As Asheville wedding photographers we have NEVER before have we seen the weather change so fast. The radar showed 100% rain during the ceremony on Kaitlin and Jesse’s wedding day. Within five minutes the radar changed and the sun popped out! Which is awesome for Michael and I because we love the clouds on the mountains mixed with sunshine. Kaitlin and Jesse got the best of both worlds at their wedding at The Ridge.
Oh how we do love colorful flowers. This was the perfect display of summer color.
Kaitlin’s maid of honor drew these unique “table numbers.” This is probably one of the coolest ideas we’ve seen for table numbers. All of these animals are native to Western North Carolina.
The ridge has a new Chateau! We adore it and enjoyed getting to shoot a reception there.
Onward to the food!
We have to give a HUGE shout out to Celine and Company. Not only is their food amazing but they also feed the photographers SUPER well 😉 We always appreciate a good meal and this is one of the BEST caterers in town.
Did someone mention a TACO ICE CREAM BAR? The Hop showed up to give us another dessert option alongside the cake.
We love getting the opportunity to shoot unique ring shots. Shout out to Kaitlin for giving us the sparkler idea!
Ok, let’s back up to the beginning of the day.
Moments with mom.
The fellas (and Jesse’s sister) getting ready… I mean, playing Super Smash Brothers. 😉
Super stud, Jesse.
The GORGEOUS Kaitlin!
Her hair you guys!
These are some of my favorite moments with the bridal party!
Kaitlin’s mom is absolutely crazy… She told me up front that she was NOT photogenic. I have to disagree mom!
Kaitlin was super happy to see that sun.
This bridal party was A LOT of fun.
No first look, but they did have an “around the corner” chat.
Kaitlin and her flower girl had such a great relationship. This is the stuff of life ya’ll.
Onward to the ceremony!
His reaction. Priceless.
So much laughter during this ceremony! Howard Hanger the officiant is one of our favorites because of that!
“Hugs and kisses all around”
This is where we make a HUGE shout out to Mary Bell Events and the staff at The Ridge. Oh! AND the groomsmen as well. The ceremony was going to be inside due to the rain. When the weather made that insane turn, Kaitlin and Jesse made the call to have the ceremony outside about 45 minutes before it started. As many people as could ran out to move chairs so they could have THIS view during their ceremony. And what a view it is!
We kept singing “I can see clearly now the rain is gone… It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day!”
Introduction to the reception!
First dance brought lots of laughs because Jesse kept stepping on Kaitlin’s dress!
Everyone was so so happy at this wedding. We captured lots and lots of smiling faces.
The Ridge provides some really cool lawn games.
Our favorite time to photograph those mountains is near sunset. Kaitlin and Jesse allowed us to get back out and photograph them in the “good light” 🙂
Then Jesse and his siblings did this. 😉
The toast were extra special at this wedding!
The best man teared up and so did we.
Jesse’s gratitude was evident.
You can tell Kaitlin and her daddy have a special bond.
The ABSOLUTE same with Jesse and his mom.
Anniversary dances are a great way for us to capture some great dancing moments with the parents of the bride and groom!
Let the party begin!
Congrats Kaitlin and Jesse!!! We will never forget your amazing wedding.
Shout out to these professionals that MADE IT HAPPEN!
Wedding coordinator – Mary Bell Events
Venue coordinator – Darrien with The Ridge
Makeup artist – Wendy Ballance with Blush Asheville
Hair designer – Rebecca with Lola Salon
Floral designer – Floressence
Caterer – Celine and Company
DJ or Band – Pat Lance from Spintastic Sounds
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians – Dean’s Duets
Officiant – Rev. Howard Hanger
Cake designer – Fifty/50
Rental company – PPR (Professional Party Rentals) and Classic Event Rentals
Limo or car service – Elite Limousine
Videographer – Light Cannon Films
Ice Cream Tacos – The Hop Ice Cream Cafe
Now lets here a bit more from the bride and groom about themselves and their wedding at the Ridge!
A bit about Kaitlin:
Kaitlin is earning her master’s degree at the University of Florida. She focuses on sustainability and environmental communication and she is currently working two part-time jobs for the university.
A bit about Jesse:
Jesse has a degree in Organismal Biology with a concentration in conservation and biodiversity. He currently is a field technician, collecting biological data on flora and fauna in Florida for a research group.
How did you meet?
We met at Auburn University while earning our undergraduate degrees. Kaitlin auditioned for the university’s improv comedy troupe, which Jesse was already a part of. They became friends while members of the troupe and eventually fell in love!
Describe your first date?
Jesse asked Kaitlin out for dinner at her favorite restaurant. He showed up right on time with a long-stemmed red rose! After dinner, he took Kaitlin for a romantic walk around the lake.
How long have you been together?
Almost five years
What are your favorite hobbies and activities to do as a couple?
We love to hike and do outdoorsy things. Jesse looks for and identifies wildlife and Kaitlin photographs what they find! We also love a good board game night!
Who popped the question and HOW?
Jesse asked Kaitlin to marry him at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in front of giraffes and other savannah animals!
Why did you choose The Ridge for your ceremony location?
We love the mountains and knew that we wanted to get married somewhere with an amazing view. The Ridge offered both an amazing view and a stunning indoor reception venue!
What adjective best describes your spouse on your wedding day?
Happy! We enjoyed laughing together the whole day.
What tangible detail of your wedding day did you love the most? (Cake, dress, special item?)
Jesse loved the sword cufflinks Kaitlin gave him to wear (so he could “carry a sword down the aisle”!)
How many guests attended the wedding?
120
What did you and your guests eat at the reception?
There was a bruschetta station and passed hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour, a plated salad, and three stations for dinner. The steakhouse station had New York strip loin, macaroni and cheese, and crispy Brussels sprouts. The small plate station had roasted chicken breast, haricot verts, and whipped potatoes. The Italian station had pesto orecchiette primavera, penne bolognese, and craft charcuterie with local cheeses. For dessert there was cake and ice cream tacos!
What was the flavor of your wedding cake?
The bottom tier, Kaitlin’s favorite, was chocolate with chocolate ganache and a fresh raspberry compote. The second tier was almond with vanilla buttercream and the top tier was marble with chocolate buttercream.
What is the one of the funniest things that happened on your wedding day?
Kaitlin’s dad “accidentally” called Jesse his son during the ceremony, but we later found out that he did that on purpose. During his speech at the reception, Kaitlin’s dad let everyone know that he planned that just so he could say that he really does consider Jesse a son.
What was your first dance song and why did you pick it?
Jesse picked “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran because it came out when we first started dating and he knew then that it would end up being their first dance song.
It was very “us.” We laughed, we had fun, and we ate ice cream tacos!What is on your “bucket list” to do together as a married couple?
We want to travel together and see more of the world. Also, we’ve never been camping together, so that is something we hope to do soon!
