Sommer & Frank at Greek Orthodox Church of The Holy Trinity

It’s hard to put into words how special it was for us to be a part of Sommer & Frank’s AMAZING wedding celebration at the Greek Orthodox Church of The Holy Trinity!!!  Several years ago, we had the honor of photographing Sommer’s sister’s wedding with Trent at Old Wide Awake Plantation.  Their entire family has become very special to us over the years.  So you can imagine our excitement when Sommer and Frank asked us to photograph their wedding too!

With Sommer working in Japan for much of it, the planning and preparations for their wedding took over a year.  But the Big Day finally arrived…and it was gorgeous!  As the wedding party began getting ready, the excitement in the air was palpable.  I loved all the little details and special moments that made Frank & Sommer’s wedding unique…a first look with her dad, special gifts for the flower girl and ring bearer, the sword ceremony, and a huge wedding party that was so fun and supportive of these two!  The Greek Orthodox ceremony was also unique and afforded so many wonderful photo opportunities.  It’s such a beautiful church anyway…but it’s hard to get a bad shot with such an adorable couple, right?!?  Being a Citadel Grad, the wedding was followed by a traditional sword ceremony, performed by a great group of cadets.  Then it was off to the reception, which was held at the Daniel Island Club.  I love the beautiful “lowcountry” scenery behind the club.  Frank, Sommer, and I took advantage of the setting (and the setting sun) to capture some romantic photos of them.  Then it was inside for the PARTAAAY of the century!  Sommer had warned me to make sure I brought my “Greek dancing shoes”…and she wasn’t kidding!  A grand entrance, a delicious meal, touching toasts, and of course non-stop dancing all night long topped the day off in high spirits!

To see the rest of the photos, visit:  https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/sommerandfrankwedding.  Many thanks to my team, Cami & Robbin, to Lillie at Pop the Bubbly Events, to Cleo at the Greek Orthodox Church, to Erin at Daniel Island Club, to the ladies from Cloud IX Bridal, to Wimberly Fair Designs for the floral arrangements, to The Black Cab Co., to Nick with EPIC DJ, and to all the other friends, family, and vendors who helped make this dream wedding come true!

CONGRATULATIONS Frank & Sommer!  We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin this exciting new journey together!!!

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Kristina & Rob at White Point Gardens

Kristina & Rob are the sweetest couple you could ever hope to meet!
 
This past weekend their wedding day finally arrived. Kristina and Rob had planned a beautiful intimate celebration, which they called the “Our Family Will Be There Elopement”. 🙂
 
The ceremony was held at the historic bandstand, also know as The Gazebo, in picturesque White Point Garden down by The Battery. It was a chilly day. But everyone’s energy and love warmed the park, leaving no room for the cold to enter in. Kristina was absolutely BEAUTIFUL in her elegant gown, complete with her mother’s wedding veil. After the ceremony, we had a great time photographing family portraits with all their guests. Then Kristina, Rob, and I took a stroll through the park, along The Battery, and up old historic Church Street towards the reception.
 
The reception was a delightful private dinner at 82 Queen. Tucked away in an upstairs room, the beautiful couple enjoyed a warm reception, a touching toast, delicious food, and lively conversations surrounded by their supportive family and friends.
 
CONGRATULATIONS Kristina & Rob!!! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together as husband and wife…

Julie & Shawn’s Phoenix Wedding

When Shawn & Julie got engaged, everyone knew it was coming. They were just too perfect together for it NOT to happen! Cami and I were even more excited when they asked us to do the honor of photographing this special day for my nephew and his fiance!!!

Their wedding was held in Phoenix, a city that we’ve grown to love. When the big day arrived, Shawn & Julie got ready at the picturesque Talking Stick Resort, where they also shared a First Look before heading over to the wedding venue. The ceremony was held at this really cool rustic location called Desert Foothills Resort. It was an absolute dream location for photography, with an old wooden barn, beautifully decorated, and surrounded by wild cacti.

We had so much fun meeting Shawn & Julie’s friends and family who all came out to help them celebrate! Many thanks to Shawn’s brother, Tyler, who officiated the ceremony, to Anne and her family for all their hard work putting together the gorgeous decorations, to Dan & Linda for keeping everything running smoothly, to Lisa at the venue for all her help with planning, to Julian at Heidi’s Events and Catering, to DJ Eli for rockin’ the night away, and to Cami for all her help with navigating and being my lighting assistant!

CONGRATULATIONS Julie & Shawn! We wish you all be best as you begin your new journey together!!!

