Tag: Charleston Love

Jillian & Jard’s California Wedding

It was such a privilege to be a part of Jillian and Jard’s beautiful wedding celebration in Anaheim, CA!!!

When they got engaged a couple years ago, their amazing Aunt Nancy asked me to be their photographer as her gift to them. Nancy and Jillian’s mom, Margie, grew up in the Congo and went to TASOK, as did my brothers and I. Being in a foreign country together, the bond between missionary families is strong! So much so, that we referred to our friend’s parents as “Aunt” and “Uncle”, even when there was no real relation. And that bond of being missionary kids together stays on long after leaving the country our parents served in. This is one of my favorite parts of being a “Third Culture Kid”! So it was with great honor that I gladly accepted the opportunity to photograph this joyful occasion for their family!!!

The wedding was originally planned for last year. But as we all know, last year came to a screeching halt! Jillian and Jard were still able to become man and wife on their original wedding date, albeit in a very small intimate ceremony. But fortunately, the venue, and all their vendors, were still available for June 13th of 2021, which was EXACTLY 1 year from their original date. So their wedding celebration was also their 1-year Anniversary!!! How cool is that?!?

It was such a pleasure to catch up with the Allans, the Chapmans, the Sharps, and others of the “Congo Community” at Jillian and Jard’s amazing wedding! And it was such an honor to be there for this AMAZING couple to capture this special time in their lives! CONGRATULATIONS to you both!!! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together…

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Hannah & Tyler’s Oregon Wedding

A couple years ago, I had the great privilege of photographing Dan & Linda’s oldest son’s wedding. Last week, it was an absolute honor to photograph their youngest son’s wedding!

When the big day finally arrived, it was absolutely gorgeous. And Hannah was simply stunning in her wedding gown! Because she and Tyler love hiking and exploring the great outdoors, we had arranged for the wedding party photos to be done at Smith Rock State Park. What a dramatic way to start their day!

Hannah & Tyler’s amazing wedding was held at Dee Bar Ranch in Powell Butte, just outside Bend, OR. Family and friends had gathered from far and wide to help these two celebrate their marriage vows with a heartfelt ceremony in the great outdoors, which they love so much. Even Hannah’s brother, who was in the middle of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail, took a break and rented a car to drive all the way home for the event!

CONGRATULATIONS Hannah & Tyler!!! You two are so perfect for each other! It was such a pleasure being a part of your special day and capturing all these beautiful memories for you. Cami and I wish you both all the happiness in the world as you begin this new journey together!!!

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Moffett & Kevin’s Wedding at The Gaillard

Last weekend I had the pleasure of helping my friend and amazing photographer, Josie Strong, cover Moffett & Kevin’s wedding at The Gaillard Auditorium. Check out Josie’s beautiful work at www.josiestrong.com!

Moffett & Kevin actually had TWO wedding services. They had a Sikh wedding, followed by an Indian style cocktail hour. Then they had a Catholic wedding, followed by a traditional wedding reception.

It was a long day. But Josie and I had so much fun working together, getting to know this beautiful couple, and capturing their amazing day!

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Hanna & Kenny’s Wedding – The Lake House at Bulow

I had the pleasure of photographing Kenny’s brother’s wedding when Kevin and Melissa were married. Hard to believe it’s been 10 years ago now! So you can imagine my excitement when Hanna & Kenny asked me to be a part of their special day too!!!

With the current climate surrounding this pandemic, they weren’t able to have the larger event they had initially planned. But Hanna & Kenny stayed flexible, and stayed focused on the true meaning behind a wedding…their families, their commitment, and their love for one another! Re-focusing their energy into a more intimate event, this amazing couple came up with an absolutely delightful celebration! And the best part is, they are still planning to host all their friends and family for a big reception next year at a special “vow renewal”!!!

Everything was held at The Lake House at Bulow, formerly known as Bulow Plantation. It’s a wonderfully rustic venue on a quiet lake, surrounded by woods and wildlife, with an enchanting island in the middle all covered in tall pine trees. The ceremony was held on the deck, with fun family photos to follow. Then Hanna & Kenny took off with me for a fun little photo shoot around the property while cocktails were served. A relaxing dinner on the spacious lawn rounded out the evening.

Hanna was absolutely stunning in her gorgeous gown. She always has a radiant smile and a bubbly southern charm. I love how she always says “please and thank you” to everyone she meets. 🙂 Kenny was quite dashing in his tux. He’s the strong silent type, but with a dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. These two are absolutely perfect for each other…true soul mates indeed!

Today is our anniversary…Cami and I were married just 25 years ago today! And so I want to share with you both a very special wish…that your lives are as filled with love, laughter, and happiness as mine has been since marrying my best friend all those years ago. CONGRATULATIONS Hanna & Kenny!!!

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Brendan Surprises Nina with a Proposal

One of my favorite things to photograph is a Secret Proposal!!!

Last week I got a call from Brendan, all excited and eager to chat about the possibilities of capturing that special moment when he asked his girlfriend of 3 years if she would marry him. It was so awesome working with Brendan to figure out the perfect spot, and the perfect time of day! We worked out every detail down to the minute and the exact tree in the park under which he would pop the question.

Aaaaand then the rains came!!! We were so nervous as the rain was completely unexpected and unpredictable. An hour before our set time, a dark cloud appeared over Charleston without warning. The radar showed that it would pass through pretty quickly. But we were on pins and needles right up to minutes before!

