I have never once shot in the rain. Perks of being a wedding photographer in Las Vegas, I guess, but as the story goes… rain on your wedding day means good luck in your marriage, right? I seem to think that I have to agree with this old sentiment seeing as how even the rain couldn’t stop this insanely gorgeous wedding in Charleston, South Carolina from looking like something out of a dream.
Paige & Colby’s wintery Charleston wedding began with wet grass and cloudy skies, but nothing could dampen the excitement that circled in the air. Paige grew up near Charleston in Hilton Head, South Carolina while Colby grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of their friends and family are scattered across the United States, so they all descended upon Charleston ready to celebrate! Paige and Colby dressed for the day just a few yards away from one another at the Renaissance Hotel. If they had both looked out the window at just the right moment, they would have been able to waive hello. In fact, they were so close that their two year old ring bearer and flower girl, who happened to be twins, delivered wedding gifts to each other down the hall. Emotions flowed freely as tears rushed to both Colby & Paige’s eyes as they read the words that each had written for them on their wedding day… and the tears never stopped throughout the day.
Paige chose not to let Colby see her before the wedding, but she did want to steal a moment to talk to her groom before she walked down the aisle. We rushed to make this happen just moments before everyone took their places in the church, and it turned out so fantastic to see the elation on both of the faces from different angles. Nobody will ever know what they whispered over each other’s shoulders that afternoon, but I’m pretty sure that those words were the beginning of their forever.
It was the right call for Colby to not see Paige before the ceremony because when they opened the big grand doors of the chapel, Colby melted into a puddle of tears. As they said their vows to one another they wiped away each other’s tears and smiled from ear to ear as they absorbed the gravity of the day.
The next couple of hours felt like I was in a dream. The Unitarian Church is surrounded by an old cemetery which made for the most unique and intimate location to take wedding photographs!
Next, we hopped a trolley to shoot around Charleston for a while before heading to the reception venue at Boone Hall. Shooting in Charleston for a photographer is almost too much stimulation. Every angle. Every turn. Everywhere you look is literally photo-worthy. It was difficult to decide what to shoot… but… we managed. ;)
Of all of the gorgeous moments that have led up to this moment… I have to argue that the photo below is the most prized photo of the day. Paige and Colby are both so family oriented, and they made sure that their families were represented in so many amazing ways during their wedding. The photo of them with each of their parents below shows exactly where they came from, and the legacy that they are all building with one another.
So. This. Happened. I don’t know what else to say.
I know that I use a lot of absolutes in my writing. I talk about how gorgeous things are, or how something is the most beautiful… but the photo below is really one of the best moments that I have ever experienced at a wedding. And I’m just the photographer. I can’t imagine how this felt for Paige and Colby. At the end of the night, the new husband and wife asked for just a moment of alone time. They danced in one another’s arms without anyone else present. They cried with one another as they kissed. They held onto one another and swayed back and forth. They laughed and danced as happy as they will likely be for the rest of their lives. It was the most love I have ever felt in a room with only two people… three if you include me, but I shot this from pretty far away and acted as much like a fly on the wall as possible. It was truly magic, and this might very well be my favorite photo that I have ever taken.
Paige and Colby. I learn the most about my couples on their wedding day. I get to meet their friends and family, and I get to observe everything from an outside point of view. I get to see the emotions and laughter that everyone shares. If a marriage is ever going to be weighed solely on the amount of love felt on a wedding day, then you guys are in for a lifetime of wonderful moments together. You are both truly kind and endearing people, and you obviously are that way because of your friends and family. I felt like I was walking in a beautiful dream at your wedding. Thank you so much for trusting me to be there with you, and for letting me be a part of your memories. xo. Jodi