Marcella & Steve’s Cape Cod Wedding

Several years ago, I had the joy of photographing Roxann & Michael’s destination wedding on a beautiful beach in Charleston: https://chrisandcami.com/roxann-michael-on-sullivans-island/. I had so much fun capturing their special day, and getting to know their amazing children! Thus, you can imagine my excitement when their daughter, Marcella, asked us to be HER photographer too!!!

Marcella & Steve’s destination wedding was in Cape Cod, at the incredible Wynchmere Beach Club. Cami and I had flown up several days early to celebrate our own anniversary, and to scout out the area. When we saw the venue, we knew immediately why Marcella & Steve had fallen in love with the place! Marcella had always wanted to get married on the beach. And Steve had always wanted to get married in Cape Cod. This picturesque spot fit BOTH their dreams perfectly!!!

The day of the wedding was absolutely gorgeous with the sun warming our faces, and the love between Marcella & Steve warming our hearts.  Marcella was absolutely STUNNING in her elegant gown and long flowing train.  Steve was looking pretty suave himself, with the classy-but-casual “no-tie” look.  The two lovebirds shared a touching “First Look” before the ceremony, which was the first time I teared up. There were a lot of funny moments during the ceremony, like when they both did shots under the arbor. But the second time I teared up was when they exchanged their hand-written wedding vows. The third time was when Michael gave his heart-felt speach, honoring Marcella’s father who had passed away 4 years prior, and re-affirmed his love for his amazing new daughter.

With excitement and energy bursting throughout the venue, the reception carried on late into the night. Cami and I had so much fun capturing every moment of this wonderful wedding celebration! Many thanks to Brooke and all the other incredible vendors that helped this dream wedding come together so perfectly. And a HUGE thank you to Marcella & Steve for welcoming us in and making us feel like part of their family once again.

To see the rest of their photos, visit:  https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/marcellaandsteve.

CONGRATULATIONS Marcella & Steve!!! We love you guys and wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together…

Jennifer & Adrian at the Hilton Head Westin

It was such a beautiful afternoon when I arrived at the Westin on Hilton Head Island for Jennifer & Adrian’s AMAZING wedding last week!

Adrian and his gang of guys were relaxed and having a blast, while Jennifer and the girls were getting all dolled up while jamming to some great tunes. The atmosphere was one of fun and excitement!

After everyone was ready, Adrian and Jennifer met each other for a private First Look in the quiet courtyard by the coi pond. It was such a special moment! The way Adrian’s eyes lit up when he turned around and saw Jennifer in her wedding gown for the first time made my heart melt.

Their ceremony was held on the picturesque terrace overlooking the beautiful beach. I loved all the artistic details and special touches Jennifer thought of. The explosion of applause that erupted as they sealed their vows with a kiss was truly magnificent!!!

After a fun beach shoot with the newlyweds, Jennifer and Adrian entered the reception to more exciting applause. A grand party ensued, complete with cake cutting, fabulous toasts, and crazy dancing.

To see more of their photos, visit https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/jenniferandadrian.

CONGRATULATIONS Jennifer & Adrian! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together!!!

Mary Beth & Bryant’s Darlington Wedding

Mary Beth & Bryant are SUCH an amazing couple!!! I owe my good friend and amazing photographer, Steve, a huge “Thank You” for recommending me to these two!

I’ve had so much fun getting to know Mary Beth & Bryant in the months leading up to their special day. A few months back, they even made a special trip to Charleston, where we had a BLAST capturing some killer engagement photos for them. You can check those out at: https://chrisandcami.com/mary-beth-bryant-at-brittlebank-park/.

Last weekend the Big Day finally made it! Arriving at their house where Bryant and the guys were getting ready, everyone was laughing and joking and having a great time.  That’s the way a wedding day SHOULD be, right?  I then met up with Mary Beth and the girls at Norman Cosmetics where they were getting ready. The excitement and energy in the salon was fabulous. I could tell we were in for quite a celebration!

Mary Beth looked absolutely STUNNING in her gorgeous wedding gown! I must say, Bryant looked quite dashing, himself. The two of them enjoyed a fun First Look underneath the huge arches of the Darlington Courthouse. We also went on a creative little mini-shoot around the town square, eventually meeting up with the rest of the wedding party for some group shots. After a grand-finale in front of the famous mural, everyone headed over to the church for the main event!

Mary Beth and Bryant had chosen St. Matthews Episcopal Church to exchange their wedding vows. I absolutely love the church’s amazing stained glass windows and rich wooden interior. The wedding was simply beautiful!

Following the ceremony, everyone headed over to South of Pearl for the real celebration!!! South of Pearl is an excellent reception venue in town, a remodeled old historic home with lots of amazing architecture, and a beautifully manicured lawn in the back. There was eating, dancing, cake, cookies…you name it!  Everyone had an AMAZING time! And the dark threatening clouds even parted ways just in time for some dramatic portraits of this sweet couple at sunset.  🙂

To check out all the photos from their Big Day, visit https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/p522914086.

