Feb 19 2018May 27 2018

Sara + Daniel tied the knot on May 2, 2015 at Snipes Farm Retreat in Chapel Hill, NC. This creative couple planned an unconventional wedding stripped of imposed wedding traditions–proving that your wedding can be infused with imagination.

From a self-officiated ceremony to an anarcho-feminist puppet show, their unconventional wedding reflected this couple’s authenticity.

Sara and Daniel wanted their day to be a celebration of a world that is more free, just, joyful, loving, and beautiful. And their wedding certainly did not miss the mark.

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Sara + Daniel’s inspiration for their unconventional wedding celebration.

Are you planning your own unconventional wedding? Come check out the Raleigh LGBTQ Wedding Expo on February 25.

This event is an amazing resource—not only if you’re LGBTQ—but also if you’re a hetero couple looking for LGBTQ-friendly vendors who share your values.

Everyone is welcome at this event—gay, hetero, single, curious—and there’ll be all types of vendors, from photographers like myself, to catering, music, and everything in between. Admission is free, click here for more info and to RSVP. I hope to see you there!

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

We met at Connecticut College when I was a freshman and Daniel was a sophomore.

We first interacted at a film showing against the war in Iraq that Daniel presented with the campus leftist group he started. I had seen Daniel around campus (who could miss his ridiculous mohawk?), but Daniel apparently got smitten with me after I made “a biting criticism of US foreign policy” (His words, not mine. I think he just thought I was cute).

After a couple of goofy missteps we connected, exchanged mix tapes, and started a fun, passionate relationship. We got a chance to spend a summer together in Mexico during different internships, and we bonded over delicious food and revolutionary politics.

Over the last eleven years we have lived together in Mexico, DC, and North Carolina, and we spent years apart while I worked/studied in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Philadelphia. Neither of us can pinpoint the moment when we realized that we are going to be life partners. In some ways I think we both always knew

2. You incorporated some really unique elements into your unconventional wedding day (Before you, I had never photographed a puppet show at a wedding!) Tell me about some of these personal touches and the inspiration behind it.

It was very important for us that each element of our unconventional wedding day felt authentic to our relationship, heritage, and values. We are two folks that like to question authority and the status quo, so it makes sense that we tried to spin wedding traditions into something that felt representative of us.

We chose to officiate our own wedding because both of us are atheists, but we wanted to make sure that some of our closest friends and family members could contribute to the ceremony.

Our close friends are in a puppet troupe, the Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army, and they offered to write and perform a puppet show for us our wedding. The puppeteers knew that I am obsessed with my cats, so they made them the narrators of this sweet anarcho-feminist puppet show. It was amazing!

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

Both of us agreed that our favorite part of the wedding day was dancing the final dance while a huge group of our friends encircled us. Our DJ, Alex DB, played “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which was on the first mixed CD I gave to Daniel. Daniel and I both cried our eyes out while our friends hugged us. It was really moving.

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

We wanted someone who would seem comfortable with some of our nontraditional choices. You were more than game and were very validating of our choices. You also seemed relaxed and confident.

5. Your photography package included an engagement session. What was it like to work with me during this? Did it make the wedding day easier in terms of nerves about photography or what to expect from our collaboration?

I was really not looking forward to the engagement shoot. I was very nervous because I don’t really enjoy getting my picture taken, but you made me feel at ease. Your directions helped me focus on Daniel and our relationship, rather than whether I looked good enough.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images from your unconventional wedding?

We want to re-experience our unconventional wedding through your amazing photos!

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

It’s been almost difficult going back to our normal routine considering we had such a wonderful unconventional wedding day! This fall we’re traveling to Vietnam and Laos. We’re excited to go on an adventure together.

8. Now that you are seasoned wedding planners, what advice do you have for other couples planning an unconventional wedding? 🙂

Be playful! Many traditional wedding elements conflict with our radical feminist sensibilities. We kept the traditions we liked, and we re-imagined or tossed the traditions we did not like.

Sara and Daniel, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your day. There are times when photographing events feels like heavy labor, but this felt like child’s play- and I owe that to the environment of playfulness and imagination that you created. It was truly one of the most enjoyable celebrations I have ever witnessed. Thank you!

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

Wedding Planner: RedBird Events

Photography Assistant: Katy Folk

Puppet Show: Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army

Bride’s Dress: BHLDN

Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens

Groom’s Clothing: Ted Baker

Florist: Teacup Floral

Ice Cream: The Parlour

Cake: Wants and Kneads

Catering: Kokyu

Invites: Daniel Meltzer, printed by CatPrint

DJ: Alex DB

Aug 08 2016Nov 13 2017

Jenn + Kennedy tied the knot on July 1, 2016 in a summery outdoor wedding at Carrigan Farms in Mooresville, NC. This couple knows the secret to successfully pulling off a July wedding in the intense North Carolina humidity: they threw a laid-back celebration where their guests could wear bathing suits and swim in the quarry. This may be the first (and only!) wedding that featured a “first plunge” instead of a “first dance,” and I hope these images of Jenn + Kennedy’s unconventional celebration make a splash. 🙂

Read the Q&A with this gutsy couple, featured below, to learn more about their wedding inspiration and photography experience! To view all of the photos from their wedding and order prints, please visit their 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?

Kennedy: I love Jenn’s spontaneity and how she’s always up for an adventure. Last fall, we kind of got tired of planning our wedding, so we actually ended up making a lot of wedding decisions less than a month before – like desserts and sky lanterns. Some details were put together just the week leading up.

Jennifer: The main reason we got overwhelmed wedding planning is mostly because of me. I was a bit ridiculous and fickle, but Kennedy was and always is the rock and constant to my crazy whims. He really keeps me grounded and just kept telling me (over and over) that at the end of the day, we would be married, and that was all that really matters.

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

Jennifer: We (read: I) eventually realized that we really wanted to have a wedding that was true to us. A large part of me getting overwhelmed towards the beginning was because I started planning a wedding trying to make everyone happy – something quite impossible. We swapped out some wedding traditions that really didn’t reflect us as a couple like the first dance (we both have two left feet) and cake (we both love ice cream and pie more) and incorporated elements like a first plunge and lanterns. Whoa, I didn’t even realize the water and fire duality until just now.

Kennedy: I wanted a wedding where Jenn and I would have a good time and that everyone could enjoy at least some aspect. I think we were successful.

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…).

Jennifer: I really loved the handkerchief that Kennedy got embroidered for me, so much so that I couldn’t bring myself to use it while I was balling during the ceremony. I loved how we were able to incorporate a lot of Chinese traditions into the wedding without it seeming too haphazard. I know it meant a lot to my mom for me to wear a qipao and set off lanterns.

Kennedy: I loved seeing Jenn walk down the aisle and our side conversations during the ceremony. It was also so much fun getting to dance with everyone.

4. Your photography package included an engagement session. What was it like to work with me before the wedding? Do you have a favorite photo or moment from your session?

Jennifer: It was awesome having an engagement session before the wedding with you because it gave us a chance to get comfortable in front of a camera and to see your process. It was super easy and fun, and you did a great job of extrapolating what we kind of photos we wanted. I love the one where Kennedy and I are wearing hats my grandmother knitted and are goofing off. I also really love all the candid photos.

Kennedy: My favorite photo is the one with all four of us (me, Jenn, Nil, and Kola), but I know Jenn thinks Kola and Nil look derpy.

5. Now that you’ve tied the knot (and survived!), what advice would you give to other folks planning their wedding?

Have the wedding that you want, not the wedding you think you should have or that other people want and that at the end of the day, you will be married, and that’s all that really matters.

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

Jennifer: All of the above! Our family and friends have been asking for pictures since the wedding and I can’t wait to get some put around the house. I’m also ready to obnoxiously set the photos as the wallpaper for every electronic device I own.

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

Jennifer: We’re just looking forward to spending time together as a couple. Unfortunately, I started an away rotation right after the wedding. So we’re super excited that we get 4 days together this weekend, the longest since we got married! We’re hoping to go on a honeymoon this winter, but it might depend on how much hibernation I’ll need after my surgery rotation.

