I’m beginning to realize that this is kind of a theme lately with me, but I need to start by telling you that it rained on Blake and Mary Kathryn’s wedding day. Not quite that Forrest Gump rain-flew-in-sideways kind of rain, but rain none the less. Luckily, I’ve become pretty adept at dealing with the rain over the years, so it was no biggie from a photographic standpoint. I do always worry about how a couple will react to the rain, but in this case, the refrain for the entire day was essentially, “Meh, it’ll be fine.”
The day started with me shooting bridal details in the bride’s home. It was a little dark there, and with the rain, outside wasn’t really an option. What was a girl to do? After a little reflection, I ended up just opening the garage door for some natural light and shot the details on a lovely chair that I snagged from the bride’s den. The results were even better than I could have hoped for. I truly love these detail shots. The quality of the light was mellow and diffused—it was like shooting inside a giant soft box. The anxious part of doing all of the details shots at the bride’s place while she was off getting all done up for the wedding was that I had to meet her at the church with her dress, etc… Pretty much everything she needed was in my hands. Transporting all of that was a bit of an anxious time, but it worked out perfectly thanks to the help of Anne Christian, one of Mary Kathryn’s bridesmaids who met me at the bride’s home to ensure that nothing was missed.
The ceremony took place at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, a venue I know and love well. The damp conditions cut off certain photographic options, but there were plenty of indoor locations that worked perfectly, and we did manage to get a few outside shots on the walkway and stairs. Mostly, I was just impressed with how relaxed Mary Kathryn and Blake stayed throughout the whole production. I’d met them for the first time in Chapel Hill a few months earlier for our engagement shoot, and while they seemed just as sweet as could be, there was no way I could have predicted the sweet, fun, and totally chill way they went through their wedding day.
The reception was at Charlotte Country Club, and all I can say is that I’ve probably never seen so many empty tables at an event. Because everyone, and I mean everyone, was on the dance floor the entire time. Mary Kathryn and Blake were the embodiment of celebration. For the duration of the evening, they danced with each other, with their families, and with their friends. This was amazing for me, because for so much of the night, it was essentially as though they forgot the camera was even there. Both sets of parents also tore up the dance floor. I don’t know where they got the energy, but these people all killed it out there. It was just a fun crowd to be around.
One of my very favorite moments of the night was when Mary Kathryn and Blake climbed up on stage for the band’s rendition of Proud Mary and promptly broke into a hysterical bout of synchronized dancing. I got the feeling this was a routine they’d practiced a bit…
At the end of the night, the bride and groom made their getaway in a bright yellow dune buggy built by Mary Kathryn’s dad and grandfather when her father was a boy. It was the same getaway car Mary Kathryn’s sister had used for her wedding. I love little details like that.
This was a wonderful night with a generous and loving group of people, none more so than the bride and groom themselves. Congrats, you two. I couldn’t be happier for you.
Ceremony Venue: Myers Park Presbyterian Church
Reception Venue: Charlotte Country Club
Floral Design: In Bloom
Cake Artist: For Goodness Cakes
Bride’s Dress: Ramona Keveza
Men’s Suits: Bruce Julian
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: New York Bride and Groom
Hair and Make-up: Modern Salon and Spa
Band: The Sound of Rain
Thank you to Nathan for contributing his beautiful images to Mary Kathryn and Blake’s wedding day
