Many of you know that I moved down to North Carolina to help with a ministry. What some of you may not know, is that I currently live at the home where that ministry takes place. I’m a vagabond artist who moved in with an incredibly gracious and caring family who also founded Cre8. I was not the first, nor will I be the last to move in at Cre8. Along the same time Emily (aka Sparkle) moved in too. The past two years has seen Emily through a lot of things, but the most joyful was when she met Matt.

Matt’s calm and relaxed demeanor is the perfect compliment to Sparkle’s vibrant and outgoing nature. They balance each other out well and urge each other to grow and love. It’s been a privilege to watch their relationship unfold under our roof. Matt proposed quicker than we all expected and they were off to wedding plan. They didn’t want a long engagement and planned to wed late fall. As their plans continued to grow more complicated, Emily & Matt got more and more frustrated. They finally decided that a large wedding wasn’t what they really wanted. So they condensed! I returned home from one of my trips to discover that they wanted to get married that very weekend! Happily I was available and since the venue was my home, it was pretty easy to get to. 😉

The weather was absolutely perfect that late August afternoon and the most important people to Emily & Matt surrounded them in love (literally, check out the photo of the prayer circle)! It was intimate, sweet, and everything Emily & Matt wanted. A perfect way to start their life together! They’re still planning on a bigger Alice in Wonderland themed reception this coming Saturday to honor the family & friends! So stay tuned for Emily & Matt part two coming in the next few months! Woohoo! But for now, enjoy part one of this beautiful couple’s journey!

XOXOXO,
Mabyn

Emily couldn’t choose between shoes so she wore one and….

 

We did the ring shot on the other! Perfect compromise!

I live vicariously though other people’s tattoo’s & Emily’s is no exception. How perfect for her wedding day!

 

The best man approves this wedding!

The flower girl got a bit distracted during the ceremony….

Here’s that prayer circle I was telling you about. Isn’t it beautiful!?

That first sweet moment as husband and wife.

These kids get me every time!

– Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding:
Matt and I were working on elaborate plans for a larger wedding, and roadblocks kept popping up with people wanting to turn our day into something that was radically different than what we would have planned for ourselves. We finally looked at each other and said; “who are we really planning this wedding for?” The answer made our decision to have a small, intimate ceremony very clear. Obviously we picked purple because it’s my favorite color, and Matt bought me the cute heart cutout dress because we didn’t want anything too formal. As soon as we decided to do the small wedding, we knew that Cre8 would be the place to have it. Both our residence and place of worship, Cre8 boasts the beauty that God created. Our day was very relaxed – no schedule to keep up with, no formalities, simple perfection. While walking down the stairs to go meet my groom, with my mother following behind me, I did almost trip down the stairs… Mom and I had a good laugh over that, and the idea of me busting my teeth out just before I was meant to say my vows. My husband’s daughter and our housemates’ children were the perfect attendants. They kept smiles on all of our faces and helped us produce some of the most fun pictures in our gallery! We were very blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful, small group of the closest family and friends.

– What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day?
Emily – When my mom read “I Carry Your Heart” for Matt and I, and of course being officially married to my amazing husband!
Matt – Waiting forever for her to get ready. Seeing Emily walking down the “isle” driveway to me. Exchanging vows and making it official!

– Funniest memory from your wedding day?
Emily – Almost falling down the stairs

– If you had to do it all over again would you change anything?
Not one thing.

– Any advice for future bride & grooms?
Stay true to yourselves! Your wedding is YOUR day – don’t let it be dictated by anyone else. Those who truly love you will show up even if you didn’t plan things the way they wanted you to. Have FUN and be YOU!

– What was your biggest fear before hiring Mabyn? Did it come true, and if not, what happened instead?
Honestly, I had no fears going into making Mabyn our photographer. I had seen her work and I know that this is something she is passionate about. The one thing that we were willing to “splurge” on was a fantastic photographer, and we did just that, because the memories fade but we will have these gorgeous pictures FO-EVA! Mabyn’s work just affirmed what I already knew – that choosing her as our photographer was our best investment.

– What, specifically, was your favorite part of working with Mabyn Ludke Photography and why?
Mabyn made everything feel natural. During the ceremony she was stealthy! We barely noticed her, but she got some amazing shots! She made the family photos quick and painless for everyone. During the photos after the ceremony, she just encouraged us to keep being ourselves. Mabyn was never fussy about hand placement or the angle of our heads; our photos are just us being us and enjoying the moment. When we ran out of ideas for poses, Mabyn had great suggestions. It wasn’t a bunch of holding perfectly still and keeping a big fake smile plastered on your face for so long that it hurts; it was fun, natural, newlywed bliss.

– If you were to recommend Mabyn Ludke Photography to your best friend, what would you say?
These are photos that you will look back on and smile – and you only have one chance to hire the perfect photographer to capture this moment! You won’t find anyone better than Mabyn to help you preserve your memories of this day. She’s great to work with, funny, charming – a true diamond in a sea of photographers. You will not regret hiring her – I am certain of it!

 

Hair: bride and MOB Pam Shuart Steed // Makeup Artist: bride // Dress Designer & Store Location: Charlotte Rousse online // Jewelry: family heirlooms and Alex+Ani peacock feather bracelet  // Shoes: Marc Fisher // Grooms Attire: H&M //Ceremony Venue: Cre8 // Florist: Publix flowers, floral design by MOB Pam Shuart Steed // DJ: Spotify
Caterer: MOG Libby Nixon and GOG Barbara Nixon // Cake: Harris Teeter // Lighting: provided by our glorious God // Invitations & Stationary: designed my Bride & Groom – printed at The UPS Store High Point