Cara & David tie the knot | Greenville, SC Wedding Photographer

I ALWAYS get butterflies before a wedding (even if I’m just second shooting)… I guess it’s a good thing that I still get nervous, but I wish the nervousness would die down a little bit!!  On March 16th I had MAJOR butterflies.  There were a number of reasons, but the main one was because I was photographing my little sister’s wedding!!!  I had always told her that I didn’t care if she wanted me in her wedding or not… I wanted to be the one that photographed her big day.. somehow I got my wish 🙂 and I am so thankful, honored, and blessed that I was the one that was able to capture the day for her.

We all went to bed the night before praying HARD that the 60-90% chance of rain they were calling for was just a fluke… I woke up and sure enough it was still a crazy high percentage of a chance of rain for the day.  Normally rain wouldn’t be a big deal, but when both the ceremony and reception were taking place outside at our “home” in North Carolina it was a VERY big deal.  We all knew that no matter what she’d be married at the end of the day, but I for one wanted to be able to capture her walking down the side steps, down the side lawn to the cross & arbor that she’s dreamed of having FOREVER… so I was really hoping that if it was going to rain it’d hold off till later.  Due to really not knowing for sure what would happen I started taking detail photos in them morning before Cara even showed up… I’m telling you I was so nervous about getting everything  for her!!  So everyone who helped out saw me all over the place on that Saturday with camera in hand!!! (It’s also the reason all the details are are mixed in with the photos 🙂 ).

Thankfully the day turned out to be perfect.  Cara would probably tell you it was too hot and that she choose March so it wouldn’t be hot 🙂 lol… I think she about died when we were taking photos!!  But I have to thank her for putting up with me and my “one more” :).  Everything about the day was amazing, from the weather, to the friends and family that helped set EVERYTHING up and help cook all the food, to the details my little sister put together, to the crazy surprise David did for Cara, to the love that just oozed out of the two of them as they said “I Do”.  March 16, 2013 was a pretty good day if I have anything to say about it :).

Thank you so much Cara & David for wanting me to photograph your wedding day.  I love you two very much!!!!

This next shot was totally at Cara’s request… but I LOVE IT!!!

When Cara first got engaged and we started talking photos and the wedding day I asked her if she was at all interested in doing a “first look” with David.  She at first had told me she wasn’t sure but she wanted to see a few that I had done previously.  So I showed two that I had done last year and she immediately said “yes I want to do a first look because I wont get those kinds of photos if we don’t” and my reply was “YAY!!!”.  I love love love first looks.  I totally understand that they aren’t for everyone, but I love that the bride & groom have this intimate time with just the two of them before the ceremony, reception, and all the hustle and bustle that can come with a wedding day.  I love the brides excitement as she approaches her groom, and more than anything I LOVE to see the grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time.

David & Cara you are perfect for one another and such a beautiful couple!!! 🙂

Cara looked like she loved getting to see David before the ceremony… they certainly did have a lot fun during the first look and the photos that followed… so I was pretty sure she was happy that she opted to see him before walking down the aisle, but last week after Cara had time to get back in the groove of being back from her honeymoon I asked her the following questions…  Are you glad you did a first look? She answered “YES I AM!”  I then asked her what did you like most about it and would you suggest others to do a first look?  She replied, ” I would definitely encourage brides to do a first look, it took away the pressure of walking down the aisle and David & I were able to spend time together before everyone arrived, which let us focus on our guests at the wedding & have fun.”  Her response made me smile!!  🙂

Cara LOVES Kenzie so much and it was so much fun getting to see them interact on this special day!!  I think Kenzie made a beautiful little flower girl (yes, I am biased!!)

Check back later this week to see photos from the ceremony and reception!!  I can’t wait for y’all to see David and his dance moves!!!!