Eddie and Derrick's Surprise Wedding at Chatham Station

Good Lord, how do I even begin to describe how much I love these two?!?

First, their engagement shoot and surprise proposal on UNC Chapel Hill’s Campus last year was amazing! I plotted with Eddie for WEEKS about how we were going to pull that off! And THEN I had to keep it a secret! For a year! These two babes love a good surprise and boy did they ever manage a big one.

They threw a “30th Anniversary Party” for all their friends only to surprise them with a WEDDING! Eddie and Derrick met at UNC Chapel Hill 30 years ago and have been inseparable ever since. The depth of their love was palpable all day as they laughed and cried along with their dearest friends and family who have supported their love from the beginning.

Eddie is a wedding planner himself… so you KNOW all the details were on point, and UNC Chapel Hill themed of course! He chose all his favorite vendors and and only we knew about the big secret for an entire year! I seriously have NO idea how they managed to keep it from everyone. I nearly dropped the word “groom” 20 times myself as I was setting up and making plans with the others.

Trying to take family photos without using my regular wedding language was way harder than I expected, I was just so excited!

As the guests arrived they were greeted with hugs and hors d’oeuvres, a photobooth and the promise of dancing after dinner. No one suspected the big surprise that lay ahead. The words I heard over and over throughout the night as each person shared how they knew the happy couple were: kindness, kindness, kindness, joy and love. And Chapel Hill. Everyone in the room had experienced the overwhelming love these two present to the world and were elated to celebrate them in any capacity.

The big moment had arrived. There were to be three toasts from friends…the first two toasters didn’t even know what was coming. Liza started by reading the definition of love from the dictionary, which she said was not good enough, she said, “love is a color… and it’s Carolina Blue.” As everyone giggled, she went to say how love shows up every day no matter what, just like Eddie and Derrick have for each other all these years.

Terri talked about meeting Derrick for the first time at a drag show and how all their friends thought Eddie had made him up because they hadn’t met him yet. She said they all loved him immediately, of course, because Eddie hadn’t known how to show the world his true self fully until he found Derrick, and once he did, there was no looking back. These two completed each other, grew up together and have hardly known the world without each other. Nothing else makes more sense in the world than these two together.

By the time Pastor Jason got up to toast, the whole room was already in tears then he talked about how Eddie and Derrick were the embodiment of provision for the ones in need. “When I was hungry you gave me food, thirsty you gave me drink” He said when they were met with persecution, they showed only love to the world and no one deserves happiness more than these two incredible souls.

Then he said, “You know what, everyone is here, I’m ordained…let’s just get married! What do you say?!?”

The whole room ERUPTED in applause, tears, hoots and hollers, amens and happy dances! The grooms made their way to the floor with rings and vow books in hand and it was pandemonium as everyone realized this was planned all along!

It’s hard to even put to words the amount of love that enveloped them as they laughed and cried their way though memories and vows. The rest of the evening was hug after hug as the room embraced everything about who they are and what they represent in the world. It was pure magic.

They hardly know the world without each other, and the world hardly knows them without the other. 30 years down, at least 30 more to go you guys and I am honored I was there to witness the beauty of this union. Thank you so much for including me! Love you both!!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Coordinator: Rebecca with Eddie McDaniel Events

Venue : Chatham Station

Florist: Flowers by Kyle

Officiant: Jason Butler

DJ: All Around Raleigh DJ

Photobooth: Zim Zoom Photobooth

Catering: Rocky Top Catering

Bartending: Artful Libations

Cake: Ashley Cakes

Rentals: CE Rentals, Capital Events and Green House Picker Sisters

Stationary: CK Creations

Invitations: Indigo Envelope

Lindley and Justin's Wedding at Wonderlust Acres

“Love her but leave her wild”

— Atticus

Oh my goodness, I love how deep connections to my couples comes full circle a decade later. I captured sweet Lindley’s cousin Kathryn’s wedding over 10 years ago and have, of course, stayed connected with family photos through the years and I was so excited when Lindley popped into my inbox to let me know it was her turn and Kathryn insisted she message me!

The only potential hiccup was my plan to hike my next Appalachian Trail Section the next morning, so they agreed it would be fine for them to wait an extra week for their photo delivery, but then my start date got pushed back a couple days so I get to write their sweet story before I take off!

I’m pretty sure there couldn’t be a more perfect couple to kick off my next adventure though. These two are also avid adventurers who will be going white water kayaking for their honeymoon! Once I received that information, coupled with two empty kayaks sitting beside the venue’s pond… I mean there was really no other option than a trash the dress moment after the reception. Just sayin…

Gregory asked the family to pass around the wedding rings at the beginning of the ceremony to give the couple blessings before they exchanged rings. Then he asked Lindley and Justin to look at each others hands during the ceremony. Hands that would hold them and comfort them and protect them forever more. You could feel the love they had for each other as they took in each detail and fingerprint. When they added the rings which had been blessed by the family, the love surrounding them, and the legacy in the heirloom involved, everyone felt the weight this beautiful moment carried.

Lindley and Justin were just as excited as I was to get to the fun part and we were willing the sun to move into position just a little bit faster. After splashing around in the creek, they jumped into the kayak and had a blast splashing each other and playing with the resident alligator :)

You guys thank you so much for including me in your special day! It was the perfect adventure to start off my next AT Section! Hope you have a blast on your trip!

The Vendor’s who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue: Wonderlust Acres

Dress: Watters from BHLDN

Her Ring: Clean Origin

His Ring: A family heirloom

HMU: Kaylee Davis

Officiant: Rev. Dr. Gregory Possman

Catering: Can-Do Catering

Cake: Stick Boy

Aspen and Ty's Wedding at the Barn at Fraser Hill

“Love isn’t losing yourself. Love is finding who you are in the arms of another person”

— Marisa Donnelly

What an incredible weekend with these two babes! Surrounded by the thriving Christmas Tree farm at the Barn at Fraser Hill, it felt like Christmas in June! We had to be patient with a little rain in the morning, but the rest of the day was perfect for a mountain summer wedding and everyone danced the night away!

These two met while hiking with their ski team at Price Lake and of course Ty thought that made the perfect backdrop to pop the question just two years later! Both their families were so excited they had met in the mountains and wanted to tie the knot here too because it gave everyone a chance to escape the summer heat and celebrate them in their favorite little mountain town.

