S. Carter Studios

I’d been looking forward to their wedding since Kimberly and I first began discussing it in the Fall of 2008! We took their engagement photos over Valentine’s Weekend in 2009 and they were wed in mid January 2010! Their wedding was a true joy to be involved with. It reminded me of mine in many ways which made it that much more fun! And the weather, who could ask for 50 degree weather on January 15th with the bluest skies you’ve ever seen and just snuggled between two of the worst snow storms to ever hit the East Coast! God has been watching out for them over their long engagement and had this day planned especially for them. Enjoy a few of their photos!

PS. Our workflow is different now and there are some who caught a glimpse of these photos RIGHT after the wedding (within three days actually, lol) those lucky people are the Facebook fans of S. Carter Studios. If you’d like to be alerted to the newest content then join up!

I won’t lie, I have a little bit of lash envy!

They opted for a first look after having seen the great photos from Gavin & Kelsey’s and I’m so glad they did!

It gave us lots of time for photos of just the two of them and their really fun bridal party!

I wasn’t kidding about the day!

They were married at a lovely church just a block away from my house!

and after all that waiting, they became husband and wife.

We headed over to the lovely West Manor to celebrate! There were loads of great details, food and dancing.

Kimberly and I joked that she was my first Friday bride, my first red cake and several other firsts. Not too shabby to plan a wedding with such impact!

These were absolutely delicious as were the toppings located just to the left! Gotta love a make your own mashed potatoes bar.

We’ll finish this post with the best garter retrieval of 2010.

When Josh & I were planning our wedding we were given the advice to discuss what we think the most important parts of the wedding were and then decide to spend our money accordingly. When we discussed it he told me he thought that my dress should be the one thing we purchase regardless of cost because he knew that it would be the dress I wore in all my photos and my one and only wedding dress! I was sincerely touched by this thoughtful response. Later, we proceeded to spend the bulk of our budget on photography, lol. I did love my dress but I hadn’t been dreaming of my dress all these years, I’d been dreaming of my pictures. I know there are brides though that have been standing in front of mirrors swaying too and fro since childhood picturing themselves in the perfect gown and so I’m excited to invite you to take a look at OnceWed!

Once wed was launched in 2008 by a bride who had tried to sell her wedding gown and realized that there weren’t very many resources dedicated to making this process easy for others! There are designer gowns at discounted prices and opportunities to list your dress if you’re interested in helping another bride get that picture perfect gown & pocketing a little cash in the process. More than just a very well designed marketplace it has been expanded to include images and stories from real weddings, DIY projects (my new favorite thing) and links to many fantastic vendors! They even have a section of the site dedicated to ideas for specific categories. It’s one of those websites that you can certainly get lost in over and over! So, if you’re a bride to be or have already taken your trip down the aisle I would encourage you to treat yourself to some eye candy at OnceWed.

Here are a few tasty appetizers!

I Love that the whole concept is geared toward helping brides who are interested in hand picking projects to make their designer wedding at a lower cost without compromising on originality or style!

Also, for those of you have wondered how to get rid of some of those bridesmaid dresses that you really won’t wear again or need one, two or four for this coming summer, I found WoreItOnce.com that specializes as a market place for you to buy and sell (or liquidate in some cases) your bridesmaid dress inventory!

** The randomly selected winner of the Jimmy Cakes give away is: Emily Walker Tucker, an encouraging fellow photographer! Emily please email me so we can set up your order!

Part 1: I really, truly love Thursdays. Thursdays are my Saturdays. I choose how to spend my time from sun up to sun down. Thursdays are also great because the next day is a “light” day of teaching.  I think the birds chirp a little louder and the sun looks a little warmer on Thursday. This has inspired me to let that Thursday joy pour out via this blog. So on Thursdays, as often as I am able, I plan to invite you to Take A Look at something that makes me happy, something that inspires me, something that I think is worth your time. Without further ado I invite you to take a look today at:

Julia’s Poppies Design. The mastermind behind Julia’s Poppies is a lovely friend of mine, Ms. Jamie Wyckoff. She has a talent for creating custom print designs for any occasion! Here is some of her work that I snagged to share from her amazing Portfolio website & her blog. She comes up with completely custom designs for wedding  stationary based on the couples!

Save the Dates

Invitations – LOOOOVE these!

It would be a shame not to share some other pieces that are just too clever! This is a pop out birth announcement

This is a We’re-having-a-baby announcement! – Another awesome thing about Jamie is that she posts stories behind her designs and even a little behind the process! It’s all on her blog!

