So grateful to be here to see the sweet smiling faces of my boys. They are holding on tight, and healing me with their love. Please keep us in your prayers..

Congrats again guys. Lots of love to you both.

Venue: The Manor House
Dress: Pronovias
Sash: Etsy
Hair & Makeup: Avanti
Bridesmaid Dresses: The Limited
Suits: Perry Ellis
Flowers: Bridal Bouquet & boutonierres by Amy Lynne Originals. Centerpieces are DIY.
Cakes: Family recipes made by the mother of the bride & a bridesmaid
Chalkboards & cake topper: handmade by the bride
Band: Mandolin Orange

I can’t think of a better way to kick things off than to introduce you to one of my Spring 2012 couples, Megan & Tim. Prior to this perfect August afternoon, I had only traded emails & phone calls with Megan, but I knew the first second they walked in the door with their cute pup Bodie, that they were the perfect fit for me. We traded hugs & laughed our way through this session. Megan is a bright-eyed beauty with a contagious laugh, and truly stunning without even the slightest drop of makeup. Tim is tall, handsome & has great taste in music ( a fellow Toad fan..major bonus points for that :) Their pup Bodie was just the icing on the cake. He has to be one of the most well-behaved pups I’ve ever photographed…and boy does he love Megan. The shot of him licking her face below is one of my absolute favorites.

Thanks to Megan, Tim & Bodie for braving the heat to create these images. Can’t wait to see you guys again in May.

Now onto the good stuff…

Erin & Mike’s wedding was a classic beauty. Timeless, sweet, and full of life. It was a true reflection of who they are as a couple. They had a lovely ceremony at a small chapel on the campus of Greensboro College and danced the night away right down the hall from my studio in Revolution Mill’s rustic event space. The entire day was easy-going and fun. Even when a huge storm hit during their ceremony, Erin & Mike weren’t phased a bit…they were so focused on each other that we could have been outside in the rain & I’m not sure they would have cared as long as they could walk away Mr. & Mrs. Lucky for us, the storm stopped just as the ceremony ended & we had a few moments to snap some portraits on the campus of Greensboro College. The rest of the night was a full-on party and easily one of my favorite receptions to date. Every reception should have glowsticks…by the end of the night everyone was covered in them :)

Here’s a peek into Erin & Mike’s day…

Venue- Revolution Mill Studios
Dress- Watters and Watters
Reception Dress- Ivy and Aster
Hair & Makeup- the uber talented Megan Snipes with Salon Medusa
Shoes- Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaid Dresses- Trina Turk
Flowers- Corum Greenhouse
Groomsmen Suits- Jos. A Bank
Cake- Doris Tilley
Band- Fantasy

There were so many incredible, sigh-inducing moments throughout their day, its tough to pick a favorite…but one does come to mind. After their first look, Laura handed Mike a small recycled egg crate, and said “When my mom first met you, she said you were a good egg..” and he opened the crate to find a little plastic Easter egg. The egg held a tiny frame with a photo of Mike’s grandfather who recently passed away. It was one moment in the thousands I’ve photographed…that I’ll never forget.

So when I got this email from Laura a week ago ( which she allowed me to share ), my heart sank:

“I was just thinking of you today. Your email has just made my 3 weeks!!! Married life has not been what many would consider very normal for Mike and I…Three days after returning from our honeymoon (which was incredible!) I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The scan found an aggressively growing 5 cm. tumor on the interior of my cervix. They were able to move the ovaries to a higher position within my abdomen so my eggs will be most viable which was the most wonderful news because the only reasonable treatment to rid my body of the cancer was to perform a radical hysterectomy which was done last Tuesday. It has all been very surreal and we are still so dumbfounded at all of this.

So it has been a wild ride since we saw you last and I just want to say that I am so appreciative that we had you there to capture such an incredibly special day of our lives. I don’t know if it makes any sense to say that our wedding day now means so much more to me than I ever could have thought it would because in such a short time we have been truly tested as husband and wife. To be able to have those moments from the day that Mike vowed to stand by my side…sheesh…I don’t know if you have ever had a bride full out sob over your pictures but I can almost guarantee it will happen next week-but I promise that they will be the most heartfelt tears of gratitude to you and your brother for giving us the gift of being able to look back on that day. I just wanted to thank you, in advance, and I wanted you to hear it from a very raw place just what an unbelievable gift your talent gives to people.”