In his Best man speech, Ty’s dad said he had found Ty’s mom while attending App State and when he dropped off his son for the first day of freshman year he wondered if he would find his future wife as well. When Ty said he was going to join the ski team, having never raced before, Tait didn’t see how that was going to turn out well… until he met Aspen, when everything fell into place.

In Aspen’s vows, she said, she was looking for a reason to push away every guy before him, but with Ty, she stopped looking for reasons. He was everything she was looking for and more.

It was such a perfect day you guys! Thank you so much for including me!

The vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Aja White

Coordinator: Jill Mills

Venue : The Barn at Fraser Hill

Dress: Allure from South's Specialty Clothiers

Engagement Ring: Hayes Jewelers in Lexington (wedding bands from grandparents) :)

Hair and Make Up: Mia McNeill of Mia's Mark Salon

Florist: Bouquet Florist and Gifts

Officiant: Pastor Leigh Tuttle

DJ and Photobooth: DJ Don from Cherished Memories

Catering: Sagebrush Steakhouse

Beer Trailer: Happy Trailers

Cake: Sassy Cat Bakery

Rentals: Boone Rent-All

Get Away Car: Highland Limousine Service

Sarah and Dalton's Wedding at The Oaks at Salem

“Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure”

— Bob Bitchin

I have so very many things to say about this incredible weekend, oh my goodness! But before I go into that, take a sec and just look at how adorable these babes are! Sarah and Dalton are just one of those couples who make an impact with everyone they meet. (And I’m not even talking about their good looks! Seriously, 3 minutes into their engagement sesh, I had to ask if they’d both modeled before, both due to their looks and with how at ease they are in front of the camera and with each other. Capturing them was as easy as breathing. I knew the wedding weekend was going to be flawless…

Fast forward to this weekend! Wow!

I hardly even know where to begin. Normally I start talking about how cute the couple is and how beautiful their details were and how cool their wedding party was. But this weekend went a little different. (feel free to scroll past my ramblings and just look at the pretty photos, but I often use this blog space both for client stories, and my own inner processing)

Friday afternoon I threw out my back. Not the end of the world, it’s happened before, usually corrects itself by the next day. I knew shooting a 12 hour wedding wouldn’t be easy, but I’d get through it so I didn’t sound any alarms and just made the drive to Raleigh.

When I woke up Saturday, everything was not corrected. It was 100 times worse, as bad as my initial injury 10 years ago. I had to crawl to my phone. I had four hours to figure out how to get this wedding captured.

I already had a solid second shooter, Melissa, who also associate shoots for me from time to time and is a total rockstar. I messaged her right away and said her 7 hours of second shooting just turned into associate. She was 100% on board, but couldn’t do the full 12 hours I was contracted for. Then I messaged one of my other amazing second shooters, Guillermo to see if there was any chance on this Father’s Day weekend he could rescue me and help Melissa. He didn’t’ hesitate for a second. He hadn’t accepted any gigs this weekend so he could spend time with the family, but knew I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t an emergency. Not only could he cover the same 7 hours as Melissa, but his wife Katie is a PA at an Ortho. She called ahead and they were waiting to give me an emergency steroid shot to make me functional for the wedding I was now due to arrive at in 90 min.

I emergency blasted several Raleigh friends to see if anyone could just be my assistant, unload all my things and hold on to my extra cameras and lenses. (I usually wear a harness with 2 cameras attached to make transitions faster when I need a different lens)

My dear friends Amber and Eric came to the rescue. He was at a car show for father’s day, but she called him home, set up everything to make sure the kids were covered and let me borrow him for those first few hours. He, of course, didn’t hesitate at all!

Melissa and Guillermo took over the ceremony and portraits which gave me enough time to get the meds the Ortho had prescribed and when they both had to leave at 8 I was able to tag in and grab the last 3 hours solo. Crisis averted.

Why do I go into all that? Wouldn’t it be better to sweep that story under the rug and not let anyone know something went wrong? I don’t think so. Call me an optimist, but there are far too many valuable pieces of magic here. This crisis affirmed for me a few things, first that I will always do what it takes. And honestly, that’s just not something you truly know about yourself until that crisis arrives. It did not cross my mind for even a second to call the couple and say, “Sorry, can’t make it! Good luck!”

Second, I have surrounded myself with incredible people through the years who will jump at the chance to help me, as I would them. That is also something you can’t truly know until that chance presents itself. The way I have designed my life, it can sometimes feel like I’m disconnected from everyone because I travel almost every week. I have friends all over the country but often only see them every couple of years and while that independence is awesome, it can make you question if your friends are merely acquaintances you have a drink with occasionally, or if they are more.

In all my earlier years of working with folks who lived on the streets, the common denominator in their predicament was not drug addiction or laziness. It was a lack of network. For a myriad of reasons, they didn’t have people in their lives who would come to their aid when needed. If you have people who love you, you will have everything you ever need.

Third, the clients I am drawn to in this profession, and who tend to be drawn to me, are people who can go with flow, adapt when necessary, and trust me when I say I’ve got them. Sarah and Dalton are the epitome of that couple. When I showed up to the venue and explained the situation, they did not panic, they did not get mad, they did not question if everything was going to get handled. Both of them simply said we trust you. Thank you so much for working it out, we trust you.

And honestly, I’m sitting here bawling as I type. Having a couple’s trust is not something I take lightly. I come back to this “job” day after day not because I get a paycheck and get to dance on the weekends. I am here because I value memories deeply. It brings me life to know I have within me the ability to capture such an important moment in time and I will never take it for granted. The silver lining to it all is knowing that I deeply love what I do. Having to watch from the sidelines while my friends captured it for me made me proud to know I have an awesome crew, but made me so sad that I couldn’t participate. I love my couples, I love my friends, I love my “job” and could not be more grateful for this beautiful life. Thank you to everyone who has helped in anyway along this journey to right now. Love you.

“I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

— Eric Roth

Now for the reason you’re really here…

Seriously though. Sarah and Dalton are absolute GEMS. I could not be more grateful for them, for their kindness, their grace and the love that pours out of them. Every single family member I was able to chat with while I was there spoke of how these two just go above and beyond to love on their people and how their kindness is unmatched. They love to be silly and make jokes and break into dance, but above all they are kind.