CONGRATULATIONS Mary Beth & Bryant!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this beautiful new journey together…

Stephanie & Eric at the Cooper River Room

I absolutely fell in love with Stephanie & Eric when we met at Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island for their engagement session: https://chrisandcami.com/stephanie-eric-at-deep-water-vineyard/. I knew then that this was a very special couple, and that their wedding was going to be AMAZING!!!

Last weekend the Big Day finally arrived…and it did notdisappoint! 🙂  When I met up with Stephanie and her girls getting ready for the main event, there was already an heir of excitement in their voices that couldn’t be contained. Laura and Cami went to photograph Eric and the guys getting ready, where apparently the men were in just as jovial a mood!

The ceremony took place on the lawn overlooking the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Wark, with it’s gorgeous views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the lowcountry marsh, and the setting sun across the Cooper River. The reception was held in the beautiful Cooper River Room, located at the entrance to the park. Everything went off  splendidly. Even the uncharacteristically stifling heat of the afternoon could not squelch the energy or the mood. And it certainly didn’t put a dampener on the amazing love that Eric & Stephanie share for one another!!!

I would like to send out a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make Stephanie & Eric’s wedding such an amazing celebration. In particular, thanks to my good friend and amazing photographer, Mike Soto, for recommending me to Stephanie…to our friend and amazing wedding planner, Christy Loftin, for officiating such a touching ceremony, and for all her hard work coordinating the day…to the amazing Jon Feist of Melodic Entertainment for rocking the reception all night long…and to Cami and Laura for all their help in capturing every moment of this special day for these two lovebirds!

To see the rest of Stephanie & Eric’s photos, visit: https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/stephanieanderic.

CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie & Eric! We wish you all the best as you begin this amazing new adventure together!!!

Using “Old School” Film

You may have already seen my post with Samantha and Todd’s engagement photos from a few weeks ago. If not, check it out at: https://chrisandcami.com/samantha-and-todds-extended-engagement-session/. Today, I’m SUPER EXCITED to add to their gorgeous gallery of images…with a few that were shot on FILM!!!

Without giving away my age, let’s just say that I’ve been in love with photography since 10th grade, worked my way up to yearbook editor by 12th grade, went on to get my degree in Professional Photography, and have been photographing professionally ever since. As you can imagine, I’ve seen a great many changes in imaging technology throughout my career. I went from exclusively shooting and processing my own black-and-white on old all-manual 35mm film cameras…to the introduction of 35mm color film…through the evolution of auto-exposure, matrix metering, auto-focus, and TTL flash…switching my entire kit over medium format film…and eventually enduring the arduous transition to digital. Even since digital capture was introduced to the professional market, there’s been a huge number of changes and advances.  But you get the point.

The funny thing is, in 2019 it seems that what was old is new again. It’s crazy, I know, but film is seeing a resurgence! Having read all about this new fascination with film photography (primarily from young millennials who never had the pleasure of experiencing the magic the first time around), I decided it was time to pull out one of my old film cameras and take it along on Samantha & Todd’s engagement session. I chose my trusty old Nikon FE, a classic Nikkor 50mm f1.8 manual focus lens, and reliable old Kodak Tri-X for the job.

They may be grainy, contrasty, full of imperfections, (and dare I say some are even out of focus)…but there’s definitely something magical and timeless about these images! I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Maybe you’ll see more of this old “film” stuff from me in the future. 🙂

Many thanks to Virgil at VB Photo Lab for the excellent processing and scanning service:  https://www.vbphotolab.com/

Samantha and Todd’s Extended Engagement Session

Flying in all the way from Missouri, it was just wonderful to see our good friend Samantha again last weekend! It was also such a pleasure to finally meet her fiance, Todd. He’s an amazing guy! They are absolutely perfect together!!!

Recently graduating from Veterinarian School and Dental School, respectively, Samantha and Todd can finally turn their attention to wedding plans. It’s an absolute honor that they have selected Cami and I to capture this special time in their lives for them.

As part of that process, we hosted them here in Charleston for a really fun extended engagement session! The entire weekend could be described as part reunion (we haven’t seen Samantha for several years), part introduction (we had so much fun getting to know Todd), part vacation (Samantha and Todd were celebrating finally earning their degrees), part tourist trap (Cami and I made sure to take them to all the best tourist attractions and iconic restaurants in town), and of course part engagement session (we photographed beautiful portraits of them all around Charleston everywhere we went). As such, we had an absolute BLAST the entire weekend, while capturing more variety than any other engagement session we’ve ever photographed!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Samantha and Todd! We love you guys, and can’t wait to be there for you on your beautiful wedding day!!!

