As i’m writing this blog post, i’m a little melancholy. Carlin & Nick’s Duke Chapel Wedding was the last big wedding of 2020 and the last wedding Duke chapel held before the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown started. There were so many last minute changes I think everyone was a little on edge in the days leading up to the wedding ceremony. Rest assured, on their big day, it was one of the most memorable weddings i’ve had the pleasure of photographing because of the stark backdrop of the pending shutdown.
Carlin and Nick started their day at the Washington Duke Inn, just on the edge of the Duke campus. They had a great plan for the first look.. first of all, the “first drink” was done before they ever saw each other. Nick greeted his bride as soon as she pulled up to the chapel, where all their friends and family were waiting for their intimate Duke Chapel wedding. The campus was fairly quiet as most of the students had gone home – giving us a surreal peace in the normally bustling quad which allowed for a pre-ceremony prayer circle and lots of quiet moments in front of the chapel spire.
There was only a limited number of guests allowed and between the immediate family and photographers, we were at the limit. Their wedding guests watched the ceremony remotely from their reception venue. Upon arriving to the reception, it was like a tale of 2 worlds. While the ceremony was peaceful & intimate, the reception truly showed how many friends and family had come to be a part of their wedding day! If you haven’t seen them already, you should really check out their engagement session.
I hope you enjoy a selection of their Duke Chapel Wedding photos.
