Danielle & Ben | Lake Gaston Wedding Photojournalist
The storm of the century turned out to be FOR US NEAR RALEIGH hardly a thing. A friend of mine said she wouldn’t have known it was a hurricane if not for The Weather Channel. Well said, Summer!
We are very lucky and I hope everyone fared well.
Bride and her mom getting ready.
I would get married again for this ring. THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RING I have ever seen. They had to tell me how to stack it because I have never been able to do puzzles of any kind (ha!) but for all seriousness, the fact that it was custom made and seems Art Deco style to me needs not be said. I love this ring.
So, just a week before the storm we had similar rain at Danielle and Ben’s wedding on Lake Gaston. Oh man, it’s a good thing they didn’t listen to me. When I heard they were moving to plan b, I was like, oh no! The pretty spot they’d set up by the lake for the ceremony and not yet a drop? Who cares if there’s thunder?! We can just run for cover if it starts to rain. The groom politely declined my advice, and his dad said we should probably get some pictures of the site anyway, all a great way to let me experience shooting that site AS IT STARTED to DOWNPOUR on my head. Yes, so I got my wish and I got to run for cover from the rain to Plan B site. When I got there, guests had taken shelter, for the most part, under a variety of umbrellas and tents (and sometimes both) and I found out that my plan of putting an umbrella in my top was not, in fact, better than those little baggies they make to protect cameras from rain and did not actually work. I’d have been better off wearing an umbrella hat.
When I got there they’d taken shelter, for the most part, under a variety of umbrellas and tents (and sometimes both) and I found out that my plan A of putting an umbrella in my top was not, in fact, better than those little baggies they make to protect cameras from rain. Plan B of someone shadowing me with a camera likewise didn’t work out. Turns out I need to practice holding an umbrella with one elbow, camera in other. I even managed to switch out lenses, eventually. Pretty not-bad.
Nike!
First hug should be a thing.
Fun family wedding photography. I adore them.
I like this, although it’s not my usual style. It’s awfully posey-posey. I try to give a variety to the couple, and if I had to guess this won’t be their favorite but someone in their family will love it.
1 part of a Trio.
My favorite thing to do at a wedding is “find” moments like the last few. No one needs to pose, people are being themselves, there’s something poetic about it. I’m grateful when I’m given time to do my thing and get these images.
First dance lakeside! Love Lake Gaston.
I love the laughing! I think I thought Canoe’s were more like in Lord of the Rings and you could lie down easier. There are two more from this portion of our day in the post below… Sorry I made you work so hard on your wedding day, Ben and Danielle! And special thanks to the family that helped us maneuver the canoe. This is a canoe right? (hah, jk…)
Posting this for the dog that looks very Eeyore like in this photo. Too funny!
When adults just can’t hear the real beat.
awww.. cake so sweet they kissed. <3
I admit.. this photo would have been impossible to take, so I made it. I don't often wish I’d worked with someone else but this time I did— there was a lot going on, a beautiful couple, sparklers, boats, fireworks, dogs, kids, tents, rain. A pig roast… .
There were so many moments that didn’t happen, like the dog jumping in while we photographed at the lake, and those that did, like your sis being concerned you’d topple in the lake yourself, and I missed her expression while posing you in the boat! There are a million ways a wedding can go, and I think yours was beautiful and perfect.
Thank you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer! I should have your gallery ready early next week! xoxo ~L.
And last but not my least, my own favorite image.
Oh! Huge shout out to Exquisite Events who did all décor, florals and catering! Beautiful job ya’ll (plus they were really sweet and got me a salad! yay!)