Rustic Romance at Devil’s Thumb Ranch

October 21, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

When you venture into Rachel’s and Alex’s world, you are met with so much love and acceptance. It’s hard for it not to be contagious. Their “Rustic Romance” bloomed for 13 years before they took the plunge to say I Do’s. It is my pleasure to call them dear friends and a part of my family.

Devils Thumb Ranch, Colorado – There’s no better place to have captured the union of these souls. Their rehearsal party was hilarious! The mic was opened to all the guests to choose a roast or toast to the couple, and we heard some pretty hilarious stories. From mischievous parties to heartfelt memories, the connecting theme was how the couple are “designed for each other” and it was clear they are a product of many lifetimes together. The wedding day was full of mountain sunshine, delightful scenery, wild horses, the most incredible night sky and a party that went on well passed my bedtime…

Why is ‘Rustic Romance’ the exact definition for this marriage?

Sure the wedding setting was in the countryside in a rural part of Colorado, but the definition holds so much more. Their romance is so grand yet, “made in simple fashion.” All aspects of their wedding and love for each other is in its purest form. College sweethearts, they met while sitting together at orientation. They had rings fashioned in simple elegance, attire simple in it’s beauty and presence. Their vows described their lives together even more than I can. They, “love each other enough to let them go if that was how they needed to grow,” and here they stood at their wedding day. After 13 years, they are simply inspiring.

As individuals, they uplift everyone around them. They encourage others to live life as vibrantly as they do. There’s a renewing sense of “all and everything” when you’re surrounded by this couple, their families, and friends. As I try to find the sentences that describe these moments best, words fail me. There no vocabulary that encompasses all that this was and will continue to be. One guest reminded me that the essence of this rustic romance might just be a moment when we all were close to God, all His wonders, and how beautiful it will always remain.

I wish the happiest of everything to one of the most beautiful couples I know. May the world show you every bit of love that you bestow to it.

Vendors:

Location & Catering : Devil’s Thumb Ranch

Event Planner: Jolene Greenbaum Peterson

Music: Syndicate Band

Florists: Fawns Leap

Hair/Makeup: Bre Ortola Morris & Tina Merli from Alchemy Face Bar

Wedding Dress & Shoes: Anna Be Store & Badgley Mischka

Styled Photo Shoot – Members Club

October 17, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

Oh The Great Gatsby, a tale of impossible love, dreams and tragedies….thank goodness the iconic style of the 20’s and 30’s is what mostly influenced our styled photo shoot! We did have a hiccup, but overall the day was just as successful and beautiful as part one of our styled shoot at the Dunes Club last week (incase you missed it here is that blog).

Here’s the preparation list of contacts for our styled shoot

Check list:

Location – Vasilika at The Members Club at Grande Dunes
Model – Whitney
Make up – Mary Chestnut with Makeup Artistry on location
Hair -Wing Wong with Salon and Spa 18
Flowers by Robert Gerba with RSG Event Designs
Dress – Nichole at The Little White Dress

Our model was superb. Mary and Wing transformed her in to a classical and elegant beauty. The dress! I will never forget that stunning design, how it fit our model like a glove and fitted perfectly to our Vintage Gatsby inspired theme. When she walked out of the changing suite, even bystanders awed as we exited the building. We marveled at her hair, makeup, and how well the dress complimented her and the look we wanted for this shoot.

Then came the tiny tragedy, “Rollsmarie” (a 1930’s Rolls Royce) had a flat and the sun had already started to set. Were we going to have enough time to capture the essence of our location?

Making ample use of our time, we began without the classic car and Whitney moved beautifully in her vintage gown. Then, just as dusk hit, Robert cruised up and parked in front of the Members Club’s front doors.

With the car on site, our models boyfriend lending his support as our groom to be, we all decided to continue shooting as the light dipped in to dusk. The cool breeze in the air with night approaching gave the shots more vibrancy and atmosphere that we anticipated!

Remember from our other blog, I said I intended to make this styled photo shoot entrancing? Well, see for yourself! Thanks to the Members Club for allowing us to shoot at your beautiful location and to all the vendors involved for the time and effort to create such a wonderful series of images.

Styled photoshoot at The Dunes Club

October 14, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

In the past I have shied away from any kind of styled photo shoot. I prefer the authentic feeling of a real wedding day and the emotions that come along with it. However, there are times when you just can’t say no! When the opportunity for a custom fitted 1930’s White Rolls Royce styled photo shoot came through, I did jump and say a big,” hell yes!” Icing on the cake was the car’s owner is a good friend and fellow Myrtle Beach wedding vendor, Robert Gerba with RSG Events Designs. He offered the car and I put on my planning hat! Then came the dream team of Myrtle Beach wedding vendors along with my model for the day and my lovely wife Jessica.

Here’s the check list of contacts for our styled photo shoot

Location – Nicole at Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Model – My wife, Jessica, owner of Whereismyguru.com
Make up – Mary Chestnut with Makeup Artistry on location
Hair – Meg Hendrix with St James Salon
Flowers by Robert Gerba with RSG Event Designs
Dress – Nichole at The Little White Dress

For the actual shoot we had no rules, guidelines or preconceived notions of the final image. Ultimately we wanted to showcase the car as it is a new addition to our local wedding offerings but also create the images for a variety of marketing pieces that all the wedding vendors would appreciate.

