Where to begin… this post has been brewing for a really long time! let me introduce the Morenos 🙂
Get ready ya’ll this one is going to be a long one! My awesome big sis – thanks Ash! – put Emily and I in touch in September while she was in full wedding planning mode and was searching for a photographer. After sitting down with Emily over coffee and hearing about all the wedding details – outdoor ceremony, falcons, hiking… – I knew this wedding was going to be nothing short of amazing! But before we get to all that wedding goodness I want to kick things off with their beautiful engagement photos!
With all of our busy schedules, we weren’t able to nail down a time for their engagement session until a week before the wedding. Even though Emily and Cruz had decided to have their ceremony at Raven Rock State Park they wanted to also do their engagement photos there as well since they had stumbled across a new location while they were out hiking one day and it was absolutely gorgeous – water, woods, fall leaves – you can tell from the photos above it is beautiful! We met one early Sunday morning and even though it was a little cold, super early in the morning and we had to hike about a quarter of a mile on a horse trail – beware the land mines! – these two made the whole experience a lot of fun. These two seriously never stopped laughing!
After their engagement session I became super excited for the wedding. Not only are they a fun couple but they are so laid back and easy going I knew this wedding was going to be a great time – and I was not disappointed! Their wedding day went perfectly and I am so excited I finally get to share with you some of my favorite images with you all 🙂
love her wedding colors!!
Emily you are GORGEOUS!
I have to pause here and give some love to my second shooter, Ann Tobler of Miss Jee’s Photography. She is wicked talented 🙂 She got all of these great shots of the men before the ceremony and a lot of the shots you see below at the reception. I would not have been able to deliver such a robust gallery without her.
hehe love the shades Cruz!
details.. details.. details 🙂
Fun fact: Emily read part of her vows in SPANISH!
Emily and Cruz had a falcon fly their rings down the aisle – that was probably the coolest thing I have ever seen at a wedding.
and the pastor agreed haha!
who can say they got to hold a falcon on their wedding day?!
gah! These images are my absolute favorite 🙂 after the ceremony ended, Emily, Cruz and I hopped in a park rangers truck and headed to this trail. We had to hike down 160 steps and Emily did it in her wedding dress! It doesn’t even look like we were in North Carolina. love love love!
I told you Ann was good 🙂 She got those awesome dancing pictures above!
Big thanks to this amazing couple for letting me be apart of their special day. I wish you guys all the happiness in your new journey together <3 oh weddings…
Where were the first 3 photos taken, you said horse trails so I assume it’s one of the creeks on the River Road side of the park?
Thanks
Orion
Hey Orion- The engagement photos were taken on the horse trail side and the actual wedding photos were taken on the main side of the park. The horse trail are beautiful but the rocks on the main side of the park were breath taking! I didn’t even feel like I was in NC.
@Brittany,
I have been down to the rock many of times, but I never been on the horse trail side. I will have to take a trip out that way next day I have off. Another quick question did you have any issues getting everything cleared with the park? I have looked at the form for a special event permit and everything looked straight forward except the submission of a traffic control plan.
Thanks
@Orion – I think the special event permit is if you are planning a large event down there i.e. a photo walk. I didn’t run into any problems just doing an engagement session there. I was unable to find any rules or regulations on have a session there.
These are great shots. I am very surprised also that you did not need a permit to get there. Do you think this would be a good spot for family pictures or just engagement style photos?
Thanks Brad! I wonder if I didn’t need a permit because they were paying to have their wedding ceremony there. I would say this is a good spot for family photos but would make sure the kids are old enough to do a bit of hiking. There is quite a bit of walking and steep steps involved in getting to the location were we took their bride and groom photos.