HENDERSON WEDDING
BOONE, NC

Mabyn and I met around the time that we were both getting into wedding photography. I was surprised and beyond honored when she asked me to photograph her wedding. Mabyn + Daniel have a whirlwind of a wedding story. These two met not even a year ago, were engaged a few months later, and hosted their wedding two months after that. Some might think it’s crazy to get married so quickly, but if you met these two, you would ask why they hadn’t married sooner. Mabyn + Daniel have one of those relationships that seem as if they were beautifully designed for each other. They have the same quirky humor and a deep faith that binds them to the core.

Their wedding was intimate, emotional, and Spirit-led. Here are a few of my favorite memories:

// Mabyn and her father’s first look. They were both crying and laughing at the same time.

// Their ceremony was one of my favorite parts of the day to photograph. The sun set slowly over the Blue Ridge Mountains while they exchanged vows with their loved ones surrounding them. Immediately after they were pronounced, they had their first dance on the patio.

// Daniel’s mother had passed away some years ago, so they released wish lanterns in her memory. It was an enchanting experience, watching the lanterns dance in the sky.

// There’s one other story from their wedding that I think is important to share. Mabyn moved to NC to help plant a church in Kernersville and had been living with the pastor’s family for the past few years. Mike officiated their ceremony as a close friend and pastor, while his wife, Ami, beautifully led worship during communion. Their children toasted to Mabyn and through tears told her that she was like a sister to them. I sat next to Mike and Ami during dinner and chatted with them a bit. Mike was visibly ill, coughing between sentences. Amy told me that he had pneumonia and had been burdened with this cold for a while. Tragically, a few weeks later Mike was in the ICU with a harsh, mysterious illness that the doctors couldn’t diagnose. He had issues swallowing and breathing.

After a few weeks in the hospital, he passed away.

At the wedding, Ami pulled me aside before dinner and asked for a family photo. I was rushing to get set up for the grand entrance, so I told her I would have to grab them later. I almost forgot, but, thankfully, I remembered to pull Mike, Ami, and their two children out for a quick portrait on the patio. It wasn’t anything special, but it was probably one of the last family portraits they had with Mike.

I tell this story as a reminder of the importance of taking family photos and photos of guests at a wedding. It’s easy to get wrapped up in making portfolio-worthy images, couple portraits, etc. However, to me, it is of the utmost importance to preserve a history for each couple that I work with. It makes every snapshot of family and guests that much more meaningful.

A huge thanks to Ashley for helping me out. A few of her images are sprinkled in here.