The Bearwallow clubhouse offers amazing views all around, with a great room inside, dining/event room, several gaming rooms, lots of really nice restrooms, and it is broken up over two levels of rooms that serve well as ‘getting ready’ areas for the men as well as the women. It was great being able to have everyone so close but not chancing the couple seeing each other before the ceremony (unless they want to!). They wrote sweet notes and sent them with their pre-wedding gifts that made for lots of tears of joy and laughter before the ceremony. Aubrey and Mark chose to have a ‘not seeing each other’ moment before the wedding that gave us an opportunity to capture them together and they could hold hands and pray around a wall. It was a sweet, quiet moment of the two of them alone – other than Chris and I capturing it from a distance. They were so excited to get married!! We really love moments like that!!
The ceremony on the mountaintop vista with a huge wide view was breathtaking. The bride and her father’s entrance, walking across the field, in between lanterns as a winding path to their waiting friends and family as music played had tears and smiles on so many faces! The sweet moment of her father’s giving her away and her mother reading a letter Aubrey wrote to her future husband when she was a girl at summer camp kept the emotions and loving humor flowing. The couple tied knots symbolically on a cross, shared bread and wine, had a friend sing a beautiful dedication of a song, family members read scripture passages, and they read each other the most heart-felt vows. The minister was absolutely overjoyed to pronounce them as man and wife - especially since he had known the bride since she was a little girl. The lighting for family and wedding party photos before and after the ceremony was stunning, dramatic and constantly changing giving us so many gorgeous images. The chill in the air could not dampen the energy as the wedding party and couple were announced to the reception and dance floor. The bride and grooms first dance had everyone dancing side to side and the whole deck was engaged for that moment. Her father requested a dance before dinner was served and he made the sweetest speech for his only daughter. Dinner was so good (typical Colorful Palate!) that I did not get many photos of the food this time…but between the BBQ and salads and the FRENCH FRY bar you’ll have to take my work for it – those Colorful Palate chefs make everything quite delectable and beautiful!! YUM! The Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream bar was a special request from the bride who is a master ice cream mixer – living the dream smashing cookies and candies into her mega scoop of ice cream to have with her cupcakes!! Cake and ice cream – no better combination!
The couple were toasted by so many close friends and siblings – reinforcing the love and deep connection this couple has with their friends and family. There was a lovely slideshow played after the toasts, then they cut their cake, thanked their guests and headed outside to dance with their friends! The bride had to kick off her shoes to get down with the wedding party and guests rocking the dance floor. After a few songs, the couple was ready for their exit. Their friends and family made a tunnel of sparklers for them to run through then they drove off into the night… I hope you love the photos as much as I do! So many more I want to share, but here are my favorites:
Chris is my husband and owner of WNC Video Productions, and we adore getting to work together, capturing and hearing so much talk of love and vows most weekends (and a few weekdays!) during the year. I am proud to share the link to the video sample from their perfect wedding day. You can see the awe inspiring video sample HERE. We are truly blessed and lucky to get to work together, doing something we both love, and get to capture such special times for our clients. Get in touch if you have a special event, moment to capture with everyone together, or just to have photos or video of your favorite people. We would love to help capture what will soon just be a memory. :)
Emily and her team with Occasions by Emily coordinated, decorated and prepared the most gorgeous floral for the big day. Nathan and his assistant with Parkway DJ did a wonderful job making sure the ceremony on the mountaintop vista could be heard and the music, speeches and evening’s events rolling. Catering by the Colorful Palate. Ice cream bar by Cold Stone Creamery. Truly a great day made better by awesome vendors!
Huge congrats to Mark and Aubrey! Thank you for having us there to capture your big day! Best wishes on all your adventures!!
]]>The bride’s classic beauty was complemented perfectly by her gorgeous gown, a sweet and unique hairpiece and fun hot pink shoes (with a red heart decal on the soles)! The bridesmaids were dressed in black with the maid of honor in hot pink shoes just like the bride. The pops of color continued into the bouquets of orange, bright greens and pinks and the boutineers of orange flowers. The men were dressed in classic black – the groom with an orange tie - and all the guys were wearing black converse. They added just the right touches of fun, color and timelessness to their day!
In Kathryn’s words: “It was SO wonderful to work with you for both our engagement shoot and wedding and can’t wait to find any excuse in the future to work with you again! Joe and I were together 7 years before we got married so I definitely had enough time to think about how I wanted my day to be, but I couldn’t have imagine we’d find someone to capture it so perfectly! It was so wonderful to have all our friends and family travel to Lake Lure; most of them hadn’t even been to NC, let alone the mountains. So many have been talking about a return trip they loved it so much – I think the one who deserves another trip to the mountains most is my sister Tami who spent the whole weekend making cupcakes and favors, and didn’t get to see much other than her rental house & the Inn!”
