Jess with her fiery red hair and quick laughter.  Chris with a gorgeous smile and a sensitive charm. (Jess claims he will def be the one to shed the most tears on their big day.)

Pups, parks, laid back and lots of laughter….that’s Jess and Chris.  Fabulous.

However, with Dawn living in a different city from Jodie until after the wedding and having to really carve out time.  And,  when they do get to see one another it is often spent being very ‘comfortable.’  Often times curled up on a sofa sipping a glass of wine–just really enjoying their time together, because (in her words) Jodie is home to her.

It was then we decided to  build our session around just that…home.  (And, since Dawn’s parents have a great house on the lake where both families have shared good times; we had the perfect location.  …allowing us to spend our session  enjoying all of the comforts of home.)

Though not a ‘true Southerner’ being born and raised in the very-cloudy and cold Cleveland, OH…my heart belongs to the South.

This Okatie, SC wedding of Beth & John was the epitome of low-country grace and and charm.  Friends and family gathered for an intimate ceremony overlooking the water.  Spanish moss gently clung to enormous oak branches as dangling yellow lanterns swayed softly in the breeze as Mr. And Mrs. Langston were pronounced husband and wife.  And as day turned to night; Dinner was served. Coconut cake sliced.  …And the the band hit the stage as the newlyweds led the crowd into what was surely one of the best dance floors we have seen to date!

We had selected Elizebeth Avenue as  they were looking for an Uptown vibe…  Bridge arrived on the scene surprisingly  girlie-girl’ed  in the sweetest white dress with floral accents.  (with the help of the ever-amazing Kymm Mclean at Whose the Fairest?)  We were lucky enough to have the sprinkling of rain end and take advantage of the lush, spring greenery as backdrop.  (Ebeth Ave. happen to be one of our favorite spots as it offers both a city-view–but with a little walking…sprawling lawns, florals and lots and lots of texture and color …which suited them perfectly.)

Spring in Charlotte never looked quite so good…;-)

However, we also very much adore beauty, glamor and fashion. ( and have been known to spend countless hours curled up with magazines admiring their gorgeous editorial content.)

So we got to thinking.  Is it possible to have an editorial shoot and create a highly stylized environment and produce fashion-inspired work…yet,  still have moments of authenticity in the confines of a ‘model shoot.” And oh yes..have fun while doing it…??

After a few weeks of pulling all of the pieces to puzzle together and thinking our concept through..you be the judge:-)  (Coming soon..think of a ‘Modern twist on Gatsby’…)

In the meantime, here is a little ‘sneak peek’ of our lovely ‘non-model’, models from yesterday’s shoot. Yes–you heard me right…non-models.  In an effort to remain ‘authentic’ our models included the following:  (2) former graduates  now employed by our shoot venue-Queens University.  As well as a couple whose wedding I was honored to photograph a few years ago and  a ‘Mr. and Mrs-to-be’ getting married this August.  …not a single professional model in the bunch. (I dare you to tell me they are not GORGEOUS

Big thanks to everyone involved in our very full day yesterday:  Queens University (shoot venue) , Wedding Row Charlotte (set decor), Floral Designs by Nectar (florals/headpieces) Make-up Your Face and Rhonda McGregor (hair/Make-up Artistry), Classic Bride & Formal (bridal gowns), Kristen Morris Jewelry, Cheesecake etc. (Cake Design) and my partners in crime, Stephen & Lisa, here at BlueSky.

Just a few more weeks until their Morehead Inn wedding…can not wait!

As promised: THE OUTTAKES!! 

She initially tried sweetly flirting to get my attention. ‘ Look at how much fun we are going to have selecting lace vs. chiffon, vibrant colors vs. muted neutrals, local fare vs. amazing southern -inspired bites’…yet…mostly…she gets ignored.

Then she resorted to playing hard to get…’if I just ignore her, surely she will understand I am important and deserving of her attention?’

And now she stomps her feet, pleads and pouts as we approach 6 weeks until the day and many items go unfinished.

In the whirlwind that has been our last six months since turning 40/celebrating the holidays/getting engaged/having our business hit an amazing new stride.  Poor little wedding planning has taken a backseat and has put the spotlight on what I have suspected all along:  as much as I ADORE other peoples weddings…I personally do not possess the ‘bride gene.’

Now do not take this as anything to do with getting married. Brian and I are excited. (but also note that we have been together for nearly 7 years.  Our wedding day will be the 7th anniversary of our first date.. insert collective ’awwwwwe’… or 7 years! wtf! here..  And really feel quite married already. )

Yet– although sweet ‘wedding to-do list’ has tried her very best to get my attention.  She still goes largely ignored.

Of course I want it to beautiful. Of course I have spent hours on pinterest.  But here are a few few observations I have noted in the process:

* For as non-shy and dare I say, loud-mouthed as I am. Being the center of attention is super freaky and weird to me.  I can wedding talk all day long until you ask about ours.

*  It is possible to try on a ton of dresses and never have the “this is it!” moment. Yet–still buy one that cost way too much.

* Though I have protested…I guess we really do need to register.

* I am not a ‘details’ person…when people ask questions about the type of chairs I want or color of lines…I could not care less

* I am pretty sure I am not going to be able to keep a straight face during the ceremony…especially since one of our best buds has become an officiant to perform it!

* I realize I too,  actually want the ‘boring, family pictures’ every editorial/photojournalist photographer dreads

* Though I tell every bride ‘its YOUR wedding’ do what you want! I find myself thinking the same insecure crap they do in terms of what others will think of my selections/will they have fun since its so low key/will they think I look amazing  (yah…I said it.)  I even care what the ‘mothers’ think and have tried to work in their thoughts a bit.  So, for as badass and ‘ I do not care what everyone else thinks’ I think I am; at the end of the day, aw shiz. I do.  For example…I had planned to wear a non-white dress..nope.

*  No matter how amazing I want to look it is still not enough of a draw to get my ass to the gym. Pretty.much.ever.

* Though we have been together for 7 years.  When you get married with a 5-month engagement people still thinks its ‘shot gun’.  (Damn…guess my newly formed mini-muffin-top is not going to help my cause.)

So what’s a  non-bride-gene-possessing, non-girlie-bride to do to get this all pulled together?

Have great friends.  Those who volunteer to come by the studio and force a wedding plan onto to the scene just in time to save the day. (Thank you lovely Alicia LaLone!)  Creative friends rock!  (Thank you Karissa Pennell @ Nectar for designing my ‘textiles’ bouquet since I would have gone without one without you. And, Kristen Morris for designing what will surely be an amazing, statement necklace:-)

Oh–And make sure some of those friends are more girlie-girl and make you register and though you refuse to have a “shower” create a ‘celebration’ in your honor. (Can’t wait until our spa day this weekend Sandy & Court+girls..)  And, finally,  hope being around all of these lovelies–that some time in the next 6 weeks a glimmer of the ‘gene’ makes it way to you.

…That…or, serve lots of cocktails at the wedding. (who will notice what I have not planned  then?;-)

Since no post should ever go photo-less:  This is how non-girlie get engaged.  (They have no freakin; idea its coming..)  via a quick-thinking friends iphone.. as well as a few images one of our photographers (and good friend!) Nikki took for us: