It’s a bittersweet moment for me-writing this blogpost about Ashley and Doug, knowing that their wedding day is over, and while I’m editing and posting all these pictures-those two are out sailing around on a massive cruise ship with their close family and friends, and I’m stuck in summer school. {Oh, joy!} 

I’m so happy for these two completely wonderful people, who I am so lucky enough to call my friends.  You see, I used to work with Ashley when we both worked at Hawthorne’s and I was there when her and Doug had met…yes, at Hawthorne’s! {How romantic, right?!}  Oh goodness, I don’t think there was ever a shift that went by where we didn’t talk about wedding rings, and our future kids, and our boyfriends…we would just gab on like girlfriends do! You know how the usual girl talks go-”when is he going to propose?…”do you think he’s bought the ring yet?” Yes, that was what I asked Ashley on a day-to-day basis!  {Ashley once told me that “if Doug buys another gun and doesn’t propose to me…I don’t know what I’ll do!?” {Hmmm…Sound’s very familiar!}  I just knew that these two were made for each other from the get go and I couldn’t be happier to see Ashley and Doug finally married! 

Their wedding was truly wonderful! I couldn’t be happier for Ash, she really worked VERY hard to bring it all together. {The woman handmade all of the wooden boxes that went on the tables for centerpieces! They were incredible!} Her rustic/vintage vision came alive on her wedding day, and the day couldn’t have been more perfect! From the windows filled with black and white images of both Ashley and Doug, the Mason jar “Southern Sipper” as a favor, and the ever popular photo booth, Ashley and Doug’s wedding was a perfect way begin many happy years of a wonderful marriage!  

& then…to top everything off, it was at Pepper Plantation Pavilion in Charleston, South Carolina. {Where Doug proposed to Ashley!} What could be better?!

{love, love, LOVE the hanger!}

{This moment right here…is well, there are no words…if you went to the wedding, you know what I’m talking about…if not…well, it’s about to get explicit!}

Ashley and Doug, thank you SO much for letting me be apart of your special day.  You guys are incredible, and I’m so happy and blessed to have such wonderful people in my life! I’m SO extremely happy for you both and love you both! {Can’t wait until y’all come to ours next! } 

Ashley and Doug were married Friday, May 18th at the Pepper Plantation Pavilion in Charleston.  While I’m busy editing the photos getting ready for the {sneak peek} I thought I’d show a little snippet from Ashley’s bridal session with me!  

She makes one gorgeous bride, doesn’t she?!  We kept saying that if we just had a bow and arrow, she would be mistaken for Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games movie! {Wouldn’t she?!}

Be on the look out for Ashley+Doug’s Wedding {Sneak Peek} coming in the next few days!  

Amanda & Owen’s Wedding weekend was simply a southern dream!  These two are such an amazing couple and had such a marvelous wedding on Cape Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks.  From the fabulous venue at The Love Boat {walk by their wedding site, and it was like a scene right out of a Nicholas Sparks novel!}, to the ceremony that took place right beside the Pamlico Sound, and then down to the red velvet cupcakes served for dessert…the wedding was just simply a dream that fit Amanda and Owen’s laid back personalities perfectly!

Some of my favorite moments from the day…

-Amanda’s dad seeing her for the first time.  It was such a special moment between the two, and my eyes were filled with tears watching these two clasp into each other’s arms just moments before the ceremony!  I will never forget that moment…

-Watching Owen while Amanda was walking down the aisle to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles.  {Who wouldn’t be happy?!  Have you seen that gorgeous bride in her gown?!}

-Getting a chance to take Amanda and Owen to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse right after the wedding ceremony!  We weren’t going to come all the way to the OBX without a few pictures taken near the world’s famous lighthouse! {My favorite moment of all! I loved having them all to myself!}

-During the first dance, Amanda and Owen’s nephews danced {or ran!} around them which made everyone laugh and of course, that laughter didn’t stop the boys!  I don’t think those two would’ve had it any other way!

-Watching Amanda’s dad rock out on the air guitar during Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing’” His air guitar skills were pretty intimidating, I’m not gonna lie.

So here’s a few of my favorites from the entire wedding day…

{“Free” by Zac Brown Band was their first dance song…ahh I loved it.}

{And this is where the rock concert began…}

{Ok, guess what movie we were recreating here…here’s a hint: “Now I’ve had the time of my life….”}

Amanda & Owen…Amazing doesn’t even describe it!  We had a fabulous time! Thank you for everything! I can’t wait to see what joys married life brings you two!  I know we’ll stay in touch…and thanks for giving me a fresh, new idea about where to have our wedding! =]

And I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind
Yes, I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind…

Perfect setting. Perfect couple. Perfect everything.