So let’s say you’re not in either the engaged or having a baby category. Jamie still has something up her sleeve for you! Check out a couple of her stationary designs.

I haven’t even tapped the tip of the ice burg as Jamie also customizes clothing and accessories!

Other reasons I love Jamie – I’ve gotten to know her family pretty well. She was a sister of the groom at Josh & Michelle’s 2009 wedding (bet you can spot her even if you’ve never seen a photo of her)

and she was a sister of the bride at Dave & Justina’s 2007 wedding which is where I first glimpsed her stationary skills.

So, go and check out her amazing work and please let her know that I sent you! Also, she’s running a free giveaway contest on her blog that you can still enter!

So, remember that weekend when we got 20+ inches of snow? Well, right at about an inch and a half, Josh and I took off for our great winter migration to the South. We drove through snow and ice for 6 hours and stopped just short of the turn off the highway for Ryan and Kristina’s wedding. The craziest part of the whole thing was that when we got to their ceremony site, 20 minutes form our hotel, you couldn’t even tell there had been a storm! Don’t get me wrong it was FREEEEZING but their awesome bridal party hardly whimpered as we took them outside for photos. I think Ryan and Kristina would tell you that it was all worth it! Enjoy photos from the last wedding of 2009!

PS. I must take a moment and brag on my seriously handsome and talented husband: Josh Deal. A lot of these photos came from him as my second shooter. I really did hit the jackpot with this one! Just to prove it to you I’m going to post a J.D. after each image in this post that belongs to him.

Yes, I’ve mentioned it before but I’m in love with Kristina’s big, beautiful eyes and lashes. I mean really, look at them!

their flower girls were JUST adorable.

Here’s part of the J.D. love fest

J.D.

J.D.

J.D.

J.D. {It is good to note that I had gotten the “talkin to” by the church lady and was dutifully hiding behind a large column no further forward than the first row of guests and not encroaching on the stage AT ALL. So Josh got the job of getting these fun shots}

J.D.

J.D.

J.D.

A brief pause in this tribute to show an image of mine!

and back to the action

J.D.

J.D.

The chapel had beautiful natural lighting flowing through the windows.

Just trying something new.

Absolutely classic as we took picture outside, Josh turned around and got THIS.

J.D.

Gotta say this is a favorite from and old S. Carter Studios standard.

and back inside to warm up again.

I’m convinced their kids will have great eyelashes too, lol.

aaaand back out.

They had their reception in the lobby of the pharmacy school Ryan graduated from at Campbell University. They even brought in a gorgeous Christmas tree for guests to put gifts under. It was covered in ornaments which served as favors!

Reasons to get a 2nd shooter. I get this while Josh gets the one below

I love the way he sees things!

They had stations around their reception with their favorite desserts and the stories behind them. Everything was soo tasty.

Beautiful Christmas themed decorations made it a cozy holiday celebration.

As quicky as it started, their celebration was over and they headed off. But not without some mischief first.

J.D.

J.D.

I had no idea but was thankful for this shot!

A note: Many of these photos from Ryan and Kristina’s wedding were available on Facebook shortly after the event. I wait to blog them until after I’ve completed editing so the blog readers can get a full selection but if you’re itching to see the work as soon as it’s available then by all means, join 843 of my closest friends and become a Fan on facebook. New content and updates as soon as it’s loaded as well as special Facebook contests and prizes to be announced! Just for the heck of it you should follow me on twitter too!

Well, go ahead and lean back, because this post is going to be a long one. You’ve seen Gavin & Kelsey before, the infamous paint couple! We took their engagement photos on a warm, beautiful summer day and they were married on 12-12-09 a very VERY cold winter day. They didn’t let the chilly weather keep them from having a perfect celebration! There was joy and excitement and awesome facial expressions from Kelsey without pause from the first few minutes I was with them until they left for their honeymoon. I’ll interject a few happy thoughts throughout the post but for the most part I think they speak for themselves!

Kelsey was the only bride I was able to give her ornament to in person. She had such a fun reaction!

She was an absolutely stunning bride!

Gavin and Kelsey chose to do a first look. This gave us lots of time to take photos of them and their wedding party. This was Gavin’s face as he saw his bride for the first time.

and Kelsey’s as she walked toward her groom. PS. First glimpse as those perfect little blue shoes!

You may remember, it was really, really cold this day in Lynchburg so we let Kelsey defrost a little and took pictures of the guys first. They were great!

West Manor was a great location for the photos and their reception!These ladies were amazing, not complaining one bit and looking good while sticking it out!

