There is nothing sweeter than a couple in love. I say that a lot, I know, but it’s true. Sometimes the sweeter thing is finding a photographer who can capture that sweetness, that love in an instant. That’s what A.J. Dunlap Photography did for Ed and Christina. A.J. and Kyle captured so many sweet instants, beautiful moments for them to keep for a lifetime. They spent the first seven months of their relationship on the phone and Skype because he was in Afghanistan. This is a love story you’re going to want to stick around to read – it’s a goodie!!

Ed and Christina’s love story is a little different than most love stories. They first met in high school and reconnected a few years later on Facebook. Ed was a Marine serving a tour in Afghanistan when he messaged Christina one day during the summer. And a wonderful relationship blossomed from there. They talked on the phone and the computer for 7 months straight. On the day he finally returned home, Christina had the biggest smile on her face and about a billion butterflies in her stomach. He stepped off the bus, dropped his bags, walked over to Christina, picked her up, spun her around, and finally kissed her.

He was everything she had ever wanted and couldn’t believe that the time for them to be together had finally come. Ed thought Christina was the most beautiful woman in the world and felt like he was on cloud 9 every time she smiled at him. He never knew a woman could make him feel the way that Christina does.

Their first date was at the Longbranch in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Randy Houser and the Lost Trailers had come to play some good ol’ country music. They danced, laughed, and kissed the whole night long.

Their relationship began on May 20, 2012 with a casual hello from Ed all the way in Afghanistan. They spent the first seven months of their relationship talking on the phone and Skype and these are some of their most favorite memories. It may have been hard to see or even hear each other, but it was still amazing to see each other that first time.

It didn’t take Ed long to realize he was in love with Christina. And soon after, Christina realized he was simply perfect for her and her little boy. So one pretty, sunny day in the park, with absolutely no real planning on his part, Ed led Christina on a walk through the woods to a wooden bridge where he got down on one knee. He asked her what she was doing the rest of her life and then asked if she would spend it with him. Of course her answer was yes yes yes!!! It was unexpected (especially since Christina was wearing sweats and a t-shirt) but completely perfect.

{Behind the Lens with A.J. Dunlap} We do engagement shoots for all of our couples, it’s a non-negotiable. We do this because it’s the best way for them to get to know us and see how we work. It also allows us to see how they are going to interact in front of the camera, so that when wedding day comes around, it’s all second nature. We know what will make them laugh and get the most genuine reactions. We figure out the most flattering poses, angles, movements, and then, when it’s time for the wedding, we already know how to make them look like supermodels.

Engagement sessions are so much more personal than a wedding is. It’s who they are as a couple. It’s how they show off their personalities. Don’t get me wrong, wedding pictures are super important, but no one walks around in a white gown or tux every day of their life. This is the time when they can relax and just let their natural non-formal selves shine through.

For our sessions, we recommend couples really think through where they would like to take engagement pictures. It should be a reflection of who you two are as a couple, so we try to take them to a location that means something to them both. If there’s somewhere they often go for a date, that’d be perfect, or something that’s a statement in their relationship, like where he proposed, or even their home if they’ve bought a house together. Parks are nice, but if they’re just going there because it’s pretty, we try to think of somewhere that might be pretty and also mean something to them. We know our couples don’t think like photographers, so we offer to help them brainstorm on where might be a perfect location.

Wardrobe is huge too! A bad outfit can ruin a good photo! We recommend tighter fitting clothing versus the popular in-style flowing outfits. Unless you’re 5’11” and 110 lbs., flow-y clothing will make you look bigger. We LOVE color too! Our statement is “coordination not matchy-matchy”. Also, bring several outfits to the shoot. I’m always happy to recommend what might look best for pictures. For our couples, we typically tell them to wear shoes that they can walk into a field wearing. They can bring heels if they want, just make sure to bring a backup pair of shoes so we can go into some rougher terrain. We love to incorporate accessories and pets, or pretty much anything that’s part of their relationship.

For every engagement shoot we do, we start off with one statement, “We’re just going to have fun! We’ll coach you along the way, but if you feel like laughing, laugh. If you feel nervous or awkward, laugh. Just please don’t cry.” We say it jokingly, but it seems to help set couples at ease and let them know we’re not expecting them to be professional models. We’re here to make them look good and we do our best to make it an awesome experience. We know we’ve done that when the groom tells us at the end of the session that he had fun!

