Sally & Vincent’s “Carolina Girl” Vow Renewal

It’s been TEN YEARS since Sally & Vincent tied the knot. But at the time, they weren’t able to have a big wedding. So for their 10-year Anniversary, they decided to throw that beautiful “party of the century” wedding celebration they’d always imagined!!!  🙂

Sally & Vincent met and fell in love in Coney Island, NY. Her brother lived in Charleston.  So Sally kept coming down to the area for visits. Later on, Sally & Vincent moved to Connecticut.  But it wasn’t quite the right fit, and they still hated those cold winters. Eventually they took the plunge and moved to Mt. Pleasant.  Along the way, they started a family.  Their daughters, Vanessa and Scarlett, are absolutely adorable.  You can check out their engagement/family photos here:  https://chrisandcami.com/sally-vincent-folly-beach-engagement/).  Since moving to Charleston, Sally & Vincent have built their dream home…and have been here ever since!

To pull off this fabulous wedding celebration, these two lovebirds joined with the amazing team at The Carolina Girl Yacht (www.carolinagirlevents.com)!  Camille, Jessica, Captain T.J., and the rest of the crew helped them get every detail in place, and made sure everything ran smoothly throughout the event.

When the Big Day arrived, I met up with Sally and her girls at The White Room for their “getting ready” photos.  Sally was absolutely STUNNING in her elegant wedding gown!  Then it was off to The Carolina Girl to catch up with Vincent and his guys.  When the Party Buss arrived with the girls on it, Vincent was waiting in the picturesque park near the dock.  Knowing how long Sally & Vincent had waited for this moment, it was all I could do to hold back the tears and keep shooting while this amazing couple enjoyed their emotional First Look.  Next, we stepped up the pace with wedding party photos in the park before guests arrived.  Then it was off to The Carolina Girl for the rest of the evening!  From family and friends enjoying the scenic cruise around Charleston harbor, to their heartfelt vow renewal, to family portraits on the bow, to a delicious dinner, and finally the gleeful laughter reverberating off the water as everyone danced the night away…a FABULOUS time was had by all at Sally & Vincent’s Big Celebration.  That, my friends, is exactly how dreams come true!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Sally & Vincent!  You two are so perfect for each other.  We wish you all the best as you continue to love one another, love your wonderful girls, and live life to the fullest for MANY MORE anniversaries to come…

 

Historic Rice Mill with Z9

My friend Frank, of Francis West Studios, let me tag along on a fun wedding he was shooting at the Historic Rice Mill today.

He was the videographer for the event. So I helped out by running the secondary camera, getting drone footage, etc. But the fun part was, he let me bring the new Z9 to play with! Here are a couple dusk shots of this beautiful wedding venue taken with the new camera.

I still have a lot of subtle nuances to get used to…but this beast is really starting to feel at home in my hands! 🙂

Anna & Jimmy’s Wedding at Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Jimmy is an awesome bagpiper, and a respected member of law enforcement in Charleston. I’ve had the privilege of bumping into him many times over the years as he’s played his pipes for tons of weddings and events that I’ve photographed. It was a great honor that he and Anna asked me to photograph their wedding!!!

Jimmy & Anna have known each other for over 20 years. Like many of us in life, they were good friends that drifted apart and lost track of each other. But they found their way back to each other when they re-connected through Facebook in 2014. They have been inseparable ever since! They fell in love and were married at the courthouse in June of 2019. But with the pandemic of 2020, their big wedding celebration had to wait until last weekend!

With preparations starting off at the Indigo Hotel in Mt. Pleasant, the sun was out and spirits were high! Anna looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gown. And Jimmy was quite dapper in his bowtie. Guests were shuttled to Sacred Heart Catholic Church on an old restored 1960s buss, which was REALLY cool!!! A beautiful ceremony was led by Father Jack, or “Uncle Jack” as he preferred. Jimmy’s Uncle came all the way from New York to perform the ceremony! After the service and formal portraits in the church, Jimmy & Anna stopped at the Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park with me for some beautiful portraits before sunset. Then it was back to the Indigo Hotel for an awesome reception!!!

