A Luxurious, Autumn Wedding

Half Mile Farm, in Highlands North Carolina, is one of the most beautiful, luxurious venues I’ve ever seen. The driveway must be literally a half mile drive from the road to the venue. The roadway is covered with trees, displaying a variety of all shades of Fall. If you weren’t sure of being on the grounds of luxury, the drive alone, will remind you of where you are. If you’d like more information about this venue, click here https://www.oldedwardshospitality.com/half-mile-farm?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiApOyqBhDlARIsAGfnyMoB_nKQ8lm2nJxL_xE9riEX10bGApY-LbG0QppCIbF7eqXV9zeUEMwaAgxqEALw_wcB

The first thing I do, when I arrive to any venue, is take photos of the venue sign, the venue itself, along with the property. Half Mile Farm has so many beautiful things to photograph, it was hard not to get lost in all its beauty. This venue is available to all mountain lovers who appreciate private cottages and old luxury inns. This is where you would go to unplug from the world and recharge your soul. Although, I was there to work, that didn’t mean I couldn’t lose myself among the various bold colors of leaves displaying their colors in complete vibrancy. There were also pumpkins on display, iron chairs under strands of string lighting, entangled within the branches of more trees, leaving me paralyzed in the fantasy land of where I was. I felt the need to pinch myself, several times throughout the night. How was I here? How did I get so lucky to photograph a black tie wedding in such a location that could only serve a mere existence other than my bucket list? The answer to the question is I was lucky enough to second shoot with another photographer, Josh Landis, with Kathryn Ryan Miller Photography, for this wedding.

Once I arrive inside, the first thing I do after introducing myself to the wedding party is to start photographing the wedding details. Normally, the Bride will already have all the details in a box waiting for me. I will go off on my own and spend an hour, if I’m lucky to have that much time, photographing these items. I like to start off with a group shot of everything on the list of details and then break the shot list down to smaller items, such as just the rings and bouquet or rings and wedding invitations, as seen here. If I’m lucky enough to photograph the wedding dress, I’ll find the most flattering place in the venue and give the dress its moment to shine. However, for this wedding, Josh photographed the dress when I was out photographing the details. When I’m second shooting, I’m there to fill in for the main photographer, so I won’t always capture the main shots as I would do for my own weddings. You’ll see some photos missing in this wedding and that’s why.

My most favorite detail shots to photograph is of the rings and the bouquet. It’s so simple and classy and the easiest and most well loved shot of the day. If you’re not sure what details you need for your wedding day, no worries. Click this link and it will take you to my website where I have everything you need. https://paulashtonphotography.com/portfolio#portfolio.2

I spend the hour I have for detail shots, going back and forth to the Bride, while she’s getting her makeup done. This allows me to get all stages of the makeup process, without hovering over the bridal party. I’m able to jump in and out, giving the bridal party privacy to talk and laugh, while I come and go at a comfortable pace photographing both subjects.

One thing I love about weddings involving small children, is the ability to photograph more photos than expected. This is one reason I don’t promise a certain number of images in your gallery. During this wedding, these little girls were the nieces of the Bride. I know she loves them and would enjoy these photos as a part of her special day. So I sat back and let these girls make my job easy. This is also another reason I tell my Brides I believe in quantity over quality. I will not knit pick my photos apart just to give you the best photos of the day. No, if I took ten photos of these little girls playing and they look good and will make you smile, guess what? You will receive all ten images in your gallery.

This is probably my favorite time of the day…photographing the mom helping her daughter with the dress. This is the “getting dressed” part of the timeline. The Bride is always dressed when I walk in with my camera. All I’m photographing, is the mom, grandma or bridesmaids zipping up the back of the dress, fastening buttons on the back or tying the ribbons together in the back. This is the most sentimental part of the day, before the first dances. I love the way mom’s smile, the way their eyes lock together, when the Bride turns around and all the unspoken words when they hug afterwards.

This group of photos was taken by surprise. I placed the Father of the Bride here, moments before the Bride came out for their first look together. Needless to say, his granddaughters saw him and ran towards him in excitement. Now, wouldn’t you be disappointed if your photographer tossed these out because your day was only promised a certain number of images? Well, this Bride received these photos, along with every other photo from her day.