It was so special to see the deep connection they both have with their parents. This is certainly not always the case on a wedding day, so it really stands out when it’s there.

I feel like at this point, I have seen just about everything at a wedding…but these two managed to pull off TWO new things for me! First, a polish traditional dance where the bride’s family removes her veil and places an apron around her waist to signify her transition from bride to wife. All the women of the family danced in a circle around them and it was super fun!

Second, the table photo game. I must admit at first I was a little skeptical. Getting “table shots” of the couple with every table at the reception is not my favorite. As an artist, it’s hard to look past the clutter on the table and often people are still chewing their food when we get there or don’t want to get out of their seat to make a group shot, it’s usually very awkward and takes a very long time as the couple gets pulled into different conversations. I’d just as soon add all those groupings to the official family shot list and capture it “properly” in a beautiful portrait location.

I have officially changed my mind and will now recommend this to EVERYONE.

OMG it was SO fun! The DJ announced that we were going to play a game and the entire room had the length of one song to help the couple get photos with every table. It was chaotic in the best kind of way! Every table tried to one-up the last by posing in different ways and making it more fun for the couple. Not only did every single guest get captured with the couple, but everyone was belly laughing by the end and it was an incredible way to set the tone for the evening! Highly recommend!!

Omg and then we shifted into the entire room in tears as they surprised his grandparents with their wedding song. Everyone circled around them to appreciate the legacy they began when they danced to this song so many years ago.

You guys I seriously cannot thank you enough for trusting me with your memories. I adore you both and cannot wait to watch you grow and thrive together in your new adventures!

The vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Melissa Toma and Guillermo Delgado

Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Church

Reception Venue: The Oaks at Salem

Coordinator: Southern Skies Events

Dress: Bridals by Elena

Suit: Jos A Bank

Rings: Pitman Jewelry Shop

Hair and Make Up: Head Turners- Ashley Massengill,

Florist: Blossoms Florist and Bakery

Officiant: Monsignor Brockman with Sacred Heart

DJ: East Coast Entertainment- DJ Daniel

Catering: Catering By Design

Bartending: Artful Libations

Cake: Bestow Baked Goods

Rentals: Party Reflections

Shuttle: Black Lane and Eco Style

Favors: Honey Sticks & Coozies from Etsy

Haley and Kurt's Wedding at The Barn on New River

“When love is a habit, joy is a reflex”

— Bob Goff

Where do I even start with these two. After like 5 minutes of chatting on the phone, I knew we’d be besties for life. I couldn’t imagine another couple more suited to celebrating my birthday weekend with while capturing their special day! They are both total joy bombs who love the world with their whole selves. They said the hardest part of planning the wedding was going to be making sure every single person they loved had exactly what they needed and wanted. They weren’t worried about themselves at all! So completely genuine and compassionate. I just adore them.

And then of course after walking around downtown Old Salem with them at their engagement session, we had already shared all of our best adventures and future adventure plans…hopefully some together! We knew this was going to be such a fun year!

Fast forward to Haley’s Bridals on The Blue Ridge Parkway just a couple weeks ago!! Haley was already becoming a fast favorite human, then she introduced me to Boone! Her nephew is as much a Harry Potter Fanatic as I am and we pretty much left Haley, his mom Ashley and their mom Denise to fend for themselves on the shoot as we chatted about all things magic and muggles lol. When he showed up with a Polaroid Camera on the wedding day I knew who my next second shooter would be!

Side note…is Haley STUNNING or what?!?! I have been dying to share these images!

And then holy moley what a DAY! I couldn’t wait to shoot at The Barn on New River and it did not disappoint! What an incredible venue and I just adore their whole crew. Caroline is a freaking powerhouse coordinator who will make all the things happen, and Paula is just the sweetest venue owner you could meet, so very helpful and genuinely excited about her couples.

When I first spoke with Haley and Kurt about their day, it was evident immediately that the little details, heirlooms, and moments with their cherished people mattered more than anything. For something old, she had her bouquet wrapped in a 4th generation handkerchief passed down through her mother’s family. She had borrowed her grandmother’s wedding band to wear on her right hand. And since they love rival sports teams, her something blue was a Duke patch sewn into her dress. (He had a Carolina Blue lining in his suit)

When her Nana realized she wasn’t going to be present for the wedding, she made her a special book of notes and letters and drawings to send her love from afar and Haley had the whole room in tears as she opened it. Packaged with her Nana’s favorite yellow roses, her presence was felt immensely.

The fellas got ready at the cabins down the road and kudos to my girl Jenni for capturing the morning from Kurt’s perspective!

Don’t ever skip sunset portraits my friends…just don’t. (Or the opportunity to escape the party for a few moments to savor the day with your love)

When you can’t decide if you want a private last dance, a sparker exit, a champagne popping, lit balloons or a firework fountain for your final exit… DO THEM ALL! Seriously! WHAT an exit!! SO very happy for you guys!! Thank you for inviting me on your journey! I cannot wait for all the adventures we’ll share in the future! Cappadocia here we come!!

The vendors who made the day possible:

Photographers: Cynthia Viola with Jenni Chandler

Venue + Coordinator : Caroline with The Barn on New River

Hair: Megan Matthews & Tami Smith

Make Up: Sarah Warrick

Dress: Maggie Soterro from Lasting Impressions

Suit: Stitched By Mitch

Rings: Ballerina Jewelers

Florist and Cake: Dandelions All Things Wedding

Officiant: Rebecca Maynard

DJ: Ben with Mohr Fun Events

Photobooth: Elation Digital

Video: Serrano Film Co

Catering: Gadabouts Catering

Dessert: Blue Deer Cookie

Beer Truck: Tap Truck

Shuttle: Jeff Prestige with Prestige Limousine Service

Rentals: A&J Rental Group

Allison and Karen's Wedding at Overlook Barn

Oh my goodness. I feel like I know these two almost as much as they know each other!

I met them when Allison wanted to propose to Karen at a Treehouse AirBnb in Asheville… I was only TOO excited to drive down there first to see the space and make sure everything was perfect before their arrival. Karen’s mom and best friend were there too, to set up all the fun extras.

