[Lou & Margaret // Asheville, NC]
Oh boy have I been chomping at the bit to share this wedding!
I have known Margaret and her incredible family since I stepped foot into Faith Community Church the Sunday after I married Clay.
Clay interned at FCC the summer after we got married and continued to serve as their worship leader for the first few years of our marriage.
The Coe family were some of the first we met and they welcomed us with open arms, so much love, and really helped us feel at home in a season that was surrounded by so much newness, doubt, and confusion. We will forever be thankful for this family and all that they mean to us!
FAST FORWARD to Margaret heading out for college- I was sad to not see her every Sunday, but of course I loved college so much so I was filled for excitement as we talked about her dorm and how she would decorate and what she would study.
It didn't take long for her to bring Lou home for a weekend. They actually met through Facebook because Lou had graduated from the same college before Margaret got there, but they had plenty of mutual friends who truly felt they would be "perfect together" so Margaret decided to see what everyone was talking about and so basically it all started with a Facebook messaged and the rest is history! ;)
When I met Lou, I knew immediately he was going to be around for the long haul. I also immediately knew whenever they got married I NEEDED to take the photos.
Ironically, when this precious fam moved to the Asheville, NC area I was visiting them when Lou and Margaret got engaged! The giggles and planning started there and truly didn't stop until their wedding day.
If there's one thing I can say with certainty...
This wedding day was a labor of love from so many people- but none more than Margaret's mom, Joy, who poured her heart and soul into this wedding. #wegotdis.
We talked many times on the phone working through the details. Being apart of over 100 weddings in my life, I wanted to be a resource and it was so fun being able hear the details all come together.
Outside of photography, I got to use my ENTIRE creative ability and actually helped by designing the invitations, programs, and put together the florals! (with a TON OF HELP)
Ellis and I drove in early on Friday and I immediately got started on the bouquets and bouts while Margaret's cousins played with E (thanks ladies!!) It was a tribe of family pitching in wherever they could and I think you'll see that in the photos. Everything turned out beautifully.
When we arrived to the venue (Pretty Place Chapel) which overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains, it was filled with thick fog that pretty much served as a white wall in front of the mountains. It was eery and cool, and one of the most challenging lighting situations I've faced as a photog! I was so grateful for this experience and for Off Camera Flash (OCC) ;)
There were times during the ceremony where the fog rolled in so thick it was truly like walking through a cloud.
It was genuinely one of the most magical, spirit-filled ceremonies I've ever been apart of. I can't wait to show all of the images and give you even a small glimpse of what it looked and felt like!
This day had so many special details with so many special people in attendance. I loved it and was 1) grateful to be a part of it and 2) grateful to everyone who helped me with the babe and encouraged me along the way!
OKAY- Here are my favorites- bare with me, there are A LOT!
We started the day with a lil mom + daughter coffee time!
This + the following images were all taken in the GORGEOUS Bed & Breakfast: The Melange 10/10 recommend this b&b.
Margaret actually bought this dress on eBau and bartered! So impressed with this girl.
Margaret's littles sister, Gracie, jumped right in to help- I love this little one and her sweet soul.
You can see a little more of this gorgeous room in the b&b and get a peek of Ellis being loved on! Bringing a baby with you while photographing the wedding (while your husband is getting everything ready to DJ) was a hilarious and new mountain to climb for me. Special shout out to Desiree for traveling along with me and baby wrangling each moment I couldn't!
This was about the point I got excited about the fog and chose to embrace it instead of try to make it feel like it wasn't there! The balance between a perfect image/authenticity can be so difficult, but ultimately in this case the fog added so much and represented what this wedding day truly felt like.
Thanks for helping check the light, Caleb! ;)
This is the overlook where you *should* be looking into the beautiful mountains, but due to the fog, could ONLY see this white wall. It ended up being the coolest thing.
Special shoutout to Margaret's aunt for putting together this gorgeous arrangement on the cross!
Dominique + Sarah (sista of the bride) did a phenomenal job!
The fog at this point was outrageous!
annnnd now you will see some of my favorite portraits of all time!
World's cutest DJ and world's cutest baby!