Here are some of our favorite photos from their big day:
Venue and delicious catering by the Lake Lure Inn. Cake and cupcakes by the bride’s sister (YUM!!). Nathan White with Parkway DJ did a wonderful job as always.
Thank you Kathryn and Joe for having me there to capture your fun day! I especially love my job when I have awesome clients like you two!!!!
]]>These two brave souls are both high school English/Literature teachers and are living out their own epic love story. They are both such smart, thoughtful and eloquent writers that wrote each other THE most beautiful vows!! So glad they have their wedding video to relive and treasure that moment that was so important, to see and hear themselves on their big day. We look forward to sharing WNC Video’s sample of their stunningly beautiful wedding video soon. Matt shared an early part of their story in his vows, recalling when Liz sighed that she wanted an epic love story of her own – and he said she should make it happen. Little did she know he was head over heels for her at this point!! Soon after they were starting to write the beginning of their own story. They have two of the sweetest dogs that were huge catalysts in their relationship, so naturally they were a big part of the ceremony. Liz’s father was their minister and everyone choked up at least a few times during one of the most heartfelt ceremonies we have ever captured.
Canary yellow and grey accents appeared throughout the day – from the bride’s yellow shoes and bouquet to the silvery grey icing on the cupcakes! Liz did her own floral (brave, creative bride!!). The DJ was a talented friend of the groom. The gorgeous cupcakes and couple’s mini cake by Icing on the Cake.
We feel so lucky to be there to capture such important moments for our clients! We are excited to share that Liz and Matt are expecting their first child and I will be heading to Charlotte in March to capture Liz’s maternity photos!! Soon after I will be heading back to meet their little bundle, Emerson (LOVE the name!!). Congrats Matt and Liz! Looking forward to seeing you soon!!!!
With more and more clients based in Charlotte (and it being such a great place to play/photograph!), Camilla Calnan Photography is happy to announce that we will be offering sessions in Charlotte periodically. Contact the studio for more information on Asheville, Lake Lure, Charlotte or destination weddings or sessions. I’d love to capture special moments in your life, too. :)
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Last August 21st, I was second shooting at a Biltmore wedding. We were heading onto the lawn of the Biltmore house as the light was fading, a limo pulls up and out jumps a beautiful bride and handsome groom in full wedding regalia. We watched wondering where their photographer was as they handed their camera to the driver. We wrapped up our shots waiting on the shuttle to pull around, our bride and the other photographer suggested I go over and take a few moments to capture the photographer-less couple. I am so glad I did. Sarahjean and Dajie are an amazing couple that I feel blessed to have met! They had just married in her mother’s hospital chapel after getting news two days earlier, while at home in Seattle that the doctor were saying ‘this is it’ for her mom. They were planning to marry the next month in Italy as part of her mother’s dying wish to visit and wanted to see her daughter marry there.
Sarahjean shared their story with me and my heart ached for the bittersweet joy they were feeling. Giddy for being newlyweds, sad to know that the end was so near for her mother. They were married on Saturday. Thursday they got the call and immediately she went to pick up her (not quite finished) gown as Dajie went to purchase plane tickets. She just wanted her mom to see her gown – didn’t plan on a wedding in a day! The couple flew out the following morning, with a text received during their flight change over, suggesting a wedding at the hospital chapel the next day. Late Friday, they final got to her mother’s room.
They got the only hotel room still available that evening and stayed there the first night, but for the rates being charged (and the funky ‘wet dog smell’) they decided to call the Inn at Biltmore to stay for the next night. The Inn went above and beyond to make their time as special as they could. They upgraded them to a junior suite and coordinated a car to get them to the house. A family friend got a bouquet and boutineer for the couple and the Biltmore found her a hairdresser (even though everyone was booked). They all got ready and met in the hospital chapel as 9 family and friends gathered to witness the wedding. The wedding party descended to the cafeteria where there were the perfect number of gluten free cupcakes to cut and celebrate with. After the big excitement, her mom needed to rest so the couple decided to go get one photo in front of the Biltmore house.
Which is where we met… :) Their day fell into place, as things that are meant to be often do. So honored to have met and captured these two on their wedding day – and now a year later (plus a day!) on their anniversary, I’m happy to share their story and photos. Their fairytale Italian wedding took place as planned on September 16th. Sadly, her mom wasn’t able to make it to Italy, but was able to see the photos and hear the stories afterwards. She passed away on November 3 of that year. Rest in peace Sananda. You have an amazing daughter!!
