Happy Friday!!

Here is a gorgeous image from a summer engagement session in Orange County...can't wait to share more of this session and their wedding!!!

Most of us grew up fortunate.  You know, like clothes-on-your-back, food-on-the-table fortunate. And most of us grew up very fortunate...playing sports, back-to-school clothes (kind of wish I was still in school for that!) and parents that would even move into a better school district so you could have a great education.  Enter:  Nikki and myself.  I grew up down the street from Nikki, as in, 3 houses down the street.  We were fortunate to live in a neighborhood where there were a few other girls who could play after school and borrow textbooks when you'd left yours at school and just a good, all around fun group of friends.  We rode bikes together and played cops and robbers, played on swingsets and occasionally enjoyed playing with Barbies and Legos.  Flash forward a certain number of years later and Nikki is getting married and asked me to photograph her wedding...yay!  It's so special for me to photograph a wedding like this...I always strive to get to know my clients as it helps me to tell their story in a much more close knit almost family-like way.  So it's exciting that I know Nikki's story and I get to help document another chapter of her life, with Vance  :)

Nikki and Vance, thank you for allowing me to capture your engagement session and I cannot wait for your wedding!!!

Happy Tuesday!

This week for the Resource Room I want to share one of my favorite websites, Etsy...but not just Etsy....Etsy weddings!  There are so many gorgeous accessories and wedding day must haves that you can get lost in there!  Go ahead and check it out, but I warn you, you should clear about 2 hours off your schedule today :)

And because this is a photo blog, here is a sneak peek from Nikki and Vance's Charlotte engagement session!

More to come soon...!

Their beautiful wedding took place on July 16 in downtown Charlotte, NC with everyone getting ready at the historic Dunhill Hotel, the ceremony at historic St. Mary's Chapel and the reception following at RiRa's, which is such a fun bar and restaurant with a great atmosphere.  The day started out cloudy and it looked almost as if it could rain, but it didn't and the sun peeped out just after the ceremony, which I think is good luck :)  

Cody and Anna, thank you so much for allowing me to document your wedding day---it was beautiful and, just like you wanted, I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time :)

Anna's dress is gorgeous and she purchased it in Charlottesville, VA at West Main Bridal.

Nothing more gorgeous than a radiant bride on her wedding day!  :)

Bling!

I love the getting ready photographs, almost as much as any other part of the wedding day...there is so much excitement and anticipation and you can feel it in the air...

Cody doing his thing before the wedding...

I love capturing the groom's expression as his future wife walks down the aisle  :)

Anna is an only child and you could tell her Dad was happy for her but was also a little hesitant to let his little girl go...

Actually, this might be my favorite part of the day...right after the bride and groom have exchanged vows and are pronounced husband and wife...!

Oh! Y'all! Are! Too! Stinking! Adorable!

Anna and Cody held their reception at RiRa's in downtown Charlotte and it was so much fun!  

Delicious cake made by the chef at RiRa's...I'm talking rich, velvety dark chocolate with a rich, creamy, chocolate frosting with whip cream to boot!  Are you hungry yet?? :)

Gotta wrap up the post with an awesome reception shot of Cody and all the guys singing "You've lost that lovin' feeling" to Anna  :)

Happy Tuesday!