Leann and Jeremy's Wedding at Sacred Heart

“And after all this time
I’m still into you”

— Paramore

These two have been together for like a decade and are just as adorable and happy now as they were when they met. Everyone who knows them was so excited to celebrate their happy day and then of course Covid had other plans. (insert eye roll and dramatic sigh)

They are actually one of the few Covid weddings I've had this year that decided to go ahead with the wedding after changing the date and having to face changing it again. 25 people can be JUST as fun as 200 though when they're your closest friends. The bridal suite was a dance party all morning and each person showed up fully present and ready to make 25 feel like 200. Everyone pitched in to make sure things showed up on time and in the right location, carried boxes, sanitized surfaces, pinned boutonnieres, curled hair, drove caravans and kept the music going.

Starting with the First Look, including the ceremony and the reception speeches Jeremy was all emotions all day and the way Leann wiped each tear was so precious and gentle. They both care deeply for each other and were simply grateful to have the freedom to say “I do” in the middle of 2020’s madness (not to mention the job and city changes they also had this year!)

They wanted to do a bubble exit as they left the church, but like so many other changes from covid they had to go with sparklers, and like every other change it turned out better than we’d hoped. Daylight sparkler exits have their own kind of magic!

During the final toasts Kat talked about how it’s not “them against the world,” but them as ambassadors for each other TO the world, and that rang so true. They’ve been there for each other over and over in each of life’s challenges, and they will continue to do so moving forward.

You guys thank you so much for including me in your big day! I wouldn’t have changed a thing, your crew was one of a kind!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart

Reception Venue and Catering: Crabtree Marriott

Her Dress: Moonlight from Unveiled Couture in Greenville NC

His Attire: Men's Warehouse

Hair: Bekah Ellen

The Rings: Custom made from repurposed family heirlooms by Quercus Raleigh

Florist: The English Garden

Officiant: Father Ian VanHeusen

Cake Baker: Cinda's Creative Cakes 

Downtown Raleigh Wedding | Vidrio | Kristen and Scott

“Just in case you ever foolishly forget; I’m never not thinking of you.”

— Virginia Woolf

You could almost hear his tears hit the ground in the silent groom’s suite of Vidrio as Scott read his letter from his bride. I was a big ball of emotion as I wanted to get close to capture those precious moments, but also didn’t want to intrude on such a vulnerable moment. It’s like you could see his heart grow bigger as he fell deeper in love reading her words just before he walked into the ceremony.

Similarly, as Kristen opened Scott’s letter surrounded by her girls, her eyes filled with tears. As did everyone else’s in the room as we watched her experience his love through his words. I’m still not sure how she saved her make up, but it was clear from that moment on, all the nerves were gone and she was ready to walk down that aisle.

My relationship with these two started a couple years ago when Kristen asked me to do some headshots for her. Her new, adorable boyfriend at the time came along for moral support and we all just followed each other on insta after that. When I saw them post about their engagement, I was so excited, and sure enough, just a couple days later Scott messaged me!

Seeing how they interacted together a couple years after that very first shoot was endearing. The sweet little looks they gave each other when we were walking between shooting spots, the way he helped her whenever she had to walk in heels through a rough patch of grass, and they way her whispers made him grin so big.

This was, of course, amplified tenfold on the big day. Between their letters to each other, their whispered secrets during their first dance, their heartfelt vows and excitement as they ran into their new life together, you couldn’t find a better match for either of them in the whole of the world.

She carried a Six Pence coin in her 'something blue' shoes that his mother gave her, and he chose to wear, "I Do" cuff links along with his other classy details.

Kristen and Scott you are perfect for each other in every way and I cannot thank you enough for letting me be a part of your big day!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue and Catering: Vidrio

Dress: David’s Bridal

Suit: Indochino

Hair Stylist: Lillian Self

Make Up Artist: Krista Massey

Florist: Leigh Garmhausen

Officiant: Leah Reed

DJ: DJ Sandman -Sandy Sutton

Cake Baker: Lynn Loomis

Invitations: Zola

Alaria + Drew | 1st Anniversary

“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen!”

