Rhea and Craig tied the knot on May 23, 2015 at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC. I have always loved this venue, which is a bit of a hidden gem just outside of Chapel Hill. Between the quaint amphitheater and massive windows illuminated by golden hour light (not to mention the river!), the environment lends itself to a fun wedding celebration and lovely photos.

Craig & Rhea answered some questions for me about their wedding and photography experience. I love the honesty and thoughtfulness they put into these answers. Read the Q&A below to learn more about their day! And to view all of the photos from Rhea + Craig’s wedding and order prints, please visit their wedding gallery on my online print shop!

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1. What are some of your favorite things about your partner? How were these attributes expressed during or leading up to your wedding?

Rhea: Craig was really involved in wedding planning and he wanted to make sure we considered our options and thought things through on every detail. Sometimes I just wanted to make the decision quickly and get it done with, but Craig would make me pause and think about it for a bit. At times I would get a bit frustrated wanted to say: “Please can we just decide!” but looking back, I’m so glad he made me slow down. There were several decisions that I know ended up being better ones because we took a step back and thought it through. And that’s what he does for me in life – helps me slow down, think things through, realize it’s all going to be okay, and then end up with a better situation in the end!

Craig: Rhea is a “bit” of a planner and this attribute was certainly helpful during the wedding planning process.  Also, she is a very compassionate person and made a dedicated effort to include the special people in our lives.  And, believe it or not, it was actually a fun process to plan the wedding.  Rhea is fairly easy-going and her personality helps us get through the stressful times in life!

2. What was most important to you in planning your wedding?

We wanted an authentic experience that represented us as a couple. We wanted it to be meaningful but not too formal, expressive but also fun.

3. Are there any details or moments from your wedding that are particularly special to you? (E.g., you wore your momma’s dress, your partner unexpectedly serenaded you, there was a double rainbow all across the sky…).  

Reciting our vows was a highlight for both of us. We each completed the statement: “I love you because . . .“ Usually we are the couple that expresses our feelings for each other through our actions, so to hear the words was a powerful and meaningful experience.  Also, the weather was warm but not humid – always a gamble in the North Carolina summer – so, it was fairly comfortable for our Northern guests.  Finally, we were tremendously humbled by the generosity of our family and friends, many of whom travelled great distances to be with us on our special day.

4. What factors other than photos went into your decision on a wedding photographer? Why did you pick me?

When we were considering the Haw River Ballroom as a potential venue we googled “Haw River Ballroom weddings” and the second link was to one of your shoots.  And it was exactly the vision we had for our wedding we instantly loved your style. We knew that working with you we would get more than a bunch of pictures of us in fancy clothes – we knew you’d give us “special” photos that we would treasure forever. And when we met with you, it felt really comfortable and like we were talking with a friend. So it was an easy decision!

5. Your photography package included an engagement session with me. During our initial meeting you both expressed a bit of nervousness in front of the camera. Did the engagement session help break the ice before the big day? Do you have a favorite picture from our session?

The engagement session was a great decision. Neither of us had spent a lot of time in front of a camera before our wedding, so it was great to have that experience. The locale was unique and fun – thank you Courtney for hooking us up with a farm in Hillsborough! It’s impossible to be nervous when you have a cat sitting on your feet and donkeys looking on! There were a lot of great photos from that day, but one of our favorites has the two of us leaning our foreheads together – the light is really beautiful and it’s a sweet moment.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images? Wallpaper the hallway? Internet fame?

We’re excited to look through each & every photo and re-live our day.  It was a crazy, busy day and honestly it was a bit of a blur.  We will select several to be printed for ourselves and our families … then we’ll spam Facebook like nobody’s business.

7. What is next for you as a couple? Any big plans?

We’re going to Iceland in July for our honeymoon! We’re going to drive the ring road which circumnavigates Iceland, stopping along the way for hiking, waterfalls, whale watching, and whatever else we find. We love to travel and so are excited for this next adventure!

