If you find yourself craving hand-squeezed lemonade or an ice-cold lime rickey after feasting on this blog post, you're not alone -- and it's not just the 100+ temperatures! It's the fresh, modern, delicious combination of lemon yellow and lime green that transformed Brier Creek Country club for Lauren and Bryan's June wedding. Feast your eyes on some of the gorgeous details!

Lauren and Bryan have been together a long time, so the excitement was running high before the ceremony. Lauren's bridesmaids were so much fun. They kept me laughing the whole time!

Brier Creek's Jasmine Court has to be one of my favorite outdoor ceremony venues in the area. It's sited beautifully and just check out the magic that floral designer Greg Warren worked on the arbor. Wedding coordinator extraordinaire Tracy Adams worked her own brand of magic, making sure everything flowed like melted butter in the warm summer sunshine!

A few stolen moments alone...with me. :)

Lauren and Bryan kicked off their fabulous reception with a very stylish first dance!

This fun crowd didn't need any encouragement to get busy on the dance floor! While Frank was shooting the enthusiastic action, I happened to look outside and see an interesting sky taking shape. I love summer thunderstorms at weddings, provided they happen long after we need to be outside taking pictures, of course! The dramatic skies that grace us afterward create great photo opportunities. Thankfully, the couple was willing to sneak off for a few shots on the golf course!

To see more images from Lauren and Bryan's wedding, check out their slide show below:

The following fabulous vendors helped to make Lauren and Bryan's wedding a huge success:

Event Coordination and Planning: Tracy Adams, Adams and Events

Venue: Brier Creek Country Club

Floral Design: Greg Warren Flowers

DJ/Entertainment: Ron K. Smith Productions

Cake Artist: Cinda's Creative Cakes

We met Lauren and Michael last October when we were at Highgrove to photograph Kristin and Amin's wedding. Lauren and Michael are going to be married in September and we're really excited to experience shooting in Highgrove's brand new building. Luckily, we didn't have to wait that long to get to hang out with this out-going, happy couple (and wow, adorable much?). Lauren and Michael met in 2004 in English class. They had an assignment called "Getting to Know Your Classmates." Obviously, they made an "A" on that assignment and have been together ever since. Lauren loved this location when she saw it in Bryan and Lauren's engagement session last year and the owners graciously allowed us to shoot there a second time. The couple brought the rest of their energetic family along for the second half of the shoot. Maggie and Millie were well-behaved and as full of personality and life as Michael and Lauren. Personally, I think the dogs should be members of the wedding party, complete with flower collars and white leashes, but I'm not sure I'm going to get my way. Oh well...maybe we can pet sit sometime!

If you regularly follow the blog you'll notice that this is the third post in a row featuring a bride named Lauren. And guess which wedding is coming up next? That's right...Lauren and Bryan. I have no explanation for the surplus of brides named Lauren, but we feel really lucky!

Lauren and Michael, we can't wait to see you in September. Give Maggie and Millie a treat from us and enjoy your slideshow!

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I would start Lauren and Daniel's post with this sequence of her dad seeing her for the first time in her wedding gown on her wedding day. You can tell that the bride and her father share a close relationship. I'm sure Marty was bursting with pride: just a few weeks earlier, Lauren graduated from Campbell University's Pharmacy School. Lauren played softball throughout high school and college. Marty logged plenty of time in the bleachers cheering her on and this day would be no different. A girl's biggest fan is her daddy!
 

Lauren and Daniel were married in Butler Chapel, Campbell University's new chapel. It truly is a stunning building, full of light on the inside and highlighted by a beautiful stained-glass window in shades of blue and green that evoke a summer's day.

Lauren was truly one of the most relaxed, laid-back brides we've had the pleasure to work with. She had a no-nonsense approach to her wedding planning, so naturally, she and Daniel chose to do a First Look. :)

Poor grooms...they don't get as much time in the spotlight as brides do, but Daniel deserves his 15 minutes. He's just finished up his second year of law school at Elon University and hopes to practice in the area of estate planning. What a handsome guy! Lauren told me one of the reasons she chose the bright teal color for him to wear is because it brings out the blue in his eyes. I really enjoyed photographing these colors, so you won't see a ton of black and whites in this post. The colors are just too good to resist.

How gorgeous is the light in this chapel? You don't see this quality of light often in a church; most of the time, churches are on the far end of the dim scale where light is concerned. After the ceremony, Lauren and Daniel came back down the aisle to personally greet their guests row by row from the sanctuary. I loved this idea as it provided some great candid moments as friends and family greeted the newlyweds. The little dude a few shots down wasn't a fan; he was ready to get to the party. He liked having his picture taken, though!

The reception was held at Chicora Country Club in Erwin, NC. Lauren and Daniel are both so friendly and down-to-earth. Their reception felt like a big family reunion. The decor had an elegant Southern feel and I loved how the shades of black and white, bright teal and hot pink worked together.

Lauren's bouquet toss has to be one of my all-time favorites. This poor girl looks like there's a ballistic missile headed her way. Usually it's the guys who cringe at the thought of participating in any activity that might hurry marriage into their future. Don't worry, hon; there's no rush!

Off to St. Lucia! Lauren and Daniel, thank you so much for allowing us to photograph your wedding!

Check out Lauren and Daniel's slide show for more great moments from their beautiful wedding day:

Venue/Wedding: Butler Chapel, Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

Venue/Reception: Chicora Country Club, Dunn, North Carolina

Floral Design: Dutch Iris Florist

Cake Artist: Ambrosia Cake Creations

When I met Lauren and her mom Kelly at Duke Gardens for her bridal portrait session, I gasped when I walked into the room and the bride-to-be turned around. She literally took my breath away! Her white satin gown had the most gorgeous asymmetrical pleating on the bodice. So one-of-a-kind, just like Lauren. She has a truly infectious laugh and her smile has a life of its own! I quickly learned that this was one bride who would not be giving me any of the angsty-fashionista pouts that seem to be so common these days in bridal portraits -- she was going to smile and smile big. I think the third photo down is one of my all-time favorites. I just love a bride who's so happy she can't help laughing!

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows how much we love Carolina Inn weddings! I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that Frank and I got married there just a few years ago. :) Whenever we're there, everything seems to go flawlessly. The same was true for Lauren and Joe's May wedding. I love the window light in the portrait of Lauren below. There's beautiful light every where you look at the Carolina Inn.

I've said it many times before and I'll keep saying it: I love First Looks! Anyone who believes that you'll miss out on "that special moment" when he sees you in the your dress: call me, please! You get to have that moment -- you just get to have it in private, away from the eyes of your nosy aunt and your future husband's boss. (I'm kidding, I'm kidding. No, I'm not. First Looks are awesome!) I love how Joe looks a tad bit nervous in the first photo, but when he turns around to see his bride, he's all smiles afterward!

"You don't marry one person; you marry three:
the person you think they are,
the person they are, and
the person they are going to become
as a result of being married to you."
Richard Needham

Welcome to the party! Wow, do Lauren and Joe's friends and family know how to have a good time! Jason with Island Sound kept everyone on their feet all night. It was everything a wedding celebration should be. Lauren and Joe, thanks for letting us be a part of it!

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie...that's AMORE!"

Enjoy more of our favorite images from Lauren and Joe's wedding in their slide show:

The following fabulous vendors helped make Lauren and Joe's day one to remember:

Venue/Wedding: The Newman Catholic Center and Parish in Chapel Hill, NC

Venue/Reception: The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC

Floral Design: Tre Bella

DJ: Jason Huggins with Island Sound

Wedding Cake: Simply Cakes