We also only shoot at sunset. It’s the best light of the day, and makes for the best pictures! We typically start about 2 hours before sunset so we can have some hang-loose chat time at the beginning and not have to rush through the session.

{Advice for Couples} Christina says, “I believe the best and most important things in a relationship are trust and communication. You have to compromise as a couple in everything you do. In a relationship, there are two people and each person should think about the other person, not just them self. My parents have been married for almost 30 years and these two things have been the key to their happy marriage. There will be problems in every relationship, but in the end, it will just make you stronger as a couple if you have trust and communication.”

Edward says, “In my opinion, honesty, communication, and compromise are the key to a healthy and loving relationship. My advice to other couples would be to always be honest with your partner about the past, present, and the future, and to always compromise when there is a disagreement. Also, always kiss your partner good night no matter how bad the day was because you never know what could happen.

Congratulations, Ed and Christina, and thank you so much for sharing your love story with us! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together, and a beyond beautiful wedding day too! Many, many thanks to A.J. Dunlap Photography for sharing this sweet shoot with us today!! xoxo

A.J. Dunlap Photography is a Premier Partner in the Heart Love Weddings Vendor Boutique. If you would like more information on how to become a partner, please complete and submit an application under our Advertising tab.

We all know you have a wedding budget (you have an every-day-life budget too). But there are some things you could (read: we highly recommend you do) splurge on for your wedding day. Mainly for the getting ready part of your day. And they are…

1. Plum Pretty Sugar Robe. I adore these. They’re gorgeous and perfect for all those getting ready special touches. A wonderful gift to yourself and your maids (!!!), or a gift to you from your maids, or even a gift from your mom. My mama already knows it’s a must on my list :)
2. Perfume. We love amazing grace by philosophy. Very pretty, not overwhelming at all, and very bridal. If you don’t wear perfume, you’ll love this. And if you already have a signature scent, great! Regardless, go give this a sniff next time you’re in Sephora! You can thank me later for this bit of advice!
3. Champagne. The bubbles will make you feel giggly and should help with those smattering of butterflies in your stomach. Limit yourself to just one glass (mimosa or straight bubbly) because no one likes a tipsy bride. But a smiling one will be loved by everyone. (Photo by Pasha Belman via Southern Weddings)
4. Professional hair and makeup. Oh my goodness, I can’t express how much of a must-have splurge this is. If you splurge on nothing else, do this. It’s fun to be pampered and looking pretty on your wedding day. Trust me on this and book hair and makeup trials (if you haven’t already) today. You will love me lots for suggesting this! (Photo by Amy and Stuart Photography via Style Me Pretty)
5. A pretty, custom bridal hanger to hang your wedding dress on. Have it say bride, or I do, even your new last name will do! It’s perfect for pictures and to hang in your closet later as a sweet reminder of your special day. (Photo by Caroline Tran via Style Me Pretty – A Shop We Love – Original Bridal Hangers)

Would you treat yourself on wedding day? In what other ways could you splurge? How did you splurge on your special day? Share all your ideas with us in the comments below!! xoxo

Seeing this wedding in my inbox made my heart sing. You see, it incorporates the love, wedding, and work of two of my very special vendors: Melania Marta Photography and PNZ Designs. Melania did a beautiful job capturing Nicole and Peter’s rustic handmade wedding day. Nicole, who looked amazing in a simple wedding dress (actually a white bridesmaid dress) decorated with lace from her mother’s veil and sewn on by her mother-in-law, made all of her wedding decor. It was doing so that inspired her to start her very own business of handmade rustic wedding decor. Her Etsy Shop is full of many of the same pieces incorporated into her wedding day and so many more. Nicole and Peter’s son was the life of the party and Melania provided this sweet family with many, many wonderful photographic memories of a day eight years in the making! It’s my honor and pleasure to share this wedding and love story with all of you today!!

Peter grew up in Pennsylvania and Nicole grew up almost 100 miles away in New Jersey. She was asked to be a bridesmaid in her friend’s wedding in 2004. The bridesmaids had their dress fitting the same day the groomsmen had their tux fitting. The whole wedding party met at a local pub for dinner and drinks after the fitting. And that was the first time Nicole saw Peter. They had a lot of fun that night and spent nearly the whole time chatting and getting to know one another.

