middle of the Island

Ring: Reed’s Jewelers