When I realized there was no place for me to hide in the bushes, I called Allison, on the road with Karen, and pretended to be the AirBnB host and told her “I would be there to greet them and show them the house.” She rolled with it and when they arrived, of course Karen started asking me questions about when we built the space and I made up all kinds of nonsense. Until of course we reached the bridge, when Allison knew she’d pop the question and I snagged my camera out of the bushes! Never a dull moment in the surprise wedding proposal world!

Fast forward a few months and Karen contacted me to capture HER surprise proposal to Allison at the Linville Falls Winery Christmas Tree Farm! I was so happy there were actually trees to hide behind and could not wait to pop out and show Allison I was there to capture her moment too! Her mom had set up the cutest Christmas tree in the middle of the farm with ornaments and presents, hot chocolate, and of course the ring!

The build up for this weekend made everything flow seamlessly. It didn’t matter that it rained literally 100% of the day without so much as a 5 minute break for photos. They were surrounded by their loved ones and more importantly these two love each other more than I can possibly describe.

Inside or out, their heartfelt vows had everyone (including me!) in tears so no one even noticed the weather. They had every guest fill out well wishes and place a pebble in the bag while they etched their names in their own pebbles. All piled together, every stone brought them to where they are today on their journey and will help blaze the path ahead.

There was never a moment where it wasn’t raining as least a little, so we played with umbrellas for a bit and they just decided to let the rain fall for some as well. Never without a smile on their face, and always filled with love.

That said, we still decided to meet up again over the weekend when the weather broke so they could get the mountain backdrop they were hoping for from Overlook Barn. It was no less special a couple days later, and in fact, more so because there was no wedding day pressure or timeline, just love. While I will always be sure to capture your day no matter what happens with the weather, if you have the option to meet up again the next day with better weather… it never hurts ;)

I have been so honored to be a part of your journey you guys and cannot wait to see what the future holds!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Coordinator: Miranda with Simply Bliss Weddings

Venue : Overlook Barn

Florist: Thistle and Twig

Officiant: Amanda Kerr

Hair: Myan Littleton

Band: Courtney Lynn and Quinn

Catering: Sage and Spice

Bartending: Happy Trailers Beer Truck

Dessert Truck: Blue Deer Cookies

Cake: Sunflower Baking Company

Erin and Ian's Wedding at Brown Mountain Beach Resort

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

Erin and Ian know how to throw a party. From the very first conversation they knew they wanted me on site for both the rehearsal and the wedding day, and by the end of the chat, they were adding me for the river day that would follow on Saturday with their guests. And not long after that they decided I needed to be there for the Luau that would follow the river day and of course Sunday Brunch to send everyone off!

This isn’t even including the 3 days of Widespread Panic they attended before the wedding, the Tuesday group hike and Wednesday Rafting excursion. I could not have planned a better wedding week if I had laid out every single detail myself. These two are adventurers to their core and I adore them for it!

When I pulled up to the rehearsal on Thursday after unpacking my gear, I walked down to the beach to find these two love birds having the time of their lives in a bathtub that had been pulled into the river. I knew right then this was going to be one hell of a weekend and they did not disappoint.

After hours around the bonfire Thursday night with all their friends who had just arrived, everyone got up early to detox from the hangover with some group yoga on the deck, and now I must insist that EVERY couple offer this to their party on the morning of the wedding. It was such a relaxing way to start the day and the focus on gratitude brought many happy tears and hugs and simply set the tone for the day. It was like nothing could possibly go wrong after everyone set their intention for the day to be grateful for this space and these people. Truly incredible.

One of the most important pieces of the weekend for Erin and Ian was good music. They knew the music would set the tone for every activity so they went all out. Rebekah Todd serenaded the crowd during the ceremony and cocktail hour with some surprise songs that were super meaningful to the family.

The Dickens Band got every single person on the dance floor for the reception, bringing the mic to the floor and getting everyone to sing their hearts out to their favorite punk rock and alternative bands. It was an absolutely wild night followed by another fun bonfire.

Next up, Saturday was designated as the river day! Everyone hopped in the trolley and made their way down the beach on bright blue floaties! It was such a fun and relaxing afternoon filled with love and laughter.

If you know me at all, you knew this was coming :)

My favorite shoot of all time will forever be trash the dress and I knew these babes would be up for anything so I had them throw their outfits back on and hop in the river!! Always 200% worth it!! So fun and carefree!

The grand finale!

A low country boil, oysters leis and cocktail umbrellas. What a night! These two brought in Daniel Korzelius, the Human Juke, for their beach luau. There is no song he can’t play and they did their best to stump him! From Bohemian Rhapsody to Taylor Swift he had everyone singing along and made the night truly memorable. Definitely a weekend for the books. Please feel free to invite me to your next Smittfest you guys!!

Thank you so much for including me on your special day!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Venue and Accomodations: Brown Mountain Beach Resort

Coordinator: Leah with Brown Mountain Beach

Rings: Perry's Emporium and Matheu's Fine Watches & Jewelry

Hair and Make Up: TM Bridal Beauty

Florist: Edgemont Garden

Officiant: Jay Webb with Love and Wisdom

Ceremony Music: Rebekah Todd

Reception Music: The Dickens

Luau Music: Daniel Korzelius The Human Juke

Catering: Plate Perfect Catering

Alex and Harry's Wedding at Brown Mountain Beach Resort

“I’m not good at making specific plans. Just meet me under the sky somewhere and be alive with me”

— Victoria Erickson

I vibe really well with all my couples. They and I can usually tell right away from the initial consult that we will or won’t be a good fit and we book accordingly. That said, some vibes are next level. The fact that Alex and Harry are both avid adventurers and love all things camping and exploring was a given that we’d be a great fit, but then they chose my favorite wedding venue, Brown Mountain Beach Resort.

BMBR encourages the whole wedding party to hang on the river all week, stay in yurts, roast s’mores at the nightly bonfires, drink bourbon and smoke cigars. I mean… if you’ve known me for any amount of time… nothing speaks my love language more than alllll that.

Harry and Alex were actually exploring the area looking for a place to camp when they stumbled upon BMBR & just knew it was where they were going to get married! They weren't even engaged yet, but Harry had the ring, and it was only a matter of time. They were college sweethearts and knew each other well enough to know, it was their perfect magical place.

