May 15th 2010
This springtime wedding at the Saltaire House in Duck, NC had a classic backdrop contrasting with a fun mermaid underwater theme.
photos by Lauren Cowart of Julie Dreelins Photography/Videography Inc.
vendors: thesaltaire.com
May 22nd 2010
Truly, the images from your wedding are the lasting elements of your day. Photos of your precious day will live on and be passed down through the generations of your loved ones. When all the champagne is poured, the cake is eaten and a drunken Uncle Fred is peeled off the dance floor and carried home in a wheel barrel, your images will be the tangible visions of your special day. That said, should you spend all your time with the photographer and none with your family and loved ones? No, of course not. With some planning and a considerate and efficient photographer, your pictures can be taken quickly with a minimal amount of time lost with your guests.
When planning the events of your day with your coordinator or photographer, designate as many images with the family and bridal party prior to the ceremony as possible. The time leading up to the ceremony can be hectic and planning these shots may be a challenge, but gathering as many photos ahead of time will save you time and headache after you say "I do". Have the bridal party shots taken ahead of time, all the bridesmaids with the bride and the groomsmen with the groom and include the families in these shots as well. After the ceremony, the main images will be the bride and groom together with their respective families and then the bridal party. Be sure your photographer spends some time with just you and your groom and take some unposed, creative shots incorporating your surroundings. During this time, have the caterer bring champagne, for the ladies, beer for the men and snacks for the bridal party to enjoy and refuel. Be sure to grab a bite yourself as you may not see food again for a few hours. A cocktail hour should be scheduled for your guests during this time period and be sure to account for your attendance at the cocktail hour as well.
Do not be afraid to photograph yourself with your groom prior to the ceremony. Ask your photographer for a private meeting with your groom just before the ceremony begins. Be sure that no one else knows this is happening so they do not try to participate in the pictures (think overbearing mother of the bride here). Be sure your bridesmaids are aware though, you may need a little support if the emotions are overwhelming. Your bridesmaids will also be the gatekeepers to ensure that its just you and your groom for the next few minutes. Ask that your photographer just step into the background and photograph your initial seeing of one another and your moments together as a quiet observer and ask that they not plan or pose any of the shots.
Another consideration when hiring your photographer is whether or not they shoot video as well. In today's merging media platforms, photographers now have the capabilities of shooting video as well, all using the same camera. If you want some video of your day, but do not need to actually watch the entire, and rather long, video of your ceremony and reception, consider hiring a photographer who incorporates both using a multimedia approach to documenting your day. Also bear in mind that with these new technologies emerging and being used by videographers as well as photographers, if you hire both video and photo professionals to document your day, you are likely to have three to five people filming you, all day and all using the same cameras. That is slightly beyond overkill and will effect the emotions and flow of your special day. Finding someone who can document both photo and small amounts of video presented in a multimedia DVD or online video using only a couple cameras and possibly an assistant may save your wedding day from becoming a paparazzi trainwreck.
article by Crystal Street
photos by Julie Dreelin and Lauren Cowart of Julie Dreelins Photography/Videography Inc.
vendors: thesanderling.com,sugarsnapevents.com
May 21st 2010
Weddings during the spring months on the Outer Banks embrace the beauty of the environment with the rejuvenation of the season to create a surreal and meaningful union for a loving couple. Flowers are blooming, the scent of honeysuckles fills the air and the soft, salty breezes floating off the ocean can enhance your wedding day moments and sketch them in your memories for an eternity.
But the Outer Banks is far from predictable. Fluctuations in weather are notorious on this barrier island and formulating a back up plan for foul weather is a must. Be sure your venue has options for indoor settings and that your reception location can withstand the traffic if all your guests must be inside for the duration of your reception. Having multiple rental homes adjacent to one another in the event that this happens is always a good idea for overflow guests. Talk with your wedding coordinator or vendors about their back up plans in the event that Mother Nature chooses to be fickle on your wedding day.
When planning an outdoor wedding, be sure that the basics, such as bathroom access for guests and intrusions from tourists at popular wedding locations is accounted for. Rental bathrooms are available and will keep your guests happy and content in ways no "port-a-potties" ever could. If you have visions of marrying under a lighthouse or walking over a bridge to your groom, be sure the venue has the proper signage and deterrents for tourists. Walking over the bridge towards your future husband and 200 guests might not be as memorable if you are dodging sunburnt tourists snapping shots of a lighthouse while you're walking towards your future.
While the weather is usually mild this time of year, be prepared for the occasional heat-wave that can occur three months too early. If you like to get your groove on and your wedding gown is three thick layers of taffeta, silk and lace, change into a simpler, dancing-friendly dress that will allow you to throw down with Uncle Fred on the dance floor all night long. Wind and the Outer Banks are inseparable, so if you are forming your union on the beach or outdoors, be sure your dress and veil are wind friendly. You might also want to consider the wind direction in relation to where you stand to say "I do"-- there's nothing more distracting than professing your love with a mouthful of veil.