Congratulations and best wishes to Sarahjean and Dajie! Happy to have been there at the right moment to capture such an important moment for you!!
]]>Claxton Farm is a venue that was perfect for this nature loving couple. The venue is located on 50 acres of a conservation easement that is on a 500 acre working farm in the Appalachian foothills that raises Polled Herefords, chickens, goats, llamas and grows alfalfa hay. The couple chose to use local and sustainable vendors at their wedding. Your Vase or Mine sold them local wildflowers that they decorated the ceremony site and reception tables with (in mason jars with ribbons and candles! LOVE this look for barn receptions!). They also had the Enchanted Florist create stunning ‘kissing balls’ to hang in their wedding arbor and the beautiful bouquets. Their guests were treated to the beautiful music of Orengo Music, a perfect duo of violin and classical guitar, during the ceremony and cocktail hour. It is always a treat to listen to Ruben play! The reception was full of fun conversation, dancing and guests enjoying the yummy food by M7 catering which allowed them to choose more sustainable local elements into the food as well. Their guests were served Sunburst Trout which is locally farmed and they were also fed lots of great local vegetables. The bride chose a beautiful cake by Icing by the Cake adorned with sugar calla lilies (thought they were real!!) and sweet detail work that was a soft pink, complementing her dress perfectly. James Donaldson of Sound Illusions DJ kept the music going and the dance floor moving. Fun evening all the way around!! Here are some of my favorite photos of their day:
If you want to see more photos from their day, visit HERE.
Thank you to all the amazing M7 team members that made the night perfect! Huge thanks to DeLene and Matt for having me there to capture their wedding day!! Such amazing people with equally amazing friends!! Truly my honor to be there to capture such an important day for the couple and their families and friends. :)
]]>Amy and Sam dated in high school and lost touch, but both felt a connection that kept drawing them together. After many years, Sam found Amy online and didn’t waste time trying to reconnect once they started talking again. They got back together, they fell in love, became a little family with Amy’s daughter (she LOVES Sam!!), then they welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world, and were married at last! I wish I could summarize all the love and dreams and loss they felt when they were apart they have shared of their story with me, but it would be a small novel in itself. They both thought by giving up their relationship early in life that they would never be truly happy again. They compared others to each other and were wishing for something to bring them together…funny how things have a tendencyto work out… True love will always prevail!!
Thanks to Occasions by Emily for amazing coordination and floral design. Love the bouquets, boutineers, arrangements and details – yellow sunflowers really played off the red roses and spider lilies beautifully. They had a gorgeous cake by Kathy and Company that was perfect for the fall theme, covered with slightly sparkling edible leaves adorning it. Life of the Party DJ kept the party going and the guests all enjoyed themselves throughout the reception. Thanks to the Cliffs’ staff for the amazing service and fun atmosphere that was perfect to celebrate such a memorable wedding day! It was truly a perfect day in so many ways – it was my pleasure working with such a sweet couple and fantastic vendors.
Congratulations Amy and Sam! I loved working with your beautiful family and enjoyed our lovely day together!! Cannot wait for the next chance to come visit you in Greenville to capture some more family photos!! Thank you for having me as your photographer.
]]>Krista’s parents were their witnesses and Tim Lolley with Blue Mountain Weddings officiated the ceremony. Tim always does a beautiful job and really connects to his couples and this time was no exception. After seeing many ceremonies by Tim, we asked him to be our minister when we married (on 10.10.10, but that is for another post…maybe the next one…).
The couple looked dashing (not a word I use often, but fits them so well!). I loved getting to capture them during such a special time in their lives. :)
Congrats Krista and Jamahl! Best wishes for many happy years to come!!
Our studio sees it as a special honor to capture weddings and events for military people and are happy to offer special rates as a thank you you for their service. Get in touch if you are going to be in the Asheville area and need photos – especially if you are in the military!
]]>It was extra special for her mom to hear the two of them answer all the questions I asked (love to get to know my couples and the engagement session is a perfect time to let us get to know each other!!). Her getting to see them together, so loving and happy, and replying so candidly about how excited they are to be together, was reinforcing what she already knew! They don’t get to visit often with the work schedules…we were all so glad she came with them.
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]]>They had so many inspiring ideas for shots, such wonderful style and were so easy to work with (not to mention they are a GORGEOUS couple!!!), I had so much fun capturing the two of them!! Family photo! At the end of the day, we were joined by their two gorgeous dogs that looked like they were having as much fun as we were!!
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