Triple bonus, I found out Harry is an automotive engineer and actually builds the racing breaks for my baby!! We geeked out more than once over the weekend lol. There seriously could not be a better match.

Alex’s relationship with her father and brothers is much like my own, and was therefore absolutely necessary to share a first look (and first sip of bourbon) with them. She and I might actually be twins in another universe.

Then Harry’s crew had their own surprise for him, which shall not be named here, but the bottom right photo below is a good indicator. They were all banned from the bar afterward lol.

In addition to sharing a first look on the river rocks, they decided to do a private vow exchange as well. They knew their ceremony vows would be perfect and meaningful in their own way, but there were other things they wanted to share with each other in a more intimate way. I highly recommend this you guys. Tears were shed by all of us, they were able to get all the initial jitters out of the way, it insured they had alone time to just enjoy their wedding day for a bit, and the rest of the day was a party with everyone they loved. Best of all worlds.

Harry is actually from England, so they had several international guests staying onsite who had never been to North Carolina, or even the U.S. so they had so much fun introducing them to their favorite way of life.

My favorite vow from anyone on any wedding day I have ever witnessed, happened to also go down this weekend. Harry vowed to always have chocolate on hand for Alex, to cure any blue day…then he pulled a Kit Kat out of his pocket. Ladies and Gents… this is a proper vow. Take note.

After hours of dancing the night away, they shared one final solo dance while their crew lined up for the sparkler exit. A perfect quiet moment to soak in a day full of love and laughter.

You guys thank you so much for including me on your incredible day. So grateful to know you! Hopefully we can share a hike or camping trip soon!! Enjoy Punta Cana!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Venue and Accommodations: Brown Mountain Beach Resort

Coordinator: Sonia with Brown Mountain Beach

Her Dress: Angel Rivera from Hayden Olivia Bridal

His Suit: Tommy Hilfiger from Men's Warehouse

Her Ring: JSV Concepts

His Ring: MN Handcrafted

His Tie: Kind Design

Hair and Make Up: Tiffany at Brushes & Braids

Florist: Edgemont Garden

Officiant: Derek Portugal - Bride's Brother

DJ: Mountain Peak Sound

Catering: Plate Perfect Catering

Desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Deanna and William's Wedding at the Angus Barn

Oh my goodness, when I showed up at William’s family home in Lake Toxaway to capture their engagement session and they walked me around the grounds, the VERY FIRST thing I noticed was the canoe. I was like….sooooooo….. what are the chances….

And well, obviously, because they are one of my couples and therefore adventurous by nature, they were like IDK, but we’ll make it happen!

Fast forward to the most fun wedding weekend! Their crew pulled out all the stops to make sure they felt special and everyone had an absolute blast! Everyone shared the morning together at her parents home in North Raleigh then moved on to the Saint Mary’s School campus where they would say their vows in the Chapel. Deanna is an alumni there, and they happened to choose alumni weekend for their wedding so there was much excitement around the whole campus to know that a fellow alum was having her big day. During the rehearsal there was actually a current student painting a watercolor of the chapel and allowed me to take a photo to surprise the couple. You can tell everyone who calls this campus home is automatic family. It was so special.

After the ceremony, everyone moved to The Pavilions at the Angus Barn and danced the night away. And what a crew! So many incredible dancers and they showed up ready to party, we had so much fun!

You guys thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of your day!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with Melissa Toma

Ceremony: Saint Mary’s Chapel

Reception Venue/Catering: The Angus Barn

Florist: Kelly Odom

DJ: All Around Raleigh DJ

Video: Twenty-One Films

Laura and Tina's Wedding at The Laurelbrook

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper”

— William Butler Yeats

What an incredible wedding weekend! Between the perfect spring weather, and awesome vendor team and the most genuine couple imaginable, it was certainly one for the books! Laura is one of the brightest little rays of sunlight you could meet. She disarms you instantly with pure kindness and grace. She had such a beautiful vision for the day down to every tiny fairy world given to every guest. (which she handmade herself!!!) She flowed so easily between each guest and what I found even more beautiful was the way Tina, who was admittedly less excited about the big crowd, kept an eye on her always, like a protector. She was so happy to see Laura so happy which made the crowd part easy. They were never more than a couple feet from each other all day. Getting ready in the same room and walking hand in hand between tables, always stealing glances at each other and it was just so very beautiful.

One of my favorite parts of the day was all the COLOR! Bloomworks used the entire rainbow in all the florals, the brides’ pink and blue dresses, the little fairy worlds, and of course all the desserts! It was so fun to photograph! And Janna’s team were rockstars of course. Every detail exactly as they wanted, every piece of the timeline right on time. So incredible to work with from the very first timeline email.

Thanks ladies for inviting me to be a part of your day!!

The Vendors who made the day Possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola Photography

Coordinator: Janna Simone Weddings and Events

Venue: The Laurelbrook

Laura’s Dress: Vow’d + Flower crown by BloomWorks

Tina’s Dress: Formalwear Outlet + Headband from NC Museum of History

Rings: Sparrowood Jeweler

Hair: Prickly Pear Salon

Florist: Bloomworks

Officiant: Pastor Tim Brown

DJ: DJ Wes

Harpist: Sarah Cavaiani with Hummingbird Harmonies

Catering: Cateringworks

Cake: Pasteryworks

Rentals: CE Rental

Get Away Car: Triangle Corporate Coach

Elopements on the Blue Ridge Parkway

For Earth Day, it seemed appropriate to highlight the beauty of our Blue Ridge Mountains with all the magical elopements I’ve had the honor of capturing lately. There’s just something about the rolling land and vast sky that draws so many to make their commitments here.

Sha’Lanika and Mike drove up from Florida, seeing mountains for the first time on this trip, and while a little nervous on the roads, were overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding them. We chose Thunder Hill both due to its ease of access for hiking and also because it happened to snow and ice just the day before closing off the rest of the parkway to access by vehicle. You never know what kind of weather you’re going to get up here!

Keith and Rebecca drove down from Illinois and chose Carvers Gap on the Appalachian Trail at Roan Mountain State Park because they are newly avid backpackers who met during covid and fell in love with backpacking and each other! We swapped hiking stories while we walked as Roan Mountain is still, in my opinion, the most beautiful section of the Appalachian Trail I’ve seen to date and I frequent the balds both for shoots and for camping! We were freezing in the 38 degree temps of course but Rebecca was such a trooper, you’d never even know her teeth were chattering.