With some foresight and intelligent planning, your outdoor wedding on the Outer Banks can instill joy, love and simplicity. Account for all possible weather scenarios and make sure your plans work both indoors and out. Hiring an experienced wedding planner will help you navigate the tricky weather and its endless possibilities on your special day.
article by Crystal Street
photos by Julie Dreelin and Lauren Cowart of Julie Dreelin's Photography/Videography Inc.
vendors: thepropersetting.com,blackpelicancatering.com,sugarsnapevents.com,metrorentalobx.com,wedsafe.com
Shannon and Kris May 18th 2010 This wedding is featured on knot.com Wedding Buzz page! Click here for the story-
Reach within your creative being and unleash that inner art Diva that is just dying to splatter her artistic energy all over your wedding. You have one, she's hiding there just below the surface and every time you pick up a Martha Stewart magazine or a Real Simple, she screams- "I can do that- but I'll do it better than that stuffy Stewart!"
At a recent wedding in Corolla, N.C., a creative bride unleashed her inner-art Diva and created a masterpiece that was a delight to photograph. Every detail had her personality and creativity dripping from it and falling into her guests hearts and memories. She printed a large tree with empty branches and asked the guests to place their thumb print on their new "Family Tree". Her desert table was filled with peanut-buttery shot glasses, sans alcohol. Shot glasses filled with dessert mousses filled the table surrounding her wedding cake. A soup bar was established, using ceramic mismatched bowls as a wonderful appetizer for guests. Funnels of beautiful scrapbook paper attached to sticks were filled with french fries so guests could nibble these greasy delicacies and not have to wipe their hands on their expensive wedding attire. Even the table settings were covered in her creativity, using a symbol from the night she met her future husband. Bowling pins adorned the table tops as the happy couple met at a bowling alley through mutual friends.
No matter what your budget, tapping into your inner-art Diva will create a lasting memory for you and your guests. Be sure your photographer is aware of all this special creativity and captures the details prior to the beginning of the festivities.
article by Crystal Street
photos by Julie Dreelin's Photography/Videography Inc.
vendors:redskycafe.com, theembellishers.com, House-Gertrude's Breakaway-Beach Realty
Photographs by Julie Dreelin's Beach Productions
Stephanie and John's Wedding Day
May 1st 2010
Hilton Garden Inn - Kitty Hawk, NC
Photos compliments of Julie Dreelins Beach Prouductions
April and Jose just had to get married on the Outer Banks. Swaying grass, blue horizons, a perfect tent set up, and a gorgeous four story house set the perfect scene for a beach wedding of 50-75 people. These love cats spent a ton of time on the beach just running around having a great time with their bridal party, they had to get a move on to the reception or it dared to start without them. We were thinking their wedding would turn out to be low key but it lasted until late into the evening with everyone leaving saying they have never seen so much fun and dancing at a wedding before.
Photos compliments of Julie Dreelins Beach Productions
Check out our very own Bride Blogger's post about wedding photography onto Bridal Buds on Wedding Wire. She is getting married at the end of this year and is posting about what has been important to her in the wedding process.
Photo courtesy of Julie Dreelin's Beach Productions
There are so many ideas in magazines, how can you narrow it down? It's a good idea to check out local magazines like The Outer Banks Wedding Associations Outer Banks Bride Magazine and the Outer Banks Wedding Guide Magazine, but there is also a new magazine from the Knot focusing on North Carolina Beach Weddings. The Outer Banks has become one of the top 5 destination wedding locations. This article below is from BRIDES national magazine May 2010 with fantastic vintage political ideas that you can bring into a beachy theme.
All photos courtesy Julie Dreelins Beach Productions <http://www.beach-productions.com>
October 23rd, 2009 - Susie and Joe
We love this house! It is in the 4X4 area of the island which means no roads, you drive on the sand to go to this location. There is always someone who gets stuck in the sand which adds to the excitement, so make sure to tell your guests! It's a great location for a smaller wedding where all guests are staying together in the house. For this family of 7, it was perfect. There is no more perfect pool area reception than this one. Suzie decided on Julie Dreelins Beach Productions photo/raw video package for this wedding. This custom package included 5 hours of photo and 5 hours of raw footage video for a discounted rate.
October 17th 2009 Double Wedding
At first the vendors doing this wedding at the Kilmarlic Club near the Outer Banks, NC were worried about logistics. Do the brides walk down the aisle at the same time, do they cut the cake at the same time? The question was asked, are they friends? Yes to all of them! This wedding photographed by Julie Dreelin and Lauren Cowart of Beach Productions ended up working out perfectly, thanks to their planner, Ocean Aisle Events's Julie Hume. She would say yes, the brides did put more pressure on the vendors having more food, more decorating, and more photography, but it did pay off. If Julie Hume can plan this event I would say she can plan anything!
