Wedding and Romance on the River in Myrtlewood

November 13, 2015 by Carl Kerridge

An Epic Wedding: Beach, bubbles and Daddies’ hot red mustang!

I remember when I walked up to the bride’s room for pre-wedding photos, Sarah met me in her dad’s shirt. I should have known then that he was going to be the main character of the day.

Hilariously, the bride and groom were getting dressed in the room next to each other but made it very clear that they were not to see each other. Before sneaking out of the hotel, we made sure to hide the groom in the bathroom. Well, maybe we didn’t get to that extreme, but we were making sure to keep him well away from the windows as we headed ocean front at the Myrtle Beach Hampton Inn for the bridal portraits.

Painting the setting for the ceremony? A hard wood compass pointed the bride and groom towards their next heading. As guests strolled in they left their thumb prints in the family tree book, and they exited with a bubble walk to the bride’s father’s cherry red mustang. With a giddy looking smile the Father of the Bride pulled away with an extremely thirsty couple in the back…and it was paramount for Dad to stop at the next gas station for Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi.

Having been a wedding photographer for 15 years in the Myrtle Beach area, I knew the reception extravaganzas were going to be tailored to my style of wedding photojournalism. Myrtlewood danced with lights and festivities for this romance on the river. However this day celebrated more and more the longer I stayed. I found out that the couple was sharing their special day with the bride’s cousin. It was his 21st birthday and the Father of the Bride took full advantage. He encouraged everyone to party like crazy, handed the cousin take his first shot of Tequila and was the poster child for promoting mischief. It was awesome to spectate!

How could we forget the element of surprise, the stunning view, your husband borrowing one of your bridal accessories, the MJ dance moves or all the laughter! I mean we had an epic cake smash – a bold move, he got her first.

Scroll down for the favorite photo of the day that captured the love and playfulness between husband and wife.

The Wedding Umbrella and The Dunes Club

November 5, 2015 by Carl Kerridge

It was back in 2005 that I shot my first wedding at The Dunes Club and recently, I have been refurbishing film images to create a digitally mastered photo album for that first wedding client (yes people do order albums ten years on).

The Dunes Club is one of the most classical an authentic locations in Myrtle Beach. The club house sits on top of a large lawn nestled by our beautiful ocean and with one of the Grand Strands finest golf courses it offers amazing natural backdrops, shady over-hangings, and playful ideas for the couple. That is, until the rain nymphs decided to tease and play with us, yep you guessed it, it poured with rain all day long.

As wedding photographers we have be be able to improvise and get creative, working with whatever location and lighting that we have available to us. We had the locker rooms, a hallway, and then the mother of the bride brought out umbrellas. Thankfully the mentality of this couple – a “can-do” attitude – was clearly able to adapt and overcome. Two people who were happily together no matter what obstacles were put in their path.

Before the ceremony, I hadn’t seen such a physical display of “bubbling over” from one of my brides, but Emily…she was too excited to contain herself! At the alter, the pastor couldn’t read the vows quick enough. At the reception, one male guest come up to her and exclaimed, “I think you were the happiest bride I’ve ever seen!” and I believe we all would have toast to that.

Though the weather taunted and played its tricks all day, it wasn’t long into the reception that the evening colors peaked through the clouds, bringing a wedding gift in the form of a mini rainbow. I rushed our bride and groom across the soggy lawn to capture the image but the fleeting moment had passed, leaving nothing but a sweet memory and a stormy looking sky.

The overall emotion between the couple was contagious, their happiness emulated in everyone they choose to share their special day with. I wish them much more for their future for I know, “every morning they will wake up with the intention of making the other happy” for the rest of their lives.

Vendors

The Dunes Club – http://www.thedunesclub.net/weddings—events

Entertainment – http://www.myrtlebeachdjs.com/

Florist – http://flowersintheforest.com/

Cake – http://www.pinterest.com/cmauldin12/cakes-and-pies/

Sunnyside Plantation: When a Hurricane Attends a Wedding

October 22, 2015 by Carl Kerridge

In this case, Joaquin was fashionably late and luck acted like a lady at Sunnyside Plantation

I work in a lot of different conditions and scenarios. I am a documentary-styled photographer, after all. I constantly try to push my limits and break my barriers by shooting in new and challenging settings. However, Hurricane Joaquin definitely tested my normally cool and calm demeanor. I was worried the entire week prior: Would my couple be able to host their celebration outdoors? Would the 20 inches of planned rain stall off long enough for them to say, “I do”? Would we get flooded out and have to scramble up the moss covered live oak trees? or Would they simply have to move the 200 guests to another last minute location?