Oh my goodness, when Claire told me they were driving down to Blowing Rock from Ohio and their big day would be more of a “private affair,” I knew exactly what she meant and my heart broke into a million pieces. Sometimes these elopements can have a bittersweet feel to them, however, the love these two share, CANNOT, be denied. They were so precious to witness all day. The friends and family who came to support them were all they needed to feel loved and adored. Tears flowed from each of us all day but the flood gates came when Claire got down on her knees to promise to love and honor Erica’s kids as well. I know this little family will be there to support each other for life.

And just yesterday Jon and Kristianna said their “I dos” at The Blowing Rock. Their kiddos couldn’t have been happier to participate and celebrate with them and the weather was Carolina perfection. I can’t believe I’ve never been to The Blowing Rock before… in all the years I grew up and built my business in these mountains, for whatever reason had simply never made it. So grateful to know what I’ve been missing though! I’ll be back very soon! All Kristianna wanted was a photo standing on the edge of the rock and she walked up there like a damn queen. I am really beginning to love these intimate affairs. The freedom of the schedule to adjust with the weather and wind or an upset child or delayed friend. There are no rules, just overwhelming love and support from those present.

I am grateful to each of you for including me! Can’t wait to see all that is to come!

Tarin and April's Double Proposal in Banner Elk

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale”

— Anonymous

Goodness, where do I even begin with these two. If ever a couple were more meant to be, I haven’t met them.

April contacted me a few weeks back asking if I’d be available for a surprise proposal on 2-22-22 on Beech Mountain while she and her girlfriend were in town for skiing. I knew I’d be traveling until the 20th but could make it work so we started all the furious planning. She sent me a playlist to have playing on a small speaker when they arrived, mailed a special sign to my house, and I agreed to pick up some flowers from a local florist and have it all set up before sunrise so she could walk up with her blindfolded bride-to-be and wow her. It was going to be perfect.

Fast forward a week, I get another message from Tarin asking if I’d be available on 2-22-22 for a surprise proposal on Grandfather Mountain….

Ummm…yes? Hmmm, how am I going to pull this off without either of them knowing? I just said yes and knew it would all work out one way or another. It was going ok, the plans for Tarin were a little simpler, I just had to be set up as a nature photographer in a particular location just before sunset when they walked up and then just redirect to them at the right moment. No problem.

And then the weather happened. It was going to be cold and rainy on the 22nd so both of them started texting me to see if we could reschedule a day early to sunset on the 21st… both were texting at the same time and both wanted the same thing. So after going back and forth and trying not to mistake who I was texting what, we finally worked it out to do Tarin’s proposal first and follow it an hour later with April’s.

The dilemma was that the two mountains were about 35 min away from each other and the second shoot required a small hike plus major set up on my part. I was determined to make this epic day happen for them though and agreed.

I got home from my travels at midnight the night before but got up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with excitement. I gathered the sign, the speaker, the flowers - all scattered over the high country, made dinner reservations for them since they were skiing and couldn’t get away from each other to do so. April texted me a couple hours before the first proposal saying she had a sneaky suspicion Tarin was about to propose…I of course said that that would be crazy, and what are the odds… *wink wink… and after texting them both back and forth as the day progressed I got into place, possibly more excited than either of them.

As they approached, I tried not to make eye contact with either of them as I knew April would recognize me, which she did of course anyway because of my bright purple hair, but once she realized what was going on, she just played it cool like we had never met. The moment was magical of course anyway, people were cheering around us and we were all teary-eyed.

We walked around the mountain trying not to freeze as we captured a few “just engaged” photos and April and I shook hands as if meeting each other for the first time and then I said something about needing to get to another shoot and best of luck etc, and off I raced up to Beech to set up for the next moment.

April and I had spoken with Overlook Barn about using their Boulder View location because it had the best sunrise and was out of the way in case anyone else was using the property that day. Of course at sunset it’s not quite the same, but it was overcast anyway so it still worked out perfectly!

I had hoped to set everything up on top of the boulder but the wind was racing around furiously making it impossible. After setting it as best I could on the ground, I started scattering the rose petals as April had hoped for into a heart, but the wind had other plans. If I had known in advance what a struggle it would be I would have set up a timelapse on my phone to document the shenanigans. It must have been absolutely hysterical to the on-looking birds and squirrels to seeing me diving on the ground trying to wrangle featherweight roses with those high winds.

Nevertheless I persisted and five minutes later I heard their car roll into the parking lot, I dived for my camera and ran down to meet April to snag her phone (Tarin was still blindfolded in the car) and then I raced back up to the site, set up her video and stepped back in awe as the magic unfolded.

When Tarin took off the blindfold and saw me, she burst out laughing and exclaiming, “How?!?!” I told her not to worry about it, we’d discuss all the details later…

She read the sweet words April had pre-written for her in a letter while listening to James Arthur sing “Medicine” in the background, and I swear we could’t have timed it better if we tried…the moment she finished the letter and turned around to see April there waiting for her, the next pre-chosen song began. “Marry Me” by Train. *que all the tears.*

Lots of happy tears later, all three of us just died laughing at the insanity of the day. I was so relieved the secret was finally out as it was about to burst out of me otherwise, and they were both elated to find they were so in sync and in love.

If they weren’t already aligned in so many ways, they both also chose to engrave their rings. Tarin with “Forever Always”, their favorite memo to each other, also tattooed on their arms, and April with the date they had both said, “I love you.” It was truly a proposal for the books and will not ever be a day any of us could forget. We were all freezing from the double mountain top winds so they opted not to do any further photos, and we all grabbed a seat at Sorrento’s in Banner Elk to talk about everything and really take it all in. They told me more of their story and we made plans to hang in Atlanta soon and start making the next plans for the Big Day!

Babes, I am so honored to have been chosen to capture this moment in time for you. Thank you for trusting me with your memories and I cannot wait to celebrate with you in Georgia in 2023!