Truth be told, I never know where I should stand during the ceremony. I feel so awkward standing up front by the groom. I feel like I’m stealing the show, neither of the Bride or Groom want to see me there during the walk they’ve been dreaming about the past year.

If the seating arrangements allow me to, I’ll managed to comfortably dance around the ceremony site, photographing everything within view. I try my best to get all angles of the Bride walking down the aisle, as long as the seating isn’t too packed and allows me to easily and quietly move around. I do a little dance around the grounds, focusing in on all the key players, as well as the guests who are seated and the ones trying to keep the peace and the ones stealing the show.

You can’t forget to photograph the parents of the Bride and the Groom.

The photos below, on the left side, are results from my 70-200 lens. I can stand far enough back so you don’t see me and still get a close up of what I need to focus on. This was my first wedding using that lens and I was so happy with the results. The photo on the right side is from my 24-70. It’s my most used lens on wedding days.

Aside from family formals, I’ll seperate people, group certain people together and herd the grandparents together if I need to. Anyone who I think is worthy of a couples photograph or who I don’t think gets to dress up and get out often, is camera worthy to me. I try to give them a moment and document this time for them. In this case, Josh had already taken family formals with their whole group but I felt like each set of parents deserved their own photo with their spouse, just the two of them.

As the Bride was floating around talking to everyone, I asked her to jump in a few of these with her parents. Sometimes, you just have to capture the moment and go with it.

I did the same here with the Groom. His family was standing feet apart, casually talking amongst others and I just meshed them together for a quick photo.

Once the wedding party photos were done, we disappeared with the Bride and Groom. The Bride had her own ideas of what she wanted us to photograph. Among the car, the greenery we landed on didn’t disappoint.

While we’re off photographing the couple, the guests are enjoying cocktail hour. The venue made signature drinks in honor of the Bride and Groom’s pets. The seating chart, shown here, is the most elaborate pieces of decor I’ve ever seen. I made sure to photograph it at every angle.

Everything about this reception had me feeling like I was walking through the pages of a Southern Living Magazine. I can only pray I get to photograph another wedding as beautiful as this one.

The Bride and Groom’s private table.

Raise your hand if you remember Thomas Kinkade. This photo could’ve been one of his paintings. The way the landscape is married to the sky is too breathtaking to be real….right? Was I really here or could this all just be a dream? A fantasy? Without these photos, no one would believe a photographer in my price range would’ve ever worked a wedding of this caliber.

The Bride and Groom’s entrance. I tried my best to stay out of Josh’s view.

Dad’s toast. His speech was very classy. He didn’t drink, nor did he encourage it from others. He was a man of wise words, a few jokes and an honorable way of asking everyone to lift their glass and get home safely. Although, I think everyone stayed at the Inn all weekend.

If any Bride is entitled to a meltdown, this would serve cause for one. Her cake was delivered with blonde hair. She got a good laugh out of it and never let it dampen her night.

This was my first time photographing at night. It was almost complete darkness outside. I bumped my ISO up to twelve hundred, which is high and can cause grain. I was too scared to attach my flash because I didn’t want any extra light to interfere with the photos Josh was taking. Being the main photographer, he was front and center, here, so I just rolled with what I could here. I’m proud of my results. Since this day, I’m more use to using off camera flash but this being my first attempt, I’m happy with the results.

Bride and Groom’s first dance

Bride and her Father’s first dance

Groom and his Mom’s first dance

The guests danced the night away to a jazz band and hors d’oeuvres served on the dance floor.

This live band did not disappoint. He didn’t let up one second and sang his heart out all night.

This picture stand was the hit of the night. I’m not sure of the actual name for it but everyone loved it. It earned a lot of laughs from everyone.

I wasn’t sure which photo was a keeper, so I gave them all three.

If you or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer, please send them my way. Even if your venue is as luxurious as this venue, my budget won’t change. I try to make myself affordable for everyone. You can contact me here https://paulashtonphotography.com/#contact

Wedding planner: @kadieborrowedandbluega

Venue: @halfmilefarm @oldedwardsevents

Tux: @blacklapel

Dress: @bridalsbyaimee

HMUA: @bridalbeautyauthority

Florals: @flourishfloralsdecor

Party Rentals: @professionalparty

Cake: @mrs.sugarboogerllc

Invitations: @tigerlilyinvitations