When Lisette told me back in October that she and Steven would say “I do” in a big red barn, I got really excited. She explained to me that it wasn’t a wedding venue that comes with amenities and a special wedding staff, either—it was literally a big red barn on the side of the road in Greer, South Carolina.

Lisette and Steven’s barn wedding turned out to be really beautiful.  Family and friends helped out with all aspects of the set-up, stringing Christmas lights around the perimeter of the inside and baking pies for their potluck-style dessert bar.  In an age when the wedding industry tries to convince couples to drop ridiculous amounts of money on mere table settings, it was really refreshing to experience an intimate, beautiful DIY wedding.

Lisette and Steven are both down-to-earth people with a wonderful sense of humor, and their wedding reflected that nicely. I kept cracking up during the reception when Lisette would announce the next activity. For the bouquet toss, she simply declared, “Okay it’s time to throw things!”  For their exit, she told everyone “Now it’s time for our fake exit!”  I loved how relaxed the atmosphere was, as the lack of contrived entertainment allowed for authentic conversation, laughter, and dancing.  Several of my former wedding clients and friends were at this wedding, and I enjoyed getting a chance to briefly catch up.

Lisette and Steven, thank you so much for allowing me and Maria to be a part of your day.  Your wedding was truly beautiful, and it was so fun to realize how many mutual friends we had!  The day was a genuine reflection of not just your love for each other, but your family and friend’s love for and support of you. It was an honor to be a part of it, and I hope that these photos make you smile in the months and years to come.

Enjoy!

Amy + Jason’s colorful backyard wedding exuded love and creativity.  A DIY bride, Amy created so many amazing details for her wedding—bright
quilted signs that exclaimed “Celebrate,” colorful place settings,
purple and green lanterns, and she even thrifted to find vintage china
for their reception. One thing I appreciated about this effervescent Carrboro couple is that they specifically
requested I bring a student shooter with me to cover their wedding.  Both scholars and professors, Amy and Jason wanted their
wedding day to be an extension of their love for teaching. So I brought
my fabulous UNC student intern, Maria Van Aalst,
with me to shoot their wedding.  This was Maria’s second wedding, and
she told me afterwards that the bar had been set high for her.  “Are all
couples this creative and fun?” she asked. This wedding will stand out in both of our minds because of this couple’s fabulous personality.