After reading this email, I patted away the tears and rattled off a few choice words directed at cancer. Then I flipped through their wedding gallery & was reminded just how fearless Laura is. She & Mike have the kind of love that can endure anything…even cancer. She’s on the road to recovery & I hope these images give her a constant reminder of how truly loved she is.

Laura & Mike..thanks for sharing your day with us. Hugs to you both.

Location- Autumn Creek Vineyards
Dress- Pronovias
Flower on sash- Twigs & Honey
Hair/Makeup- the one & only Megan Snipes with Salon Medusa
Shoes- JCrew
Bridesmaid Dresses- Amsale
Suits & Ties- Jos. A Banks
Flowers- RSVP Events
Design & Coordination- RSVP Events
Pies- all family recipes bakes by Sanctuary House
Bluegrass Band- Hey Rabbit
Reception Band- Another Level
Second shooter- my super talented brother Ben

To see more from Laura & Mike’s day ( including their emotional first look ) click below. Song by The Civil Wars.

1.) They are total naturals in front of the camera & really put their hearts into this session.
2.) The love they share is palpable.
3.) Tara is gorgeous ( I mean, really…I think my 35mm has a crush on her)
4.) Tony brings out the best in Tara & totally made my day by saying “well, that was a blast..” when we wrapped their session.
5.) They have the cutest dog on the planet.
6.) They let their connection shine in these images & focused on each other throughout this entire shoot.
7.) Did I mention I adore them & can’t wait to hang out with them again next Spring?

Tony, Tara & Boken…thanks for being the highlight of my week. Here are a few favorites from our downtown shoot..

Fast forward to last May and guess who’s name pops up in my inbox? Yep. Chris proposed and Anna had the ring to prove it :)

In case you’re new to this blog & wondering what the heck an “Eden girl” is… This group of girls have been with me since the beginning. Since before I opened the studio…back when I was just a girl with a camera, long before this blog even existed, I photographed the first bride in this group of friends. Funny thing is, I think she was the only one that’s actually FROM Eden, but the name has stuck & the Eden streak has continued for the past 5 years. So as you can imagine, these gals mean a lot to me. All six of them, along with their hubbies, have a special place in my heart. Every time I photograph one of their weddings its a big, happy reunion. So it seems only fitting that Anna & Chris are my Spring Feature. Anna is an Audrey Hepburn-style beauty…timeless & graceful. She was an absolute vision in her Amsale gown, and Chris couldn’t take his eyes off her as she made her way down the aisle. They share a love of the NC coast, so Bald Head Island was the perfect spot for them to share “i dos.” Their wedding day was the perfect blend of vintage & classic. Kim Fisher combined stunning, soft pink florals and tiny succulents for the centerpieces, and large planters filled with sea oats and magnolia leaves adorned the aisle. Every detail was beautifully executed thanks to the staff at the Bald Head Island Club and Kim Fisher’s vision. And I may just have a new favorite wedding cake, thanks to Flower & Flour ( check out their beautiful work below..)

Its tough to choose a favorite moment from a day as beautifully heartfelt as theirs was, but one does stand out to me… Anna’s dad Fred pulled double-duty during the ceremony, not just walking her down the aisle, but also officiating the ceremony. The moment before he announced them as husband & wife, he paused & you could see the tears welling up..it was as if the gravity of letting go hit all at once & his face says it all. It was one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever photographed. You’ll have to watch the slideshow to catch that moment, but its worth it…promise :)

To Anna, Chris, Georgia & Fred…thanks for having us. Lots of love to you all.

Venue- Bald Head Island Club
Dress- Amsale
Bridesmaid Dresses- Amsale
Flowers- Kim Fisher Designs
Cake- Flower & Flour
Band- The TFC Band
Hitched Banner- Etsy
Donut Favor Bags- Shop by Minimega and Le Papier Studios
Second Shooter- my uber-talented brother Ben

To see more of Anna & Chris’s wedding day, click play below. Music by Cat Power.