— Winnie the Pooh

After my very first meeting with Alaria and Drew before their wedding she said I was like her spirit animal...and I'd have to say that definitely works both ways! She is so fun to be around and Drew definitely completes her! I absolutely love working with adventurous couples, willing to try new things and who are free to be themselves while we wander around. 

These high school sweethearts had no problem sharing with each other their favorite memories and talking about the struggle of living as a military family constantly separated. Drew will be heading to Korea early next year and they both felt the weight of that. We were so glad to get in these photos before hand so they can still have the memories while they're apart. 

I was so excited to get some extra time with you guys before we're all worlds apart! Thanks for spending the afternoon with me!

Jordan's Bar Mitzvah at Traine

“The ship is safest in the port. But that’s not what ships were made for.”

— Paulo Coelho

More and more, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are becoming my favorite events to shoot, and it's because of incredible young adults like Jordan. I met him a couple months ago when we began the planning stages of his big party and thought he was incredibly polite and had a sweet 12 year old excitement in him, (he's a huge baseball fan). Similarly when I met up with him a few weeks ago for his baseball portraits I thought he was adorable and super fun. 

The transformation that happens in the last few weeks of Bar and Bat Mitzvah training, however, never ceases to amaze me. The stress of memorizing so much Hebrew, the pressure to fully understand a passage of scripture and make it relatable to your family and peers and to actually stand up in front of them with confidence that all the hard work put in made a difference - it changes them. 

They're only thirteen of course, so they still have a liveliness about them and ability to play and enjoy the world, but they're also somehow much wiser than they were at twelve. Listening to Jordan practice his Torah Portion during the rehearsal I almost choked up. He made it relevant to his love of baseball, and connected the dangers of favoritism in a simple school sport with the greater dangers facing world today in a growing racially divided world. His maturity both on and off stage this weekend was awesome. 

Additionally, you will not find a more awesome family. Their love for each other pours out in everything they do, Jeff and Jodi have set such an incredible example of what it means to love each other fiercely and make life an epic party. Their extended family attests to that as well, they poured in from all over the country to celebrate this weekend. And I've said it before but nothing makes me happier than a great sibling relationship; Rachel and Jordan are the very best of friends, they pick on each other relentlessly and always have time for a huge bear hug. Love them. 

I'm so glad I got to participate in your huge day Jordan! SO proud of you!

(The three of us *might* have agreed not to tell mom that he jumped off a train before entering the party lol. I mean, who am I to deny a teen two of my favorite things: risk and adventure) :)

The Vendors who made the weekend possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Synagogue: Beth Meyer

Rabbi: Eric Solomon

Tutor: Cathy Kaplan

Reception Venue: Traine

Flowers: Fallon's Flowers

Catering: Catering Works

DJ: Damien Maass

Photobooth: ZimZoom

6 Tips for Rocking your First Couple’s Photoshoot

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.”

— Robert Fulghum

I lit up like a summer lightening bug when I saw that Safy had made a blog post about our photo session together! They were simply one of the best couples I've ever worked with and quickly became friends I know we'll hang out with again soon. We all have similar adventuring passions and love to try new things. We've even been texting back and forth ever since checking to see if the other has tried each new place we love (Like Sir Walter Coffee!) 

When I saw that she had posted the blog to help other couples know how to prep for their own sessions I immediately asked if I could use it as a guest blog post, she has such great advice! So without further ado, here's Burly and Puff's 6 tips for Rocking Your First Couple's Photoshoot: 

You and bae have signed up for a couple’s photoshoot. Now what? You’ve got the outfit and the posing to worry about. Need some help? Look no further! Here are 6 tips to help you rock your first couple’s photoshoot.

In the month of March, I had this crazy streak of luck. I won $2 in the North Carolina Lottery. Chickfila gave me three extra nuggets during lunch one time. I also won a free couple’s photoshoot through an Instagram giveaway for a local photographer!

This was a huge deal for Randy and me. When we got engaged, no photoshoot. We didn’t have a wedding so we didn’t think a wedding photoshoot was necessary. Winning this photoshoot was amazing! We were so happy to have our own set of super cute photos. With this being our very first photoshoot as a couple (and Randy’s first photoshoot ever) we were a little nervous about the process. What do we wear? Will we be hella awkward? You know… normal fears.

The day came and we ended up rocking our shoot! The weather was beautiful. Our photographer was the bomb. Our outfits photographed well. Everything just seemed to fall into place. After going through this experience, I want to share 6 tips for rocking your first couple’s photoshoot.

1. Build a Relationship with your Photographer

This is really key in shaking away the jitters of your first couple’s photoshoot. Our photographer was Cynthia Viola and she was AH-MAY-ZING. After we won our photoshoot she reached out to us, gave us her contact information, her helpful tips, etc. Leading up to our shoot she sent us friendly reminders and was always there if we had questions. When we met her on the day of our photoshoot, it felt like we already knew her and that she knew us. That in itself made us feel more comfortable.

2. Research Couple’s Photoshoot Poses, Don’t Practice

Google and Instagram are great resources! The key to looking natural is to let the poses flow. If you practice the poses before your couple’s photoshoot, you may just go through the poses and your photos will look too posed and stiff. By researching your poses you can at least get some ideas of what to do. A lot of my favorite photos were captured in between the poses we tried out.

3. Mind the Weather

This goes for those of you doing outside shoots. When we scheduled our shoot it was supposed to be a warm and sunny Saturday morning. When we checked the forecast a day or two before, turns out the weather changed drastically. FREEZING AND FOGGY. That was where #1 came in. Cynthia messaged me and asked if we wanted to reschedule. If your photographer doesn’t ask you, don’t hesitate to ask them. Being too cold or too hot will show on your face and in your body language.

There is nothing cute about chapped lips, chattering teeth, watery eyes, and red noses in cold weather. Same thing goes for melting makeup and sweating through a shirt in extremely hot conditions. Hey, you’re paying for these bad boys! It’s all about your comfort.

4. Avoid Coffee

You’ll want your smile to shine in your photos. Avoid coffee and foods/drinks with a lot of dyes. Drinking coffee right before your shoot could leave you with coffee teeth. Coffee breath could also make the kissing shots a little less enjoyable. Just saying… However, we did shoot a few snaps at a coffeeshop. If you’re doing any food or coffee scenes, save them for last.

5. Wear Outfits you LOVE

Just because a photoshoot seems fancy, you don’t have to go out and buy a new wardrobe. The outfits we’re wearing came out of our closet. If you do opt for a new outfit, wear it before the shoot. Make sure you love the color and the fit. You’ll want to be comfortable. There’s nothing worse than putting on a new top the day of your shoot and it’s itchy, ill-fitting, or too sheer. Your photoshoot is the perfect time to show off YOUR style.

6. Be Yourselves and Have Fun

Seriously. If you’re not enjoying yourself IT WILL SHOW IN YOUR PHOTOS! Whether you’re a quirky couple or a reserved one, do what makes you feel comfortable. This photoshoot is all about showcasing you two as a couple. Enjoy your little moments together and pretend the camera isn’t even there.

Somehow Cynthia was able to edit out most of the awkwardness, (but she couldn’t get it all). 

Gabriel Turns One!

“Girl, n. A giggle with glitter on it.
Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it.”

— Not Your Average Dictionary

Oh my goodness, I've been capturing memories for these two since little Noelle was still in her momma's belly. Now Gabriel is turning one and it's hard to imagine where the time went!

We planned this shoot months ago for the NC History Museum expecting it to be freezing outside so Gabe and Noelle could marvel at the dinosaurs and we could all stay a little warmer. That ended up not being necessary though; it's almost 80 degrees outside today! I will take it, love me some spring weather in the middle of winter! We ended up hanging out on the Capitol Building's lawn so we could include some green trees and grass with Gabe's one year balloons.

I just love how these two already love each other! Sometimes kiddos don't respond well to snuggling and kisses but Noelle was more than happy to stay right by her Gabe and make sure he could walk around without falling. I hope you enjoy a few of these favorites from this morning! 

Best of 2016 Weddings and Engagements

“What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.”

