Vineyards at Bettys Creek / May 18, 2022 by Lacey R Butler

First look! Romantic, voyeuristic of me maybe, but definitely romantic.

I have never loved an indoor venue as much as I do every single outdoor wedding spot. Nature is where it’s at.

On location at the Vineyards at Betty’s Creek. This wedding was all about the SPRING green and white!

This Vineyard is HUGE. It’s also quite steep, as you can see in a few pictures. I did a TON of walking and worked out my calves and thighs but only because I wasn’t willing to wait for golf carts all day- but let me tell you the staff at this venue is on point. There seemed to be 3 carts driving around the property to transport well-clad guests all day long. They were super helpful and even showed up at the vendor parking lot when I parked!

The groom was patiently waiting for his bride for the first look- in the distance you can see a house that is sometimes used for various things on the property, like getting ready, or smaller receptions.

be prepared for rustic, natural and outdoorsy details all over!

Fun fact. The loose petals were MIA so the flower fairy man, who took his job very seriously, filled his fanny pack with petals he stole off the many dogwood trees on the property.

The couple hung crystals from the trees above the ceremony space.

Including this so people looking for venues get an overall feel for what the land looks like. This is as viewed from the reception building.

Get a woman who looks at you like this… <3

Their dog <3 oh my gosh! Loved his people!! And I may have a hidden talent for getting puppers attention.

Many thanks for Sean Szitas having me out to second shoot with him- always a pleasure! I’d very much love to work this venue again, so if you’re considering it, or any similar venue, please reach out! Best wishes to the beautiful couple!

Providence Cotton Mill | Milner, NC Wedding Photography / April 26, 2022 by Lacey R Butler

This wedding was photographed at Providence Cotton Mill in Miltner last summer. Let me tell you, when I say it was a hot… but then, you look at the images from the day and I just see great light, a perfect location, and people having utmost fun. The bride wore a non-traditional dress- just a complete stunner. The theme was loosely leaning toward till-death-do-us-part and sort of tongue in cheek. Who said forever had to be so serious?

The venue features like 10k square feet, chippy paint on bricks lots of grass and a bricked courtyard. Swampfans helped keep the temps down and the venue is ready for a breeze with completely open windows.

I’d love to work at this venue again!

The Ridge at Asheville, NC / April 17, 2022 by Lacey R Butler

Perfect day in the mountains of Western North Carolina for a wedding!!

I was so happy to get to help Sean Szitas with this wedding. As the new gal in Asheville, building business can be a little daunting. Getting to shoot is like Christmas though, when you love doing it, so THANK YOU to those who have let me help them. Sean is a super relaxed guy, and works hard to take lots of great portraits. Our style varies a little, so I am able to add my journalistic eye as well as details he isn’t able to cover.

The couple privately exchanged their vows while we documented the moment. Both were in tears, as you can see and no kidding, I was a mess about their love story. It is a huge privilege in my life to have witnessed and learned about love from so many wonderful couples. The gist of their message to one another was what a gift to have found each other- and specifically I recall the bride telling her man how easy love is with him, and life, no matter the challenge. Just so amazing to find that!

A big part of the wedding day FOR ME is honoring all you put into planning it. Although images of a couple alone are beautiful, I believe if you wanted to be alone you’d have eloped. The real story is here, the details of kissing surrounded by those you love, your intimate companions and long distance family that loves you enough to make the trip. It is a cultural celebration of those you cherish, not just the bride and groom. And of course.. lens flare. If you choose this time of day, I’ll be sure to incorporate the drama lighting can give us!

The bride was in love with seeing the moon during sunset - she said all my favorite things are right here in this moment! I love fellow romantics! <3

I’d recommend The Ridge venue for anyone wanting a great location with perfect views right near Asheville! There was no end to the places for images, and the venue offers indoor and outdoor spots for the reception. There are onsite golf carts for quick jaunts across the property- definitely cannot wait to get back to this one!

Renata and Rodrigo | Biltmore Asheville, NC / April 12, 2022 by Lacey R Butler

One of the fascinating things about this location is almost every direction, you can find something else to work into the shot.

couple at the biltmore house in asheville

couple in front of biltmore house in white dress

couple on stairs at biltmore with statue

These two newlyweds were just so sweet and cute. I am so happy for you both! Thank you for working with, and I hope to do another shoot for you again soon!

