Well, a Duke Chapel Wedding and a reception at the Washington Duke Inn is certainly a great way to start off the 2010 wedding photography season with a bang! It all started quite a few months ago with, of all things, a wrong #. Elizabeth had called me looking for wedding hair & makeup, not wedding photography. Of course, I don’t offer this service (my wife does), but somehow our numbers had gotten transposed on a vendor list, so, she got me instead. I was a bit out of my element when she asked for Ginger on my phone so when I found out she needed wedding day hair & makeup, I gladly gave her Ginger’s phone number. Now, for those that know me, or read my blog, you know I am a quite a smart alec at times, ok, most of the time… So of course I asked her if she needed a wedding photographer as well. She did.. and, well, the rest is history. I can now say, however, that I booked a wedding client from a wrong number, and it’s the truth! :)
Nick & Elizabeth, first of all, have been such a joy to work with throughout the planning stages of their wedding photography.The last consult before their wedding involved some rather exotic beverages and a wonderful dinner down the street from my photography office. With a lead up like that, you know this was going to be an awesome wedding! I can honestly say, wow! When I first arrived and met Elizabeth in her room at the Washington Duke Inn, I was floored at what a lovely bride she was! I don’t think I was in the room for more then 5 seconds before I immediately began shooting. As I moved around the room, I noticed that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was embroidered, stitched, labeled or otherwise notated with Elizabeth & Nick’s names, initial or monograms. Wedding cookies, water bottle, tote bags.. you name it, there was their names on it! I was waiting to see their name on the Duke Chapel but, apparently, they didn’t get that far. I headed from the brides room into the grooms suite and caught the guys getting ready. Nick presented me with a wonderful present from both him and his lovely bride – a bottle of imported Rum (which I am waiting for your guys return to crack it open – so hurry up! :) ) – thank you so much!!!
We headed over to the Duke Chapel wedding ceremony where Elizabeth put on her dress and got ready to walk down the aisle. I want to give a special thank you to the officiant who had Nick & Elizabeth turn around during the ceremony to look at everyone in attendance – allowing me to capture some wonderful photographs during their ceremony! Just before they walked down the aisle as man and wife, the train on the dress was adjusted, as well as the groom’s tux getting brushed off (which had me laughing), we ran off for family formals and a little alone time with the newly married couple before we went back to the Washington Duke Inn.
At the hotel, I was, well, floored when I saw the room setup. Absolutely gorgeous!!!! We had discussed this photo idea beforehand so we got into the room before anyone else, and my happy couple shared a dance, alone, in the middle of the dance floor. I love this photograph and I am so glad we made all the arrangements to make it happen! After the reception was over and the happy couple exited the hotel in a shower of rose petals, a horse & carriage awaited them. As they rode off, I ran after them, hopped in, and we took a quick stroll around campus while I was photographing their ride. Of course, I hopped out after a bit and got a few great shots of them on the Duke Campus, at night, in a horse & carriage.
So, to Elizabeth & Nick – congratulations to you both! Thank you so much for having me capture your wedding and I cannot wait for you to see all the photos!!! Now, on to a few of them!
Cake: Sweet Memories – Apex, NC
Flowers: Watered Garden Florist – Raleigh, NC
Videographer: Barton Creek Weddings – Raleigh, NC
Carriage: Triangle Carriage Company – 919-542-7810
Band: TBA
