Morgan and Tyler wanted a laid-back day with their people, a great party, and as little time away as possible. Their backyard wedding in Wilmington, NC came with hurricane rain, which complicated the photography plans a little. But these two still danced all night.

They’d planned for about ten minutes of portraits together. The weather gave us even less. We’ll get together for more photographs on another day, but there was plenty happening at their wedding that I wanted them to remember, too.

We’ve Done Gray Skies Before

This wasn’t our first time making photographs under heavy clouds. I also photographed ⁠Morgan and Tyler’s Wilmington engagement session, and the sun barely showed up for that one either. At this point, I think it’s just our thing.

By the wedding day, we already had that time together behind us. They knew how I work, and I’d had a chance to get to know them with a camera in my hand.

That’s one of my favorite parts of photographing both the engagement session and the wedding. We’ve already worked through the initial “what do we do with our hands?” stage. There’s a familiar person showing up with the cameras.

Ten Minutes of Portraits, Then Back to the Wedding

Morgan and Tyler knew how they wanted to spend their day, and a long shot list wasn’t part of it. No wedding party photos, no formal family groupings, and about ten minutes of portraits, just the two of them.

I appreciate that kind of clarity. For some couples, family photos are a huge priority, and we’ll make a thoughtful list and set aside time for them. Morgan and Tyler wanted a different approach, with very little time spent gathering people for posed photographs.

My job was to understand that before I arrived, then pay attention as the day unfolded.

That conversation is an important part of my work as a Wilmington wedding photographer. I want to know which photographs you’re excited about, what you’d rather skip, and how much time you actually want to spend taking portraits. Then we can build a photography plan that makes sense for you.

When the Rain Changed the Plan

The rain took most of our already short portrait window.

I’m comfortable photographing in the rain, but there’s still a practical difference between a light drizzle and trying to shoot portraits in a downpour. We had less time together than we’d hoped, so Morgan and Tyler will receive a complimentary portrait session on a later date. We’ll have another opportunity to take those photographs without squeezing more portrait time into their wedding.

I care a lot about beautiful portraits. Sometimes that means giving direction and working quickly. Sometimes it means recognizing that we need another plan. For these two, we can take more photos together later while still capturing the wedding they actually had.

Wedding Photographs and Super 8

I photograph weddings on film and digital, and Morgan and Tyler also added Super 8 coverage.

I love giving couples still photographs alongside a moving record of their day. An expression can look different when you see the few seconds around it. You get to watch someone turn toward the camera or see a movement that a photograph holds in a single frame.

They’re different ways of remembering the same wedding. I’m excited for Morgan and Tyler to have both.

For now, these photographs are a first look at their day, with more to come.

Morgan & Tyler’s Wedding Vendors

Planning: Brittanie Raquel Events
Photography + Super 8: Bri Nicole Photo Co.
Rentals: Martha My Dear Rentals
Florals: Bristol and Birch Florals
Dress: Anthropologie Weddings
Makeup: Danielle Forte Makeup Artist
Hair: Boundless Manes

Planning a Backyard Wedding in Wilmington?

Before you build a photo list, talk about how you want to spend your wedding.

Maybe you want photographs with every branch of your family. Maybe you want a short portrait session and then to get back to everyone. You don’t have to follow another couple’s plan, including Morgan and Tyler’s. Tell your photographer what matters to you so there’s time for it.

For an outdoor wedding, talk through a rain plan with your planner and vendors, too. Consider where the ceremony, dinner, and photographs could happen if the weather changes. A covered porch might work for a few portraits, but you’ll need a workable plan for your whole guest list, too.

If you’re still deciding between a private property and an event venue, my ⁠guide to wedding venues in Wilmington, NC is another place to start.

Morgan and Tyler wanted a relaxed day with very little time away for photographs. The rain changed what we could do, and we’ll make up that portrait time later. I’m glad I was there to photograph everything else, including a very good party.

If you’re looking for a ⁠Wilmington wedding photographer, you can ⁠read about working together or ⁠tell me what you’re planning. I’d love to hear it.

x B