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

First Location: Grandfather Mountain

Second Location: Overlook Barn, Boulder View

Flowers: Shady Grove Gardens

The Rings: Cumberland Diamond Exchange

Handmade Sign: Etsy - Sterling Shore Co

Celebration Dinner: Stonewalls

Brianna and Niko's Wedding at the Pinery in Colorado Springs

I met these two babes at Lauren and Brady’s wedding last year. Brianna was one of Lauren’s bridesmaids and we became fast friends. When it came time to plan for their big day in Colorado, she asked if I’d be willing to travel…

Well, rather than giving her a 300 page book on why traveling is my favorite, I simply said, of course, and well now I get to tell you about how AMAZING Colorado weddings are!

If you know me at all, you know I’m not a big fan of cold weather. I know, I know, I grew up in the mountains and should therefore love it, but well, I don’t, so there. HOWEVER, I love these two and I would go ANYWHERE for them! Colorado in February sounded a little scary, but we just planned for me to be there 2 days before the wedding just in case any in-climate weather messed with the flights, and then hoped for the best that I’d get there right on time and be able to capture a few quick couple photos at Pikes Peak as well as their rehearsal dinner if not.

The weather was kind and not only did Brianna get the fresh snow she’d hoped for, it was beautiful and sunny the whole weekend. After treating the wedding party to a Cog Train tour of Pikes Peak the celebrations began!

Brianna is so close to her family, she chose to do special moments with her mother, father and brothers and they were all so happy to share those moments with her. Of course the best moment was her first look with Niko. He couldn’t stop telling her how beautiful she looked and she kept saying everything felt calm now. All the stress that had built up over the weekend dissolved when she saw her groom and the rest of the day was pure joy.

Thank you guys for including me in your special day!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue, Catering, Florist, DJ and Coordination: The Pinery

The Dress: The Bridal Suite

The Suit: Mens Warehouse

Hair and Make Up: Jessica with Le Coquelicot

Barber: Lincoln St. Barber

Officiant: Kris Bowen

Video: Veiled Rose Films

Rehearsal: Bourbon Brother’s

Lauren and Justin's Wedding at Historic Mordecai Chapel

I met Lauren a decade ago when I first lived in Raleigh through one of my favorite couples, Brook and Chuck! When she organized an epic dance flash mob for their wedding I knew she was my kind of girl. She is a bright shining star and it was so fun to see her and Justin celebrate their day together. They were both so relaxed as they they made the preparations and full of laughter as they teased each other and flirted through their first look.

His brother Chris officiated their short ceremony at the Mordecai Chapel and they were on their way to celebrate with their friends and family at Caffe Luna Downtown.

In between the ceremony and dinner we drove to the top of a parking deck to capture the last of the sunset and a few new Mr. and Mrs. portraits. Raleigh is just so beautiful from this height and did not disappoint. We even waited for traffic to be just right in front of the restaurant so we could capture a slow shutter shot of the traffic moving behind them. I love it when my couples are willing to do whatever it takes to get the shot. Thank you guys for including me in your big day!! I wouldn’t have missed it for anything!

Trash the Dress Shoot at Brown Mountain Beach Resort

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience”

— Eleanor Roosevelt

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know trash the dress photography is my all time favorite type of shoot. The wild abandon of breaking the “rules.” The sheer joy that comes with splashing water on your love when you’re “not supposed to.” The simple fact that you get authentic memories of a moment that wasn’t buried in tradition and expectation, but wild and free, just like your new love.

Katie and Dan wanted those moments too and with as much fun as we had on their adventurous engagement session at Otter Falls, we knew we made a great team.

Of course Brown Mountain Beach was the perfect venue for capturing everything they were looking for. They wanted to include their best girl Kimura, ride off on their motorcycle, hop in the canoe, and of course, jump in the icy mountain water! I couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect shoot if I wanted to!

While perfect photos in a proper, clean dress and suit certainly hold value and help you remember your wedding day, you cannot deny that you could ever forget holding onto your train so it didn’t get caught in the engine as you road away on a motorcycle, or dying laughing as your splashed your love and danced in an icy mountain river barefooted as the sun set in the background.

There are days that need to be remembered, and then there are memorable days. And I submit that the spontaneous moments that catch us by surprise in between the planned ones, are the ones that will never leave us.

I’m ready for your next adventure whenever you are.

Anne and Rachel's Elopement in Asheville

It’s hard to explain how you can have such a connection with a couple through text messaging, and I wouldn’t normally choose it or recommend it, but dang, if I didn’t know these two were perfect for me within our first couple messages back and forth.

I chatted with Rachel for several weeks via text making sure we were on the same page with all their elopement plans and then both she and Anne as their engagement session approached. There was zero anxiety as I pulled up to the lake, I knew we were already besties. Of course the shoot went amazing…

And I could not wait for their big day. They spent the weekend at Rachel’s family’s farm, and it suited them perfectly. Complete with super friendly animals of all shapes and sizes and of course their closest friends and family, the whole day was filled with happy tears as they shared their vows and created new memories.

I was overcome with emotion myself as they shared their vows to never give up on each other and to be the best versions of themselves for each other. Their love is deep and to see them celebrated wholeheartedly by their loved ones as we all joined in the happy tears was incredibly moving.

Ladies, thank you so much for inviting me to celebrate with you on this happy day! Love you both!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue: Out in Jupiter Farm

Hair: Donovan at Atlas Beauty

Anne’s Ring: Jared

Rachel’s Ring: Modern Wedding Ring

Officiant: Luanne Carmichael

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Gabby and Brett's Wedding at Hidden River Events

Oh how I love these babes! You’ve pretty much never met a more genuine couple than Brett and Gabby. The way they compliment each others’ strengths and weaknesses, you’d think they were one person. All weekend everyone kept talking about how well she cared for him and how well he looked after her, like a protector. One of my favorite moments with them was when they were models for one of my styled shoots, almost 2 years ago. During the shoot, I literally watched before my eyes as it went from fun shoot, to the moment Brett realized he was ready to propose, and sure enough, that’s exactly what he did! The way they look at each other in the little moments throughout everyday tells you every thing you need to know about their relationship.

