Southern Weddings

You are probably in the midst of one of the most fun, chaotic and momentous events of your life. And before you know it, you will be joining the people you love as you walk down the aisle and start a new chapter to your story. Marissa’s passion and her goal are to freeze those fleeting moments – frame by frame – that you never want to forget. Combining her elegant style with the unique personalities of her couples, Marissa is able to genuinely portray both intimate and candid moments.

Name(s): Marissa Joy Kaplan
Where you call home: North Carolina
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: Marissa’s wedding photography has been featured in several publications, including Southern Weddings, The Bride’s Café, DIY Bride, Junebug Weddings, The Lovely Find, and Wilmington Weddings. Her documentary work was highlighted in National Geographic’s “Daily Dozen.” She was honored with the Special Recognition Award in Photography for the Landscape Juried Art Exhibition held by Light Space and Time Online Gallery with over 808 submissions from 14 different countries, and additionally was chosen from juried artists to be in the CAMERA USA show at The Von Leibig Art Center in Naples, FL.
Location/Coverage: DC area and NC as well as all Southern states
How I got into weddings: I love when I hold the tiny viewfinder up and see the world in a completely different manner. I owe my love of life to photography because it reveals the often overlooked small moments or things that make life so special. I love documenting (love). From the excitement and anticipation of the families, to that “first look” of the groom seeing his bride for the first time, I feel so privileged to capture love at weddings.
Favorite thing about weddings in the South? The South is, in of itself, an ideal setting for a wedding. The canopy of Spanish moss, the soft light, the smell of home cooking, and even the slight welcoming breeze sweeps through my pictures with romanticism and produces a nostalgic quality. Being from the South, these are the qualities that I value and the qualities that I think make southern weddings standout.
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? Try to slow down your work and stress level at least one week before the wedding. You deserve to have an amazing wedding and enjoy it. Delegate responsibility, whether it’s to your best friend or wedding planner, and take a deep breath the morning that you wake up on the day that you have planned for so long, and just smile.
Dream travel destination? Italy
Favorite Southern city? Charleston
Early bird or night owl? Night owl
Pie bar or red velvet cake? Red velvet
Pottery Barn or Anthropologie? Anthro
Succulents or peonies? Peonies