It was nice to see Sara Cavallon again, who coordinated everything at the church. I also enjoyed teaming up once more with my friend Robbin Knight as second-shooter. And Nicole with Direct My Days did an awesome job as their Day Of Coordinator. Also, many thanks to Carmella’s Bakery, Paper Dolls, Atlantic Executive Limousine, Lowcountry Valet, JW Wedding and Event, Blacktree Music Group, and all the other vendors and staff that helped make this day a huge success for Anna & Jimmy!

CONGRATULATIONS Anna & Jimmy! We wish you all the best as you continue loving life, loving each other, and loving this new journey you have begin…

Ben & Kyle’s Wedding Upstairs at Rue de Jean

It was such an honor for me to photograph Ben’s surprise proposal to Kyle last summer: https://chrisandcami.com/ben-kyles-secret-garden-proposal/. So imagine my excitement when they called to ask if I would photograph their wedding?!? 🙂

When the Big Day finally arrived, I met Ben at Hampton Park, where Kyle would be dropped off for their First Look. It was a truly magical moment! After which the three of us stepped across the street and into some of the old historic alleys and charming streets that Charleston is so known for. When we got back, their wedding entourage with family and friends had arrived for some fun “portraits in the park”. We all had a great time and came away with a variety of great photos!

Then it was off to Rue de Jean, where Ben & Kyle had rented out the upstairs ballroom for their wedding and reception. It’s a beautiful venue with rustic wooden beams, old brick walls, and great character! There was a heart-felt ceremony, led by Kyle’s good friend, Troy. Then Kyle, Ben, and I snuck down to the alley behind the restaurant for a few more photos while the room was flipped. The reception started with great conversations, delicious food, and joyous laughter. A fun introduction, a touching first dance, a great cake-cutting, and hilarious toasts kicked things up another notch. But the energy and excitement of the dancing took the level through the roof! It was an awesome party as everyone celebrated Ben & Kyle’s love for each other.

CONGRATULATIONS Ben & Kyle! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together…

Daisy & Anthony’s Beaufort Wedding

Anthony’s mom, Christine, is an amazing photographer! We’ve been friends with her and Tony for quite a while, especially since they love to travel as much as we do. It was an INCREDIBLE honor when they asked us to photograph their son’s wedding!!!

Daisy and Anthony picked a gorgeous fall day to tie the knot in beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina! Preparations for the day began at a historic Air B&B. Daisy was absolutely STUNNING in her fairy-tale wedding gown! And Anthony was quite dapper in his suit and bowtie!!! I especially loved the heartfelt emotions as Daisy shared a private first look with her Dad and then with Anthony.

Next it was off to the eclectic Old Bay Marketplace Loft & Rooftop for the ceremony and reception. Aside from a brief sprinkle right as the processional began, the weather turned out fantastic! They were able to have their ceremony outside on the rooftop as planned, with the reception following indoors. But of course in between the two, we couldn’t resist running across the street for some really cool sunset photos along the waterfront first!!! 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS Daisy & Anthony!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together…

Nina & Brendan at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Way back in May of 2020, I fell in love with Nina & Brendan during his heartfelt secret proposal to her: https://chrisandcami.com/brendans-surprises-nina-with-a-proposal/. I could tell this was indeed TRUE LOVE!!!  So you can imagine my incredible excitement when these two lovebirds asked me to photograph their wedding! Having been there with them at the beginning of this journey when she said “Yes”, it was an absolute pleasure to be with them at this special celebration when they each said “I Do”. 🙂

Nina & Brendan were married in a beautiful ceremony at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The intricate half-dome ceiling in this place is nothing short of spectacular. But it paled in comparison to how absolutely stunning Nina was in her elegant wedding gown! Normally a rugged and weathered hard-working man, I have to say Brendan was looking incredibly sharp in his pressed gray suite as well. 🙂