With all the flowers in bloom and crisp skies, August is just a gorgeous month to shoot in. Now, raise your hand if you’ve had a South Carolina wedding in August… yep it was that hot and yep, we did swindle a golf cart to carry our model around and keep her cool. Everyone involved helped make the shoot a huge success. From Mary dabbing and touching up lipstick, to Nicole helping fan out the dress to perfection, we even had Robert working the model’s veil like a pro.

Robert would hide behind the Rolls Royce and spruce up the veil before I clicked my shutter. This brought the attitude into the images, the rest of the crew would cheer away, and our model’s smile made the moment. If you could have heard the sound of “Rolls Marie,” I’d say she even revved her engine nicely for us too!

As we got ready to call it a day at The Dunes Club, I knew that we had to do another shoot. The next styled photo shoot needed to have a grandeur Gatsby theme, perhaps the infamous novel could help spark our imagination….

Myrtle Beach Mickie and Minnie

October 12, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

It’s not often you find two souls designed completely for each other, but when a passion for Taylor Swift unifies a couple, you know they play for keeps. I am so thankful this couple chose Myrtle Beach as their wedding destination.

Christina is a Northern-Southern belle. I still can’t get over how beautiful her bridal pictures were on the bridge taken at the Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach! Her groom, Nathan, is a man of many talents. From playing in the band, swinging golf clubs to keeping a smile on Christina’s face, he just rocks it. One of my favorite moments of the day was their first look. As Christina came around the corner, the two joined hands and made a pinkie promises to each other before turning to see the other. When Nathan saw his bride, all words left him because of her beauty. Christina rested on the arm of his chair and presented his groom’s gifts, Nathan kept saying that they were the best presents ever. That softness and gratitude engulfed the two of them and was shared through the entire day.

You could tell the couple planned each symbolic and meaningful moment for themselves and their guests. We couldn’t have asked for better weather either. I loved their portraits on the golf greens and the sunset. One in particular mimicked the bride’s mother’s wedding picture. Her father was holding her mother in his arms. For generations to come, I hope they share enjoyment at seeing the images side by side.

Myrtle Beach has been the couple’s favorite vacation spot and its vendors helped their ceremony and reception become a masterpiece. The bride and their families baked approximately 3,000 cookies (a Pittsburg tradition) as the couple’s wedding favors and I think that everyone who came from out of town would agree they had more than enough sugar to take with them for the drive back to Pennsylvania.

As for every couple meant to be, there was Disney’s Mickey and Minnie….oh, and of course a Rolls Royce!

We hope you had a blast in Hawaii!

Vendors:

Hair/Makeup: Artistry on Location

Location & Catering: The Dunes Club

Entertainment: Paul Grimshaw Band

Wedding Cake: Coccadotts Cake Shop

Wedding Favors:Bride’s Family

Wedding Dress: MB Bride

Getaway Car: RSG Event Designs

Wachesaw Plantation Wedding

September 14, 2016 by Carl Kerridge

I’d almost forgotten just how beautiful Wachesaw Plantation is… it’s breath taking.

It’s one of Myrtle Beaches hidden gems for weddings. The Wachesaw Plantation with it’s huge Live Oak trees that drape shade for visitors, with Kimbel’s Restaurant sitting quietly to the side ready to host an event. The scent of the Waccamaw River plays at your nose as the moss dances in the wind.

I’ve known the groom, Scott, for quite some time now. I was thrilled and eager to tease him that I’d seen his bride all dressed up before him. We shot her bridal portraits earlier this summer and with her permission created an image that had to be timed perfectly. Arriving right before low tide when the sand bars were showing, we scooted down the river bank to photograph Kelly at the water’s edge. It was a stunning portrait right beside the river, framed with Cypress tree knots and roots that would normally be underwater. Setting up the canvas portrait on their wedding day, I made a few people promise me they wouldn’t let him peek at the framed art piece. He desired all the emotions of the first look and she was breath taking too. As she walked across the lawn in the classic and form fitting dress from Little White Dress Scott choked up as he saw his wife. The ceremony was lovely and picturesque set beneath the spanish moss of the live oaks and we were all thankful for the light breeze on a warm summers day as they exchanged their vows and rings. Their marriage was celebrated with a symbolic kiss, then it was time to switch gears.

Though lovey-dovey was in the air, our couple was ready to boogie! Scott and Kelly couldn’t wait to finish with traditional wedding portraits. Entering the reception banquet, everyone knew what time it was and everyone intended to dance until their hearts were content. Little Harper, Scott’s 5 year old daughter ran around, smiling, and dancing with Scott and Kelly all evening. With the reception ending at 11:00, I laughed as everyone piled in cars. They were heading down to Murrells Inlet to continue the festivities and good times.

There is a beauty in the surrender this couple gifts each other. I know Scott will always hold his wife by his heart, under his arm, and with gentle hands. Kelly will always do likewise.

Congrats guys, completely love your calm and crazy and all its charm!