Downtown Raleigh North Carolina Wedding: Rachael + Kent

On the subject of fall I have to make a confession. I don't particularly like it. Where everyone seems to go on and on about their love for this particular season at the first slight crisp in the air, I tend to cringe. It is not that I am not truly fond of the cooler weather, the way the sunlight changes it's hue and the foliage all around us explodes with glorious displays of color (although we don't get much of that down here in FL). And of course I do happen to love all the cozy scents and tastes that pop up all around us in our pumpkin spiced coffees and warm pots of chili accompanied by sweet cornbread. But to me all of these things serve as an omen... winter is coming. And on the other side of Christmas there is nothing but gloom in my book. Everything dies, becomes brown and twiggy and the whole of creation seems to hold its breath and turn blue as we wait for life to burst forth again in—what is my favorite season of all—spring.

I have tried to change my attitude about this thing. I really have. I have tried to just enjoy the moment, not looking at every beautiful, blazing leaf on a tree as an omen of it's eminent death. (I am sure there is something a psychologist could glean out of all of this.) And there are those times where fall in all its spectacular glory takes my breath away and in awe and amazement my fear of winter is all but forgotten for a few moments. This past week one of my favorite North Eastern photographers posted images from a wedding she recently shot in Pennsylvania at a rustic location blanketed by autumn leaves in all their glory with evidence of fall everywhere.

I loved fall again.

And I missed my days of living in North Carolina. There were certain spots in my drive to and from school and/or work that would pull me along. Up ahead would be the tree that would have a golden glow like the afternoon sun and just around the corner would be a canopy of burning red maples covering the road for a spell. I loved to walk through NC State's campus during this time and I especially loved it when I was able to take trips to the mountains. The rolling hills of reds and yellows just made me simply want to give a big bear hug to the earth and say "thanks."

After all that, I don't have a single fall image for you all today. But in all my reminiscing about North Carolina I was brought back to these images from Rachael and Kent's summertime wedding in downtown Raleigh this past year. It was quite the creative affair. From the creativity in the designed pieces and the reception decor to the creativity in searching out ways to get beautiful things on a budget, these two put together an event that was bursting with vibrant life, with colorful fun and with lots of love.

Congrats Rachael and Kent! And may you two be enjoying your first lovely North Carolina fall together as the newly Mr. and Mrs.

My brother got hitched, I got a new sister and I became an insta-aunt all in one glorious day!

So I have been pretty non-existent on my blog over the past few weeks for a number of reasons, well, that number would be two. The first being that I am working on a super big, super exciting, super secret project for Caroline Maxcy Photography... ok, I'm not going to do that whole thing with you all, trying to make you squirm with anticipation, on the edge of your seats, holding your breath, wondering "what in the world could it be?!?" I'll just come right out and tell you that I am finally getting together my branding and re-doing everything (website, blog, logo, etc.). Not that exciting, I know. But in a world where pretty much anyone can get themselves a fancy Digital SLR and a 50mm 1.4, slap the word "photography" after their name and set up a facebook page I decided that, in an act of obedience to where I believe God is leading me, I am actually going to invest some time in marketing myself. I have even contracted a FANTASTIC hand-lettering artist and friend to whip up some whimsical branding for me (Thanks, Melissa!). And maybe, just maybe there will be a facebook page that you can come to and "like" if you so please... maybe (if you haven't guessed I am not the type that likes to fit into a mold.) What I really do hope is that this new "structure" will allow me to start actually sharing on a more consistent basis with you all some of the truly breath-taking beauty that I get to capture with my camera. So get yourself on the edge of your seats, hold your breath, squirm, squirm, squirm... and wait. You may just start seeing all this newness by the end of the year.

The second reason that I have stepped back from blogging is that my one-and-only big brother got hitched this past Saturday! Yay! It was beautiful. It was glorious. I now have an awesome new sister and became an insta-aunt to her two fantastic kids in the matter of minutes on Saturday afternoon. It was the perfect display of God's magnificent and perfect plan for our lives. But as a creative person, you seem to get sucked into these sorts of things like matter into a black-hole. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Designing, coordinating, and orchestrating the whole affair with my soon-to-be sis-in-law, simply put, took over my entire life for quite some time now. And if you know me at all, you know that I worried way too much about way too many details trying to make it a truly special event for my brother and his bride. But all that really mattered is that come ceremony time on Saturday, my brother wore the biggest grin while he couldn't take his eyes off his bride and everyone in attendance couldn't help but to have their eyes and their hearts focused fully on the gloriousness of a God that brought these two together.

I knew that being in and being present at the wedding meant that being the official photographer was not going to be possible for me. So I hired my super talented photographer friend, the lovely Sarah Sandel to capture the day's events. But I, of course, had my camera in tow (when I wasn't carrying a bouquet, that is) to capture moments like these below.

I love you Chet and Jen! I wish you the best of luck in a lifetime of marriage! And I know that you have only been on your honeymoon for a day now, but after spending most every day with you all for the past two weeks, I have to admit that I kinda miss the both of you. Enjoy!