Morgan and Chris | Private Residence | Selma NC Photography / July 10, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

Sometimes I think it's best to let the photography do the talking. In this case, I can tell you that the couple was sweet-- they met as children in church and their love was one of those that you could feel and see between them. The bride was ethereal as a fairy-- see for yourself! Her bridesmaids were, as far as I could tell, all cheerleaders and obviously amazing dancers, and great supportive friends. The country vibe was continuous on the private property where bride and groom will now also live. A very real fairy tale, is how I'd describe it! So thankful I was there to document the moments and create beautiful photographs for everyone!

This is the sort of thing I live for... I absolutely adore this photo.

Honestly. When they want to run away, I believe in letting them do it. LOL

Want a happy photographer? Let them take their odd photos. While I'm talking about me, I'm really sad I don't have a selfie of this one. I keep telling myself to start showing myself more at "work" but I forget. I get really caught up in your m… — Want a happy photographer? Let them take their odd photos.

While I'm talking about me, I'm really sad I don't have a selfie of this one. I keep telling myself to start showing myself more at "work" but I forget. I get really caught up in your moments! So instead, let me tell you what it's like to be me on a wedding day. I left my house with an extra hour because YOU NEVER KNOW, and I parked for a while behind a realty place to close my eyes and chill because YOU CANT SHOW UP EARLY AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. When I arrive somewhere, it's always overwhelming. I try to hide it-- I act like I know where I"m going while smiling and totally taking it all in and scoping out where the perfect light is currently, then I cannot wait to hug the bride and check the vibe! The house in this case had loads of pretty spaces to work in, so I shot the details and took photos of the bridesmaids in these super cute mix of plaids and shorts and boots, then on to the bride dressing and details and portraits.. man the sun was killer, so I made sure the bride had an iced cloth for staying cool outside-- but in the end I think I was the only one that needed it. Ha! I wore a black dress that was chic and seasonable (in my opinion) but soon realized I should just change into the black pants and top because the dress was catching on me when I bent down (oops-- not even a first). The rest of the day is a blur-- I think you can see the results. When the day starts you're looking down a hallway of fireworks at the end, but you don't know what's behind the doors and in this case I was SO HAPPY-- the details, the couple, the moments-- this is why I do this! Do you know what Christmas Poppers are? That's what weddings feel like to me-- I know what's in them but I don't know which specific things I will be getting (and yeah, it feels like a present to me).

Raleigh Photographer First Dance Portrait

So, I hope the photos speak for me, that the moments are loud and clear. I didn't include here the family portraits, the grooms portraits, the getaway vehicle (a tractor) post wedding, surprise fireworks after the wedding, dance photos during the wedding.. so many things! What a beautiful (and hot!) (but totally beautiful!) day! THANK YOU for including me, and for the other many vendors I worked with that day, including:

Flowers and décor by Donald Bailey

Cake by Karen's Kitchen in Smithfield

Dj and photobooth with Epix Melody Entertainment

Videography by Brittany for 3Sixty Vision Events

Courtney and Scott | Historic Wakefield Barn Wedding Photography / July 2, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

Courtney and Scott tie the knot at Historic Wakefield Barn in NC. Documentary Photography by Lacey Renae Gadwill.

Working with Alyssa for her senior pics was so much fun! I really cannot wait to do more soon. There's something about the open timing (compared to weddings and other work I do), the aspect of creating with a recent graduate, celebrating her current life.

And it was only a little hot that day, like 95. But who can tell by looking at Alyssa? We worked for two hours, two locations, and four outfits!

Spining Senior Session Raleigh Botanical Gardens Photography

Congratulations to Alyssa and all 2018 grads!

Jean and Wes | Omni Grove Park | Asheville, NC / May 1, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

Gorgeous-- the couple, the weather, the view, and that dress--wow! These are my personal favorites from the session. Can't wait for the fall wedding!