The next weekend, Nicole drove to Pennsylvania for their first date – lunch, practice on the shooting range, and a movie. Their first kiss was on the shooting range :) and Nicole’s favorite date was the first weekend Peter took her to his family cabin in Northwestern, PA. There’s no TV, no phone, no Internet – just gorgeous scenery, fresh air, and a chance to relax and spend time together.

They started dating in July of 2004. Every weekend, one of them would drive almost 100 miles to see one another. On a crazy (and everyone told them it was crazy) whim in September of 2004, they decided the drive was too long, and so Nicole moved to Pennsylvania. In February of 2006, Peter was 23 and she was 22, and they decided to do another crazy thing and buy their first home. In October of 2008, they welcomed their son, Zachery, into the world. In July of 2010, Peter proposed (and in June 2012, they were married).

The morning of their 6 year anniversary, Nicole was in the kitchen making her morning coffee. Their son was 21 months at the time, and he came walking into the kitchen with a little gift bag saying, “Mama! Mama!” He handed her the bag and she opened it to find a little box. But before she was able to open up, Peter came in and asked her to marry him. She loved that he included their little one (and we do too)!!

Their story isn’t “typical,” but they knew pretty early on that they were in love. Despite everyone telling them they were nuts and it was “too soon,” they knew they could make it work. They knew they were young, they knew they were moving along kind of fast. But, most importantly, they knew they loved one another. And love can make you do some crazy things – but love can also make those crazy things work!

{From the Bride} We knew that we wanted a very small wedding. Our guest list included 32 people, including the photographer. We invited only our closest family and a few of our dearest friends. I have known one of my closest friends since we were 7. We talk on the phone and through email all the time, but we hadn’t seen one another in 10 years. She drove from Virginia to be there for me and that was one of the most special memories of my wedding. Introducing her to Peter and Zachery, and her reconnecting with my family was an unbelievable wedding gift.

We did see one another before the wedding. We did a first look. I was led to Peter by our son. Our first dance song was Then by Brad Paisley. My favorite part of the whole day was the trolley. It allowed me to spend some quality time with family and friends on the way to and from the wedding. Another favorite memory is my dress. My dress was a simple dress. It was actually just a bridesmaid dress in white. I pulled lace off my mother’s veil, and Pete’s mother (a professional seamstress) added my mom’s lace and did some hand-beading on my dress. It was nice to have a piece of both of our mothers on my dress :)

While planning, you try to plan the “perfect” wedding. You hope for perfect weather, perfect hair, perfect flowers. Then the day comes and you realize none of that matters. If at the end of the night, you are married to your best friend, then your day was absolutely perfect no matter what.

{Advice for Couples} Peter and I dated for 6 years before we were engaged and just shy of 8 years before we were married. In that time, we bought a home and had a son together. Some people told us we were doing things “backwards.” We knew we were doing things our way :) It is our love story, and we are writing it for us and our family. My best advice is listen to your heart, follow your own path.

Congratulations, Peter and Nicole! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Melania Marta Photography for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

Another gorgeous engagement session from Robyn Van Dyke Photography! She’s spoiling me with submissions lately and I love it!!! :) This sweet fall shoot is so, so pretty!! The love she captured – my heart be still!! That photo of him picking her up on the dock is a beyond beautiful moment captured. Caroline and Will have a sweet as can be love story, too. They’re long distance, he’s in the Navy, and they’ve been writing hand-written letters for as long as they can remember. So, so, so sweet!! I love everything about these two!!

Caroline and Will were first introduced by two of their dearest friends (also a couple) during their senior year of high school. They met at their friend, Elizabeth’s house, where they watched a movie and talked for hours. Will was leaving for the Naval Academy within the next few months and very hesitant about starting any kind of relationship, but, as it turned out, nothing could keep him away from Caroline.

After that first night, they came up with any and every excuse to see each other again. Like cutting Will’s hair. Caroline did it. And they hung out every afternoon after that. Lots of movies, 2 proms, and a lot of graduation parties later, Caroline and Will knew they wanted to make it work.

After only two months of dating, Will had to leave for summer bootcamp at the Naval Academy. This meant no communication by telephone for nine weeks straight. The only way they could talk was through hand-written letters, and they did just that. Caroline wrote a letter every day, and Will did his best to write when he could, which included one letter written in the middle of the night in a bathroom stall. Even though it was hard on both of them, it absolutely made them grow closer and learn a lot more about each other.

