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I’m back with the rest of Carolyn & Matt’s epic wedding weekend! If you read about their rehearsal dinner yesterday, you’ve got a feel for the amazing summer camp vibe of their weekend, but their big day took it up a notch! And I do mean BIG day… this was a long day jam-packed with beauty and fun, so brace yourself for a LOT of photos.
The morning started early with plenty of time for capturing all the bridal details. I loved Carolyn’s Catherine Deane dress and lace topper, her Tom’s shoes, and her gorgeous floral hair comb. But perhaps the most special thing she wore was the gold and pearl bracelet that belonged to her beloved grandma. I know it helped Carolyn to feel her spirit throughout the day. (Me too.)
Flowers are always some of my favorite details, but this was my first time photographing WOODEN bouquets, and I was beyond impressed! These bouquets and boutonnieres by Craft Flower were so beautiful!
There were so many preparations going on! The bride and bridesmaids had help from Andrea of Wigged Out Salon and Sheryl from Hair That Rocks.
The tying of bowties was a team effort! (And is there anything cuter than little boys in suspenders?!)
This gorgeous bride was surrounded by so much support (13 bridesmaids!) to help her get wedding-ready.
These two shared the sweetest first look.
We were short on time for pre-ceremony portraits, but every part of Clemson Outdoor Lab is beautiful, so the walk to the ceremony worked just fine for the couple’s portraits! :)
Guests arrived at the pavilion, grabbed a program, and found their seats.
The centerpiece for the ceremony was this gorgeous chuppah created by the groom!
Time to get married!
The ceremony was absolutely perfect. Peaceful scenery, meaningful and wonderfully personal homily by Rev. Heath Mullikin, and (always a plus in my book) congregational singing! (Yes, I do sing, walk around, and take pictures all at the same time, and I’m not sorry. ;)) Seriously, there is no way to resist this kind of joyful celebration of love!
Group portrait time! The massive wedding party and Carolyn’s large family made for a LONG list of pictures, and I’ve got to give major props to my second shooter Tara Carter for making this part of the day go so smoothly. Carolyn and Matt love a lot of people, and I’m so glad we managed to get to them all in pictures! (But, no, I promise I won’t share them all here. ;))
The bouquets doubled as table decor while we all enjoyed a hearty brunch catered by Carolina Catering.
The DIY cake was topped with this adorable custom topper, and it was SO delicious!
Jacob Dean Photography’s photo booth was a big hit!
Guests wrote sweet notes in the couple’s guestbook, an album of their engagement photos designed by yours truly! (More about my albums here.)
Guests even got to take home a succulent as a favor!
If this was a normal wedding day, this would be the end of the blog post, but Carolyn & Matt are no ordinary couple, and this day was just getting started. The afternoon was full of relaxing camp activities. It was HOT, so the pool was pretty popular.
And, of course, the water slide!
The shade by the lake was especially serene.
There was a lot of canoeing and kayaking going on!
That evening, the bride and groom provided delicious dinner from Joe’s NY Pizza. Yum!
More playtime as the sun was going down…
The dance floor was ready….
Dance party time! There were some impressive moves, but mostly LOTS of good, clean FUN going on!
Such an amazing celebration! It was a true joy to watch so many friends and family members celebrate this wonderful couple during this epic wedding weekend. Every moment was overflowing with love, and I could not be more thankful that I got to share in that. Welcome to the family, Matt! And thanks to both of you for the privilege of documenting the beginning of what I know will continue to be a beautiful love story.
If you’re planning your own epic wedding weekend (on the Mississippi Gulf Coast or some other destination), I’d love to hear about it! :)