PROJECTS | The Woods / April 16, 2018 by Lacey R Butler

I stopped shooting for most of the winter. Sometimes, I think, we are much like caterpillar's, so much goo in a chrysalis, and I have been as much, and as languid, for sure. The spring, as always, pulls me back to life; the light, the life, the new reality. All the things I want, now.

ONE | Family at Duke Gardens, Durham, North Carolina / November 18, 2017 by Lacey R Butler

I love this image-- everyone is having fun, the colors were popping, there's some action! More to come, dear Wanda and family <3

ONE | First dance / November 12, 2017 by Lacey R Butler

Over the years, I have often shared ONE first favorite image soon after the event, while the couple waits for the hundreds of other images they'll receive.

I thought I'd resurrect that, just because.

I only have ONE more wedding this year!

Tonya and Adam, I hope you love this first ONE from your first dance!

Ana & Brian | Romantic Tindered Beach Wedding / October 10, 2017 by Lacey R Butler

Tindered.. as in Tinder. The dating app. Yes, that one, that's the one that began this amazing cross-continental romance. Brian said the ultimate-- he was in love with this woman in a tinder photo, her head tossed back with a broad laugh written all over her. We should all want to be loved so purely from one unposed moment of us being ourselves. I was smitten with Ana as soon as I met her, too. Maybe it was the dress. I see so many beautiful white gowns.. and usually they are brides who are hot as Hades. But Ana was hot and she was wearing a two piece vintage creation in lace and coral, cream and tan sort of thing. I teased I was in love, to which she said, oh well, I'm not married yet.

Which is super cute, but the truth was she was already married. When Ana and Brian began chatting, she lived in Brazil, while Brian was somewhere around here in the good ol' USA. I forget what Brian does, but Ana was working for an airline, and as such they were both really, really busy. Too busy for a typical first meeting. A case like that means you sometimes are forced to do the unthinkable-- meet between connecting flights in the same airport!

It was kismet. Somehow they found time for one another after that and a couple years later, a first wedding in Brazil, followed by a civil ceremony in the states and then-- lucky me!-- a gorgeous wedding on the Wrightsville beach!

I loved a lot about this wedding, not the least was when Brian said, during his thank you speech, that they planned the beach wedding much like he has lived his life, evaluating what he stood to lose by not taking a chance more than the loss if played safe. Might it rain? Oh, but, they said to each other, might the sun shine down on us as we giggle close, the ocean whispering back our vows to us-- gulls, shells, the heat of sand-- all mirroring and echoing at amazing chances in this world.

Like the chance that love exists.

After the beach wedding, we did beach family portraits. The breeze was sweet and the sun was fierce, and me.. well, maybe I am a bit devious but I was happy when the waves crashed into the sibling picture, and all laughed and fought to stay dry. There's nothing sweeter than shaking up the posing people do-- how rare it is in wedding photography to see true character emerge, and often it takes something like the ocean to free us from ourselves.

Now.. the reception was just a dancing frenzy all night. From choreographed to tango to tossing people in the air to MJ, etc.. The groom threw a fancy whisky over his shoulder to the gents and the bride did a ring pull for all the singles, and I have to tell you all that these things were WAY more crowd pleasing then tossing flowers and garters. Turns out, lots of people don't even want to get married these days (I don't believe it but that's how they act, not even trying to catch!) but you offer whiskey and real jewelry, suddenly everyone's an athlete.

There was another interesting moment... when someone encouraged two children to have their faces smashed into the cake. I was about to die inside, because cake is My Thing, you know.. eating it. When it was decided they WOULD smash their faces in the cake (our darling bride was on a table demanding it at that point) I had the wherewithal to tell the coordinator to move the décor off it's top. Thank goodness! No one lost an eyeball, so... after a few other people decided to nibble on the part that wasn't smushed to hades, I did too. It was a damn fine cake.

My existential moments aside, I had a long drive home to ponder this wonderful, rich wedding. I regret never knowing the rest of the story, and as this couple doesn't live near me, I guess I won't have the luxury of knowing how many gorgeous children they have, or where their travels take them, or what happens in lives with love like that. And maybe that's ok, because I can still dream.