They met each other at Crossfit, and that’s where I met them, and they were, of course, already great friends of Anthony’s so we hit it off right away. When I found out Gabby loves to dance just as much as I do, we immediately proceeded to attend all the house parties together and have become great friends, I felt like family the whole weekend. She couldn’t wait to tell me to put down the camera at the reception so I could join them in the shenanigans…which of course I did, then continued with the wedding party afterwards. We stayed up until 3am just chatting about all the things. I’m pretty sure every single person in the wedding party at some point during the day told me one thing or another about how wonderful they are both as individuals and together. We are all so excited to see where they will go in life. (And also to share many more dance parties!) Love you guys!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola

Venue, Florist, Coordinator and DJ: Hidden River Events

Her Dress: Wedding Inspirations Bridal Boutique

His Attire: Best Bride Prom & Tux

The Rings: Village Jewelers, Ltd

Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist: Della Terra Beauty

Officiant: Irma Strikesky

Catering and Cake Baker: Anne's Custom Catering

Marcus and Inita's Wedding at Amity Creek Farms

These high school sweethearts pulled out all the stops this weekend! I have never met another couple more excited about surprises than I am! Inita and Marcus both pulled me aside during our initial meeting to tell me about their fun plans for the wedding weekend. Then both their moms did the same, then they both added another through email later!! I *may have been the most excited person the whole day because I actually knew about every single surprise in advance (in order to capture it of course). I was bouncing around waiting for the next thing to happen, I had to send them one timeline that everyone could see, and then keep a separate actual timeline to include each element.

There were of course special gifts: a set of pearls during the first look, a set of cufflinks and a necklace honoring his late grandmother, tons of items for the wedding party, a bracelet from his mom to her - welcoming her as a daughter. There was a hysterical fake first look with his twin brother complete with dress and blonde wig, then the same brother whipped out a cartwheel down the aisle as he suddenly shifted from best man to flower boy. The day was filled with happy tears and riotous laughter as they celebrated fully with their loved ones. Everyone had the very best time.

The full moon surprised us all when it made a strong appearance over the hills. We had to step out of the reception for a few to capture it! We had the best time! Congratulations to you both! Looking forward to many more surprises in the future!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with John Bahamon

Venue: Amity Creek Farms

Wedding Coordinator: Ashley Causby-Hicks

All Wedding Attire: Bridal Traditions Wedding Attire

Cake Baker: Nutmeg Bakery

Linen/Chair/Tent Services:

Get Away Car: Volkswagen EOS

Favors: Soap bars from Soapy Chicks

McKenzie and Ian's Wedding at The Meadows

Oh my goodness, where to begin?!? I feel like I’ve known these babes for years now! From the first time we met in the fall of 2019 I knew right away they were perfect for each other. These two simply know how to give each other a knowing look that will either make them laugh or calm them down. Even at the rehearsal this weekend, when stresses were running high, the moment they actually took a moment to look each other in the eyes and remember why they were there, instant relief.

McKenzie has a wonderfully bubbly personality that made everyone smile all weekend, she knew just what to say or do to make us laugh. Then Ian is so down to earth and easy to be around, all of their friends talked about how they were each others’ perfect balance.

When Covid wrecked everyone’s plans last year, they decided to go ahead with a small elopement with their family and push the bigger celebration to this year. Everyone was so grateful for the joy they brought during that challenging year, and so happy to celebrate them in full this weekend.

If that day wasn’t already perfect, this weekend made everything complete. With all of their loved ones in attendance, they were celebrated fully and everyone danced the night away.

Thank you so much for inviting us to celebrate with you guys!!

The Vendors who made the day possible:

Photographer: Cynthia Viola with Melissa Toma

Venue: The Meadows at Firefly Farm Preserve

Wedding Coordinator: Lauren with Carolina Bells

Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist: WINK Hair and Makeup

Florist: Sweet Love Blossoms

DJ: The Deluxe Event Group

Live Music: NC Violinist and Prince Yabani Music

Videographer: Thomas Blake Films

Photobooth: Spark Photo Booths

Catering: Fords Fluent N Food

Cake Baker: Cinda’s Creative Cakes

Alcohol: Brewmasters

Linen/Chair/Tent Services: CE Rentals

Speciality Rentals: Greenhouse Picker Sisters

Invitations: Minted

Calligraphy: Meriweather Designs

Fall Engagement Sessions in the Mountains

“Because in the end you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb the Mountain. ”

— Jack Kerouac

Oh my goodness! I have had SO many fun Engagement Sessions and Surprise Proposals this month so I thought it would be more fun to post them all together! I’ll never get over the fact that I get to be a part of so many life changing moments in couples’ lives. I can’t imagine there’s a better job on the planet.

I captured Phil and Ashley’s surprise proposal in Raleigh this summer then they joined me in Banner Elk for their engagements. They are adventurers too, (literally mountain biking right up until the shoot) and were all about a last minute trash the dress at the end of the shoot! It makes me so happy when couples are willing to let loose and have fun! I cannot WAIT til the big day next year!

I will be capturing Rachel and Stephen’s big day also in Raleigh next fall but they wanted the Blue Ridge Parkway as their engagement back drop. Being able to flow freely between both locations is so much fun for me! I love that my couples love it as much as I do!

I schemed with Brooke for WEEKS on how to make her surprise proposal to Kayla special. She absolutely loved the view from the park in downtown Banner Elk and wanted to make it even more special with this moment. After quite a bit of back and forth on weather and back up locations, the rain parted JUST long enough to make it happen! I could not be more excited to capture their big day next fall at Overlook Barn!

I have known Brandon and his family since my early days living in Raleigh. When he said he was ready to propose I was all in on helping him to plan everything! After his and Shelby’s engagement on Blue Ridge Parkway, they asked me to come by their house in Raleigh to help them make their wedding plans! They have big dreams of owning a wedding venue themselves and I can’t wait to pass on to them 250 weddings worth of venue experiences!

John and I were both a nervous wreck trying to plan his surprise proposal to Alyssa! First he drove 2.5 hours up here a week early to scope out the location I suggested, and then couldn’t find it! And when it came time to pop the question, alllllll the hand drawn directions I had given him about exactly which rocks to stand on were completely useless, because when I arrived I realized the heavy rains from the day before had FLOODED the entire area! I sent him a new quick drawing to try to describe the new option, jumped behind the bridge and hoped he got the message in time! He did, and of course she said yes!! We were in full dance party mode when it all came together! I cannot wait til next year!

SO many couples to celebrate, so little time. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Love you guys!