Alhambra Hall & wedding bells are always ringing for us here at King Street Photo Weddings. For the last three decades we have had the honor and privilege to meet some simply amazing and loving couples. We are so fortunate that Lindsey & Christian chose us to be a part of their lovely wedding. Today’s blog is a southern soiree in the Low Country at Alhambra Hall for Lindsey & Christian.
Meeting the clients
We attend a couple of wedding shows every year. There are both pros and cons in doing them, such as too many of the same vendors and most not booking clients on the spot. For us at King Street Photo Weddings we walk away from wedding shows with many clients having booked us on the spot. You may ask yourself why as this is such a huge investment. Do we not need to sleep on it? My answer is that every business is a brand and to sell their services successfully they must incorporate several factors. Starting with honesty and great communication. We often find ourselves under promising and over delivering.
This brings us to the meeting of Lindsey and her amazing mother. After going through the consultation with them they explained they would stop back by our booth. Even with twelve other wedding photographers as well as a handful of videographers at the show we felt so sure they were going to book with us. Needless to say, they came back several hours later and hugged us and these were Lindsey’s words, I quote “You are both so personal and honest and we feel very comfortable that you will deliver the very best. You and Donovan are the perfect wedding cinematic and photography team. I have seen both your and it is absolutely breathtaking. By hiring you both together I have nothing but the utmost confidence.”
Bridal Portraits
I first captured Lindsey during her bridal portraits. We first started at the Old Village in Mount Pleasant and ended the session by the very famous Ravenel Bridge for some very incredible sunset images. She brought her lovely mother and Maid of Honor with her. The bride-to-be wore an off-the-shoulder lace A-line wedding dress by Oleg Cassini. Very romantic and elegant displaying southern couture.
The wedding day
The highly anticipated wedding day, October 5th, 2018. It was a beautiful sunny day filled with a ton of natural light and amazing scenery surrounding the beautiful venue Alhambra Hall. Both Donovan & I were introduced to Lindsey’s bridesmaids where we started capturing the details and the getting ready photos. After, we went to Christian & his dapper groomsmen. Finally it came time for the big reveal! The ceremony was filled by with so much emotion, tears of love for one another and fellowship. Family photos followed the ceremony and then the reception celebration began. Lindsey and Christian enjoying one another’s presence among many family and friends. We were able to capture many candids and a special wedding video. Then came the best part by being a master lighting expert and honoring their request and priorities. When creating the wedding timeline we promised a beautiful sunset session by creating amazing photos that bring joy and depict their unique love for one another. It was a beautiful, true southern wedding.
As you finish reading the blog you can be the judge. You are able to see both the cinematic video Donovan put together and the wedding photos I created. You will also see the honest, heartfelt review Lindsey & Christian left on The Knot.
Thank you Lindsey & Christian for this golden opportunity you have given to us all. Blessings and enjoy!
Now in their own words from Lindsey & Christian, is how this day became one;
Christian & Lindsey’s story:
A little over 7 years ago somewhere between high school graduation and summer I was working as a cashier at our local grocery store. I just so happened to have a cute guy bagging my groceries and lifting heavy items out of the shopping carts for me. *Insert Christian here*
Somewhere between the kind gestures, big smiles and a few exchanging of words Christian got a new job and we didn’t see each other for a few months. One evening he came through my check out line and before leaving wrote down my number on a piece of receipt paper.
Shortly thereafter we started talking and spending time with one another. Like a lot of things in your teenage years, it was short-lived but there were no hard feelings. We continued to remain friends and speak on occasion. Something about Christian’s charm always kept me captivated. Over the next few years I went off to college and we both went through a couple of relationships. When all of it was said and done towards the end of 2015 we both were spent on relationships. We often found ourselves joking we were “done starting over” and investing so much heart for the same outcome time after time. We found ourselves in agreement about most of the things we wanted out of life.
We often talked about how we needed to hang out when I came home from school, after all of this time it had been nearly four years since we saw one another. I mentioned having an appointment in December and that I would be coming briefly, for the day. We discussed possibly grabbing lunch together before I headed back to school. About a week later I made the drive to Summerville and contemplated telling Christian. I felt so knocked down when it came to relationships that the thought of getting involved in something was not at all appealing. In the last thirty minutes of my hair appointment I reached out and said that I was leaving soon but asked if he would like to grab something to eat like “we had planned.” A part of me thought that maybe he wouldn’t text back before it was time for me to leave and I would just be on my way. The next thing I know I find myself in Chick-fil-A, our old meeting spot. It felt like we hadn’t missed a beat. We finished eating and chatting and I was back on the road.
Within the next few weeks Christmas was here and gone and 2016 was upon us. Text messages turned into FaceTime calls. Christian wanted to see me again and I apologized and told him I wouldn’t be coming back home for a while as my last semester of nursing school was starting in just a few short days. He asked me what I was doing that weekend and I told him I didn’t have anything planned. I asked about his plans and his answer caught me off guard. He said he was coming to see me and that he did.
The FaceTime calls never ended and weekend after weekend he continued to make the drive to see and spend time with me. Even when I was studying, working on an assignment or writing a final paper- he was right there supporting me and patiently waiting for me to finish so we could go grab a bite to eat and get out of the house.
Valentine’s Day 2016 is a day I will always remember and set the tone for the rest of our newly started relationship. Christian asked me what I wanted out of our relationship. I remember it being both scary and comforting at the same time. We recalled our previous conversations regarding relationships and what we wanted in life. It was very apparent that this was the real deal. I found myself intimidated by the idea, especially how soon I realized this after we decided to give things a go.
Exactly a year and a half later after graduating college, taking my first nursing job and moving back home, Christian asked me to marry him. Fourteen months later we said “I Do” in front of our families and closest friends. It was both beautiful and magical.
We have both grown together, learned, laughed and cried together. This is only the beginning of our adventure and life as one and we pray for many many more years to come.
Our Charleston, SC chosen wedding vendors are:
Dress: Oleg Cassini
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Earrings: Amy O. Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Rachael + Amber with Lashes and Lace Salon & Bridal
Suits: Calvin Klein
Wedding Planner: Anna Yencho, Month-Of coordination, Chancey Charm Wedding Planning & Design
Save The Dates & Invitations: Melissa Lane Lee, Instagram @thepapermel
Ceremony Officiant: Pastor Stan Cruse, Fellowship of Oakbrook
Violinist: Kathryn Westurn, Ashley Hunter Music, LLC
Rentals: EventWorks, LLC
Floral: Charleston Florist, Inc
DJ: Classy Carolina Entertainment, LLC
Catering: First Impressions Caterers, LLC
Donuts: Glazed Gourmet, King St, Charleston, SC