Tag: Rigmor House

Una + Sam tied the knot in Chapel Hill on April 29, 2017  in their colorful, spirited non-traditional Rigmor House wedding.

These lovebirds met as high school sophomores (shout-out to Mr. Reed and his outdoor ed class for bringing them together!) Fast-forward several years, when Sam proposed over a game of scrabble. Una said yes, naturally.

I loved everything about this Rigmor House wedding- from the lush ferns (grown by Una’s dad for months!) to the fire alarm snafu during dinner, which prompted Una to borrow a firefighter’s helmet for magic-hour portraits while everyone else evacuated the building, laughing and drinking, unfazed by the turn of events.

It doesn’t hurt that Sam has a glorious man-bun, either, or that Una makes the world’s best/scariest faces. All. The. Time.

This spirited couple sat down and talked with me about their Rigmor House wedding in their own words. Read about their experience below, and get ready to laugh! 🙂

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

Sam : Una is my perfect other half. She is calm where I am high stress and high stress where I am calm. We balance out each other’s goofiness and seriousness. But most importantly, we compromise frequently and willingly, but we don’t ever let each other stop being our individual selves, and that was reflected beautifully and perfectly in our vows.

Una: Well crap, I don’t know how to compete with what he just said! But I love that Sam expresses his emotions with fullness and integrity and that he is so comfortable in his own skin. I love that he loved planning this wedding as much as I did, and that we did it together.

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

Keeping it low-key, stress free, and enjoying the process of planning! (It only happens once!)

 

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…).

Una: The morning of the wedding I woke up and went downstairs to eat toast and happened to glance out the window to see my parents digging up ferns in our backyard. TOO FUNNY. Isabelle, a family friend and our wedding planner, had spotted them weeks before and knew she wanted to use them for decoration. My mom made our wedding cake and I cherish that labor of love. She had never made a cake that large, much less a wedding cake, and it was beautiful (and DELICIOUS.)

Another sweetness was during the parent dances, which I expected to be chill dancing until my dad started spinning me around the dance floor. It was such a silly and fun moment.

Sam: I would add that our officiant (who is also a best friend from college) wrote the most simple but touching speech for the ceremony. And, since it was 92 degrees and people were melting in their chairs, it was thankfully short! And also the fire alarm – we can’t forget that! We always joked that as long as no one died at our wedding we would rate it a success, and we saw it as a good omen that the alarms do indeed work! (And no one died, so, success!)

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

Forget about the tiny details; if you’re worried someone is going to side-eye your napkins or something, know that they are going to side-eye no matter what. If you’re on a budget, scratch that, because you are on a budget, pick the things that really matter to you and go cheap on the rest. We knew we wanted a live band, so we splurged on them (they. were. AMAZING.) and in exchange, we spent $50 on my dress.

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

As a wedding gift, a friend of ours who frames art professionally is doing a few chosen photos. We are really looking forward to hanging those. And of course, we are going to make an album to be placed somewhere in our house that is easily reached for a nostalgic perusal.

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

Una: I finish graduate school next May and we delayed our honeymoon until after I finish. Since most of my extended family lives in Ireland, and Sam has never met many of them or traveled to Ireland, we are planning a long-awaited summer trip!

7. Anything else you’d like to add about your Rigmor House wedding or experience working with me?

While I was pretty sure from the photos alone that Courtney would be a perfect fit for us, after we met I was sure of it. She listened to our thoughts and nailed everything we wanted while also capturing wonderful moments we would never have thought to ask for. We spent zero moments worrying about photography once we booked her, and we couldn’t have had a better experience. Our wedding was joyous and loving and so much fun, and our photos reflect that.

Are you a low-key couple looking for a photographer to capture your own silliness and joy on your big day? Check out my 3 wedding photography packages and drop me a line– I’d love to hear from you!

A shout-out to our fab vendors who made this day possible:

Photography Assistant: Katy Hall

Coordinator: Isabelle Congleton

Officiant: Ethan Sagin- Sam’s college friend

Bride’s Dress: Rainbow’s End

Bride’s Shoes: Modcloth

Cake: Ann Walsh, bride’s mother

Florist: Isabelle Congleton; ferns by Larry Sammon, bride’s dad.

