Southern Weddings

Photographing weddings has deeply shaped my views on marriage and what it means to me to capture it for someone–it’s a BIG deal! I want to squeeze the neck of the photographer who grabbed the ten photos of my grandparents; wedding day; they have developed such a legacy, and those images are a hallmark of that. I want to do that for other people. I want to do more than be the random photographer…I want to celebrate marriage with my couples.

Full Name: Stefanie Morris
Where you call home: Charlotte, North Carolina physically; Charleston, South Carolina in my heart
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: I’m honored to have been featured in magazines and blog publications all over the Southeast. Features are lovely, but creating heirlooms for my clients is my thing. If you asked my mama, she’d claim that she’s the reason I fell into photography–she’s modest like that! ;)
How I got into weddings: I’ve always adored my family’s wedding albums, but I never imagined I would be a wedding photographer. For my first wedding, a friend of a friend hired me for her wedding, and with her full trust, the help of a sweet photographer friend, tons of hours spent reading and researching, and plenty of hours photographing other portraits, I jumped right on in. My first year taking weddings, my business grew 400 percent.
Favorite thing about weddings in the South? My favorite thing about a Southern wedding is that people hold fast to traditions, but not just for the sake of checking them off–we Southerners know that traditions honor our families, and the way those things shaped us into who we are.
Favorite part of a wedding day? I love when I arrive to the bridal suite and I hear the bride’s mama explaining where the garter came from and who wore it before she did, and that her veil is a treasure from her grandmother’s wedding…details matter when they build the story of your wedding day. I also really love the quiet moment that the bride and her father share right before the doors of the church open.
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? Slow down and soak up every moment. Schedule more time than you need. To me, the worst feeling in the world is feeling rushed. Find ways to add value to your wedding day by remembering why you’re honoring traditions, those stories matter, and without any meaning, the day is just a checklist. Invest in each other and into your marriage.
Dream travel destination? Italy or Mexico
Favorite Southern city? Charleston
Early bird or night owl? Early bird
Favorite pie flavor? Chocolate with a meringue topping
Favorite biscuit topping? Whipped butter