Wedding at The Old Cigar Warehouse

I had a question from a bride the other day about what it’s like to photograph at a new wedding venue, and whether or not is is stressful or exciting.  Ironically, I was about to do just that – photograph a wedding at The Old Cigar Warehouse, which I have never done before.  Not that it hasn’t been around of course, the building has stood for over 100 years and has been an official wedding venue since 2013 after all.  But an Old Cigar Warehouse wedding always seemed to slip through the cracks each year.  So when Mandy and Dave mentioned they chose it as their wedding venue, I was ecstatic!  And the reason why is actually the answer I gave the bride from the other day – I love photographing at different wedding venues.  Not only do I find the unknown to be a little exciting, but I also enjoy doing things differently from other people whenever possible.  So getting to photograph a wedding at a different venue means I can approach the wedding day with zero pre-conceived notions about how things ‘should’ look.  Even at The Old Cigar Warehouse, one of the most iconically styled and heavily photographed wedding venues in the upstate, I wanted to at least try to take a different approach than what I had seen before.

If you want to take a different look at something, you need a different couple.  And what better couple could I possible ask for other than Mandy and Dave – A couple that completely embodies that ideal?  A different approach – That describes Mandy and Dave’s lives perfectly.  On one side you have Dave – a trumpeter with a Master’s degree in music education.  On the other side you have Mandy, a Clemson Theater graduate and current wardrobe supervisor at the Flat Rock Playhouse.  Two very different paths and worlds, but both heavily rooted in the arts.  And both enjoy a wild, off-beat party…which is exactly what they wanted for their wedding.  When I asked if there was the possibility for drunk dancing photos at their reception, their eyes lit up like I had asked them about a never-ending beer and taco bar.  Of and did I mention adding in a wild bunch of family and beer-loving friends hailing from Chicago?  I was in for a long night for sure.

So what do you get when you add an amazing wedding venue, an off-beat and artistic couple, close-knit friends and family from out of state, and gallons upon gallons of booze?
Scroll down through the rest of Mandy and Dave’s Old Cigar Warehouse wedding photos to see for yourself:

Mandy began her day with her bridal party at Lashbar Downtown.  I love working in interesting, open, bright salons for getting ready photos, and it was nice getting a chance to photograph here.  Of course, Mandy had a great bridal party that complemented her perfectly, and there was never a dull moment with them.

From here on out, everything took place at the Old Cigar Warehouse.  I am a sucker for warehouse venues – the brick, metal, and distinct flooring work great for a dark, intimate photography style.  It was the perfect choice for both the ceremony and reception, and I greatly enjoyed being able to work here.

 Old Cigar Warehouse Wedding Reception

Not being content with a lively wedding full of dancing, Mandy and Dave really pulled out all the stops for their Old Cigar Warehouse reception.  This was one of the liveliest wedding receptions I’ve been a part of, and that is really saying something because I tend to see a lot of wild receptions.  Their friends and wedding party really made it happen here – you will notice a ton of photos of their guests celebrating, and that is no accident.  That is what Mandy and Dave wanted – a true celebration they could share with their friends and family.  So they took a backseat to the action and let their friends take it from there.

And just to set the mood for their reception photos, the first photo below is from their first dance.  Definitely one of my favorite first dance photos.

I always love a good live band…and Finesse Band was amazing.  Not just as a high energy live performance, but they were very interactive with the guests.  I would definitely recommend them if you are looking for a great wedding band.  They are based out of Columbia, SC.