Dessert: Chapel Hill Restaurant Group

Catering: Chapel Hill Restaurant Group

Band: The Finns

 

Marie + Robbie tied the knot at the Rigmor House in Chapel Hill, NC on November 21, 2015. Their cozy winter celebration reflected their creative and goofy personalities- I doubt I’ll ever photograph another bride with moon boots again! 🙂

Read the Q&A with this artsy 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?

Marie – Robbie is everything I have ever wanted in a man. He is so much like my Dad: hardworking, smart, silly, sensitive, and extremely supportive. I have needed each and every one of those attributes during the wedding planning process. He helped me design and build all of the decorations for the wedding. Every time I got overly stressed or panicky he would make me laugh and lighten the mood in the situation. We also both have a deep love for the outdoors and he helped me make my dream a reality by bringing a little bit of the wilderness into our ceremony. He is my rock.

Robbie – Marie is the most interesting and special person I have met.  She is kind hearted, caring, smart, ambitious, hard-working, creative, patient, and goofy all piled up in a five-foot package.  She embraces my dreams and comforts me when I am upset.  These attributes all were shown on the wedding day as she danced around the room meeting all my family making them feel as if they had known her all their lives.  The creative side of her absolutely came out for the wedding as she took the reigns for the décor.  I couldn’t be happier.

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

Marie and I wanted a wedding that would bring everyone together. We hadn’t met one another’s extend family yet and we wanted everyone to get to know each other. We decided to make it as hard as possible for people to be in separate groups and force them to get out on the dance floor. It definitely worked. We also didn’t want to get to sucked up into the party itself and let a lot of the aspects of the wedding happen naturally. Neither of us wanted to make ourselves stressed out by trying to perfect every detail. We had a tight budget, so we had a lot of bonding time creating most of the décor used at the wedding. All of those things have now turned our porch into a magical fairytale land full of memories.

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…).

The first look we had before the wedding was very special because, after 11 months of anticipating that moment when we would first see each other, it was more than we had ever imagined it would be. It was a great time for us to be able to laugh and take each other in and be completely goofy before we had to put our serious faces on and take our vows.

4. What drew you to my photography style? What was it like to work with me?

Robbie said that your tag line says it all. We are unconventional and wild and completely silly people. You seemed like the best person to be able to capture who we really are. You were amazing to work with. It was so awesome to meet someone who was completely true to themselves right off the bat. Neither Robbie nor I like our picture taken, but with you it didn’t feel formal or stiff, but like a friend was taking pictures of us. It was perfect.

5. What was the silliest moment of your wedding day? The sweetest?

There were a lot of silly moments during our day.  We think that it is a toss up between all of our friends doing keg stands, my uncle wearing a tie on his head like Quail Man, and my escape outfit… A star wars onesie. My father and I also had a few funny moments. As we were walking out of the room hand in hand to walk down the aisle I realized I didn’t have my bouquet. I started panicking and we both stopped mid walk, turned around, and ran back to the room giggling like mad men. While he was giving me to Robbie he kissed me on the cheek, and then he had to make a joke and give Robbie and big ol’ smack on the face as well. Some of the sweetest moments included my father and my dance where we had to share a handkerchief.  He is the toughest man I know and this is the first time I have seen him openly cry multiple times in one day. I can’t forget the look on Robbie’s face as I walked down the aisle. He is so much like my father, and to see him tear up and smile at me with that big beautiful smile made my heart melt.

6. What is the first thing you want to do with the images? Wallpaper the hallway? Internet fame? Tattoo your favorite photo on your arm?

Honestly, we want to look through them together. We were pulled in so many directions during the reception that we don’t really remember all that much about it. It would be nice to look through the images and relive our day and see what memories they jog.

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

Well, we just got back from our Dude Ranch Honeymoon, which was awesome. Right now we are kind of nesting. It is nice to create a space that feels like it is both of ours. We are enjoying life as a married couple and maybe thinking about purchasing a house. Yeesh.. I think we are grown ups.

