Joe + June | Vandiver Inn Wedding

January 2, 2014 Joe + June | Vandiver Inn Wedding

Today I’m so excited to share my last wedding of 2013, the wedding of June and Joe. They’ve already been on the blog twice- once for their engagement session and once for their pre-wedding mini session. I often tell my clients that I think making sure you get along with your photographer is as important as making sure you like their work. I remember skyping with June and Joe after I had met June in person (Joe was back home in North Carolina when June and I originally met) and thinking how much I loved them and wanted to work with them. Then Joe said that as long as the other photographer they were meeting with wasn’t his “Soul Twin” I’d be working with them the weekend after Christmas. This proved to me that in fact, they were even moreso my kind of couple, for using the terminology soul twin – which is what I call my best friend Lindsey :)

June and Joe are amazing people and I’m so happy to have met them and to have been able to be a part of their wedding day. Their love is truly a special kind of love. The kind of love that you know just from spending five minutes with them that their love will only grow stronger and their marriage will last forever. I’ve mentioned a few times on my blog that I’ve gotten emotionally involved and found myself tearing up at my client’s weddings (and sometimes even downright bawling) and their wedding was definitely one of the teariest of the year. From their first look, to the first time June saw her dad, to them both crying when she walked down the aisle, and the touching speeches, their wedding was filled with so much love and emotion.

Without further ado- what you’re all here for – the photos!

The Vandiver Inn is such an amazing wedding location! I had been there once before for my step-sister-in-law’s wedding (Gosh that’s a mouthful! Love her regardless of the long title :)) as a guest and it was so fun being there as a photographer! I can’t wait to go back there again in just over a week for my first wedding of 2014! It’s such an adorable inn – even if you aren’t getting married, I highly recommend it for a staycation! Such a beautiful place with great rooms and amazing food.

I arrived and saw June’s stunning wedding dress hung up with the bridesmaid dresses and her mother’s hanbok hung up in a line. Gorgeous!

All of the details were already out and ready for me to photograph. Did I mention that I love them? So prepared!

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The amazing amazing florals were perfect for their Christmas weekend winter wedding!2014-01-01_0005 2014-01-01_0006June’s bridesmaids are so fun- they had both me and the makeup artist wishing we were a part of their group of friends!2014-01-01_0007I was pretty excited about this shot- everyone in the room is in it – except me of course :)2014-01-01_0008Beautiful!2014-01-01_0009Meanwhile, Jen was with Joe and the guys for their getting ready portion of the day… then it was off to the lighthouse for their first look!2014-01-01_0010Originally we were just going to have him turn around, but Sarah from the Vandiver Inn offered a blindfold- and I love how this turned out!2014-01-01_0011 2014-01-01_00122014-01-01_0013 2014-01-01_0014He liked what he saw! After several minutes of just taking in how stunning she was he decided he needed to walk around and take the dress in, since all he had focused on so far was her beautiful face. And my heart melted.2014-01-01_0015This whole series of portraits was just stunning. I’m obsessed with all of these! We had mid-afternoon direct sunlight and yet found a way to make it work. With such a beautiful couple, it’s not that hard.2014-01-01_0016 2014-01-01_0017 2014-01-01_0018 2014-01-01_0019 2014-01-01_0020Beautiful!2014-01-01_0021While we were waiting for their friends and family to arrive for the rest of the formals we split up for a minute, and I got some portraits of June and Jen took some of Joe.2014-01-01_0022 2014-01-01_0023Jen and Joe finished a little early, and she caught him attempting to photobomb us… well I guess it wasn’t an attempt, he definitely succeeded.2014-01-01_00242014-01-01_0025We had some more time to kill so we went out to the docks, yet another gorgeous series!2014-01-01_0026 2014-01-01_0027 2014-01-01_0028 2014-01-01_0029 2014-01-01_0030 2014-01-01_0031I had to grab a few more portraits of June once she put on the wrap. It completed the look of the perfect winter bride.2014-01-01_0032So gorgeous!2014-01-01_0033How beautiful is this group of ladies!? They were as fun as they are beautiful. I love the dresses and the bouquets. 2014-01-01_0034 2014-01-01_0035Even Mama Suk was perfectly coordinated!2014-01-01_0036June has the most beautiful relationship with her parents. Her and her momma are best friends and her dad couldn’t have radiated more pride. 2014-01-01_0037The groomsmen were quite dapper as well!2014-01-01_0039Check out this good looking group!2014-01-01_0038The ceremony site was perfectly decorated already for the holiday – making it such a magical location to be wed.2014-01-01_0040 2014-01-01_0041 2014-01-01_0042Even though they had chosen to see each other before the ceremony, Joe still had tears welling up when June walked down the aisle. 2014-01-01_0043 2014-01-01_0044 2014-01-01_0045 2014-01-01_0046They chose to write their own vows, which were both heartfelt and fun.2014-01-01_0047 2014-01-01_0048I love nothing more than these two photos Jen caught before “the kiss” – just look at June’s face!2014-01-01_0049 2014-01-01_0050 2014-01-01_0051After the ceremony we did a few more family and bridal party portraits before focusing on the bride and groom a little longer.2014-01-01_0052 2014-01-01_0053 2014-01-01_0054 2014-01-01_0055Yep. Love the florals.2014-01-01_0060 2014-01-01_0061I love that the gazebo had Christmas lights on it- I made the mental note to head back after dark, and I’m so so glad we did- but those photos come later.2014-01-01_0056 2014-01-01_0057 2014-01-01_0058 2014-01-01_0059 2014-01-01_0062Love love love love LOVE!2014-01-01_0063 2014-01-01_0064We let our bride and groom head back in to relax a bit before the reception and it was time to photograph the reception set up! What is really interesting about the Vandiver Inn is that they use the same space for the ceremony and the reception, so they only have about 40 minutes to set the entire room up – and boy did they do an amazing job!2014-01-01_0065 2014-01-01_0066 2014-01-01_0067 2014-01-01_0068 2014-01-01_0069 2014-01-01_0070Joe and June had taken dance lessons prior to the wedding and had a really fun choreographed first dance! 2014-01-01_00712014-01-01_00742014-01-01_0072 2014-01-01_0073Both the best man and maid of honor speeches brought tears to my eyes, but it was Jim, June’s dad, who stole the show.2014-01-01_0076After dinner we kicked off the party with the parent dances… I love these photos! So much love.2014-01-01_0077 2014-01-01_00782014-01-01_0079 2014-01-01_0080 2014-01-01_0081 2014-01-01_0082 2014-01-01_0083 2014-01-01_0084 2014-01-01_0085We headed out for some night shots shortly after the cake cutting and I love how these all turned out- I’m so glad my couples trust me to be creative and give them a variety of beautiful images throughout their day!2014-01-01_0090 2014-01-01_0088 2014-01-01_00892013-12-29_0112 2013-12-29_0109 2013-12-29_0110 2013-12-29_0111 2013-12-29_01132014-01-01_0075

