Tissiana and John’s Sunrise Wedding at Pretty Place Chapel

Cushla Beasley July 18, 2018 0 Comments Wedding

………. Tissiana and John’s wedding at Pretty Place Chapel in Cleveland, SC was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I’ve ever had the privilege of shooting.

………. I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a morning person, so when Tissiana told me that we needed to arrive at 5:30am I wasn’t completely sold on the whole thing. That was until I saw the venue.

………. I’ve heard a lot about Pretty Place Chapel from friends and other photographers who live in the Greenville, SC area so I knew that it was going to be pretty, but I honestly didn’t think it was going to be as gorgeous as it was. With a perfect view out over the Upstate of South Carolina and into North Carolina, the sunrise was about as good as I’ve ever seen (although admittedly I haven’t seen THAT many given my aversion to the wee small hours of the morning).

………. Following the ceremony, I was extremely glad that my clients trust me to the extent that they do because despite John not being the biggest fan of heights, he stepped over the railing to the edge of the cliff and got some beautiful portraits! In my defense though, Tissiana had more to do with than than me so you can’t blame me entirely.

………. From there it was a short drive back to the Highland Lake Inn for breakfast, a quick cake cutting and then portraits with their family and friends before we had to hit the road back to Charleston.

………. Really looking forward to having the opportunity to shoot here again!

Remember to click the read more link at the bottom of the page for more photos!

Vendors

Ceremony: Pretty Place Chapel

Reception: Highland Lake Inn

Dress: Maggie Sottero

Baley and Elliott’s Alhambra Hall Wedding in Charleston, SC

Cushla Beasley July 13, 2018 0 Comments Uncategorized, Wedding

……….Baley and Elliott’s Alhambra Hall wedding was the perfect balance of fun and elegance.

……….The day began at a relaxed pace with the girls getting ready while sipping mimosas. After loading into the car and heading to the ceremony venue around the corner – St. Andrews Historic Church – we headed straight into the couple’s first look. In the lush, shaded courtyard on the parish grounds, Baley and Elliott saw each other for the first time and exchanged meaningful letters afterwards (one of my favorite wedding day traditions.)

……….After the ceremony, cocktail hour began at Alhambra Hall for the guests while we headed out to take some portraits! Baley and Elliott were down for anything – they even climbed into a bush of weeds for one shot! We began at the Pitt St. Bridge, a place that holds special meaning to the Bride. The sky was beautiful and the weather was perfect for casual, romantic shots by the water. Sunset came and we kept on shooting – I even shot a couple rolls of film on my old Mamiya RZ67 film camera for a couple of poses (getting that film processed will be a whole other story!). Their adorable French bull dog made an appearance for some photos during cocktail hour – she’s a natural on camera.

……….Their reception included an (aggressive) tambourine solo to Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, a choreographed performance of the dance from Napoleon Dynamite, and a late-night delivery of 300 tacos from Taco Bell and a stack of Papa John’s pizzas. That last one in particular made me think that these two are the type of people I could definitely be friends with!

……….Thanks to all of the vendors who helped make this Alhambra Hall wedding day so much fun!

Remember to click the read more link at the bottom of the page for more photos!

Ceremony Venue: St. Andrews Historic Church Mount Pleasant

Reception Venue: Alhambra Hall

Planning: Yoj Events

Florist: Frampton’s Flowers

Hair & Makeup: Paper Dolls

Rentals: Eventworks

Transportation: Charleston Style Limo

Catering + Bar: Sandlapper

Cake: ABCD

Entertainment: Midnight City

Tuxedo Rental: Charleston Tuxedo

10 Reasons Why You Should Have A Charleston, SC Wedding

Nick July 12, 2018 0 Comments Fun Stuff

…………Charleston, SC is the number one city in America AGAIN! For the 6th time in a row, Travel & Leisure has ranked Charleston the number one city in America which, let’s be honest, is pretty fantastic. Charleston is not only a great place to live and work, but we think it’s also the number one place in America to get married! Here’s a list of 10 reasons why a Charleston, SC wedding is the best in the country!

Paige and John’s Springtime Wedding at William Aiken House in Charleston, South Carolina

Cushla Beasley July 8, 2018 2 Comments Wedding

………..A William Aiken House wedding is one of my favorite things: a grand historic home surrounded by the hustle and bustle of King St that is host to many great locations to shoot (and party!). Even though this wedding was nearly 3 years ago, I’m still completely in love with it! It’s always incredible to have clients that trust me to make them look amazing and who are up for anything!