8. Anything else you’d like to add?

It was amazing working with you. Thank you for jumping in and joining our crazy families for our special day. We wouldn’t have changed anything.

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Marie + Robbie, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to finish wedding season 2015! Thanks for being your authentic selves and choosing me to share in your unconventional celebration. I hope you love your photos as much as I do! 🙂

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

Venue: The Rigmor House

Photography Assistant: Kasha Mammone

Coordinator: Beth Boyea

Officiant: Roddy Dinsmore

Bride’s Dress: Allure Bridals

Bridesmaid Dresses: Free People

Groom’s Clothing: Assorted

Florist & Cake: DIY

Catering: AV Gourmet

Invites & Program: Marie Boyea

DJ: Island Sound DJ

Lexi + Kevin tied the knot on July 4, 2015 at The Rigmor House in a festive Fourth of July wedding. Yes, a holiday celebration with red, white, and blue, a patriotic photobooth, and a brilliant fireworks finale!

This fun couple answered some questions for me about their wedding inspiration and photography experience. Read their thoughtful response below. And to view all of the photos from Lexi + Kevin’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?

Kevin: One of the things I really admire about Lexi is her creativity, and for the wedding that came out in spades. She planned and designed most of the decorations and everything turned out really great. She’s also really fun and I think that’s also what helped make it easy to plan a fun wedding for all of our guests.

Lexi: Kevin was so helpful in keeping me calm and organized. He is such a laidback guy, and he never seems to worry about much because he is so good at planning. He was very involved all along the way, even with small decisions like whether or not we should get compostable plates, and he always had a way of balancing things that made sense to me. I remember a few weeks before the wedding, I had made a long list of things that needed to happen and was starting to pull my hair out because of it. He took one look at my list, told me to stop panicking, and jumped on helping me make sure it was all taken care of. That really helped us both stay calm and happy the day of the wedding!

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

We really had two goals in planning the wedding – the first was that all of our guests had a really good time and felt comfortable, and the second was that we not spend a million bucks making that happen. Looking back I can say with confidence that it is possible to pull off a DIY wedding that doesn’t break the bank, but that also has all the special moments and extra touches that make it an unforgettable evening. It also happened to be the 4th of July, so we tried to fold in some fireworks and festive decorations without going over the top on the red, white and blue theme. In general, we need to add more colors to our lives so that It helps us grow for personal growth. And become an optimist in all matters. This is a very important quality in life.
To find out more check this link right here now.

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…).  

There were so many special moments at our wedding! Because our family and friends all came together to help make everything perfect, even the small details were special. From the flowers, to the cake, to the decorations, to my hair, every single piece of the day was made extraordinary by the people who selflessly gave their time and talents to help us.

I think one of the most touching moments was during our first dance. The song was written and performed by Kevin’s brother and best man, Greg, so that was incredible to begin with, but then about midway through the song our parents, brothers, and grandparents joined us on the dance floor. I’ll never forget looking around and seeing tears stream down Kevin’s grandfather’s face and my mom beaming as she danced with my brother. It was a bit unconventional, but I’m so glad the people the most dear to us were able to share that moment with us.

We should also give a shout out to our awesome bottle of bourbon that kept the rain away on our special day. Kevin’s dad tipped us off to this southern tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon exactly one month before the wedding, at the exact place you are getting married, to make sure it doesn’t rain. So on June 4th at 6:30 pm, we drove out to the Rigmor house and buried a quality bottle of bourbon upside down where we planned to have the ceremony. It worked! Even though it poured the day before the wedding and all around the Rigmor house the day of, we didn’t get a drop of rain, and the weather was beautiful.

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

This is probably something you will hear a lot (because its true!), but sit back, relax and try to enjoy it. The whole process goes by so quickly, and when you get to the big day, you have to just let go and know that everything will work out. Your family and friends will follow your cue, so if you’re happy, they will be too, and no one will even notice the small details that are bound to go differently than how you planned them. It’s really a remarkable day, not just because you get to join lives with the person you love, but also because its probably the only time that all the people you care about will be in one place. So enjoy that, and don’t sweat the small stuff!

