I don't normally abandon Savannah, GA, and drive 2.5 hours away for a wedding. I'm a passenger princess by nature. I am made to sit in the passenger seat and eat Cheetos while pointing at cows on the side of the road and saying, "cow". I don't like driving at all, really.  I booked this gig early on in my career, when all I wanted was more weddings (I still do). I debated it, but once I saw the venue online, I was sold. The Vines of Lexington is a beautiful and spacious vineyard nestled in the middle-of-nowhere Lexington county, SC. The drive was quiet and easy. 119 to 178 is mostly farmland (still got to say "cow"), and the occasional one-stoplight town. I ate at the only fast-food joint close to the venue- a Hardees straight out of the backrooms. Seriously. It was the only building for miles. I felt like I was in the twilight zone.

After the lazy drive (and some bomb chicken fingers from Uncanny Hardees, I arrived at my destination. This was my first big wedding alone at a really, REALLY nice venue, so I'll be honest, I was a little intimidated. Don't get me wrong, I've worked at nice venues before, but my Goodwill dress felt a little out of place. (Update- this gorgeous venue starts at only $1995!) I don't know about other photographers, but I'm anxious at the wedding until the kiss is over. I literally bought a second camera just so that there was no way I was missing anything at the weddings- especially the kiss.

Where does the kiss even come from? If they don't kiss, are they still married? Google says that its origins come from Ancient Rome, and that sealing the contract with a kiss finalized things- no kiss, no contract. "In various cultural traditions, exchanging a kiss symbolized the mingling of breath, spirits, or souls, representing the two becoming one." That's super cool, actually. Wedding kisses always make me think of The Wedding Singer (SOMEBODY KILL ME PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE). If you quote Adam Sandler with me, we'll be besties, I swear. I'm rambling. OKAY so the kiss is done. I got the shot- about 47 times, in fact. Thank you, Nai and Dalton, for the longest first kiss in history. I wish more couples were like you. I get it. Grandma's present. But if Grandma's gonna watch you get crunk with your friends later, she can watch a little tonsil hockey for the shot, too. By the way, Nai's grandma was cool as hell. I'd get crunk with her any day of the week.

Anyway, the kiss is over. The only other things I have to cover are the dances, toasts, and cake cutting. Those were all super sweet, but the cake was... oh my god. The bride's friend made it and it was like a marble cake thingy and it was literally the best wedding cake I've ever had in my entire life. I literally looked this woman in the eyes and told her so. I hope it made her as happy as her cake made me. But anyway, here are some photos I haven't shared yet:

Elegant white wedding venue with string lights glowing at dusk, surrounded by lush trees.
This is the venue greenhouse thingy. The vineyard and ceremony space are behind it. in front of it is a public space where the bride and groom got ready.
Outdoor wedding ceremony with guests seated along a brick aisle leading to the altar in a vineyard.
this is the end of the ceremony. nai made a lot of fun faces throughout the night.
Bride laughs joyfully with two friends in red and beige dresses during wedding preparations indoors.
like after a shot of liquid courage. i'd need the whole bottle. i didn't have a wedding for a lot of reasons, one being because i probably would have cried the entire time.
Smiling interracial couple poses together in a garden, bride holding a red and white bouquet.
another one after teasing the new hubby. these two clicked so well. i loved watching them be silly and interact with each other and their loved ones.
Guests gather on the dance floor during a wedding reception in a rustic barn venue with string lights.
just watching his new beloved be silly with her friends and his family at the reception.
Bride in strapless lace gown glances back at her groom standing among green vineyard vines.
and another one because i cannot get over the way he looks at her.
Large wedding party group photo on a sunny lawn, all cheering with hands raised behind the couple.
last one to end the post. i love making everyone go "woohoo" in the big family photo. mostly because they don't put their arms up until i tell them to. so they all just shout "woohoo" at me like my camera can capture it. and then i get to make the silly "my camera needs to see you, not hear you" joke. lol.