Luckily, it did blow through just in time, and everything went PERFECT!!! I couldn’t be happier for Brendan & Nina! They are such an amazing couple. And I truly enjoyed our time together as we photographed some fun engagement photos before they headed off to dinner to celebrate.

CONGRATULATIONS Brendan & Nina!!! 🙂

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Laura & Terrell at Azalea Drive Church of Christ

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a dark cloud over many couple’s wedding plans. But Laura & Terrell stayed positive and came up with creative ways to still become husband and wife on their selected wedding day!

Instead of the big wedding and reception with 150 guests they had planned, Laura & Terrell were married in a beautiful, intimate ceremony with just a few special family members and friends, where pastor Brown at Azalea Drive Church of Christ led a touching service. Laura & Terrell also created a live Zoom meeting for other guests to still be able to bear witness to this wonderful celebration. And of course they still had me photograph it so that they could have their special memories of this day, and put together a fun slideshow to share at their reception whenever they are able to have it once social-distancing regulations are relaxed.

After the ceremony, a few of us drove downtown to photograph some beautiful portraits of Laura & Terrell in Waterfront Park and the surrounding old historic French Quarter. We had so much fun! And the best part was, the nearly empty park and city streets gave us plenty of freedom to be creative without fighting mobs of tourists. See…no matter how bad things get, there’s always a silver lining if you look for it! 🙂

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

CONGRATULATIONS Laura & Terrell! What an incredible story you’ll have to tell your grand-kids someday. We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your amazing new journey together!!!

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Alexx & Joseph at Wesley United Methodist Church

CONGRATULATIONS to Alexx & Joseph!!! They may have to hold off until the fall to have their big reception. But instead of cancelling their wedding, this beautiful couple decided not to let the corona-virus keep them from becoming husband and wife! 🙂

It was such a pleasure being there to capture Alexx & Joseph’s vows for them. They are such an adorable couple! The only people present were the 5 family members and myself. I took all the proper precautions to maintain social distancing and practice safe hygiene. So there was no chance of spreading the virus. Yet we could all be there to celebrate with them as they enjoyed their special day, joining together in holy matrimony.

After the ceremony, Alexx’s dad (who owns Midway Tours Limousine Service) drove them to several picturesque spots near the church for some photos. It was a gorgeous day out. Joseph was looking sharp with his sweet-grass rose for a boutonniere. And Alexx was absolutely stunning in her Cinderella-style wedding gown!

Alexx & Joseph, we wish you all the best for a wonderful life ahead as you begin your new journey together!!!

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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…

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Jenna & Christopher at SC Society Hall

Christopher & Jenna are two very special people.

With big hearts, loving smiles, gentle souls, and kind spirits…you’d be hard-pressed to find two nicer humans on the planet. But most importantly, together Christopher and Jenna are absolute soul-mates!!! So it was with great honor and extreme pleasure that I got to photograph their beautiful wedding last week. 🙂

Christopher and Jenna picked South Carolina Society Hall as the picturesque backdrop for their intimate wedding. The alter was so carefully decorated with gorgeous floral bouquets. And the great hall was filled with soulful guitar music from Chris’ talented group of musicians.

Through heart-felt tears, and joyful laughter, Christopher & Jenna exchanged their wedding vows. Afterwards the three of us had lovely walk-about through the surrounding historic streets and quaint alleys for a fun couple’s shoot.

We returned to find our venue completely transformed into a reception hall, complete with excitement, energy, and dance music! With an emotional first-dance, amazing toasts, and joyful cake-cutting, we launched into a celebration of family, friendship, and undying love!!!

For more of their photos, check out: http://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/jennaandchristopher2. And to hire an INCREDIBLE guitarist for your wedding or event, head over to: www.tevesguitar.com

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

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Anastasia & Alex are Married at the Greek Orthodox Church

Congratulations to Anastasia and Alex!!! Their absolutely GORGEOUS wedding was held at the Greek Orthodox Church, with the reception following at Circa 1886, and home-base being the Wentworth Mansion.

With their blended international families, Anastasia, Alex, and I “clicked” right from the start. Anastasia was an absolutely STUNNING, elegant, and easy-going bride! Her Greek heritage had a lot to do with that, I’m sure. Alex was this tall handsome groom with a great sense of humor. Having recently returned from visiting his great country, I’m convinced his Australian heritage had much to do with that.

We had an absolute BLAST together on their wedding day!!! And I couldn’t be happier for these two! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!! 🙂

For more of their images, visit: http://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/anastasiaandalex.

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Jaime & Brian’s Hampton Park Engagement Session

Earlier this summer I got this really sweet email from Jaime:

“Hey Chris! I recently just got engaged and wanted to talk to you. You did my best friends wedding a few years ago and the pictures were so beautiful…”

I’ve had so much fun getting to know Jaime over the past few months. Finally, I got to meet this very special couple over the weekend when they came to Charleston for their engagement session. Jaime is the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful person you could ever meet! Plus, Brian and I hit it off immediately because we share the same quirky sense of humor. We all had a BLAST exploring the picturesque Hampton Park, capturing their excitement and energy along the way.

I’d like to send a HUGE BEAR HUG to Melissa & Kevin, who’s gorgeous wedding I photographed at Middleton Place, for re-connecting Jaime and I after all these years. 🙂 I can’t wait to photograph Jaime & Brian’s amazing celebration in Woodstock, GA next year!!!