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.

Fine Art: Destination Wedding and Romance at The Dye Club

November 12, 2015 by Carl Kerridge

When it comes to my fine art passions, I’ve learned to love seeing out of state phone numbers, and especially those out of country!

I love destination weddings. I love being the photographer to welcome couples to the Myrtle Beach area. This groom initially contacted me because he wanted to buy a fine art print from SeaBlue Restaurant for his bride to be, Wendy. Then he asked if I shot weddings. Needless to say, everything progressed from there. We customized a unique package for them that included less pictures than I usually deliver allowing me to produce the documentary style they desired and emphasize fine art pieces in my post production.

Just picture it: The Dye Club with their beautiful Royal Oak furnishing’s and tasteful elegance. When it comes to fine art, what more could you ask for?

The Dye Club is a private country club that sits near a beautiful lake on one of the top local golf courses. It has a very low country classic style to it. Crafted into a single level structure, it has rich decorations, a gold leaf ceiling and a large wrap around veranda porch. Though the day had threatening clouds, the weather never altered the couple’s mood. They were super laid back and more than anything looking forward to the reception. They said “I do” between rain showers to a backdrop of beautiful colors with a close group of family and dear friends. To get that fine art feel, we moved around the property using the blooming azalea and gardenias for Wendy’s bridal and the couple’s portraits. In a beautiful irony, the wedding colors and Joe’s tux matched all the blossoms around The Dye Club, an unplanned phenomenon!

Both Joe and Wendy wanted a non-stop party. Joe Durivage, of Myrtle Beach DJ’s, guaranteed a rockin’ party and everyone danced, literally until midnight. The toasts, the dip, the dancing, I tell you Mounties know how to have a good time! One thing I will always take away from their wedding will be how intimate it all turned out. It was truly the little things that mattered, and oh those little things, how wonderful they are. The bride’s daughter was the maid of honor, and the groom’s best man was his son. In front of their dedicated friends and family, a memorable wedding gift was given. The bride’s daughter presented a source for future memories – it was a hand-made carved wooden photo album, delicate in the most loving way.

How did I pick the favorite photo? Well, it was hard…scroll down to find out

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/

Wedding Photojournalism meets Homemade Love in Mount Pleasant, SC

April 3, 2014 by Carl Kerridge

You know it’s going to be a great wedding when you walk up to the house and the bride is outside finishing the decorations and the groom is inside cooking three different kinds of BBQ. Not to mention that pretty much the ENTIRE wedding experience was handcrafted by the bride and her family and friends. This was one of the most colorful and creative weddings I have had the pleasure to be a part of, an open book for unique wedding photo ideas. Oh, and when your wife and son are also invited to the wedding because your wife is friends with the brides sister – extra, extra bonus.

My bride Megan told me that she tallied up close to 400 hours in putting together the decorations and details for the wedding. I am sure some of her unique ideas will wow and inspire you as you look through my favorite images from the day. Her stylish wedding dress? Sorry, ladies – you won’t find this one in the bridal boutiques. She had her mother and grandmothers dresses taken apart and then put back together again – her gown being the epitome of “something borrowed.”

The setting was intimate. A rented beach house where the family stayed for the whole week across the street from the ocean just outside of Charleston, SC. Megan and Phillip asked everyone in attendance to wear white and beige – which made the colorful world she created for their big day stand out even more. From me her only request was to capture the color, and fun in a photojournalistic wedding style and not worry about your typical beach wedding photos.

I hope you enjoy these fun shots from the day as much as I enjoyed being a part of the whole experience. I thrive on creativity so when I have the chance to be around creative people – it is fuel for my fire!

Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see “My Favorite Shot” of the day and also links to the amazing vendors that helped make Megan and Phillips day so special.

Shot of the day

I myself am a yogi so when my bride added to her contract notes that she wanted to incorporate a yoga pose I said “Absolutely”. Here’s she’s on top of the hot tub cover as it was the only area with clear space.

Photos – Carl Kerridge Photography
Dress – Brooke Priddy, Ship-to-shore
Flowers – http://www.gardeniafloral.com
Hair & Makeup – Pink Dot Beauty Bar
Cupcakes –Sugar Bakery
Catering – Phillip Couture (groom) & James Benyshek (best man) – Culinary Extraordinaires at Large!
Paper Mayhem – Megan Munday (bride) – Currently recovering from paper projecting overload.