Oh lordy. Another wedding I hardly have the words for, but here we go- truly one of the best experiences of our life. Mariko and Caleb invited their immediate family and closest friends to witness them exchange their vows in one of their favorite places on earth- Yosemite National Park. They rented two cabins on the outskirts of the park for the 19 of us, and it didn’t take long at all before we felt truly welcomed and like a part of their group. I’ve dreamt of visiting Yosemite for a long time, and to not only get to see it all up close, but to photograph these two there?? Pinch me please.

Mariko and Caleb are avid rock climbers (I had gotten to see them in action in NC for their engagement photos!) so what better backdrop than El Capitan seen from Cathedral Beach? Everything was just so perfectly them- days spent exploring and rock climbing, nights spent playing Super Smash Brothers.

We got the most perfect moody weather- Yosemite looks its best on an overcast day in my opinion. You can see rain drops here and there in their photos, but it was never enough to put a damper on their day. After photos, we all gathered for an incredible dinner at the Ahwahnee (formerly known as the Majestic Yosemite) Hotel. Cameras unfortunately aren’t allowed inside, but I couldn’t get over how the dining room with floor to ceiling windows and romantic candlelight looked like something straight out of Harry Potter.

The next day the sun came out, and we explored some other parts of the valley, marveling at how every single corner of that park is like out of a different world. Again- pinch me.

Thank you Mariko and Caleb for having me photograph your day, and for treating us like family. We are so thankful for both you and your families <3

Dress: BHLDN | Florals: Red Door Florist | Hair & Makeup: Yosemite Makeup |

Emily and Joe got married on a beautiful September day (and on a Monday!) surrounded by their closest friends, family, and their four jack russell terriers (Rocky, Ringo, Bella, and Jack). The Meadows in Raleigh provided the perfect backdrop- from their modern reception space, the woodsy ceremony spot with dreamy string lights strung up in the pine trees, to the namesake rolling meadow hills. I love how they were able to incorporate their pups in their ceremony. More dogs at weddings, please? Thanks.

For the ceremony, a local Americana band the Jordan Lake Swimmers played some favorite Beatles songs, Emily and Joe’s favorite band, which made the atmosphere instantly romantic and whimsical. The talented folks of The Gathering Co planned and absolutely KILLED IT with the bohemian inspired decor and handwritten signs. I mean that ceremony site arch alone is incredible!!

Emily and Joe provided their guests plenty of board games, cornhole, and a fire to enjoy when the night cooled down, as well as a super cute VW Bus photobooth courtesy of the Lil Photo Bus. The talented band Retro Candy rocked the night away while guests got to enjoy a plethora of delicious desserts, cake, and multiple yummy combinations from the late night biscuit bar.

I’m constantly blown away by how much talent resides in the wedding industry in this area, and as a Raleigh native myself, absolutely love photographing weddings where the couple has strived to include so many talented local vendors. This wedding was no exception to that. <3 Thank you so much for including me in your incredible day, Joe and Emily!