Amanda and Owen’s Friday night rehearsal dinner was just that…Perfect.  It was almost like being in a Nicholas Sparks novel.  In the Outer Banks of North Carolina, underneath oaks layered in spanish moss, and the carolina blue sky above, it felt like we were in a dream for the entire weekend.  These two were married at The Love Boat on Cape Hatteras Island…an AMAZING venue that had breathtaking views and one amazing spot to watch the sunset! {Jeremy & I are talking about having OUR wedding here now…We were in love with this place!}

With their families and friends, Amanda & Owen welcomed their guests with a backyard cookout meal that included burgers, hotdogs, coleslaw, and baked beans that’ll make you want to slap yo’ mama!  They even handed out “Welcome Bags” that contained things that were made in North Carolina, like Mt. Olive pickles and Cheerwine.  {Jeremy & I sipped the Cheerwine on the beach afterward! Yummy!} It was such a great kickoff to an amazing wedding weekend with such an amazing couple!

Radiant Carolina sunshine swept over the sky just hours before Jess and Dan said ‘I do’.  Rain on your wedding day IS good, but golden sunshine-especially for an outdoor ceremony is always preferred!

From the homemade yellow bouquets {YES! her mom & sister put those together! Amazing, right?!} to the yellow & gray argyle socks for every groomsman…each and every detail for Jess & Dan’s wedding was super-perfect!

These two have been an absolute JOY to work with! They are both so quirky, enthusiastic, and fun!  And speaking of fun…their reception was one for the record books.  It was non-stop dancing {embarrassing dance moves, as well as the choreographed ones, singing to B-52′s ‘Love Shack’, and Jess {the bride!} doing ‘the running man’ well enough to make even LMFAO jealous of her “shuffling” skills! The night ended with “We are Young”-by Fun, while everyone gathered around the bride and groom, serenading them and holding up lighters and lit-up cell phones.  What better way to end an already epic reception, am I right?

i’m so happy to announce the first annual love {bliss} giveaway. it’s simple really.  If you are engaged, know a few people who are engaged, or really wish you were engaged…then enter to win! Here are a few things you need to know before you enter:

1. Winner will receive a FREE engagement session.  No, you’re not dreaming.  I said FREE!  {Valued at $400!}

2. it’s quite possibly the most awesomest contest out there!

Emma Loo Photography is all about capturing life’s little glimpses of bliss, and what better way to do that than standing beside the love of your life for a FREE engagement session?!  We’re looking for creative and crazy-in-love romances, and we want to show off your bliss!  So if you would like to win a FREE engagement session, enter the Love {Bliss}. Contest!  

Before you enter, please read over all of the guidelines and voting procedures…

Guidelines:

1. Couples must submit their names and a photo by March 28th at midnight through an email (emily@emmaloo-photography.com)  

2. The couple must also submit their own love story.  The story should include things like how you met, when you got engaged, funky random facts about one another…you get the idea, right?  The story is a way for you to help Emma Loo get to know you AND help others get to know you…because there will be VOTING…

VOTING:

Voting for the winning couple will take place on the Emma Loo Photography Facebook page.  Each couple’s picture will be displayed in an album titled “Love.{Bliss} Contest”.  The couple must then be in charge of getting “votes”(LIKES) for their photograph ONLY IN THE EMMA LOO PHOTOGRAPHY FACEBOOK ALBUM.  Friends and family of the couple MUST LIKE EMMA LOO PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook in order for the vote/like to count.  The couple with the most votes/likes will win!  Winners will be announced April 9th. 

YOU MUST SUBMIT PICTURES AND STORIES TO EMILY (emily@emmaloo-photography.com) BY MARCH 28TH.  Pictures will be posted and voting will begin on April 1st.  

Help spread the word!  Good luck! 

When you work with couples who are absolutely amazing like the ones I’ve been lucky enough to work with…you tend to be a little overly obsessed with your job, like I am. Yes, it’s true folks.  I love every single second of my job, and it’s because I have couples like Kristen and Darik to work with!  

I’m not going to lie…I’ve been a little stressed out lately with everything going on in my life. Photography school has really taken a huge toll on me.  {& I’m not going to sit here and complain about everything, I promise!} I’ve just had those days. You know, those days where you just think “Why am I doing this? Am I happy? Am I making the right choice?”.  It’s a lot of pressure, and a ton of “what do I do now’s”.  

But then, as if the storm clears and the sun shines through…

I meet two people, like Kristin & Darik, who inspire me, lift up my spirits, and remind me of why I love everything about photography, running my own business, and love itself.

