Abbey + Alex
Downtown Greenville, South Carolina
If I had one word to describe Abbey and Alex’s Commerce Club wedding, it would be: Ambitious. In fact, only a small portion of this was actually a Commerce Club Wedding – the reality is that this was one of the wildest, quintessentially Greenville wedding I have ever been a part of – and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been to my share of wild weddings. No, this one was different. It was crazy, but not stressful. It was packed, but not crowded. We hit 6 different locations all around Downtown Greenville, but it never felt rushed. I was not only allowed to share the limo with the wedding party, but I was encouraged to. It was the same for their after-ceremony celebration at Brazwell’s pub downtown. Abbey and Alex’s wedding was quite literally a wedding photography sandbox for me to play around in. It was amazing.
But isn’t that what wedding photography should be? A complete look through the wedding day, from start to finish…with all the fun, celebration, and emotions that are involved? That is pretty much my ideal wedding, and as an extension, my ideal couple. But it also takes a huge amount of trust on their part. It takes a special type of person to hire a wedding photographer and then sit back, give up all control, and tell them they have complete creative reign over the entire day. Well Abbey and Alex are both pretty incredible people, and that’s exactly what they did.
I’ll keep it short for now, but read on below to see what made their day (and themselves) so special.
Now that’s an intro. Abbey and Alex began their day at The Hyatt Regency, but I first made a side trip to The Commerce Club to grab a more unique dress shot in their wine room. The Hyatt is always a great choice for getting ready photos if you want to stay in the downtown area, and this time was no different.
Next, it was off to St Marys Catholic Church for the ceremony. St Mary’s was a beautiful choice for a wedding ceremony, and I enjoyed working here.
Those were the last of the formalities – from here on out it was a true party for everyone involved. We started off in the back of a limo, toasting champagne and beer while we rode around downtown Greenville in style. American VIP Limo really delivered here. It has been a long time since I was in a limo….do you realize how dark they are on the inside? Needless to say, I had to get a little creative with the lighting. Finally, my obsessive planning worked out, because I had all the gear with me that I needed to get the shots.
Brazwell’s premium pub was the next stop on our list – the perfect place to relax, goof off a bit, and celebrate with their closest friends and family. Pub games in full wedding attire was a new experience for me, and I loved it! And since we were right there, it was the perfect chance to grab some photos at Falls Park. It is very rare to have space for wedding photography at Falls Park, but with the help of their strong-willed wedding party, we were able to clear things out enough to keep everything comfortable. It was definitely worth it.
Finally, it was time for their reception at the Commerce Club. Abbey and Alex are amazing with each other of course, but so are their families. When it was time for the speeches, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The stories, experiences, and well-wishes that were shared were truly special, and I could tell that these two were meant for each other.
Whew! Now that was a wedding day done right. Abbey and Alex surrounded themselves with their friends and family, and created a remarkable celebration that was full of personality and uniquely ‘them’. Many congratulations to the happy couple, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your celebration!
Special thanks to the follow wedding vendors who helped make this day possible:
Getting ready location: Hyatt Regency, Greenville
Ceremony Location: St Marys Catholic Church
Reception Venue: The Commerce Club, Greenville
Limo Service: American VIP Limo
Hair/makeup: Cotton Rouge, Amanda R
Reception DJ: Jumping Jukebox
Florist: Greg Foster
Wedding Cake: Tasteful Elegance
Click here to view some of my other weddings at The Commerce Club.
These are absolutely stunning! Matthew, you’ve got quite the eye and are truly talented.