Weddings Wednesdays: North Carolina Photographers

My lovely home state of North Carolina sure does have a bushel of talented photographers! On this delightful Wedding Wednesday, I am featuring some of my favorite ladies (and the occasional gentleman) who are behind the lenses. Photography is such an art...especially wedding photography. It's a picture of a sweet kiss on the forehead or father looking adoringly at his daughter that will be cherished forever. I love looking through my parents wedding album and seeing how wedding photography has evolved over the years.  Natural light, candid shots, and beautiful family heirloom details are a few of the many pieces to beautiful photography. If you are like me and love nothing more than beautiful love stories told through stunning photography, go and sit a spell on these lovely photographers' blogs. I promise you won't regret it!

Emily March Photography Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Instagram @emilymarchpayne

Robyn Van Dyke Photography Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Instagram @robynvandyke

Cameron Faye Photography Charlotte, North Carolina | Instagram @cameronfaye_

Nancy Ray Photography Raleigh, North Carolina | Instagram @nancyray

Jordan Maunder Photography Durham, North Carolina | Instagram @jordanmaunder

Southern Weddings Magazine V6 Launch Party

So as I guessed... I was wayyy to excited/nervous to document the Southern Weddings Magazine V6 Launch party like a good blogger should. Needless to say, I didn't even hardly eat any of the amazing food either! Y'all, I was just so incredibly giddy with excitement to even think of doing anything other than, "Oh my goodness that's (fill in name here)!!" The ballroom at the Carolina Inn was sparkling with blue and silver everything! We were given awesome swag bags and they were filled with yet another SWV6 to add to my growing collection.. and there was a photo booth, HOORAY! 

Two of my favorite girls, Emily and Sidney, went with me to the party. We all had so much fun and I am so glad they were there to encourage me to talk to all of the people in the wedding industry I admire!

I had never been inside the lovely Carolina Inn before and it is just so gorgeous! As you can tell below, I was a bit excited:) Aren't those checkered floors to die for?!

 The Southern Weddings gals were looking glamorous in their Lula Kate blue and silver dresses! This picture was taken when they were all gathered around acting so giddy...but Lisa was missing anddd my friend Callie, who works for Nancy Ray Photography, was ready. I put two and two together and just knew gorgeous Lisa had gotten engaged!!! Eeeekkkk :)

 

A week before the Southern Weddings V6 launch, I sent Lara Casey a letter. I have wanted to write her for a while and thank her for all that she has indirectly done in my life. She has inspired me to push past my fears that I am not good enough or that my major stands in the way of my dreams. Her kind words flow over many forms of social media and they have blessed many other lives as well. Her faith in the Lord and her drive to be all that HE has called her to be is truly awe-inspiring.

As the evening wore on, I had yet to make my way up to Lara. She constantly had a line of people surrounding her and I did not want to inhibit her night of celebration in any way. Emily and Sidney kept encouraging me to make my way over to her but I was so nervous! Finally, as the night was coming to a close and Lisa had gotten engaged (YAYYYY!!), I found the courage to make my way over to her. When I introduced myself, I was not expecting any recognition because my name is so common...

However, Lara knew exactly who I was and she was so incredibly thankful for the letter I had sent her. I was shocked. I hope I didn't appear as shocked as I felt but I was so surprised that she remembered a letter from little ole me, a girl she had never met! 

Lara has the absolute kindest heart and I am so thankful that the Lord has placed her in a position where she can share her heart with so many others. Looking back on that night, I can't help but chuckle at how nervous I was to meet some of the sweetest women!

I am still finding blue and silver confetti around my room... Oh my stars! :)

Wedding Wednesdays: Southern Weddings Volume 6

Today my post is dedicated to the lovely, talented ladies of Southern Weddings! On Tuesday, which just so happened to be 11.12.13, they released volume six of the Southern Weddings magazine. Hoorayyy! I can't even explain in words how incredibly beautiful this magazine is. The story behind Lara Casey's creation of Southern Weddings is so humbling and inspirational... but this is so much more than any ole wedding magazine. Southern Weddings is rooted in the true meaning behind a weddings, love, family, traditions and most importantly the Lord. "We Love because He first Loved us." 1 John 4:19

This incredible cover shot is by the talented Ryan Ray and the only thing to make it even better is that they are a real married couple! Ahhh no staged couple here!! Read about the cover on the Southern Weddings Blog. The Song of the South shoot is one of my absolute favorites. It was taken by the Raleigh based Nancy Ray Photography, whose work behind a camera is truly breathtaking.

Y'all one of my favorite bloggers was featured in V6!! Victoria at Happily Ever Strader gave her humbling advice for couples to make decisions as a we rather than an I.

Kate at The Small Things Blog, another Raleigh native, is the lovely lady behind pretty much all of the hair tutorials on Pinterest! I love her advice about not setting people up for failure. This goes for so much more than just married couples!

This spread of dogs in bowties, bows and flowers melts my heart! I love the idea of ALL the family members being there for your special day :)

I can't CONTAIN my excitement for this launch party!! I will be sure to try and remember to take pictures between my gawking at all the people in the wedding industry I adore.