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

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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?

Crystal: I tend to worry about everything, which was magnified during the wedding planning. Dylan is so patient and level headed. I was able to rely on him to help me stay grounded and keep things in perspective. He was very supportive throughout the whole process, which helped me relax and enjoy everything.

Dylan: She is easy going and always up for a good time. This had a huge impact on the way we planned the wedding, since we really wanted everyone to enjoy themselves more than anything. We also had a few hiccups the during the reception, but we both decided to let it go and enjoy the night regardless.

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

For both of us, our priority (second to getting hitched) was that everyone enjoyed themselves at the reception. In addition to our friends, we both have large extended families that we are close to and we just wanted everyone to have a good time celebrating with us. It was also a really special for us to have so many people that we love be able to come together and party with 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 ceremony turned out to be a really special moment. Our minister is a good friend of Dylan’s and the speech she delivered was perfectly suited for the two of us, with a lot of personal details and incorporating our story into our marriage. It was really wonderful to have something so important be so personal and it was a surprise for both of us, since we didn’t know what she was going to say.

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?

It was great to have the opportunity to work with you before the wedding, just so we could get comfortable with you and with being photographed. And we went on a little adventure with you! Our favorite photos were in the field at the end of the shoot. The scenery was so beautiful and by that time we had loosened up a bit. You can tell from the photos we were actually having fun, not just there taking photos.

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

Our advice would be to not sweat the small stuff. And remember, the whole reason you are doing all of this is get married, to start a new chapter in your life with your partner. The little things just don’t matter when you think about what really matters.

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

We both just want to see them to remember the day a little better and see the moments that were captured – it all went by so fast! I’m sure we’ll hang some in the house too and some people will probably be getting pictures for presents with the holidays coming up

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

We’ve been so busy with wedding planning, that we’re just excited to get back to normal – hanging out with our friends, having some free time and working on our house that has been neglected lately.

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Crystal + Dylan, thanks for being so easy and fun to work with for both your engagement session and your wedding! I loved how down-to-earthy (and goofy) you were, and I hope these photos bring you much joy and laughter for many years to come. Enjoy!

The post Crystal + Dylan | Rock Quarry Farm Wedding | Chapel Hill Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Jo + Jonny tied the knot on July 5, 2014 at Rock Quarry Farm in Chapel Hill, NC. This quaint outdoor venue created an intimate “backyard wedding” ambience for the day, which fit Jo and Jonny’s personalities perfectly. Read more about their wedding experience in the Q&A below!

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

We met at a mutual friend’s house party. I (Jo here) remember he really captured my attention, I thought he was so handsome and completely insane and he made me laugh. Jonny was immediately attracted to me, he thought I was cute, and he liked my confidence and outgoingness. The first few times we interacted were at house parties and there was rampant flirtation, but I always seemed to be seeing someone else. : ) When I started going to the same church as Jonny a couple months later he didn’t know I was single until we started spending more time together. As soon as he confirmed my single status he decided it was time to make his move. Jonny officially asked me out after a Christmas party on December 21st (2013). Sitting in the car on the way to our first date I had to verbally verify with him that we were indeed on a date, and it turned out that we were. Well we kept going on dates after that, and in about a week we had become absolutely inseparable (and still are). A year later on December 21st, 2014, he went down on one knee in the middle of waltzing at a winter solstice party, and asked me to marry him. : )

2. You planned a fairly non-traditional wedding with square dancing, pizelles, and even a few traditional Filipino elements. What led you to these decisions? 

All the “non-traditional” choices we made were really a no-brainer. I’ve just always thought a wedding should be a reflection of the tastes and interests of the couple getting married. The process was “Okay, we’re throwing a huge party to celebrate with our friends and family, what do we want to include?” rather than “What is our idea of what a wedding should be like?” Dancing has been a huge part of Jonny and my relationship, and what better way to share that than through square dancing where everyone can join in?! : )  My dad’s side of the family is Sicilian, so wedding cookies were a must. Jonny and I LOVE to eat, so it was especially important to us that the food be killer. Jonny’s family hails from Hawaii so we incorporated elements of that here and there like with the hibiscus flower table runners and the chill island music dinner play list. His family also brought a crown and lei made out of folded dollar bills which were so fun to wear! The wedding was sort of our perfect party, with some life-long vows in the mix.

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

For me (Jo here), pretty much the entire wedding/reception was amazing. I’m not kidding, I loved every moment!!  Jonny says the most thrilling part for him was when we were waiting in the house while the guests were arriving, the most surreal part was the ceremony, and he liked dinner time the best.

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

Honestly we had done so much planning ahead of time, and my sister Arielle was coordinating everything, that I knew as soon as things started I would no longer have to deal so much with logistics if there did happen to be any problems. What I totally didn’t foresee was that I would cry like a baby during almost the entire ceremony. Good Lord. But anyways, I loved how much you (Courtney) planned ahead, coordinated with us, and let us know what to expect. The photography was completely stress free for us. I knew exactly when and which photos were happening. It was really clear that you knew what you were doing and knew your way around a wedding.

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

Probably get a few prints for us and for family – with everything we have going on right now I haven’t had a chance to think about it! So excited!!

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

Yes indeed. Jonny just graduated from UNC with his PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics, and he’s secured a post-doc position at UCSF in San Francisco. We’re moving out September 4th. It’s been a crazy summer – even after Jonny’s thesis defense and the wedding were over, we still had a lot of planning to do! 

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

If I had really known how much went into planning a wedding we might have just eloped. : D Fortunately I did not know this, because it was totally worth it! The photography experience exceeded my expectations. Picture times fit in really seamlessly with everything else.

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Jo and Jonny, thanks for being so collaborative every step of the way with the wedding photography process! I loved how true to yourselves your wedding was. Thanks for giving me a great first time photographing a wedding with Sicilian & Hawaiian traditions, not to mention a fabulous square dance! I hope you enjoy these pictures for years to come!

To view all of the photos from Jo + Jonny’s wedding and order prints, please visit their gallery on my online print service.

The post Jo + Jonny | Rock Quarry Farm Wedding | Chapel Hill Wedding Photographer appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.