Chantelle + Alex
Greenville, South Carolina
I’m not going to sugarcoat things…sometimes stuff goes wrong at weddings. In fact, I would say the vast majority of weddings have something go wrong. And I’m sure the Chantelle and Alex are tired of being reminded of it, but their wedding had it’s fair share of accidents and challenges. Now stay with me for a minute, because this is going somewhere positive, but this was definitely a challenging day for them. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony setup, which unfortunately had to be called last minute due to a massive thunderstorm that would have hit right as the two were scheduled to walk down the aisle. Then the backup location indoors unfortunately had a problem, which meant everyone had to scramble to retro-fit the reception space for the ceremony. And all of this during a hot a humid day that with a malfunctioning air conditioner. What a day! So why am I telling you all this stuff that went wrong in a wedding blog that is happy and optimistic? Because none of it matters.
That’s the thing about true love – it doesn’t care that the AC is out, or that it’s monsooning all over the ceremony location outside. Love is the rock that anchors everything else down…it is a steadfast reminder of what a wedding TRULY is: the celebration of the joining of two lives together. What did Alex and Chantelle do when things started going wrong around them? They looked to each other. They were there for each other, to comfort one another, and to remind each other that while a little rain may fall, it is hardly enough to move the rock that they built their lives around. In fact, if you look at them in their couple’s photos, you won’t see a single ounce of worry or unhappiness in their faces. All you see is that love they have for each other. It was amazing to see, and I am humbled to have been a part of that day.
There’s much more to read below, but first, check out some of my favorites from Chantelle and Alex’s beautiful Larkins’ Sawmill wedding:
This was my first time photographing a wedding at the Larkin’s Sawmill, and I was pleasantly surprised how conducive it was for my style of wedding photography. The heavy clouds definitely helped soften the window light, and it turned the indoor space into a beautiful place for photos. This became important later in the day when we realized the majority of the photos would need to be taken inside. It was a wonderful setting for their wedding.
The Sawmill turned into a beautiful setting for the ceremony as well! Chantelle and Alex hold the record so far for the fastest ceremony I’ve been a part of so far – barely 10 minutes. Short and sweet, these two didn’t want to waste any time so they could get to the real fun: Their reception. After a few couple’s photos indoors and their first dances, it was time for open bars and dancing. My kind of reception party.
See that last photo? They decided to throw lavender for their exit. This was the first time I’ve photographed a lavender exit, but it was perfect. Plus it helped me sleep like a baby that night.
Remember what I said about things going wrong during the wedding? Did you feel like anything was going wrong in the photos as you scrolled through? Not at all, and it’s because these two are truly perfect for each other. I wish Alex and Chantelle a wonderful lifetime together – and if anything goes unexpectedly in the future, just grab a hold of each other and remember the only thing that matters: Your love for each other.
Special thanks to all the wedding vendors involved today:
Wedding Venue: Larkin’s Sawmill
Catering: Larkin’s Catering