Shon + Allison’s Wedding

June 3, 2013

On the 26^th of May, Allison and Shon said their vows on the beach in Ocean Isle, North Carolina. It was a beautiful wedding, decorated with amazing beach décor. The weather couldn’t have been better as family and friends gathered for this special occasion!

We all spent the day prior hanging out on the beach. Allison, Shon, and the bridesmaids set up camp under an umbrella. Lee and I took a bike ride on the beach (yes, I took the bike that is now finished!). And afterwards we all got cleaned up and headed out for a nice seafood dinner at a local restaurant.

The next day (wedding day) we all hit the ground running! The (four) photographers were hard at work prepping gear, going over the schedule, and double checking all of the details. And of course, we started taking pictures! LOTS of pictures! It was fun working with my parents and aunt, but it was also tricky! Trying not to get into each others’ shot added another element to the wedding photography challenges. Inevitably, we ALL photo bombed a few, but our planning ahead and quick steps helped to minimize those, “opps!” moments.

Shon and Allison got ready early so they could do a “first look.” It is a new trend where the bride and groom see each other prior to the ceremony. It is not for everyone, but I think it is an awesome thing to do! (Read more about first looks in my previous post here). It was so much fun to have a front row seat to be able to document this intimate moment! I love these pictures.

The entire wedding was amazing, but my favorite part of the day was the ceremony. Specifically, a “mini ceremony”, that took place prior to the actual wedding ceremony. The pastor came out onto the beach a few minutes early to welcome everyone. Then he held out the wedding rings that were tied onto a star fish. He said that it would be passed around for whoever wanted to say a prayer over the rings! I thought this was SUCH a moving part of the day, and what a great idea! My second favorite part of the day was when Allison and Shon exchanged vows as the sun began to set. Their vows were very sweet and very sincere. I peeked over to my right at Anna. She had a few tears in her eyes and I jokingly whispered to her, “You can cry! You won’t be able to focus the camera!”

The rest of the day went on without a hitch! The reception was held in a beautiful restaurant only a mile down the road. Dinner was great, some of the best shrimp and grits I’ve had (sorry mom!). Usually at weddings we photographers inhale whatever food we bring along, or whatever vendor meal is provided. It was a nice change of pace to actually be able to sit and eat! The restaurant where the reception was held was beautifully decorated. When the sun set hundreds of tea-lights set the mood for an intimate dinner.

All in all, I would say it was a AWESOME wedding. There are a TON of pictures, but I couldn’t NOT show these. :)