The place in my dream felt so real. In that moment, I was home. When I awoke, my soul wouldn't settle. I had to find this place. As I began to plan our summer vacation in 2010, I wanted to find a beach we had not been to before. During my online search, I saw it! I found some information on the Outer Banks. I know, I know... I've lived in Virginia for 13 years and never been to the Outer Banks. Within days the trip was booked. I was so excited. I shared our plans with my parents, and was told by my mother, that we had visited there when I was little. I didn't remember it at all. As far as I knew the dream was my future, not my past.
Needless to say, we had an amazing vacation. None of us wanted to come home. That's when I started thinking, wouldn't it be awesome to photograph a wedding there! The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. How on earth was I going to get a lead for a wedding over five hours from where I lived?
Nearly a year later, another photographer, Jessica Salay, from Oriole Photography was telling me she had a wedding at The Sanderling Resort in Duck N.C. I tried to maintain my inner three year old desire to jump up and down and beg her to let me come. I offered to 2nd shoot the wedding with her and she said yes. She told me the pay and I bit my tongue that I would have done it for free! It wasn't about the money, it was about the opportunity. Of course, my husband may not have felt that way so I graciously thanked her for the pay check.
Enough talk, let's get to this amazing wedding. The wedding of Alicia and Jeff on 05/28/11.
I love photographing the wedding gown before the bride puts it on. Most of the time I do this in the area the bride is getting ready. I was hesitant, but I knew I had to take her dress out by the water. You never know when you will have a shot like this again.
Alicia was beautiful! Her hair, gown and jewelry all came together perfectly.
So much thought went into the details of this wedding. Each bouquet had a jeweled accent of the bridesmaid's initial.
Before guest entered the beachfront there was a basket of parasols to shade them from the sun. Upon exiting a basket of brushes to brush the sand off their feet.
As far as I was concerned, the wedding ROCKED! What was in store was about to change my definition of rocked! As if it could get any better..???? Oh yea, it did!
The details were endless! My favorite decoration in the reception was the beautiful hanging umbrellas.
The cake was gorgeous and surrounded by mini wedding cakes.
Can I get a drumroll please..... and now for another one of my absolute favorite things about this event.....the band!!!! I will make a confession. Normally when I hear the wedding entertainment is a band, there is a tiny part of me that cringes inside. I've seen some bad bands. Never, have I seen a band like this. They are Six Stylez! The music was fantastic and the lighting...it all just makes me speechless.
And so the seed has been planted, I love shooting band photography!
A very special thank you and shout out to Jessica Salay of Oriole Photography for selecting me to 2nd shoot this wedding with her.
Who knows what's next....
