It’s always nice to think back about a couple with such an adorable meet-cute, as they say in showbiz. Rachel and Mitchell are both teachers, and it just so happened that their classrooms were connected by a little office where they shared a desk for two years. I’ve written about this before, in their engagement post, but it’s sweet enough to mention again. There’s something so precious about that experience of working with another person on a day-to-day basis for months, seeing who that other person really is, and then ending up together. I just can’t let it go.
I remember officially meeting Rachel and her parents at our consult. I knew that I recognized their faces, and as I took them through a sample album from a previous wedding, I realized why. Not only had Rachel been a bridesmaid in a wedding I’d photographed years before, but she and her parents had been in attendance at the wedding featured in the album they held in their hands, and at more than one of my past weddings. Turns out the world of Charlotte wedding photography is smaller than you’d think.
Rachel and Mitchell were married at First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte on the 15th of October, 2016. Their wedding was beautiful, not only in its details and execution, but also due to the sheer amount of love so evident in the bride and groom and everyone else in attendance. First Presbyterian is one of my favorite wedding venues in town, and I love to shoot there for aesthetic reasons. There are so many little areas to do pre-ceremony portraits, and even after years of doing this job, I’m always finding new ones. First Pres is also Rachel’s family church, and it’s always a sweet thing to see a bride married in a place she holds so close to her heart.
There were so many little details I loved about this wedding. For instance, Mitchell’s wedding-day gift to Rachel was a Frisbee. That’s not a typo. But, as is always the case with these two, the gift was meaningful. The Frisbee was a reference to a work outing on which the two had gone before they had started dating. But even at that point, Mitchell knew that he was going to ask Rachel out, and so for him, that was a sort of beginning. See what I mean about these two? Along with the Frisbee, Mitchell gave Rachel a sweet letter written on roughly-torn notebook paper, the kind a high school boy might pass to his crush in class. I loved getting a few ring shots on the note.
Speaking of the ring, it was a family heirloom passed down from Rachel’s grandmother, to her mother, and then to Mitchell when he declared his intent to propose. Rachel had always loved the ring, and it’s no wonder why—it’s a stunner. I got some images of the ring on the green velvet box in which Rachel’s grandmother used to keep it. I love little details like that, the ones that really reference a family’s history.
The reception took place just a few blocks away, at the Charlotte City Club. Getting the chance to walk with Rachel and Mitchell from the wedding site to the reception site was wonderful. Yes, I was walking backwards most of the time, but the chance to capture images of two people who have just declared their undying love for one another as they walk the short distance to a huge party in their honor…priceless. And it should be said that the City Club, run by Nathan Hoffman, is one of the finest reception venues in town. The man runs a tight ship, but the overall feel is relaxed and easy. I love working there.
One of the things I remember most vividly about the reception was that Rachel and Mitchell decided to forgo a wedding cake in favor of a scrumptious cheesecake dessert bar. YUM! Another clear memory I have is very different in nature. When Rachel and Mitchell made their exit, they climbed into a pedi-cab to head off for the peace and quiet of their hotel room. But before they could get 10 feet, they ran into a bunch of…zombies. Turns out, there was a zombie-themed bar crawl going on (for those interested: Zombie Bar-ocalypse), and for a brief moment, I didn’t know if the bloody crew of zombified drinkers was going to let them through.
They made it, though, and now it’s been a year. I’m so happy to wish these two a happy anniversary. I’ll always remember the sincerity of the love I felt from you, your families, and your friends. Thank you for letting me be a part of the fun.
Ceremony Location: First Presbyterian Church
Reception Location: Charlotte City Club
Make Up Artist: Woo Skincare and Cosmetics
Hair: SH Cuts at Salon & Co
Floral Design: Lily Greenthumbs
Band: Atlanta Rhythm and Groove
Thank you Nathan for helping me to create such a lovely collection of images for Rachel and Mitchell.
You can see Rachel and Mitchell’s engagement session images HERE.