…………Travelling in classic Charleston style by vintage trolley (and leaving in a rickshaw), Paige and John oozed elegance from start to finish (even with a broken dress strap on the dance floor!) – the guys got ready and relaxed with some drinks beforehand at The Thoroughbred Club bar at the Charleston Place Hotel and the girls prepared for the day in the stately red-toned ready-room at the William Aiken House.

…………Paige and John’s elegant wedding was ideally suited to this venue – rich tones of red, yellow, and gold paired wonderfully with the couple’s neutral palette – black tuxedos, a hint of blush pink, and cream roses. The ceremony, held at St. Mary of the Annunciation (i.e. that Church with the best frescoes in town), was followed by plenty of portraiture and a glamorous reception.

…………Thanks to all of the vendors that helped make this William Aiken House wedding as amazing as it was! This really was a dream team wedding. From the fantastic planning by Janet from JVM Events to the videography, flowers and hair and makeup, I’d work with this team again any day of the week!

Remember to click the read more link at the bottom of the page for more photos!

Vendors

Reception Venue: William Aiken House

Ceremony Venue: St. Mary of the Annunciation

Planning: JVM Events

Florist: Charleston Blooms

Hair & Makeup: Lashes and Lace

Lighting: Charleston Uplighting

Rentals: Snyder Events and Snyder Lounge

Transportation: Absolutely Charleston

Catering + Bar + Cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group

Entertainment: Paul Matthews Entertainment

Getaway Transportation: Charleston Rickshaw

Videographer: Chap Films

Click through to see more photos!

Carolyn and Mario’s Elegant Wedding at the Parsonage in Charleston, South Carolina

Cushla Beasley July 7, 2018 0 Comments Wedding

……….On a brisk November morning while the sun was shining, Carolyn and Mario tied the knot in the historic courtyard of the Parsonage at St. Johannes in Charleston, South Carolina. I don’t shoot many morning weddings, but after working with these two, I definitely want to shoot more. In addition to the fun challenge of finding color in the middle of the day (hello color block walls!), we had so much more time to shoot since we weren’t chasing fading light. If you only have a small group for your wedding, I’d definitely recommend considering a morning wedding!

……….This intimate affair was flawlessly Charleston, with traditional touches from Mario’s native Spain – including a coin ceremony using the same coins (known as Las Arras) that Mario’s parents had used for their wedding! They were even able to incorporate their adorable dog Sammy that had his own spa day at The Dog Wash!

…………This was actually one of the first weddings performed at The Parsonage. At the time it was brand new, and my team and I couldn’t have been more impressed! It is extremely close to everything, but once you step off the quiet Hassell St. sidewalk and into the secluded courtyard at the rear of The Parsonage you feel like you’re in your own private world. The ability to stay on site in one of their large, well appointed rooms, is also a huge plus and cuts out the hassle of getting around in downtown Charleston.

Remember to click the read more link at the bottom of the page for more photos!

Venue: The Parsonage

Planning: Mac & B Events

Florist: Charleston Flower Market

Hair & Makeup: Willow Salon

Rings: Dominion Jewelers

Dress: Pronivias

Dog Grooming: The Dog Wash

Bridal Shop: Ellie’s Bridal

Rentals: Eventworks & Simply Elegant Rentals

Transportation: Palmetto Carriage Works

Catering + Bar: Crave

Cake: Wildflour Pastry

Entertainment: Nikolai Svishev

Click through to see more photos!

Amber and Stehle’s Last-Minute Downtown Charleston Wedding Portraits

Cushla Beasley July 7, 2018 0 Comments Wedding

……….This is definitely the latest anyone has ever gotten in touch with me: I received a slightly-panicked phone call around 2 PM (three hours before we had a scheduled shoot with another couple) from Amber and Stehle – there had been a scheduling mix-up with their photographer and they were left with no one to shoot their wedding portraits! Luckily, I was free at the time and live downtown so was already nearby when they rang. After filing their paperwork at the courthouse we headed out to the streets to take some downtown Charleston wedding portraits – and they couldn’t have turned out better!

……….I’m a total sucker for day-after shoots. They give you as a couple the freedom to enjoy your wedding day without feeling like you have to be torn away from your friends and family to go out and take portraits. That means we can take a few hours a day (or several depending on your schedule) after the ceremony to wander through the streets of downtown, or explore Magnolia Plantation and take some amazing photos! Amber and Stehle were relaxed and poised throughout the shoot (despite having an unbelievably stressful morning). They and their families were gracious and even cheered us on later when they saw us later on while were were out shooting with our second couple of the day! Amber’s family came all the way over from France for their special day, and I’m so glad that we were able to be there to capture these memories for them.

……….Amber and Stehle actually just welcomed their first child into the world a few days ago so a huge congratulations are definitely in order! Best of luck!

