My latest wedding was a true showcase of the elegant wedding venues you have in the Raleigh and Durham area! With another of my Duke Chapel Weddings reception following at the Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh NC, Meri & Wade had chosen two beautiful wedding venues to perform their vows celebrate their marriage!
We started off at the Renaissance hotel where Meri was getting ready. After a little bridal preparation and family photography, Meri hopped into a Rolls Royce and rode to Duke Chapel with her father. Interestingly enough, generally when I have an idea for a shot, something always seems to throw a wrench into the place but, fortunately,this day the stars aligned and I was able to get the shot I had visualized. When you have a limo, classic car, etc, they will park directly in the center of the driveway. Fortunately, there were no other cars around so I was able to get the shot I wanted with the Rolls Royce in front of the hotel without it being congested by other vehicles. The shot of the Rolls Royce in front of the Renaissance Hotel was one I had always wanted. I’ve shot a quite a few Duke Chapel Weddings, so I wanted to photograph the Rolls Royce again in front of the chapel but, as you can see from the photos, it was a great thing I got it in front of the hotel as time was limited after the ceremony.
The day was, well, a little warm (95f) so we limited what we were doing outside to a few quick portraits. Besides, with Duke Chapel weddings, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a great spot for photography. After the grooms & bride’s portraits, we headed inside the chapel for the ceremony. On the way out, as it tends to happen in North Carolina, the heat had built up and summer thunderstorms were rolling in quick. While a little nervous we were going to get soaked, I managed to get a couple of quick shots in front of the chapel with some beautifully menacing skies in the background. As we left the chapel, it poured… when I say poured, I mean dogs and cats were stuck on my windshield wipers.
We had planned more photographs at a gazebo and headed in that direction hoping to outrun the rain. As an aside, Wade sings in the Duke Choir for other Duke Chapel Weddings and events so I think he had an arrangement with someone to hold off the rain as we arrived at the Gazebo, it was dry with still more beautiful skies. We, quite literally, just got back into our cars before more huge & juicy raindrops fell. At the Renaissance hotel, the food was hot, drinks were cold and the halls were packed full of wedding guests. After everyone entered into the wedding reception, Wade and Meri shared a lovely choreographed first dance as the dance floor was surrounded by their family and friends. As the evening continued, it was obvious how happy every person was for Wade & Meri – cheering at every kiss and clinking their glasses at every opportunity!
Wade & Meri – Thank you so much for having me as your wedding photographer. It was such a pleasure working with you both!