After exchanging vows, Nina & Brendan celebrated with all their family and friends during a fantastic reception at the Historic Rice Mill. While sail boats bobbed in the background, this beautiful old restored waterfront venue gave us some wonderful backdrops for portraits of the newlyweds…the sun slowly sinking into the Ashley River in the distance. Inside, however, the energy and excitement was electric! Between a lovely solo sung by Brendan’s father for their first dance, hilarious toasts that had everyone doubled over in laughter, and a dance floor that simply wouldn’t quit…this turned out to be the celebration of the century!

CONGRATULATIONS to Nina & Brendan! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!!

Noah’s Surprise Proposal to Meredith

A few weeks ago I received a call from Noah. The voice on the other end of the phone was so kind and sincere. I was struck with how much he wanted to make everything absolutely perfect for his girlfriend of three years. Noah and I had a great time going back and forth and figuring out an awesome plan for his secret proposal to Meredith!
This morning, the Big Day finally arrived!!! Because Meredith loves all the beautiful trees in Charleston, we had settled on the proposal taking place under the cathedral of crape myrtles, draped in Spanish moss, lining one of the paths at Hampton Park. Everything turned out absolutely perfect! And SHE SAID YES!!!
The three of us then enjoyed a wonderful stroll around Hampton Park, photographing a variety of authentic engagement photos for them to remember this special day. I had so much fun getting to know them as we captured these images together! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS Meredith & Noah! We wish you all the best as you begin this amazing new chapter of your lives…

Amber & Paul’s Wedding at The Cedar Room

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been 3 years since I photographed Paul’s surprise proposal to Amber: https://chrisandcami.com/pauls-secret-proposal-to-amber-at-white-point-garden/. I instantly fell in love with them that day. You just couldn’t possibly meet two of the nicest, kindest, most genuine people on the planet!

In spite of a worldwide pandemic thwarting their wedding plans (multiple times), Amber & Paul just rolled with the punches until FINALLY they could celebrate their love the way they always dreamed of! And what a beautiful wedding day it turned out to be!!!

Preparations for the big day started off at The Hampton Inn Downtown Charleston with Paul and the guys getting ready. Then it moved over to the Hotel Bennett where Amber and the girls were doing their magic. Once everyone was ready, Amber’s Dad got a First Look with her on the balcony, before Paul got his First Look of her in her amazing wedding gown in Marion Square. Then it was off to Hampton Park for photos with their amazing wedding party!

The ceremony was held in a private courtyard just outside of The Cedar Room, which is an amazing event space located at The Cigar Factory. It was an elegant, and sweet service, officiated by Ryan who is one of their friends. Afterwards, Amber & Ryan made it up to the rooftop for a private moment with the incredible view of Charleston harbor during twilight. Then it was back to The Cedar Room for an awesome evening of dancing and celebrating!!!

Many thanks to Camilla @spellbound.events for all her hard work keeping everything on schedule and running smoothly!

And CONGRATULATIONS to Amber & Paul!!! We wish you both all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together…

Brittny & Chuck’s Wedding on the Carolina Girl

When I met up with Brittny & Check for their sunrise engagement shoot on Folly Beach (www.chrisandcami.com/brittny-chuck-at-folly-beach-pier/), they INSTANTLY become one of my favorite couples ever! They are just so much fun to be around…always full of joy and laughter!!! 🙂

Arriving at The Marriott Hotel the morning of their wedding, I could tell this was going to be a truly special day. Brittny had surrounded herself with some amazing family and friends, full of love for her, sharing encouraging words, keeping the spirits high, and showering her with gifts as she got ready. Plus she looked absolutely STUNNING in her wedding gown!

Making my way to The Carolina Girl, a beautiful yacht that hosts weddings as it sails around the Charleston harbor, the guys (and Best Lady) were having a ball! We grabbed a ton of really fun photos before Chuck made his way out on the dock to meet Brittny. The threatening clouds held back juuust long enough for them to have their First Look before the skies cracked open!