June and Joe, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and I hope that this is only the beginning of our friendship. Love you guys, Congratulations!

Vendors
Venue: Vandiver Inn
Photography: Photography by Brea
Second Photographer: Jennifer Smutek
Florist: Amanda’s Florist
Bakery: Desserts by Rita
DJ: Frank Marsden
Dress: K&B Bridal
Makeup: Nicole Palermo
Hair: Crystal Addink

Comments

comments

12 Comments
  • Laura
    Posted at 06:53h, 02 January Reply

    What a perfect winter wedding! I love the blindfold idea too, those are so cute!!

  • Erin Wheeler
    Posted at 09:28h, 02 January Reply

    I am so in love with the florals and her dress! They are such a gorgeous couple! Awesome job!

  • Natascha Faircloth
    Posted at 09:56h, 02 January Reply

    June, you are a radiating bride and what a handsome groom. Your photographer captured the true essence of your inner beauty and of course the outer. Truly, spirited, beautiful, and romantic. May god bless you and your new marriage with happiness, health, and lets never forget wealth.

  • Becca
    Posted at 10:11h, 02 January Reply

    Gorgeous job as always! I’m in love with all of the Christmas lights everywhere!!!

  • Sarah
    Posted at 10:44h, 02 January Reply

    Absolutely stunning! I love Christmas weddings!!!

  • Simone Fox
    Posted at 10:54h, 02 January Reply

    LOVELY work. I just adore the First Look shots and the Christmas theme is awesome!

  • Sarah
    Posted at 11:13h, 02 January Reply

    What a stunning winter wonderland wedding! Don’t even need snow! :) Love this one. You did an amazing job, Brea!

  • Joanne
    Posted at 11:57h, 02 January Reply

    Stunning bride, beautiful couple! What a great wedding to end last year on and start the new year with!!

  • Sarah
    Posted at 12:09h, 02 January Reply

    WOW! I’m obsessed with your blog so I have a lot of favorites when it comes to your photos but this wedding BLEW ME AWAY. Gorgeous couple, amazing pics, and great location. This is my new favorite!

  • Kate
    Posted at 13:06h, 02 January Reply

    Gorgeous Brea! I always enjoy your night shots!

  • Dani
    Posted at 20:00h, 02 January Reply

    I don’t even know these two and I love them and want to be their friend. These are just lovely. I love their first look so much and what a perfect last shot!!

  • Michael and Carina
    Posted at 11:19h, 09 January Reply

    Love the blindfold idea, definitely passing that on to brides & grooms!

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