8. Anything else you’d like to add?

Just a final THANK YOU to you for being such a talented artist and also a cool, relatable person. We are so grateful to have found you!

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Craig & Rhea, thank you for being such an authentic and fun couple. Your answers above can be said right back at you: thank you for being such cool, relatable people! It was a pleasure working with you throughout every step of the photography process, and I am looking forward to seeing you around Durham! Enjoy!

A shout-out to all our fab vendors for making this day possible:

Photography Assistant: Kasha Mammone

Coordinator: Patti Gallivan

Officiant: Brandon Chase

Bride’s Dress: Wtoo

Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale

Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Clothing: Bernard’s Formalwear

Florist: Victoria Park Florist

Dessert: Whole Foods Durham

Catering: Saxapahaw General Store

Invites & Programs: MagnetStreet

DJ: CWDJ Entertainment

Transportation: First Charter Bus

The post Rhea + Craig | Haw River Ballroom Wedding | North Carolina Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Janel and Lenard tied the knot on April 25, 2015 at Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh, NC. Spring storms couldn’t put a damper on this fun couple’s celebration- inside it was all smiles, even though the rain forced them indoors. To learn more about Janel + Lenard’s wedding inspiration and day, read the Q&A below!

To view all of the photos from Janel + Lenard’s wedding and order prints, please visit their wedding gallery on my online print shop!

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How did you meet and fall in love? I’d love to hear a little bit more of your story.

We met in 2008 at the Aggie/Eagle Football Classic, and Lenard asked me to dance. The first two times I turned him down. But the third time he asked we danced the night away and we are still dancing.

2. Tell me about the inspiration for your wedding celebration. How did the day itself line up with your vision and expectations?

Our wedding theme was Simple Elegance, and we envisioned an intimate celebration with close friends and family. We wanted an elegant venue, elegant food, and an elegant affair while keeping it very intimate. The day turned out to be exactly what we had planned. It was a day that we will always cherish.

3. What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

Immediately after the ceremony Lenard and I were ushered into a side room where we were able to take in the moment of us having just said I do. That moment with just him and I were awesome

4. What factors other than photos went into your decision on a wedding photographer? Why did you pick me?

When I first spoke with Courtney and the initial contact we had, I knew right then she was the photographer for us. Lenard and I are very easy going and Courtney’s personality matched perfectly. She was so helpful and easy to talk to. We selected Courtney because we felt that she would tell our story beautifully through her photos.

Some of our guest commented days later: “Your photographer was all over the place!” and that was good news to me.

5. Did you foresee any part of your wedding day being difficult logistically or emotionally? Did I make it easier? If so, how? 

It rained our entire wedding day. However Lenard and I never lost focus. Courtney made taking picture inside and outside of our beautiful venue seamless. We had such a good time with her and her assistant.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images? 

When we receive the images Lenard and I will sit down and relive our day through Courtney’s eyes before sharing with family and friends.

7. What is next for you as a couple? Any big plans?

Life before we got married was awesome as we have truly been blessed. The only plans Lenard and I have are to love each other unconditionally everyday regardless of the road ahead.

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Janel + Lenard, thank you so much for inviting me to document your day! Your wedding wasn’t only elegant, it was also tender, joyful, and a blast to photograph. I hope you cherish these photos for years to come!

A shout-out to all our fab vendors for making this day possible:

Coordinator: Felicia Moseley Events

Photography Assistant: Katy Folk

Brides’ Dress: Anjolique Bridal

Shoes: David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: Savvi Formalwear

Flower Girl Dresses: Flowergirl Dress for Less

Groom’s Clothing: Custom-made

Groomsmen Clothing: Savvi Formalwear

Florist: Fresh Affairs

Dessert: Verdell Williams

Invites & Programs: Corey Tietsma- Total Graphics

DJ: DJ Heavy

The post Janel + Lenard | Brier Creek Country Club Wedding | Raleigh Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.