If you have any questions at all Contact Us today or follow us on Instagram for stay up to date with our work!

Brad and Elizabeth’s Beach Wedding on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Cushla Beasley July 7, 2018 0 Comments Wedding

An intimate beach front ceremony, a crisp April afternoon, and a private home reception on Hilton Head Island – what could be better?

Hilton Head is a place special to Brad. His family has been travelling here since he was young. He and Elizabeth vacationed here, too, and upon deciding to marry here have created yet another special memory to cherish on the Island. Elizabeth’s elegant dress was paired perfectly with a blush sash and pearl jewelry. The soft blush accent color was picked in the roses in her bouquet and complimented by the darker shades from the anemones.

Having clients with an interest in photography means that I have more time and freedom for portraiture on wedding days, which is always inspiring. Lucky for us as well, the weather and sunset were in full cooperation (the gnats are another story, though!). From beachfront to woodland to a crumbling mill, we had ample time pre-and-post-ceremony to cover all of the bases and then some. Brad and Elizabeth were a gracious couple that knew how to celebrate in style – thanks to all of the vendors for coming together to make this special Hilton Head wedding possible!

Remember to click the read more link at the bottom of the page for more photos!

Click through to see more photos!

Anna and Cole – Downtown Charleston Engagement Session

Nick July 4, 2018 0 Comments Engagement Session

Anna and Cole nailed it. I can give all the direction in the world, but there’s nothing I can do to fake the simplicity of two people being in love with with one another.

Let’s be honest, engagement sessions certainly aren’t natural things. Most people don’t get photographed being cuddly with their significant other on a regular basis. The best piece of advice I can give anyone, more than clothing choices or anything else, is just this. Relax with your partner and be present in the moment. That’s probably great life advice too, eh?

If you have any questions at all Contact Us today or follow us on Instagram for stay up to date with our work!

5 Real Reasons Why You Need A Wedding Planner

Nick February 5, 2018 0 Comments Blog Post

A wedding planner might seem like just another wedding expense, but in reality, your wedding planner can make you day so much better and really cut the amount of stress you deal with in both the planning process and on your big day.

Our friend Meagan over at Stella Jane Events just put together an awesome list of 5 real reasons why you need a wedding planner! Check them out below:

1.) Want To Talk Over Ideas? Your Planner Can Give You Informed Advice

A planner can be a sounding board for you. Wedding planning is not an easy task, especially for the bride. You have a lot of family and friends that want to be involved and let you know what they think and what you should do. I do think you should be polite and listen to what they have to say. But you can always tell them, “Well let me ask my planner what I should do.” I always tell my brides to call me if they need to vent about the planning process. Even when you have a planner doing most of the work you can still experience stress during your wedding. I like to think that I am there for my brides when they need to talk about things to a neutral party.

2.) Planners Can Help You Get The Most For Your Money

The wedding market is very competitive and so is the pricing. Weddings can get out of control when it comes to what you have to pay. I get asked a lot if I get a discount with certain vendors. I don’t but I do let my brides know that I sometimes can help get things that might have been overlooked. I have had a flower crisis where the glass centerpieces were blowing off the table since the wind had picked up that afternoon. Just goes to show that you never know what can happen at an outdoor wedding. Luckily having worked with the florist multiple times and having a good relationship with them I was able to have them bring me centerpiece vases that would work and we were able to change them out before anyone noticed.

3.) Planners Can Help You Narrow Down Your Ideas

Narrow in your vision and give you new ideas. Pinterest is a great tool for wedding ideas but it can also be overwhelming. You start to want to incorporate every idea you see. I am all about the details but I do think that you can start to have too many ideas and things can look jumbled. A planner can send you pins that fit your theme and budget. They can keep track of your original vision and let you know what details to focus on and that will be noticed by your guests.

4.) Planners Can Help You Find Vendors You May Not Know About

Up and coming vendors. As a wedding planner I am always interested in new vendors, meeting them and getting their story. Without a planner you are limited to websites to find your vendors or by word of mouth. I am always trying to meet people that are good at what they do and are trying to make a name for themselves in the area.

5.) Planners Can Help Plan So Much More Than Just Your Wedding Day

Planners can help you plan more than the day. Weddings now have evolved into entire weekends and sometimes vacations for guests. As the hosting couple you want to let them know what there is to do when there are there. This is where a wedding website is very important. I love helping with the wedding website and adding the best spots in town to visit. I am always there for my brides with recommends for them. Even if it is from the simplest thing like my favorite nail salon to where to have the rehearsal dinner.