8. Anything else you’d like to add about your wedding, photography experience, or anything else?

Thanks for being as excited about our eclectic wedding as we were and even getting wet to shoot our “first plunge”. You were so easy to work with and really took the time to understand what we wanted out of our photos. We can’t wait to see them!

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Jenn + Kennedy, it was such an honor to photograph your wedding, which was one of the most refreshing summer celebrations I’ve witnessed (no pun intended). 🙂 From the first plunge to your incorporation of Chinese traditions into your celebration, I admire how intentional you were in crafting a day that was true to your personalities but still inclusive of your friends and family. Thank you for being such a genuine and rockin’ couple!

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

Second Photographer: Bri Brough

Venue: Carrigan Farms

Wedding Dress – Mecklenburg Bridal Gallery

Groom and Groomsmen – Men’s Wearhouse

Catering – Carrigan Farms

Florist – Herr Flowers

DJ – Spintastic Sounds: Todd Alexander

Day of Coordinator – Jessica Alexander of Spintastic Sounds

Ice Cream – Yum Yum Better Ice Cream

Jun 24 2016Nov 13 2017

Caroline + Lex tied the knot on May 21, 2016 in a rustic outdoor wedding at the Chapel Hill Carriage House. Their unconventional wedding featured baby goats, the one-and-only Rameses, and a double-rainbow. No joke.

Read the Q&A with this sweet couple, featured below, to learn more about their wedding inspiration and photography experience! To view all of the photos from their wedding and order prints, please visit their gallery on my online print shop!

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

Lex: A few of my favorite things about Caroline are her compassion, her thoughtfulness, and her grace. Our wedding exemplified each of these. She was always thinking about our guests’ comfort during the planning, she ensured every detail of the wedding was perfect, and she was breathtakingly stunning and totally composed throughout the ceremony and reception.

Caroline: I love so many things about Lex and one of them is his steadfastness. He is great at helping me calm down and remember what’s really important, which was hugely helpful during the wedding planning process. He’s also incredibly caring and puts his love into action by finding thoughtful ways to make life easier for other people (ex: waking up at the crack of dawn to take the dog out and doing all the laundry and dishes when he could tell I was a little overwhelmed). He also has such strong and loyal relationships with his friends and family and I loved listening to them reminisce about all their memories together over the weekend. Lastly, his sense of humor is on point and I thought it was reflected in so many little moments of the wedding, like the Princess Bride quote that started off our ceremony.

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

Our primary goal for the wedding was to host a fun event that our guests would enjoy. We also wanted great food and music, and to represent our respective homes, North Carolina and West Virginia. It was important to us to have a wedding that felt in line with our values, especially the ceremony. We wanted to say vows that we felt good about saying and include traditions we were on board with.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with “there was a double rainbow all across the sky!” There was, and it was amazing. Another amazing moment was that Rameses made an appearance during the cocktail hour! As a surprise to us, Caroline’s mom had invited him! We are both huge UNC fans so it was so much fun to get to celebrate and take some photos with Rameses himself. We also will never forget shout-singing Carolina in My Mind, Take Me Home Country Roads, and the UNC fight song on the dance floor with our guests. There were countless other very special moments – those are just a few that really stand out. It was a perfect night filled with so much joy.

4. Now that you’ve tied the knot (and survived!), what advice would you give to other folks planning their wedding?

Don’t sweat the small stuff and eat dinner, and dessert!

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

Lex: Cell phone background and send to family.

Caroline: Add them to our photo album! For a wedding gift, both of our parents made us this amazing photo album that starts with photos and memorabilia of both of us as children and continues with photos of our relationship and years together. I cried happy tears my first time looking at it, and I can’t wait to add photos from our wedding to it.

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

Right now we are very happy to explore summer in Pittsburgh together with our much loved puppy Otis. We are also very excited to be going to a wedding in Colorado to celebrate with some of our very best friends! Beyond that, who knows what the future holds?!

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks, Courtney, for doing a great job and being super easy to communicate and work with! And thanks to our amazing parents, families, wedding party, vendors, the Chapel Hill Carriage House team, and all our friends for helping make our wedding so special and wonderful and unforgettable.

