Stories
This wonderful newly engaged couple wanted to do something a little different with their engagement photos, something winter like. After calling around to many different venues near and far and looking at schedules and watching the weather radar literally minute by minute, and 53 emails... we made some engagement beautiful images. Their couple style is so much fun, so loving and just as real as they come.
You know those days where you wake up and you know it's just going to be ah-mazing! Well, that is how this whole wedding weekend was in Hilton Head. As a full time Atlanta Wedding Photographer, I make it a habit not to drive more than 3 hours in a day to a wedding because after photographing for 8-10 hours and driving.. DEAD. So with the travel time of just over 4 hours there, 10 hours photographing, and 4 hours back; I decided to drive in the night before. So glad I did. I had never been to Hilton Head before and it was a much needed change of scenery. You couldn't have ask for a better breeze, whiter sands, perfect blue sky and just the right amount of overcast.
The wedding was held at this great compound on Bradley Beach called 5 Urchin Manor. When I say this was a compound, I mean it was a compound! The total number of people this place can sleep is 21! This place was breathtaking.
At every wedding something.. SOMETHING gets tangled in the wedding dress. On this wedding day it was "sea urchins". Not really sea urchins, but those grass burrs that are super prickly and stick to your shoe laces.. yea those things. But, we all laughed it off including some beach goers.
The wedding reception was intimate and beautifully set with peaches in the center pieces and the most delicious BBQ for dinner under a tent in the middle of the compound. The guests signed a globe and left bucket list ideas for the couple. Their first dance was adorable and they actually tricked me! If you have been to as many weddings as I have you see couples choreograph their first dance where they start out slow dancing and the DJ back spins a song or makes it seem like the song messed up.. well that happened here and I actually thought the song messed up - BUT it didn't. They did this fun high energy dance together and had everyone on their feet.
OH MY GOSH and let me tell you about the dueling pianos they had for the reception.. SO FUN! I was literally laughing all night. There wasn't a song they couldn't play. If you ever get a chance to see dueling pianos, you totally should. It was a unique idea for this wedding day and I was so excited to see the performance leading up to the wedding day. The show did not disappoint. Between the pianos and the guests reacting to the pianos, the reception was one for the books.
Not all wedding days have a formal exit and that is OK! I always try to make an "ending" photograph just because I feel it completes the album in my weird way. Since this couple was staying at the compound they did not "exit", but the groom sure did end the night by singing Tom Jones to his bride! And let me add, he sang extremely well.
Personalized touches is what helps me get to know the couple I photograph. Most times I don't get a lot of time to get to know the couple that brings me along on their wedding journey due to time or distance or what ever reason. Spending over 8 hours with someone on the wedding day, you should most definitely feel comfortable with each other and you should be able to have fun!
Venue: 5 Urchin Manor
Photographer: Krisandra Evans Photography
Coordinator: Cindy Brown
Florist: Tracy Inglesby
Caterer: Bess Soper
Salon: LUSH
OCALA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