— George Eliot

After racing through the busiest season of my career followed by an intense family roller coaster of love, pain, joy, sorrow, death and new life, I am actually pretty excited to coast into this first week of the new year with little more to do than reflect on what has been good, what needs improvement and dream of all that might be in 2017. 

A.J. and I have had the incredible joy of meeting new couples whose love overflows for each other and makes our own love stronger from witnessing it. It never gets old. This will be my tenth year capturing love and memories for couples, and the lover-of-new-things within me thought I'd be tired of it by now.  But I can say with all the honesty I possess, I cannot get enough. 

When Jon teared up watching his beloved Abbie walk toward him in all her radiance, my heart exploded and I loved them both even more. When Heather and her dad, Bryan, shared a father-daughter first look through tears, light teasing and perfect joy I could barely see through my own tears to even capture the moment. When Alaria and Drew found themselves at the very end of the night surrounded by all their beloved friends whom they rarely got to see due to distance and the trajectory of their future I burst with happiness for them.

Watching our couples revel in each moment and knowing that they trusted us to capture each one for a lifetime of joyful memories brings me more joy than I know how to put properly into words. I'm excited to see who is going to walk into our path this year and to hear all the love stories that will undoubtedly make our own love continue to grow. 

Thank you for an incredible year!

Ben's Bar Mitzvah at Beth Meyer & Sitti

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things”

— Henry Miller

As soon as I met Ben's parents, Mara and Jon, I knew I was going to get along well with Ben. Not only are they super relaxed and easy to work with, but you could tell they really enjoyed each other. When the whole family got together, it was effortless for them to laugh and really live in the moment of the day. That is so important in a family. 

Ben is on the ultimate frisbee team at his school and he used his love of sports to infuse his studies for his Torah portion. For his service project he served at Miracle League of the Triangle. By helping kids with disabilities play baseball, he said he now appreciates the fact that his body is whole and he's able to play his favorite sports. He's able to empathize with how others cannot.  

Ben is quite the life of the party. It seemed as if every moment during his party he was completely engulfed in a crowd of his friends. Not only that, his whole family came to celebrate, from California, Florida, Virginia and more, they all showered him in love. 

Sitti is, of course, an amazing venue. The courtyard is perfect and provided an intimate and stylish downtown feel for the celebration. Amy and her team were so easy to work with, I highly recommend them. And well, Damien is forever my favorite DJ. He can keep the party going all night and always seems to know exactly what the crowd needs. 

I hope you guys enjoy reliving a few of these favorite moments from the weekend. Congratulations again Ben! 

The Vendor Team

Photography: Cynthia Viola

Ceremony Venue: Beth Meyer

Party Venue: Sitti

Rabbi: Eric Solomon

DJ: Damien Maass

Balloons: Blooming Balloons

Photobooth: All Events DJs

Caity and Al - Caffe Luna Wedding - Raleigh, NC

“All of me loves all of you”

— John Legend

These two.

Somewhere between Long Island and Wilson, NC these two romanced each other over a good meal and are happily here today, dedicating the rest of their lives to each other and little Gabe. 

They just seem to have this way with each other where they don't need to say much, Caity just giggles (which Al loves) and they give each other a look and you know they mean it. 

First looks are always my favorite part of any wedding, but you guys, Caity decided to include Gabe in the first look as well and he was absolutely precious! As Al stood there in the Marriott hallway anticipating his beautiful bride, little Gabe had to go ahead and get a sneak peek and we were, of course, SO ok with that. He just loves his mommy.

Before the big day Caity asked Gabe why she and Al were getting married and he not only said it's because they love each other (which he repeated during the middle of the ceremony) but he also said "because we want to be safe." Is that not the sweetest response ever!?! He just knows it's good. 

In lieu of wedding favors, I love that Caity and Al made a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Wake Forest in honor of their guests. It just makes it so special. The fact that they had Monica and her incredible team at Nouveau Events design and coordinate the day at Caffe Luna was just icing on the cake. I don't think I've ever seen a wedding so completely flawless from start to finish. 

Hope you guys have as much fun reliving your perfect day as I did! Here's a few favorites!