Kristin, Darik, and I {oh! & their friend Christy!} all met at Freedom Park. On a Sunday afternoon. During one of the first 65 degree days that Charlotte has seen in a while. So you probably have guessed it…yup…it was packed!  So we piled in the car and drove down to good ole’ NoDa.  As soon as we arrived, I knew that this place fit Kristin and Darik’s personalities so well…{humm…beat that, Freedom Park!} It was a good choice and I think I have officially made these two into NoDa residents! {They were even looking at condos during our session!…hehe!}

My heart melts when I look at these…I love them all. I get so giddy when I look at engagement sessions because it’s REAL.  There’s no fancy white dress, colorful flowers, or “James Bond-esque” tuxedos.  It’s just two people, madly in love, and ready to spend the rest of their lives together.  What could be more amazing?!  I’m getting goosebumps as I write this because it’s how I felt as I was walking around with Kristin & Darik. I’m so happy that I was able to capture that for them! I can’t wait for their wedding! It’s going to be a blast! 

Oh goodness, a TON has happened to me in the past few months, and I am SO sorry that I haven’t been around to blog about the entire thing…{I know you’re just hanging on by a thread, right?…} hmm.

Anywooo. A lot has happened…but I’m not going to go back on the “wild adventure ride of Emily” to explain it all to you in this short little blog post. No, for now. This is going to all be about one thing. Love. 

Love is exactly why I am a photographer. I love it. I breath it. I feel it. I live it. It’s everything that I am, all wrapped up in an image.   I’m so happy to be at a point in my life right now where love is the only thing I need. I love photography, I love my family, I love my friends, school, work, Emma Loo Photography, my clients, and especially my man!  If I didn’t have Jeremiah Lyndle in my life, I don’t know where or who I would be.  With him I am everything, without him I am lost.  It’s strange to think that your heart can get so tangled up into one person, the way mine does with Jeremy.  I love absolutely everything about him, and while yes-the kid does have his flaws, please don’t get me wrong…he makes everything feel so right when I’m with him.  I’m anything but  perfection, so I don’t expect him to be either.  We’re in love. We’re going to spend the rest of our days together & I couldn’t be happier.  All I want to do is wake up beside that man every morning & everything else will be just fine.

{Ok, ok, ok…I’m sorry! I’ll cool it with the mushy stuff!}

But then I think to myself-”gosh, where did I get all this lovey-mushy-romantic stuff from?!” Nope, not from overly romantic Nicholas Sparks movies/books, and cheesy episodes of The Bachelor…Oh no, dear friend! From my parents, of course!  Both of my parents were mad for each other-absolutely smitten with one another.  Growing up with parents who loved and cared for each other, and showed one another that love and passion.  It was something that I had the honor to witness everyday.  I couldn’t imagine my life without Jeremy…I can’t even being to fathom it.

However, my mom had to face that fear & live her life without her husband, her soulmate, her “Jeremy”.

Loosing my dad was like falling into a deep, dark hole with no way out. It wasn’t easy, and I would never want anyone to go through with what I had-loosing a father at 20, a time when you think “you have it all”.

But, what about my mom?  Hadn’t she lost everything too?  After my dad’s passing, my mom and I spent many nights lying in bed together just crying and crying.  It’s not easy. But the hurt and pain will slowly fade away, and the light in that dark, deep hole will start to shine.

In the summertime, my mom met a man named Joe.  At first I was weary of Joe entering my mom’s life.  I was worried about her, and I didn’t want her to get hurt in any way.  After meeting Joe, I knew that he was great for my mom.  They are great for each other, and I know for the first time in a long time since my dad’s passing…my mom is filled with joy.  It’s strange to think that another man other than my dad is in my mom’s life.  I’m not going to lie, it is weird…but Joe is a terrific man, and he makes my mom smile. I’m so happy for her, and I’m so grateful for Joe {& his family!}.  I love her more than anything, and she deserves to be happy! So this one’s for you mom! {Gahhh! I’ve always wanted to say that!}

When Amanda & Owen first came to me back months ago, I knew Amanda & I had hit it off immediately when we met.  So I was more than thrilled when she told me that her & Owen’s wedding was going to take place at Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks! {Lucky me, I get to spend an entire weekend with such an amazing couple at such an amazing location! I have the best of clients, really I do!} I am so estactic and I can’t wait for their Cinco de Mayo wedding! It will be a blast! Judging by the way we were having such a good time on the engagement session, I can tell that their wedding with close friends and family will be just the same-casual, relaxed, and most of all-fun!

Amanda & Owen, you guys make me smile! I can’t tell you enough how excited I am for the wedding day!  Thank you SO much for making me apart of your special day! Next stop-OBX!