At the age of seventeen and eighteen, they never expected to fall for someone or fall in love like they did. The night before Will left for bootcamp, they spent the whole day together. After coming home from dinner , Will told Caroline how much he was going to miss her and how much he loved her. Caroline was so happy and relieved because she’d been thinking the same for a while already. Their relationship started off young and fast, but they knew they were put together for a reason, and wouldn’t change one thing about their journey up to this point.

Caroline had her fall break the first weekend in October and went to visit Will in Texas where he was training. Since there isn’t much to do in Kingsville, they decided to drive out to Fredericksburg, a small German town known for its beautiful vineyards. After doing some wine tasting at a few different vineyards, they did some shopping, and then headed to dinner. Will’s plan had been to propose on the hill overlooking the mountains behind their cabin, but after seeing it was closed off to construction, had to resort to Plan B. They headed back to their cabin after dinner so they could open a bottle of wine they’d picked up earlier in the day. On the way inside, Will caught Caroline completely off guard by proposing on the front porch!! Even though it wasn’t the first idea or plan, it was completely perfect. They say they’ll never forget that moment, especially since she said yes!!

{Behind the Lens with Robyn Van Dyke} I absolutely adore this sweet couple. From the first moment I met Caroline, we clicked, and I knew I was going to have the best time photographing her and Will. Caroline is truly a gem – incredibly beautiful inside and out! And Will is the perfect southern gentleman! I love the way he cares for and loves Caroline. And I LOVE their story. Being able to survive a long distance relationship for SIX years takes a powerful love and commitment. And these two definitely have it! An epic love that endures through anything.

I had loads of fun with them on their engagement shoot. I loved how comfortable they were with each other, and they totally rocked it in front of the camera. The one shot of Will lifting Caroline and hugging her on the dock is one of my all-time favorite shots! To me, it represents that epic, romantic moment at the airport when they finally see each other again after being apart for several months and run into each other’s arms! *swoon* :) Since their engagement shoot, we’ve become great friends with the couple, and that makes me so happy! We can’t wait to photograph their wedding in a few short months and celebrate their love!

Congratulations, Caroline and Will, and thank you so much for sharing your love story with us! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together, and a beyond beautiful wedding day too! Many, many thanks to Robyn Van Dyke Photography for sharing this sweet shoot with us today!! xoxo

I am so excited to now be giving our vendors the opportunity to guest post for us! It gives us a chance to get some fresh takes and voices on the blog, as well as expert advice in front of all of you. When A.J. Dunlap Photography first approached me with this topic, I’ll be honest, I had no idea it was even an issue. Photography, wedding photography especially, is extremely important to me. The photographs of your wedding are the only tangible detail left when all is said and done at the end of the day. You want them to be excellent! Do you know how you get excellent wedding photographs? You hire an incredible wedding photographer! Do you know what that incredible wedding photographer needs in order to deliver on his/her promise of beautiful wedding photos? Time! It’s so important to listen to your photographer when it comes to your wedding day timeline. Why? I’ll let A.J. tell you that. Just know this, when you listen to your wedding photographer, you won’t be the least bit disappointed in your wedding photos. And if you happen to be facing an issue of someone (anyone) telling you to cut the picture taking time short, A.J. has solutions for that, too! She did a bang up job on this post, let me tell you, and the photos we chose to accompany her words are all couples who took A.J.’s advice to heart. The result? Outstanding wedding photographs. Just you wait and see!! xoxo

Having a rock solid timeline is one of the most important things for helping a wedding day run smoothly. It can and will eliminate so much stress from the bride if she knows exactly what’s going to happen when. As a bride, it can be kind of overwhelming to know where to start with this timeline. I mean this is your first time doing this, right? This is where your photographer can help you. Yes, I said photographer!

I know what you’re thinking, your photographer is just there to take pictures, how can they help you with your timeline? I’m sure you’re like most of our brides in that you want the most beautiful wedding pictures ever, right?  You deserve it, so you shouldn’t settle for anything less! This is your one wedding, it’s what you’ve been dreaming about since you were a little girl, and your photos are the memories you’ll have forever.  Those, right there, are the # 1 reasons for consulting with your photographer before planning anything.  You’ve hired a professional wedding photographer to take beautiful pictures, so why not trust them with how long it takes to get those pictures and what time of day is best?  We are trained to understand and use beautiful light.  You’re paying good money for the knowledge we have about photography, and we’re happy to let you tap in to that knowledge base!