Luckily, that was not the case. Rain sprinkled as the bride got ready and miraculously everyone remained calm and collected at Sunnyside Plantation. We danced around the wedding family – sneaking candids and spicing up our photography with the bride’s custom engraved Converses and “Gangsta” socks.

The ceremony began with the groom and the couple’s two dogs walking to the alter. When the bride emerged from Sunnyside’s front door, everyone broke into smiles and cheers. When their officiant asked, “Who gives this woman to this man?” never has their been a more appropriate response! From the side of the guests’ seats a “woof woof” arose that declared with certainty that “Who” was Him! We all broke into laughter, the timing was perfect! Catch the wedding video to see for yourself!

Oysters and craft beer entertained the guests for the cocktail hour. In the meantime, we photographed the newlyweds against Murrells Inlets’ marsh under heavily overcast skies. As always, we hugged and congratulated the couple, encouraging them to share a few moments by themselves. As we returned to the tent, the family shenanigans had begun with a group pyramid pose – apparently their family tradition at every gathering.

Joe Durivage of Myrtle Beach DJ’s disco’ed the dance floor with over 120 songs, encouraging everyone to bust a move and get their groove on. Everyone was dancing, even the whip and nae nae rain dance appeared and my assistant and I naturally boogied down with the crowd (I’m not known as the dancing photographer for nothing). Southern hospitality, BBQ, and speciality drinks combined with the ‘happy go lucky’ attitude of all the guests made this one of the most fun weddings ever.

If I described how the night felt as I was packing up, it would be like this: a cake topper with the bride and groom high five-ing one another. That is Allison and Roddy: best friends, husband and wife, and devoted dog lovers. Congratulations and best wishes to the awesome couple!

Wedding photography in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina wedding photographer, wedding photojournalism, event photos, Sunnyside Plantation, Murrells Inlet wedding, Fine art wedding images

Vendor list

Sunnyside Plantation – http://www.facebook.com/SunnysidePlantationSC

Inlet Affairs – http://inletaffairs.com/

Myrtle Beach DJ’s – http://www.myrtlebeachdjs.com/

Destination Wedding – A Twist on Southern Charm in Murrells Inlet

September 16, 2014 by Carl Kerridge

For a destination wedding hearing a bride say, “I really want creative and artistic pictures of my wedding and I love black and white” is like music to my wedding photographer ears. When my bride just gives me the green light, I feel like I have complete permission to work directly from my heart and soul – and that is when we will get the best images.

Holly wanted to put a new spin on vintage southern charm with her destination wedding venue, Olivers Lodge, in Murrells Inlet was the perfect place to be able to capture the essence of her vision. The “charm” of the inlet is felt by all who are there. The big old oak trees along the marsh creates a rustic yet whimsical feel – and was just perfect for what Holly was envisioning for her day.

The week before the wedding I found myself glued to the weather channel website on my iPad. It felt as though there was just rain all around us and I am not a religious type of guy, but for my brides I will ALWAYS pray, hope and if necessary beg for nice weather. It seemed as though our prayers were heard and the sky took a break for long enough for Holly and Stephen to say their “i-do’s.” and an enjoy an evening with friends under the stars.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see my choice for “best pic of the day.”

Grandmas in rocking chairs relaxing by the marsh

Rocking chairs over looking the marsh make the perfect spot for the bride and grooms Grandmas to relax

Fine art wedding photography, Murrells Inlet, SC

The brides first steps down the aisle under the live oaks at Olivers Lodge

wedding couples siblings fighting over them

The bride had suggested that her brother would be quite emotional and maybe we could show an image of him and the grooms sister struggling to let go…and this is what we got, a couple of fun loving jokesters.

Documenting weddings there are times when you know the groom is going to “charm his bride” . Removing the garter in style

A relaxation station to kick your feet up and enjoy the view over the inlet to the Garden City beaches. Oliver’s Lodge, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

My favorite destination wedding image of the day…This was the fastest cake smash I have ever seen and after 200+ weddings I have seen a few. Holly totally took him by surprise before he had even finished cutting out the slice of cake. I love a good cake smash, just ask my wife (she started it).

Photojournalism wedding style, Murrells Inlet, SC

Even though she denied it at the time of our consultation I had the feeling that she was going to get him, she went in fast and he didn’t see it coming

Vendors:

Wedding Photography: Carl Kerridge

Location: Olivers Lodge

Wedding Planner: Inlet Affairs
Catering: Inlet Affairs
Entertainment: Tell Scarlet
Video: Anchor Films
Cake: Cake Creations
Flowers: