Wedding Story: Lara and Bert

This wedding... where do I begin!?  David and I travelled to the adorable coastal town, Manteo, to shoot the intimate wedding of Lara and Bert.  I grew up with Lara and her sweet family at the same church and then we went to the same high school.  We were closer when we were little, having play dates after church and sleep overs the night before.  Even though we were not as close later on, I always considered Lara a friend.  After college Lara went on many adventures living in several different countries... and then last year she met Bert.  Sweet, faithful Bert who swept her off her feet in the most beautiful ways!!  They have this new, intense love going on that is just contagious.  It's out there.  You can feel it in the room.

Lara and Bert chose to have a small, immediate family and a couple of friends ceremony so that it could stay about them- no fuss, no elaborate plans.  So when I was sifting through their images I could not help but to choose ones for the blogpost that really highlighted THEM.  There are many of them loving on their parents and grandparents, celebrating with their siblings and their significant others.  But I just could not help but post these images about Lara and Bert...

Lara surprised Bert with this hanker-chief sewn into his jacket...

Bert has so much passion... so much passion for the things he loves and believes in.

The belt of Lara's dress was made from her Mom's wedding dress...

... as well as the fabric wrapped around her flowers.

Lara and Bert first saw each other on their wedding day at the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo.  Such a beautiful spot for this beautiful moment...

David caught some gorgeous images from this first look between Lara and Bert...

It might look sunny and spring-like in these images but this was the last very cold and windy day that blew through NC before letting spring settle in.  These two were amazing and smiled right through those winds wipping them around.

Bert proposed to Lara infront of this cross on the water.

There's that point on the wedding day where the bride has rushed around to get ready and then has to wait while everyone is seated for the ceremony.  Lara worked this out by practicing "Chopsticks".

The ceremony was filled with beautiful moments of music, worship and wisdom being passed to Lara and Bert about love and life together.

After the ceremony there was a small reception at the home where Lara had been living up until the wedding.  The food was OUT of this world and the love for these two was all over the place.

Both Lara and Bert's fathers took a minute to toast the newlyweds...

... there was laughter and tears.

And then back to cake.

(This cake was so amazing that David and I talk about this cake... half-jokingly plot our next trip to Manteo to find the person that makes these cakes... No really, it was that good.)

Lara and Bert: Thank you so much for inviting us into such a beautiful, intimate day.  It was an honor to document the love you have for each other right now in your story together.  I cannot wait to see that love grow as you two grow together.  We are thankful to be part of your worlds!