I could have taken pictures of  just these two all day long. Really.

My very favorite from the whole day!

Kelsey, wow, just WOW.

BLING, bling.

I may, have had a crush on her shoes, maybe.

Oh, yeah, there was a ceremony too!

I just can’t get enough of brides on the arms of their fathers! So much significance in this one little moment.

Two noteworthy things about this image: these candles are the same ones that Gavin used the night he proposed to Kelsey, there were over a hundred of them that night! The second is explained by the photo below it.

This is how I know i have the best brides. Kelsey was so chill about this! Oops, oh well.

A brief pause to share some of their great details!

It never gets old

seeing my work at receptions!

Alex, Angi and I with the bride, me reaching toward Solomon who had rapid fired a few shots by this point. Thought it would be a funny addition to the post

This mother son dance had the whole room misty-eyed. Gavin and his mother took turns letting tears slip between laughs and hugs. It was absolutely precious.

Love this photo of Gavin’s mom showing Kelsey’s dad the little birthday cake they gave her after the first dance. So sweet of her to share her birthday with the newlyweds.

there was dancing, lots of really, fun, dancing.

The newlyweds left in a flash of sparklers to their honeymoon in the mountains of TN.

I’ve been feeling inspired to share some more recently. So this is another by definition post: the Marie Antoinette treatment. I’ve actually had more than two mothers say to me, including my own, that they don’t understand why I like photos were people’s heads are cut off. Am I not fast enough to get the whole shot? Is it how I hide my less attractive clients? Am I obsessed with chests? No. No to all of the above.

The truth is that there are two main reasons I like photos like this. The first reason is that so much of what goes into the wedding day is barely noticed by those around them but they were the things the bride spent hours pouring over, the small touches that make this her special day: the necklace her father gave her,  the gown that fits just right, the boutonniere she picked just for him. It’s the rings they’ll wear for the rest of their lives and the cake they didn’t actually get to eat a piece of. Giving these little details their own photograph is to me like paying a small honor, a tilt of my hat if you will to the way the couple has  doted on their guests and on each other.

The second reason I love beheading my clients, if you will, is that the captured moment becomes about so much more than a picture. During the wedding day, there are so many intimate situations I get to be a part of, things that nobody else in the room is aware of and I am able to offer this perspective while still respecting the sweetness of the moment.

So, brides to be, here’s the post you can send your mother to when she comments on the fact that people’s heads are cut off. It’s not unintentional or bad foresight, it’s not that I’m a masochist or that I have a blind spot. It’s about paying tribute to what things are really about: the moment and the relationship. Plus you can click on over here and see whole albums of weddings where plenty of people manage to have their whole heads in tact.

The more I learned about Brian and Libby, the more excited I became. She grew up in Thailand and they were incorporating that into the wedding and reception. Yes, my friends we’re talking about parasols and authentic Thai food and even a Thai dancer! They couldn’t have picked a more perfect day and I was so glad to get to spend it with them. They surrounded themselves with great family and friends who braved the cold weather to do whatever was asked of them. She was simply beautiful and the vows they’d written to each other were so sweet. Enjoy a few of the moments from their wedding day!

I couldn’t get enough of these super cute kiddos.

We headed up to the monogram and had some stunning light to work with.

They had their reception at the same place Josh and I did and it was the first time I’d been there since. I just think there is something a little magical about this building. I’m probably biased.

A super cute and original cake topper.

Despite feeling under the weather, she sang a song to him that she’d been singing to the Lord for years about finding her love.

What a beautiful, wonderful night. Thank you for letting me share it with you!

Some couples just have the “it” factor, they light up when they are around each other and that light has the watts to power Vegas for a few decades. Matt and Jen are like THAT. They bring so much joy to each other and everyone around them that it’s undeniable! I took their engagement photos last winter and caught a glimpse of what it’s like to be near so much joy but their wedding weekend was a testimony to how wonderful it is to be a part of their lives. It was the PERFECT weather and I was definitely in awe during my first Fall in New England experience. It’s really just breathtaking. Josh and I had a blast scooting around town in our rental car but the real fun was definitely where Matt and Jen where! They had a bridal party that we couldn’t get enough of and made photography a priority! I hope you can enjoy just a few photos from this celebration as much as we enjoyed the entire experience!

She was stunning and everyone who saw her couldn’t help but smile!

Especially Matt who lit up when they had their First Look!

I asked her if she thought she’d cry and she said no, but Josh caught a few tears as Matt pulled her close.

