Katherine and Caley tied the knot at the Haw River Ballroom on March 9, 2014. This venue has been one of my favorites since I first discovered the hidden gem that is Saxapahaw back in 2009. The ballroom boasts tons of natural light, a rustic wall in the outdoor amphitheater that is the perfect backdrop for portraits, and the classic “thrills” sign that lights up near the stage. In other words, it’s a photographer’s playground. And we had perfect spring weather (unlike the sub-zero chill during our engagement session there back in January!)

But beyond the great light and perfect setting, Katherine and Caley (and their friends and family) are really what made this wedding so epic. Katherine comes from a large family and has a close bond with her siblings, and their myriad of silly faces made for some wonderful photos. This couples also had hands down the LARGEST dance floor I have ever witnessed in my five years as a wedding photographer. There were two tiers of mosh-pit style dancing on both the ground floor and the adjacent stage. Toddlers and grandparents alike were grooving to DJ Mike Steffan’s jams. And all throughout Katherine and her siblings continued to make silly faces with one another.

Katherine and Caley, thank you so much for inviting me to share in such a wonderful wedding. I was blown away by the kindness of your families (some members emailed me at 1 am the night of the wedding to thank me for my services—something I have never experienced that quickly on your actual wedding day! It was so thoughtful.) I’m only three weddings into the season, but I have a feeling yours will be at the top of my list of most memorable 2014 weddings. I hope these photos capture the silliness, love, and wonderfulness that made up your wedding day. Enjoy!

To purchase prints of the photos you see from Katherine + Caley’s blog post, please visit our print service here! 

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

Second Photographer: Grace Farson

Venue: Haw River Ballroom

Officiant: William Sofield

Florist: Brides & Bouquets

Cupcakes: Lauren Clarke

Catering: Saxapahaw General Store

Invitations: Katuschka Rakovec

DJ: Mike Steffan- High Impact Entertainment

The post Katherine + Caley | Haw River Ballroom Wedding | Saxapahaw Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Kelley and Mike tied the knot last month in a classy fall Chapel Hill wedding. They exchanged vows at the United Church of Chapel Hill and partied the night away at the Carolina Club on UNC’s campus. Some of my favorite moments were of Kelley’s nephew Kian, who was a complete ham. He held his own on the dance floor among lawyers and family members. A big thanks to my talented interns Julysa Sosa and Layson Peters for assisting me, as well.

Kelley + Mike, thank you so much for giving me the privilege of photographing your wedding. Your love for justice as well as your compassion for others is so apparent and inspiring. It was a joy documenting your love story, and I hope that these photos preserve that for years to come.

Prints from this wedding AVAILABLE HERE!

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

Bride’s Hair: Megan Sandy

Dress: Tre Bella Bridal

Shoes: Nina

Bridesmaid dresses: Bridal Mart

Groom’s clothing: Tom James

Ties: Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont

Florist: Tre Bella Flowers

Cake: The Carolina Club

Catering: The Carolina Club

DJ: Stephen Scott Professional Entertainment

Transportation: A Formal Affair LLC

The post Kelley + Mike | Carolina Club Wedding | Chapel Hill Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Sarah and Erik got married at the Rigmor House in Chapel Hill, one of my favorite places to shoot because of all the natural light indoors.  They adorned the tables with festive candles, cranberries, and red roses, which gave the reception a romantic feel. Their friends were extremely fun; I enjoyed watching everyone’s sick dance moves.  I was also pretty amused by the amount of shots consumed in the kitchen in between dances. 

I shot this wedding with my brand new high school intern, Layson Peters.  She did a phenomenal job, and it was so fun to live vicariously through her enthusiasm, since this was her first wedding to shoot ever.  It was nice to realize that my love for wedding photography hasn’t waned over time; every time I create a new picture of a new moment with a new couple, that quiet thrill hits me. It’s the same feeling I had during my first wedding, and I hope that as long as I am in this profession it will continue to shape my work.  And I hope the same for Layson.

Sarah + Erik, thank you so much for sharing your day with us!  Enjoy!

The post Sarah + Erik | Rigmor House Wedding appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Kim + Justin tied the knot on one of the first spring days of the year in Chapel Hill. Cerulean skies and bright green grass made for a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Rigmor House, just a few hours before sunset.

Kim and Justin are both down-to-earth and love the country, and their wedding was a beautiful reflection of that. They played country music throughout their cocktail hour and reception and even had an adorable camo-print groom’s cake! I also really loved seeing how they incorporated their engagement photos  into the reception decor, using the photos as both canvas artwork and favors for guests.

Kim’s flower girls also stole my heart. They followed me around throughout the day, twirling in their bright yellow dresses, their perfectly curled hair bouncing in the spring breeze. One of my favorite moments of the day was when a flower girl caught the bouquet during the bouquet toss. Since she is too young to be “the next to get married,” as wedding tradition has it, her mother declared a redo. Too funny!

Kim and Justin, thanks for being such easy, down-to-earth clients to work with! I am so impressed with the fact you were high school sweethearts and loved hearing stories about your steadfast relationship during the toasts. Thank you so much for inviting me to document your wedding! I hope that you cherish these photos in the years to come.

To see more photos from Kim+Justin’s wedding and purchase prints, please visit our print service here!

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

Venue: Rigmor House

Second Photographer: Bridget McEnaney

Shoes: DSW

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Groom’s Clothing: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Jane Utley

Cake: Cute & Sweet Boutique

The post Kim + Justin | Rigmor House Wedding appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.