When our couples book us, we tell them from day one that we will help them set a photography timeline for the wedding, and if they’d like help with choosing a ceremony time that will be most conducive for good pictures we’re happy to help them with that too. We even offer to meet them at the venue to see where the sun will be on their wedding day, and help them choose a time that will be most comfortable for them and their guests and also produce the best pictures. We want to be a resource for them as much as possible!

Other than good light, something else your photographer knows is how long it takes them to work. Every photographer is different. You’ve hired your photographer because you like them and the photos on their website. Those photos take time, so be sure to check with your photographer on how much time they need for things like wedding party portraits, bride & groom portraits, reception details, etc. Trust me they’ll be over the moon thankful that you’re considerate of that, and your pictures will be stunning because of it!

Now, you might get some resistance from people when you tell them how long pictures will take.  Keep in mind that these are your memories, they only happen once and they should be documented beautifully. If your photographer likes an hour with you and your groom alone, and you’re ok with that, stand up for yourself if someone questions it!  Don’t back down. Remember it’s YOUR wedding day! It’s not the venue’s, it’s not your parents’, and it’s not your wedding party’s.

Here are a few of the most common resistance scenarios we see our bride’s deal with and how to handle the situation:

From the Venue or Caterer:

Sometimes the venue or caterer will think you’re arriving to the reception too long after the ceremony, and ask that you arrive earlier. There are a few things you can do in this situation.  First, you can do a First Look and take all the pictures before the ceremony, then head straight to your reception after.  Secondly, you can tell them that photos are very important to you and this is the timeline you are going to stick with for your wedding day. We’ve seen venues be pushy on this subject, and use reasons like the food will be cold if you arrive then. I promise you they can have food ready whenever you tell them to, so don’t let that affect your decision.

From your Parents:

If your parents are concerned about the timeline, it’s most likely because they don’t want to keep the guests waiting.  This is a legitimate concern, and since most of the time they’re paying for the wedding you should be respectful. However, they most likely have not been in the same communication with your photographer like you have. So, what we do when this situation arises is we offer to speak with the parents. We explain to them how long pictures take and why we’ve scheduled the day out the way we have.  Weddings today are much different than when they got married 30 years ago, so, usually all it takes to get them to understand is a little communication.  We also promise not to run even a minute late, and that typically eases their mind!

From Friends:

You might be hanging out with friends chatting about the wedding when they drop the subliminal hint of, “Oh, we were at Suzie’s wedding last week and they took FOREVER after the ceremony for pictures. You would never do that to your guests.” First of all, recognize that as peer pressure. Secondly, at Suzie’s wedding they were probably left standing around with no food, drinks, entertainment, just staring at the walls bored for an hour. Our solution, make sure you plan a cocktail hour. Usually, if you feed your guests something they’ll be happy.  We’ve even seen lawn games available to keep them really entertained while you’re gone!

We’re only talking about an hour here.  Like I said before every photographer is different, but for us we only ask to use the cocktail hour unless the bride & groom request more time. If you really don’t want to take that hour after your ceremony for pictures or would like to join your cocktail hour yourself, we highly encourage you to consider doing a First Look.  That will allow you to take almost all of your pictures before the ceremony, and then be able to relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding day.

The other option you have is you can cut your picture timeline short. This is not an ideal option, and I wouldn’t recommend it to any of our brides. Ultimately, it’s your wedding day so you get to make the call.  Just keep in mind your photographer isn’t a magician. If you cut the timeline short you’re going to have to give something up, and you definitely won’t get the same amount or quality of pictures you see on their blog or website.

I know it’s hard to please everyone when planning a wedding!  I do think it’s possible to get what you want as the bride without upsetting or offending anyone. It just takes a little tact, grace and open communication with all the people involved. I hope this has helped you in some way! I really hope you have a perfect wedding day and get the pictures you’ve always dreamed!

Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us today, A.J.! xoxo

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A.J. Dunlap Photography is a Premier Partner in the Heart Love Weddings Vendor Boutique. If you would like more information on how to become a partner, please complete and submit an application under our Advertising tab.