Pretty Place Chapel / March 23, 2022 by Lacey R Butler

If I were to marry again.. it might be at a spot like this. Sure, if I knew it wasn’t going to rain or I could afford some light rain on my wedding day… I’d go with a flower farm with a view. Hands down. But this…

Pretty Place is an affordable spot with a to-die for view that offers abundant shelter for the ceremony. So if it did rain.. you’d be set. You’d still have the view, the open air feeling.. Perfect elopement spot, too! There’s a certain innocent vibe; Austin told me when he was a boy he and his friends and cousins would be there. Imagine how surreal to have those memories and then to be…marrying at that very same spot.

It’s pretty rare, but sometimes the best man DOES forget the ring. It made for a nice lighthearted moment.

The only thing I thought but didn’t say at their event (and it’s now some months later so I guess I feel like they probably will never see this although I’m sure he knows…) that the groom looks like Bradley Cooper. Do you see it? Hello Dopelganger! I wonder if it’s true that we all have one…somewhere in the world.

If you’re wondering about this particular photo, the groom had just picked up his bride and lifted her over a particularly steep step. Side note: if you have a fear of heights tell me before we get to the ledge.

husband and wife pretty place — Such a gorgeous couple- love them! Also fun and easy going. I’m excited for their new family!

I have a theory that love and laughter are essential to make it work.

I would LOVE to have a reason to go there again! If you’re interested in visiting this spot with me, here is the link: Pretty Place Chapel Call me for your elopement or session! 828.777.6186!

Twikinham Mountain Wedding / September 2, 2021 by Lacey R Butler

Something happens when you arrive at Twickenham. It’s like when you take the mask off after an hour in a store- you know, like you can finally really draw a nice deep breath and relax.

And after postponing their perfect wedding for over a year for the pandemic, it’s kind of a good analogy.

What I know about about this gorgeous couple could barely fill a ring box. They met in a poetry class. They live in Europe. They are easygoing. Plants, nature and conservation are important to them. The bride’s dress is a family heirloom. A video from family in Europe was played during the reception.

Cassy and Thomas chose this venue particularly for the beautiful view. At the end of the day, just before I headed home to Asheville, we took about 30 minutes to hit the spot for sunset pictures. They gave me all the time I needed with creative freedom, were easy going and fun to work with, and I was able to not only make a few cinematic images for them, but also to allow them to just enjoy a few seconds “alone” to watch the sunset. I don’t think it can be more romantic than to pause on your wedding day with your love and reflect. I’m hoping it’s one of their favorite memories together, just watching the day fold into night.

Their Vendors:

You can check out Thomas and Cassy’s venue here- Twickenham House and Hall is located near Boone, NC. Leigh Harrow was the lead coordinator at the event and I’ve just never had a coordinator so lovely to work with. It’s truly an art to know how to lead people pleasantly and graciously.

The delicate flora’s are the creative art of Shady Grove Gardens.

The cake I had was worth every calorie- highly recommend Stick Boy.

And finally, Earthworks did all the other food, which is carefully cultivated and locally sourced. Heartfelt thanks to the chef and to the earth for providing!

Lake Norman / May 20, 2021 by Lacey R Butler

I am really, really truly lucky in life. Blessed.

Without giving away too much personal info for the couple, they met on a dating site. I know some people are still hesitant about them, but more often I am doing weddings from couples that met there. Message me to ask which dating site. :)