5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Hair And Makeup Trial

Nick January 30, 2018 0 Comments Blog Post

Hair and makeup is such an important part of your wedding! Your wedding day is the single most photographed day of your life and your hair and makeup is in all of those photos. We’ve teamed up with our friend Carrie from Paper Dolls Wedding Hair and Makeup to walk you through an underrated part of the hair and makeup process; the trial. Check out her tips below.

The Importance of a Hair and Makeup Trial

I recommend that all brides do a trial run. It gives you and your artist an opportunity to work together in a low stress environment to create the perfect wedding day look. I’ve put together a few tips to help you get the most out of your trial run experience.

1. Search For Inspiration, But There’s Always Room To Combine and Create Looks

Thanks to all the wedding blogs, online wedding magazines, Pinterest, Instagram and Google you have plenty of resources to find inspiration for your hair! Try to find models with hair color similar to yours for your hair inspiration. Try narrowing your searches by searching specific things. Instead of “low bun” try searching “brunette low bun”. Instead of “wedding hair” search “bridal half up style”.

Most hair pictures only show the style from the back or the side. Remember that you can choose elements from multiple pictures to create the perfect wedding day style! These photos only serve as a guide to get you and your stylist on the same page at your trial run.

I love when brides say “I like the look and shape of the bun on this photo but I like the placement of the bun better on this other photo and I love the texture and volume on this photo”. You don’t have to find one perfect photo of the look you want! If you plan on wearing a veil and/or hair piece you should bring it along to the trial run if possible.

Also, don’t eliminate styles you love because you assume your hair won’t do something or that you won’t have enough hair for it! Most talented artists can give you the hair of your dreams you may just need to get clip in extensions or filler hair for the style!

2. Learn To Read The Makeup In Photos

When searching for makeup inspiration try to find models with a similar skin tone to yours. For example if you are fair with freckles try searching specific hashtags and keywords like “natural makeup for fair skin”. Searching for makeup inspiration pictures can be tricky! You have to look past the pretty face in the picture and actually look at the makeup in the photo. Here is an example of how I usually break the photo down into sections when a bride shows it to me. For some reason I always start with the eyes!

Eyes:

What colors can I see on her eyes? determine what colors I see on her eyes and make sure that my bride is on the same page as me
What color is her eyeliner? Is it winged? Is there a liner along the waterline (inside on the bottom) or not?
What about a shadow along the bottom lash line?
Are there false lashes?

Cheeks

Is the cheek peachy, pink or bronze?
What about a shimmer/highlight on the top of the cheek?
Is there contouring below the blush to chisel out the cheekbones?

Lips

Usually for this step we go with the brides preference and try to keep her in her comfort zone. Most brides have a color they wear every day and incorporating that can help you feel like yourself!

Skin

Is the finish on the skin dewey and glowing or is it more matte?

These are just a few things to consider when looking at a makeup inspiration photo! Try to imagine each element of the photo on your face. Talk through each of these steps with your artist prior to starting the makeup trial run. Don’t ever just show a photo and have the artist just start right up on you! Each face is different and the makeup needs to be customized to accentuate YOUR best features, not look like a carbon copy of a pinterest photo! Also, try to avoid photos that are super edited and filtered. Everyone has pores – even celebrities!

3. Think About The Timing Of Your Hair And Makeup Trial

Try to schedule your trial run on a day where the weather is similar to what it will be on the wedding day. This can be tricky when planning from out of town but it’s really important, as your hair may hold up beautifully in a down style at your trial run in January, but it may not stand a chance in the Charleston humidity in July. Also, try to wear your hair and makeup after the trial run for as long as possible to really test out the longevity of it – your wedding day is going to be long and you want to make sure that your hair and makeup will last. After all, that’s what a trial run is for!

4. Schedule Your Trial and Bridal Portraits Together

If you are planning on doing bridal portraits, try to schedule them the same day as your hair and makeup trial run. If you aren’t planning on doing bridal portraits you could always schedule your dress fitting for the same day – this way you’ll be able tovsee your entire look put together.

5. Let Your Artist Know What You’re Thinking

This is the most important tip I can give you! If you aren’t 100% sure about anything at all SPEAK UP! We are professionals and we won’t get our feelings hurt if you want to see a different style or change something about the hair and/or the makeup! We really, truly want our brides to love their hair and makeup on their wedding day and the whole point of the trial is to try different things so we get it right. Don’t ever walk out wishing you had asked to have something changed – a true professional won’t get upset.

Hope you enjoyed this article! Check out Paper Dolls Bridal Hair and Makeup for your wedding day and of course, all photos were taken by Nicholas Gore Weddings. Let us know what you think in the comments below.