The rain didn’t dampen their spirits one bit!!! We had a beautiful ceremony on the top deck under the protection of the awning, followed by a fantastic meal on the main deck, then back to the top for a CRAZY night of partying and dancing into the wee hours!

Many thanks to Libby with Details Wedding Planning, as well as Jessica, Captain TJ, and the entire staff of The Carolina Girl, for keeping everything on track.

CONGRATULATIONS to Brittny & Chuck!!! We wish you both all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together as husband and wife…

Margaret & Matthew’s Indianapolis Wedding

Anyone who knows Cami knows what a loyal and loving friend she is. She and Gereese have remained close “besties” ever since high-school. It’s been such a joy for me to get to know her and Guy through Cami, and to photograph their son Matthew through the many stages of his life. So you can imagine what an honor it was for us when Matthew and Margaret asked us to photograph their wedding!!!

Originally scheduled in Waco, TX, where they were living last year, the pandemic had other plans.  During that time, they did get married in a private ceremony in a beautiful field, with just the two of them and their pastor, Kelcey.  PLUS, they moved to a suburb of Indianapolis, IN, for a great job opportunity for Margaret!  Eventually the plans fell into place so that they could finally have their wedding celebration with family and friends last weekend!  🙂

The ceremony and reception were held at the old historic Fountain Square Theater in downtown Indianapolis.  Fountain Square was the first commercial historic district in Indiana.  Its existing buildings span more than a century of development from 1871 to the present.  Since 1928, the Fountain Square Theatre Building has anchored the corner at Shelby and Prospect Streets in Fountain Square.  It is an absolutely GORGEOUS theater with an amazing ambiance and a character all its own.  We could see why Margaret and Matthew fell in love with this beautiful venue!!!

Arriving at the Fountain Square Theater on the Big Day, there was a palpable energy about the place as staff (Brian the caretaker of the facility was awesome), family, and friends, went about their activities and preparations.  Meeting Margaret and her wonderful bridesmaids in the bridal suite, I could tell we were going to have a lot of fun.  Margaret was absolutely STUNNING in her wedding gown!  Meeting up with Matthew and his groomsmen confirmed my earlier suspicions…especially when the guys started a rowdy game of foosball!!!

The ceremony was elegant and heartfelt.  Their pastor, Kelcey, even traveled all the way to Indianapolis to partake in “Part 2”.  After the ceremony and some fun family photos, a beautiful dinner with a delicious meal ensued.  Following that was a fantastic evening of dancing and celebration as the two adorable newlyweds played games, ceremoniously cut their wedding cake, and partied like teenagers!

Please help me send out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Margaret & Matthew!  We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!!

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Samantha & Todd’s Arkensas Wedding

It was an absolute pleasure to photograph Todd & Samantha’s wedding in Eureka Springs, Arkansas!
We met Samantha when she was brave enough to go on a mission trip with us to Tanzania, back in 2011. She had never met any of us. But she bravely jumped on a plane from Fayetteville and met up with us for the overnight flight to Africa. We fell in love with her the instant we met her! She is full of spice and everything nice. A lifelong friendship was born that trip!!!
Samantha later met Todd while she was in vet school. She brought him to Charleston for a visit, and we fell in love with him as well! Todd is a true gentleman, a good and kind human being, and absolutely perfect for Samantha. Thus it was a great honor for us to be invited to capture all the beautiful moments of their special day!
Even though their original plans were thwarted by the pandemic, Samantha and Todd were finally able to have their wedding celebration at the Blue Springs Heritage Center in Eureka Springs like they had originally dreamed of doing. Their reception was held at the famous Crescent Hotel.
Samantha and Todd are such a beautiful couple and we couldn’t be happier for them! We wish you both all the happiness in the world as you begin this new journey together!!!

 

 

 

 

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…