We spent an awesome weekend with Erin and Dan who just got married and we were lucky to get to shoot it for them.

The day started off nice and sunny but it got steamier and muggier as the day went on. Around these parts when it gets real steamy out, that means rain's a' comin. By the end of the ceremony at St. Andrews in Mt. Pleasant, we had sprinkles and some light rain but it stopped long enough to get some fun alone time shots of them shortly after the reception started. We had to deal with all the lenses fogging when moving outdoors from an air-conditioned room.

Their reception at the Creek Club at I'on was quite a party and just about everyone got involved in the merriment. The DJ, Hal from Lee Edwards Entertainment kept the party hoppin by playing all the right music. Working with a good DJ make our job so much easier at the reception. It can be quite a pick up after being on the job for almost 12 hours at that point. The food was great too. Catering was masterfully executed by Hamby's and the Cake Stand did the cakes. Erin works at the Cake Stand so you know the cakes were going to be flawless. There was a main cake and a bunch of mini-cakes and the presentation was pretty cool!

As I shot their sparkler lined departure, it was the steamiest I have ever felt in Charleston. In fact I caught a bad cold after the wedding from being soaking wet with sweat moving in and out of a cold reception site.

Congrats to a wonderful couple. Erin was so very sweet and Dan was nothing but laughs and they were so great to work with. Enjoy your honeymoon in the Greek Isles! {SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

Mandy Loves Brandon

This is a special couple to us. Mandy is the younger sister to Erica. Erica is one of the first brides I have ever pointed a camera at. I was still in apprentice mode when I took candids of Erica's wedding two years ago at the Citadel. I only took a few photos that day as I didnt want to get in the hired photographer's way. Erica liked the photos I took so much that she referred her sister to us. Since then, Erica and Jason have become good friends. Mandy and Brandon were down vacationing from Maryland with all of their family in Myrtle Beach so we took the opportunity to shoot their engagement photos while they were down. We walked across the street from their rented beach house and shot along the beach. Afterwards as we headed back, I noticed that we'd have a sunset this evening. Rain had been threatening all day and it cleared up just in time for a nice sunset. I asked the if they wouldnt mind more time with me so I could get them against the setting sun. Of course they were up for it! They are a great couple and they look like babies! They keep getting younger and younger! We'll be with Mandy and Brandon when they get married next year in Maryland. {SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

Erica and Jason brought their twins to Charleston and I took pictures. Freakin adorable these babies were! I wont even try and explain, just go and see the cuteness yourself. {SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

Sue and Ryan met up with us at the College of Charleston to get started. Sue is an alum of that school and we walked around the super-gorgeous campus. Then we all went to Daniel Island to a spot where Sue and Ryan met. Sue changed on the way in the car! What a trooper! We ran around kicking people off docks and swings so we could have them for photos (not really but we joked alot about it). We had a lot of fun. They went to Hilton Head for some R and R after the photos and even sent us a postcard from there before going back home to Philadelphia. We'll be with this great couple this October when the get married at the Rice Mill. {SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

Another awesome-O couple to work with! Joanna was so nervous before we got started. She wanted the session to be over so bad before we even began! I put the gear down for a bit and we just chatted for a while to try and get her loosened up. Trevor was fine. By the end of it all Joanna did just great. We'll be with them when they marry this September! {SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

A series of big thunderstorms threatened Liz and Kevin's wedding but the wedding day and reception held and all was fine.

Liz and her family were such great people as well as Kevin's family. Kevin reminded me and Tara of a Greg, areally good friend of ours from California. Kevin and Greg's demeanor, wit and looks were so similar, I immediately felt comfortable with him.

At the time everyone was to meet at John Wesley Methodist Church in West Ashley, a huge storm hit and we had to pause the rehearsal and head into the church's hallways to stay clear of the big stained glass windows just in case a twister blew through the area. The weather cleared by the end of the rehearsal and everyone made their way to Gilligan's for the rehearsal dinner.

The next morning I caught up with the bride's group for a brunch at Sunfire Grill and bistro. Afterwards I tagged along and covered the girls as they got ready at the hair salon Head's U Win. About the time the girls were done with their hair, the storm clouds rolled in again with lightning and thunder. We headed to the church in rain falling in sheets. My buddy and fellow photographer Reese Allen came along to help cover the event with us.

We couldnt take any shots outside so we made do in the church's gymnasium. There were little kids chairs and we sat the guys in them and took some shots. The ceremony went very well and by the end of the formals at the altar, the sun came out and we were able to get some shots out in front of the church.

The reception was held at the Charleston Visitor's Center Bus Shed. The wedding party was a very lively bunch and we enjoyed catching them having so much fun. The cake cutting was hilarious. Literally a food fight between Liz and Kevin. Cake got everywhere!

Congrats Liz and Kevin! You guys were so much fun to spend the weekend with!

{SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}

Amanda and John were wed at Middleton Place and their reception was at the Pavillion there at the same place.

Amanda had a string of bad luck in the weeks leading up to her wedding day. The big oak tree she was to have the ceremony under was damaged due to natural causes and one of the enormous branches fell off. So they had to find an alternate location for the ceremony. Then on her way to get bridal portraits made, someone crashed into her. She and her mother werent hurt badly and the dress wasnt damaged in the back of the car but it shook her up pretty bad and she missed her portrait session.

Everything came together very nicely on the wedding day. The weather was sunny but hot. The first hot weekend of the year. The light that afternoon was beautiful and since I dont like to use flash because of it's un-natural look, I was loving all the natural light.

Shooting on the grounds of Middleton Place is a dream. There are so many places to get gorgeous photos. I could have shot for hours with different backgrounds but unfortunately I only have minutes.

The reception was catered by Duval Catering and Complete Music handled the entertainment. Complete Music has different DJs who MC but this DJ was very good. His name was Alan Brown. He knew how to keep the party moving along very well.

After the reception, We took the couple downtown for some photos. Amanda suggested getting some shots by the fountain but I did one better by suggesting the "East Bay Street Rock Star Tour". Basically, I lead the couple in full wedding regalia down the crowded boisterous sidewalks of East Bay Street and everyone claps and congratulates them as we go. I pop them into bars and clubs and get shots of them with the live bands that play there. They had a blast!

Being with a bride in her wedding dress is like having a key to the city. I can literally stop traffic and get anywhere I want with the bride. Once I shot a bride on a tall ship that just returned from a cruise. The captain offered up the ship's wheel for her to pose in front of. People will let me sit the bride in their old classic convertibles or stop in a busy street so I can shoot them in an intersection. Tonight was no exception and no one had a problem with us interrupting their merriment to pose with the newlyweds. The only ones who didnt want to play were the Charleston Police who really do have keys to the city and can stop traffic as well as I can with a bride. I guess they dont like to get a bride in the same photo together. I understand completely, but it didnt stop me from asking.

{SEE THE PHOTOS HERE}