Whimsical Woodland Wedding | Carolina Country Weddings
What a day, what day! Barefoot, deep in the woods, a cacao ceremony, two darlings madly in love… let’s celebrate these two! On none other than the magic of film.
Erika and Jo, what two lovely humans. So full of love for their community, their friends, the world. No wonder we clicked. I remember seeing Jo’s Facebook post looking for a photographer. She said “our wedding will be barefoot and fairy garden vibes” and I said “you’ve found me!” Wondering if it can be this easy every time??!
The venue they chose was perfect and oh so serene. Tucked into a private acre sits Carolina Country Weddings in Mount Pleasant, NC. Anyone looking for a quiet, nature-inspired wedding venue, genuinely look no further. What struck me most was how naturally everything seemed to fit into the landscape. The woods, the moss, the greenery, the little pathways through the property.. it all felt like it belonged there and so did we. The flexibility and creative freedom to choose your ceremony site is what sold me.
Getting ready was so relaxed. Who says you need the traditional wedding party, loud music, and a room full of voices competing with the thoughts you’re trying to hear? It was just Jo, myself, Molly (their makeup artist), and pups. Snacks to peck on, slow moments, and just absolute bliss. Later on, Erika joined in. I brought my VHS camera as a little surprise add on and captured moments throughout the day on the nostalgic medium.
I loved that Jo and Erika got ready together. Something you don’t see very often, but maybe should. I could see the ease this put on them, simply from being together, laughing and leisurely getting ready for the day. As they continued to get ready, I wandered the grounds, taking in the lushness of spring, the greenery, and the quietness.
Something I’ve been seeing more of lately, and really adore, is a private vow reading. It’s much more intimate to read the words between the two of you, before the rest of the world arrives. Although it is sweet to read in front of your people, for the shy ones (me included) it really does give you the ease you need on such a big day. These have become some of my favorite moments to photograph. Before seeing all your guests, before the overwhelming emotions of seeing everyone, this moment makes gives you space to take a full breath, to ground yourself. Their pups ran about, plopping into the lush grass, frolicking away. I always like to give my couples a bit of space during this time. Still photographing, but from a distance to allow true privacy. Even from the little glimpses of word, I was tearing up.
Erika’s niece was the flower girl, and my heart sores a little whenever children are part of a wedding day. I love their unpredictability, their carefreeness, and their complete unawareness of the camera unlike adults. Even with practice, she hesitated down the aisle. But what came from that were the laughs, the awe, the love I could see in their eyes. And that’s what matters to me as a photographer who notices the little things. Your wedding day doesn’t need to be perfect to photograph beautifully. It’s actually the imperfections, the authenticity, that makes you double take at a photograph.
I have a feeling I’ll be saying this even more down the line, but every touch they had for the wedding was beautiful. As they walked down the aisle, their vows played through a loud speaker. Not one eye was dry that day, including mine. To add to this sentiment, their rings were passed through the crowd in a hand-warming ritual. It brought me back right back to what seemed to sit at the center of their relationship: community. How everyone is involved, how everyone has shaped their relationship, and in some small way, their love. Each person was invited to speak love into their binding, offer affirmations and positivity before the rings made their way to them.
Cocktail hour was a sweet mix of mingling, killing it on the dance floor and straight up laughter. In a world so serious, these are the times to let loose and dance.
And as if they couldn’t be any cooler, a cacao ceremony followed. For those unfamiliar, a cacao ceremony is an intentional, guided practice centered on drinking ceremonial cacao, rooted loosely in ancient Meso-american traditions. The idea is to foster gratitude, emotional release, heart-centered connection and mindfulness. Everyone gathered into a circle of warmth and closeness, speaking into their cacao. Using their senses to smell, to touch those near us, and ultimately drink. Jo and Erika greeted every guest with a hug and eye contact, a dying art in this world. It’s something I really admired so much about them, and something I want to carry into my own life. We all need more of that connection.
Dinner was beautiful; speeches recounting memories from early childhood, first time meetings, to now. Mingling with guests and hearing stories of their time together always warms my heart.
By the time reception rolled around, night was beginning to fall, and with it came a sprinkle, then a downpour. But don’t you fret! The party wasn’t stopping at all. A night of dancing in the rain is what everyone needs every now and again.
I can’t begin to express (or maybe I already have?? haha) how wonderful this day was, or how much it continues to live in my head. Wishing Jo & Erika a lifetime of happiness, love, community, wellness and abundance.
Does this kind of love sound like you and your partner? I’d love to photograph your wedding day in a way that leaves room for it all.
More love stories on the journal…