We gave them a few minutes alone and then hit the grounds of beautiful Connecticut College for photos!

Yes, they were LOADS of fun.

So proud of my husband for grabbing these three!

I was trying a little something different, we think Matt will like it.

We took a break from photos for one of the sweetest ceremonies I’ve been a part of including a time of family prayer.

Leaving photos are always my favorite.

Yes, my favorite couple in the New England area wanted even more photos when we reached the beautiful Inn at Mystic for their reception! We were more than happy to oblige.

Just classic.

The party began after a tasty dinner and went into the night as we celebrated with the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Douglas.

Oh, boy, the dancing was great!

I remembered Matt’s sweet moves from Adriel and Amy’s wedding and he did not disappoint!

A few tasty details on the way out

A photo book of Mystic through the seasons that they had people leave messages for them on the pages. It was a beautiful idea.

A super tasty cake decorated to match the lace on the bridesmaids’ dresses!

The cake topper, the same one that graced Jen’s grandparent’s wedding cake, was personalized to look like the bride and groom!

They left in a flurry of cheers, post-it notes, and sparklers!

Thank you for a wonderful weekend of love and celebration of God’s work in your lives!

The air was clear and crisp as I made the drive to Mt. Solon. Not a cloud in the sky and a gentle breeze wafting through the crisping leaves. I was nervous, I think I always get nervous and I think that’s probably a good thing. All the nerves melted away as Kristen smiled and laughed about seeing her wedding cake and making sure she brushes her teeth. I remembered why I love my job when she and Martin saw each other for the first time before the ceremony. His jaw almost hit the floor. It was the day they’d been planning for over a year, the day she’d been dreaming of her whole life and it was simply perfect. They had a great bridal party and the two of them were up for anything, including TONS of pictures. I hope you enjoy some photos from Martin and Kristen’s big day!

And this view is why I love Central Virginia!

Martin is a hunter, who gave up the first day of bow season, so we made sure to take pictures in his element, the woods.

I mean really, they are like a crest commercial!

A few from the ceremony. Kristen’s dad concentrated so hard to make sure he and HER mother gave Kristen away, instead of his mother!

Gotta love Martin’s victory pose coming off the stage as a married man.

I love this one, straight out of the camera! Gotta love the Rebel T1i.

They took a hay ride from the ceremony to the reception! I love the hand made sign the guys made just for the occasion!

I really love this picture, I know, everyone does jumping pictures but this one has lots of character, plus, look at that bride, she’s got hops!

The bride’s dad snuck in on the first dance and they weren’t bothered a bit!

Of course, he had his own dance too.

Did I mention that we took lots and lots of pictures? We went out just the three of us during the reception because the venue and the lighting were too good not to capitalize on.

Picture perfect!

I’ll leave you with an out-take and some detail shots. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Driver!

My husband and I, who incidentally celebrate six months of marriage today, dated for 5 1/2 years before we were wed. We had the title hands down on longest dating relationship before marriage out of our friends but this weekend I photographed a couple who blew us away! Michael and Brittany began dating 7 years ago! They met in high school at Northside Christian Academy which is part of Northside Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. What began before they could drive with stood many life changes. It was so special to see them tie the knot inside the same building in which their relationship began. I must brag on the amazing video they couple created and showed before the ceremony which incorporated both photos and video from their childhood to today. I hope that I can find online soon and share it with you! Their wedding was beautiful and memorable. Brittany’s grace and composure was inspiring as the day unfolded. Michael and his band of mighty men had me laughing early in the day and the smiles didn’t stop until the couple made their get-a-way several hours later. Enjoy some photos from this great September wedding!

This picture was great as the girls recalled over a decade of memories in front of this tree including class photos from second grade and after school pick up in fourth! I was also LOOOOVING the beautiful dresses the bridesmaids wore.

I mean, look at her, what an absolutely gorgeous bride. 

The pastor shared memories of a gangly middle school point guard in Michael and Brittany who made scores of hand-braided bracelets for an entire youth group on a mission trip. It’s not every day that you get to be a part of such a highly anticipated wedding!

After the ceremony we tromped around the beautiful grounds to take the formals. I love their facial expressions!

I’m not sure how many times they stole kisses around this building over the course of their relationships but they won’t have to sneak them anymore!

Loving this ring shot.

It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t post a picture of Michael and his mother dancing. The Joyner family takes their dancing VERY seriously (see below)!

I’m excited to share what are probably the best bouquet and garter shots in my portfolio!

and in what seemed like a wink, they were off to Mexico. Congratulations you guys!

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