The Vendor Team:

Photography: Cynthia and A.J. Viola

Venue/Catering: Caffe Luna

Wedding Coordinator: Monica at Nouveau Events

Officiant: Marianne Dotson

DJ: DJ Supreme 

Stylist/Make Up: Cori Lee from Atomic Salon 

Florist: Doug at Purple Poppy Florist, Wake Forest

Bridal Suite: Marriott City Center

Rings: Neil Lane, Kay Jewlers

Cake: Publix

Limo: A Formal Affair

Preparing for Your Engagement Session

“Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile”

— Franklin P. Jones

The first thing to remember as you arrive for your engagement session is that this is supposed to be fun! We'll have plenty of pressure from timelines and schedules on the wedding day, no need to be stressed now. These sessions usually take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on how far we walk around and how many outfits you have etc. But if we knock it out in 45 minutes that's totally fine, if we need an extra 30 it's totally fine. Just be prepared to roll with it. 

This is our chance to get to know each other well before the big day so that we're both comfortable when we do have the time crunch. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like and know that I'll do the same. When you learn how I work and the types of poses I'm likely to move you into, it'll make you a pro on the wedding day. It also gives me a chance to see how you two interact together. If you don't enjoy kissing in public, or prefer not to sit on the ground, it's better for me to find out at this session rather than when I ask you to do so on the big day. :)

1. When to plan your session. Time of year is totally up to you, though, if you book your wedding out far enough, a lot of couples like to choose the opposite season of their big day. If you have a fall wedding then a spring engagement etc. Regardless of what month you choose, we will always, only shoot at either sunrise or about 2 hours before sunset. This ensures golden light that will make all your images dreamy and romantic. 

2. Outfits: Most couples choose 2 outfits, one casual to start and one dressier as you get more comfortable with the whole flow of the session. Once you've gotten used to the idea of a camera in your face, you'll warm up to the more romantic poses. That said, if you prefer one outfit or three, I'm perfectly ok with that. You can see my post HERE to see ways to coordinate them.

3. Location. I always recommend choosing a location that is important to you if possible. A family farm offers legacy, the place where you actually got engaged or had your first date can be a great way to capture that memory, or just a place that you find beautiful can ensure beautiful backdrops for when you print them for your home. If you can't think of any places like that, or you're not from the area where we'll be shooting, have no fear, I have a long list of places that are wonderful and I'm happy to check out a spot in advance if I'm unfamiliar with it.

4. Trust me. I certainly do not expect you to be a professional model. I will guide you when you need it and give you the freedom to be yourselves as often as you let me. I have hundreds of posing ideas floating around up there and am perfectly happy guiding you into them, I also really love letting you interact in your way. It always takes about 15-20 minutes to warm up to the idea of making out in a public space so we'll work up to it slowly and have some fun along the way. I'll never make you do something you're uncomfortable with. 

5. Drink ALL the water. Think a gallon a day every day for a week leading up to it. (and then every day after that for the rest of your life) ;) It's not only healthy, but for the purposes of the shoot, it will get rid of dark circles under your eyes. 

6. Prepare your fiance'. Sometimes one person is really excited about the photography portion of the wedding, and the other is well, not so much. They may be planning to show up, smile at the camera standing in 2 or 3 locations and then calling it a day. If they aren't prepared when I tell you to snuggle or nuzzle, they may not know how to respond. I recommend choosing your top 3-5 favorite images on my site or blog and showing your fiance' so you're both on the same page when you arrive. If you're going to err on one side or another, over communication is usually a good bet. (Feel free to use that one as a general marriage tip as well...you're welcome) ;) 

It can also be fun to practice some of the snuggling and flirting in advance... just sayin ;)

7. Ring, Hair and Make Up. Some ladies like to take this opportunity to get their hair and/or make up trial arranged with their stylists so they can see what they'll look like on the big day as well as taking the pressure off of preparations for the engagement session. Certainly not a necessity, but if you're having a trial anyway, this is a good time to do it. (This or the bridal session if you choose to add one). There will definitely be photos of the ring, so it's a good time to get it shined up as well. 

And just for fun, here's a few couples showing off their snuggling and flirting skills both at their engagement and their big day. Have fun!