Ally & Matt’s Celebration at Pawleys Plantation

Exactly one week ago today, Ally & Matt finally tied the knot!!!

I’d been looking forward to Ally & Matt’s wedding for a VERY long time! You see, I’d had the great honor of photographing Matt’s Secret Proposal to Ally way back in 2017: https://chrisandcami.com/ally-matts-surprise-proposal-at-magnolia-plantation/. Having been there at the beginning, when Ally said “Yes”, and Matt slipped her gorgeous engagement ring onto her finger, I was SUPER EXCITED to have been there at the end when Ally said “I Do”, while Matt placed her wedding band in its rightful place. 🙂

Matt & Ally’s wedding celebration was absolutely AMAZING!!! Ally and her bridesmaids got dolled up at her parent’s beautiful home in Myrtle Beach, while Matt and his groomsmen got their duds on at the Litchfield Golf and Beach Resort. It was a great honor for me to photograph their amazing wedding ceremony at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Garden City! It was a beautiful service, full of laughter and tears, attended by close friends and loving family. A joyful reception followed at Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, where DJ Scott Reise cranked things up until we had a full-on mega party going!

I’d like to send out a huge thank you to Annie, Chantel, Peggy, Scott, and all the other amazing vendors who came to gether to make Ally and Matt’s big day so perfect. Many thanks also to my good friend Robbin, for helping me capture all the special moments of their beautiful day.  To see the rest of their photos, visit:  https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/mattandally.

CONGRATULATIONS Ally & Matt!!! We wish you all the best as you begin your new and exciting journey together!

Katie & Tom’s Tampa Bay Wedding

Early in the spring of 2018, a young man by the name of Tom reached out to me:
“My girlfriend and I will be visiting Charleston in early February, and I am planning on proposing to her…are you available February 9th?”

Tom spent the following weeks corresponding with me and planning every detail of his surprise proposal to Katie. I could tell he was an amazing guy, and that he wanted everything to be perfect for the girl if his dreams! It was. She said yes. And it was my distinct honor to capture that special moment when he slipped the engagement ring on her finger: https://chrisandcami.com/katie-toms-secret-proposal-at-white-point-garden/.

It was so much fun getting to know Katie & Tom through that experience. Imagine my excitement when several months later they also asked me to photograph their wedding in Tampa!?! Having been there for them in the beginning when Katie said “YES”, it was such a joy to be there on this special day in the spring of 2019 when she said “I DO”!!!

Katie & Tom’s wedding celebration was absolutely perfect. With a rehearsal dinner at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club, wedding day preparations starting off at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, and the wedding/reception held at the Davis Island Garden Club, I couldn’t have asked for more picturesque locations.  The sun was shining, the ocean breezes were blowing, and the temperature was absolutely perfect.  Katie was absolutely stunning in her gorgeous wedding gown and colorful bouquet.  Tom was quite dashing in his blue suit with choral necktie and complimentary boutonniere.

Throughout their special day, the energy was palpable, and the excitement ecstatic! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much at a wedding. It was like every member of the wedding party was hand-picked to fit a perfect cast of comical characters with charisma and charm to boot. Everyone had so much fun…and I had so much fun capturing every moment of it all!!!

Many thanks to Katie’s Mom Sherry for all her hard work in pulling everything together.  I am so grateful to Christi Windsor of Windsor Events, everyone at the Davis Island Garden Club, Olympia Catering, FH Events, DJ Kevin Cramer, UDream Events, West Palm Wines, Femme Akoi, Tampa Lights, Connie Dugin Linens, OMG Trolley Company, and everyone else who played a part in making this amazing day come together so beautifully for Katie & Tom.

To see more of their photos, visit:  https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/katieandtomwedding.

CONGRATULATIONS Katie & Tom! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together.

Mary Beth & Bryant at Brittlebank Park

I’ve been looking forward to meeting Mary Beth & Bryant for a VERY long time! We finally met up this weekend, on a gorgeous spring day, to capture some beautiful engagement photos for their up-coming wedding. 🙂

Starting off at Hampton Park, I was quite surprised at how many flowers were already in full bloom! With vibrant colors from the flowers, huge oak trees, a black iron bridge, and long wooded walkways, we came away with some absolutely MAGICAL images! But to top it all off, we zipped over to Brittlebank Park to capture the last rays of a gorgeous setting sun over the Ashley River… and of course the beautiful twilight that followed.

I had such a blast getting to know Mary Beth and Bryant. I can’t wait to be there for them to preserve all the special moments of their amazing wedding this summer!!!