Southern Weddings

We’re all about perfectly pretty engagement sessions.  We love them!  But sometimes, it’s nice to see a really real couple, you know?  A girl that could be you or me, that doesn’t look like she spent 8 hours at the beauty salon but still looks gorgeous.  A couple that’s a little sweaty (ummm, with this North Carolina heat, anything else would really be pushing the limits of reality!).  Thanks to Alec Vanderboom and the fabulously creative fireworks engagement he sent in, we have just that.  Read on for a few more details, and be sure to check out a few more photos on Alec’s blog!

From the couple:

“We had our much anticipated engagement session with Alec Vanderboom a few weeks ago, and were definitely not disappointed.  We have known Alec for many years now, and I have enjoyed seeing his photography take off and become what it is today — an amazing work of art.  Alec said he wanted to do something different, and pitched some creative ideas to us.  When fireworks were mentioned, we were right on board!  The session was an absolute blast, Alec took us to many places around Branson I never knew existed.  By the end of the day, we all knew beyond a doubt we had some great shots.  I already knew Alec was amazing at his job, but I was still blown away once I saw the pictures.  We were very lucky to have him shoot our engagements.  Our wedding will be August 16, 2010 in Ecola State Park (right off of Cannon Beach), Oregon.”

Looks so fun, Derik + Amanda!  We can’t wait to see your wedding!

We love engagement shoots, and we know y’all love engagement shoots.  What better place to showcase your soon-to-be wedded love than on the tennis courts, where love is a part of the game?  Avid tennis players and all-around Southern cuties Stacy + Jeff took their love to the court with these fun and vintage-inspired engagement shoots from Kristin Vining.  Lindsey Reagan Thorne was the hair + makeup genius behind Stacy’s classic courtside look.

“We wanted some fun, yet classic, and these pictures really capture who we are and show something we can always share together,” the bride-to-be says of their shoot at the Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Fun fact: Stacy was Whitney’s sorority sister at UNC!  We’re just a little bit jealous.

We love that S+J picked a setting that showed off their fun personalities and told us a little more about them as a couple.  What did or would you choose for an engagement session with your betrothed?  I’m thinking a candy store.  With bow ties.  Lots of candy, and lots of bow ties!

P.S. This isn’t the first engagement shoot we’ve featured from Kristin Vining + Lindsey Reagan Thorne.  The dynamic Southern duo also teamed up for Jessica + Scott’s sweet strawberry soiree!

I really love the Southern engagement sessions we’ve been featuring on the blog lately.  Judging by your spirited comments, it seems you do, too!  But I have to admit: if I were planning a summer engagement session, I’d probably steal Jessica + Scott’s strawberry shoot.  Like literally print this page out and take it to my photographer kind of steal.  It’s just that delicious!  Charlotte-based photographer Kristin Vining (we love her work!) took her too-cute lovebirds to Patterson Farms to smooch + munch over an incredible spread of strawberry-everything.  Lindsey Regan Thorne styled the happy couple and helped make the bride camera-ready.  Read on for more details about Jessica + Scott’s fab fresa fashion!

And look two…

1st Look:
White Sundress: Anthropologie
Toile Apron: Anthropologie

2nd Look:
Sundress: Anthropologie
Plaid Shorts: Nautica
Floppy Straw Hat: J.Crew