Random photo probably only I like. Reflection of chairs outside and one person inside in the exact right position to look like she’s sitting on the chair. If you ever see me shooting and are like what the heck is she doing..I’m doing something like this. Not only does it entertain me but it probably beats me simply staring at you waiting for a moment. You know? It’s a little less intense. While I’m rambling about me, it’s a tiny bit of a drive from Asheville to this location, but I’m used to that. I usually listen to music to get in the zone, maybe eat an M&M Blizzard or a Krispy Kreme for that sugar high. For some reason I decided on self help videos and water only for the two hour drive down so by the time I got there, I was really, like… ready for a nap. That wasn’t my best idea for pre-wedding.If you can imagine it, as soon as I got on the property, ya’ll, I kid you not, I smiled. Like, I genuinely started grinning because it was GORGEOUS with the lake background and small pool and hot tubs and bar and palm trees and whatnot. Life is funny like that. The clouds were perfect puffy companions to a Carolina blue sky with the breeze whispering a promise of summer across the lake. I’m not joking when I say from that second I was teleported into someone else’s romantic heaven. All that joy I felt was even before seeing anyone there. And when I did, my first glimpse was of a bridesmaids decorating corpses for the “till death do us” underlying theme (not shown here.. I also left out the tiny fake spider in the brides bouquet. I needed to cull some of the images from the blog post). It was like, ok, this is a gorgeous day with some cool people. And it really was. — Random photo probably only I like. Reflection of chairs outside and one person inside in the exact right position to look like she’s sitting on the chair. If you ever see me shooting and are like what the heck is she doing..I’m doing something like this. Not only does it entertain me but it probably beats me simply staring at you waiting for a moment. You know? It’s a little less intense.
While I’m rambling about me, it’s a tiny bit of a drive from Asheville to this location, but I’m used to that. I usually listen to music to get in the zone, maybe eat an M&M Blizzard or a Krispy Kreme for that sugar high. For some reason I decided on self help videos and water only for the two hour drive down so by the time I got there, I was really, like… ready for a nap. That wasn’t my best idea for pre-wedding.
If you can imagine it, as soon as I got on the property, ya’ll, I kid you not, I smiled. Like, I genuinely started grinning because it was GORGEOUS with the lake background and small pool and hot tubs and bar and palm trees and whatnot. Life is funny like that. The clouds were perfect puffy companions to a Carolina blue sky with the breeze whispering a promise of summer across the lake. I’m not joking when I say from that second I was teleported into someone else’s romantic heaven.
All that joy I felt was even before seeing anyone there. And when I did, my first glimpse was of a bridesmaids decorating corpses for the “till death do us” underlying theme (not shown here.. I also left out the tiny fake spider in the brides bouquet. I needed to cull some of the images from the blog post). It was like, ok, this is a gorgeous day with some cool people.
And it really was.

They both kept their eyes tight shut to save it for that moment at the altar. But they did want to make sure I got a photo of them touching per-ceremony.

The face that says I’m ready. I’m excited. Let’s do this!

Holy smokes! Stunning bride seeing her groom waiting!

Yes, they DID do their entrance to “I got chills, they’re multiplying” and totally admire one another while dancing up a storm all the way down the beautiful stone steps and up the stone walk to the waiting guests.

Somewhere around this image I started balling. I had to stop shooting for a second because my camera may not have been waterproof enough to handle it. Not sure. But you know what, this couple has the perfect balance of silly and passion and it just is inspirational. Big fan over here!

Ok, so when you love someone you make sacrifices, right? And this bridesmaid missed her own college graduation so the bride said well we are doing a little something something and they did a mock ceremony and I loved them all the more.

Ok, it is really easy for me to be like you know what you should do? Totally go in the water on your wedding day in clothes you spent a fortune of money and time to find. But these two agreed. THANK YOU BOTH! I Love love love couples that hire me to do my thing and then will agree to it. I kicked off my shoes and socks and joined them, rather pointlessly since I have the lenses to do it from the shore. But it was fun and they weren’t alone being cold and wet after that. In fact, I had sand in my socks all evening long because at a wedding you dont get time to clean up when you’re the photographer- you just jump right to the next thing.

fireworks! just a tiny bit of photoshop went into this image, but so worth it.

All my love and best wishes to the bride and groom! Your love and connection are truly beautiful. <3 Lacey

E& W Engagement Session | Duke Gardens, Durham, NC / May 6, 2021 by Lacey R Butler

When I moved my domain, I lost showing off this couple.

I love getting to know a couple during their engagement session, getting some emotions, smiles…that spark! It is such an honor to see the images on their wedding website, or later, at the wedding in a book or on display. Congratulations (again and again) to the happy couples out there! Send some of that love magic my way <3