The past 2 weeks have been so jam-packed with good news ( as in game-changing, cartwheel-inducing news ) it would take me 3 blog posts to include it all, and since there aren’t enough hours in the day to write 3 separate blog posts, I’m working on cramming it all into one. Hoping to share early next week, so keep an eye out. And in case you’re curious…I really DID do a cartwheel last week. Lets just say my acrobat days are long gone. In a word…ouch.

So my real purpose of this post? Jackie & Brandon. Their mountainside wedding in Little Switzerland was a little slice of heaven with a double dose of heart. It didn’t surprise me a bit that every element of their wedding day was crafted with love. From the stunning ceremony arbor, to the whimsical bouquets, Jackie’s mom Patricia added her designer touch to every detail. As breathtaking as the view from the mountainside was, I found myself drawn to the connections that exist within this sweet family. If you know Jackie, you know how warm & wonderful she is. She’s the type of person who makes you feel like a million bucks the very first time you meet. Being around her makes even the cloudiest of days cheery & bright. She found the perfect match in Brandon. He is the yin to her yang. They balance each other out perfectly. Brandon has 2 great loves…his camaro and Jackie ( though not necessarily in that order ;) and over the past year I’ve found that having those 2 things around is the best way to get him to smile. His face lit up when he saw Jackie round the corner for their first look, and the hug they shared was one of my favorite moments of the day ( see below ). Their ceremony was filled with laughter & tears…and the party that ensued was one of the most fun I’ve ever photographed. From start to finish their wedding day was beautifully homespun, heartfelt & an absolute blast for everyone in attendance.

Thanks to Jackie & Brandon for having us…you guys are the best. Lots of love to you both.

Dress: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Hair: Salon Icon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Calvin Klein
Suits: Adolfo
Florals: designed by Jackie’s mom Patricia
Band: Rubberband

So anyway…that’s where I’ve been. Wrapped up in my little blanket of grief & unable to blog because..well, I just can’t fake it. I take the intros to these blog posts as seriously as I do the images that accompany them & need to be in a good place to write them. I can honestly say I’ve never been happier to be swimming in heartfelt, beautiful moments…so here’s a thank-you to my clients for allowing me to tap into their joy. That joy ( along with the smiles & hugs from my little boys) has kept me afloat for the past week.

I would normally be nervous to write something so personal at the start of a wedding post, but that’s just how perfect this couple are for me. There are a million and one reasons why Sarah & Andy are my ideal couple..starting with the fact that every time Sarah has dropped by the studio to pick up prints, we end up talking for hours. She’s an open book & has a heart the size of Texas. There’s no guard up with Sarah…and that’s a big reason why I love photographing her & Andy so much. They are so at home with one another, and rather than treating their wedding like an 8-hr. portrait session, they focused on family & friends…and really allowed us to document their day. I love that they planned their first look in the exact spot that Andy proposed. The Creek Club was more than just a pretty place to say ‘i-do’…it holds a lot of memories for them, and I was honored to be there to add to those memories…

I called Sarah yesterday to let her know her gallery was online & ready to view…and you’ll never guess what she said, “I want to wait for the blog post, I want to see your take on it, Kellie….”

Sigh. THAT’s how amazing this couple is. I hope they’re at home snuggled up in front of the computer, sharing a glass of wine reading this right now. Thanks for an unforgettable day, guys..lots of love to you both.

Dress: Amsale
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Earrings ( wedding gift from the groom): David Yurman
Coordination & Design: Hannah Alexander with WED
Venue: Creek Club at I’On
Hair Fascinator: Twigs & Honey
Hair & Makeup: Chris King from Salon Aqua
Flowers: Sara Grimshaw Designs
Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor
Suits: Berlins in Charleston
Ties: Vineyard Vines Ties

**A huge thank-you to my incredible second shooter Jennings King, who blew me away with her contributions to Sarah & Andy’s story. Much of her work can be seen below.**

Thanks to Carrie, Will & Sally the dog for a magical afternoon…