Intimate wedding days are some of my absolute favorite because of the natural ease and tender moments they allow for. Big weddings can have them too of course, but you don’t have to fight for slower moments with smaller gatherings and less planning involved. If you aren’t sure if a big wedding is for you, this is great example of what a stress-free and even rush-free wedding day can look like. With only one photographer and 5 hours of coverage, Margaret & Stephen held a quiet & intimate wedding ceremony in Columbia, SC with 30 guests invited. After their ceremony at Forest lake Presbyterian church, they celebrated their union with their closest friends and family at Blue Marlin restaurant in Downtown Columbia.
We started the day at a stunning Airbnb in Downtown Columbia of Margaret getting ready with her mom & close girl friends. Our jaws dropped when she put on her Wona Concept wedding dress & we “oooo’d” & “ahhh’d” in response to her overwhelming beauty. Not to mention, the stunning natural light in this Airbnb made for the most elegant & timeless bridal portraits. Margaret was a dream!
After Margaret & Stephen’s sunset ceremony, they took a moment alone to soak in the joy of finally saying “I do”. My heart melted the rest of the day as I documented their tender and effortless love for one another. For their newly wed portraits, I had the creative challenge of working without natural light due to their sunset ceremony & desire to forgo a first look. I was inspired by the ambient light in the sanctuary along with the spotlights in the church pews for some moody, creative, and timeless imagery. We also utilized their church’s parlor room where we found a fireplace and wall sconces to add even more moodiness to their gallery.
We finished the night with a private candlelight dinner and I felt honored to be a part of such an intimate celebration with their closest people. This intimate wedding ceremony in Columbia, SC will definitely go down as one of the easiest and most tender weddings I’ve been privileged to document. If you’re interested in working with a photographer who will transform your best moments into art… let’s get the party started!!