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Caroline + Lex, thank you for being such a breeze to work with! Your wedding was an absolute blast, and I enjoyed every minute. I hope you love these photos and enjoy them for years to come!

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

Venue: Chapel Hill Carriage House

Coordinator: K at Mendenhall

Photography Assistant: Layson Peters

Bride’s Dress: R ebecca Schoneveld purchased from Glitter & Grit

Groomsmen Clothing: Brooks Brothers

Florist: Petal Pushers 3

Dessert: Simply Cakes

Catering: Sweet Basil’s Catering

Invites: If It’s Paper

Band: Big Fat Gap

Transportation: Ecostyle Transportation

Jun 06 2016Jun 21 2018

Adrienne + Matt tied the knot on April 30, 2016 in a one-of-a-kind backyard wedding at Adrienne’s grandparents’ home in Aberdeen, NC.

When Adrienne first told me they would be tying the knot at her family’s house for their backyard wedding in the Piedmont of North Carolina, I didn’t envision the backdrop of their day including rows of elegant pine trees and a historic 100-year-old mansion that could be a full-time wedding venue. There were so many details unique to the location that made for a really fun wedding to photograph!

Read the Q&A with this fun couple, featured below, to learn more about their North Carolina backyard wedding inspo and photography experience!

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

Matt somehow manages to be one of the nicest people on the planet AND someone that sticks to his guns and knows what is important to him. I can be a bit of a people-pleaser, so it was incredibly helpful to me to have him by my side to reign in those impulses, and keep us on track. He was also great about making a decision and letting it be the final decision– I would’ve worried and fretted and retraced my steps on a lot of things without his determination.

Adrienne is kind and considerate. She spent a lot of time thinking about ways to make the wedding fun and enjoyable, and how to make everyone feel included and welcome. I also loved planning the ceremony together, because all the ways that we get along and all the things we celebrate about each other really stood out during that process.

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

That it was fun! We wanted to show our appreciation to all our friends and family who have supported us, both as individuals and in our relationship, and a party with food, drinks, dancing, and games seemed a great way to do it.

We also wanted to be intentional about our ceremony. Neither of us are religious, and our friend officiated for us, so we got to build the ceremony exactly to our liking. We incorporated readings and words from close friends, we asked our brother and sister to stand with us as our “wedding party,” another dear friend played the banjo for our ceremony music, and we wrote our vows together. We also made a concerted effort to lose the bits of wedding ceremonies that can be patriarchal. Making little changes in wording (like “I give you myself” instead of “I take you”) and focusing on celebrating equal partnership made it special to us.

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…).

Our wedding had a lot of family focus. Matt gave me his grandmother’s ring when we got engaged, and we chose my grandfather’s house as our wedding location. The house was built by my great-great-great uncle in the early 1900s. It meant a lot to us to host our wedding here, because all of our prep energy went into fixing and cleaning a space that mattered to us, and that would continue to be a part of our lives after the wedding was over. We got so much help from our families and friends to put the house right, and that time together was also lovely.

My mom and dad, aunt and uncle, and cousin all had wedding receptions and/or ceremonies at the house– it felt incredible to get to carry on that tradition. Additionally, my granddad passed away in May of 2015, and he is sorely missed, so being in his home was a great way to have his presence at our wedding.

4. Now that you’ve tied the knot (and survived!), what advice would you give to other folks planning their wedding?

Figure out what matters to you about what you’re doing, and focus on that. But also recognize that you are going to have to deal with other people’s expectations, so spend some time thinking about how to handle that in a way that reduces the stress. To put it colloquially– know when to pick your battles. Having a handle on what is truly important to you about the day will help.

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

Look at them! We want to see what moments you captured that we missed!

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

We’re taking some time to not plan anything, and to focus on things we enjoyed doing before the chaos of the wedding began, which is pretty fantastic.

7. Anything else you’d like to add about your North Carolina backyard wedding?

Huge thank you for being such a competent, warm presence during our day! We talked to some photographers before we found you that had expectations about our wedding and our needs before they even met us. But you totally heard our desires, and respected our wishes (like our short list of posed shots!) while making us feel comfortable and content. We’re so grateful!