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

Probably just look at them all and remember our big day. And share them, lots of people are excited to see them.

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

At the end of September, we’re going to go back to the cottage in Asheville where Kevin proposed. It will be nice to go back and reminisce.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

Even though we went mostly DIY with our wedding, the one thing we knew we didn’t want to risk was having beautiful pictures of our special day. That’s why we hired Courtney, and even before having seen any of the pictures, we knew that was the right decision! Courtney made us feel so comfortable and we knew we were in good hands. And I promise Courtney didn’t ask us to say this – it’s just true!

One other thing: A co-worker of Lexi’s filmed a lot of great footage of the wedding, and he and another co-worker pitched in to have it edited down into a 5 minute video. It’s set to the song that Greg wrote and recorded for our first dance. Here’s a link to the video and a link to the song on soundcloud. The lyrics are below:

all the day long, all the time

I circle the words inside of my mind

over and again

never do they make it out

out go the lights, I lay them down

and wake to find they’re still there

all of the time spent here

makes me believe it’s real

what I’ve always known

I’ve waited all my life

to take a hand in mine

and I won’t let go

I think about my life

all of the time before you arrived

every long night

out of the house, out of town

I’d search the world, all around

how did I find you so near

all of the time spent here

makes me believe it’s real

what I’ve always known

I’ve waited all my life

to take a hand in mine

and I won’t let go

inside the walls that bind us

if trouble should ever find us

the first sight of blood won’t turn me away

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Lexi + Kevin, thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your wedding celebration! I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend The Fourth, and we had such a blast celebrating your love (and the holiday!) with you. I hope fireworks go off in your mind when you see these pictures! 🙂

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

Venue: The Rigmor House

Photography Assistant: Shaena Mallett

Coordinator: Mary Tiger

Minister: Reverend Sealy Cross

Bride’s Dress: English’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Florist: Bride’s Mother/ Wild Scallions Farm

Catering: Clyde Cooper’s BBQ

Invites: Designed by bride

DJ: Jess Dilday

Heather + Sean tied the knot on April 11, 2015 at the Rigmor House in Chapel Hill, NC. Their wedding was a fun reflection of their laid-back personalities and love of the outdoors. Instead of driving to a hotel after a night of dancing and celebration, friends camped out around a cozy bonfire at The Rigmor House. Read the Q&A below to learn more about Heather + Sean’s wedding day and inspiration! To view all of the photos from Heather + Sean’s wedding and order prints, please visit their wedding gallery on my online print shop!

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

We met in high school. Our wedding was almost exactly 10 years after our first date.

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

your vision and expectations?

We wanted it to feel like a fun, casual, backyard BBQ. Everything lined up perfectly with our

plan! We also loved having our friends camp – that definitely fit with our personalities.

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

Right after dinner when dancing started and we realized we had pulled the whole thing off!

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

you pick me?

We really liked the style of your photos, and knew you would be a great choice after meeting

you in person. You felt like you were someone we could be friends with in “real life”, and we would

feel comfortable having you at the wedding. The fact that you had shot at our venue, the Rigmor

House before was a perk as well.

5. Did you foresee any part of your wedding day being difficult logistically or emotionally? Did I 

make it easier? If so, how? 

Everything went so smoothly. We didn’t feel like we had to think much about the photography

because you had it all under control!

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

Share them with our family.

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

Getting “real” jobs; we are both postdocs!

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Heather + Sean, thanks for being such a breeze to work with! I concur with what you said in the Q&A- I feel like we could have met and been friends in “real life.” I haven’t ever photographed wedding guests pitching their tents minutes before the ceremony, so thank you for giving me this fun opportunity! 🙂 I enjoyed making these images, and I hope you love them!

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

Venue: Rigmor House

Photography Assistant: Katy Folk

Officiant: Robin Renteria

Bride’s Dress: Wtoo by Watters

Catering: Hillsborough BBQ Company