Clementine and Charlie met in 2013 in Washington, DC. Charlie was so immediately smitten with Clementine that after setting a first date for the following week, he got back in touch with her to see if they could move the date up a few days. They ended up meeting for Sunday night drinks at a neighborhood bar; it didn’t take long until Clementine found herself charmed by Charlie’s sense of humor and adventurousness, and for Charlie to realize how much he loved Clementine’s smile and sense of wanderlust. When the time came, Charlie popped the question at home on a Friday night. The ring was one he had designed himself using diamonds that had once belonged to his grandmother and great-grandmother. The next day they left for a celebratory weekend in New York City.
When it came to planning the wedding, Charlie and Clementine had some pretty clear priorities. For one, they wanted to stress as little as possible. They also wanted to make sure that their time with friends and family was maximized on the wedding day, and so many of their choices reflect that desire. Their rehearsal dinner, for instance, took place at Sugar Creek Brewing. That’s awesome enough, but before they even hit the brewery, Charlie and Clementine and a bunch of their guests hit Park Lanes for a little bowling. They definitely prioritized the fun quotient.
Both the wedding and the reception took place at the same venue, the beautiful Charlotte Country Club, on February 18th. Because of the date, the chance for winter weather was something to take into account, but Charlie and Clementine had pretty much decided not to worry themselves about it. The day came off cloudy and a little drizzly, but the weather never caused a problem. For the pre-ceremony portraits, the girls and I stayed under cover in various locations, while the boys braved the outdoors. The first look, we did in the lovely breezeway that runs alongside the club, and then I got Charlie and Clementine together with their families in front of the club for a few more shots.
Charlotte Country Club looked gorgeous for the wedding. I mean, it always looks great, but I saw some things this time I had never seen before. For one, when guests entered the ceremony site, they passed through the reception room; to keep the suspense alive, sheer fabric was strung on either sides of a walkway, allowing only a gauzy view of the candlelit tables and details as folks entered. As soon as all the guests were seated, the staff drew back the sheers and voila, instant reception site. Another detail that really stood out was the amazing floral wreath—by Jay of In Bloom—that hung in the main window of the ceremony site. A final touch was provided by nature herself. Just after the ceremony, with the sun just barely hanging on, I took Charlie and Clementine outside for a few shots of them in front of a massive rainbow that arched across the entire sky—it was so perfect..
After a Happy Hour, the reception got kicked off in earnest. The dinner, a sumptuous combo of spare ribs, polenta and root vegetables, was served family-style. I’d never seen that before at a wedding reception, and it really spoke volumes about Charlie and Clementine’s desire for their guests to sit and talk and spend time with one another. The band, The Business, truly delivered. The dance floor was packed all night long. One of the most enthusiastic dancers was Charlie’s grandmother—she tore it up. When things drew to a close, Charlie and Clementine made their exit through a flurry of snow provided by snow machines. I hadn’t seen that before, either, so it was quite a night of firsts for me.
After the wedding, Charlie and Clementine, both of whom love to travel, honeymooned in Thailand and Malaysia. Not too shabby.
I’m so delighted our paths crossed and I was able to be a part of such a fantastic celebration, and happy 1st anniversary!
Ceremony and Reception Location: Charlotte Country Club
Officiant: Jim Lytle
Hair and Make Up: Who’s the Fairest
Floral Design: In Bloom
Cake Artist: For Goodness Cakes
Band: The Business
Draping: Party Tables
Thanks to my second shooter, Nathan, for helping to craft such a lovely image collection for Clementine and Charlie.
