Two years ago, as I was packing up after Kate & Dan’s wedding, a lovely, freckle-faced brunette walked up and introduced herself. She said her name was Anna & she was a yet-to-be-engaged “Eden girl” who wanted me to know that I was going to be the first call she made when an engagement ring made its way to her finger. I’m pretty sure I hugged her ( which isn’t weird at all if you know my Eden girls..) and remember thinking.. she’s gonna be one seriously gorgeous bride…

Fast forward to last May and guess who’s name pops up in my inbox? Yep. Chris proposed and Anna had the ring to prove it :)

In case you’re new to this blog & wondering what the heck an “Eden girl” is… This group of girls have been with me since the beginning. Since before I opened the studio…back when I was just a girl with a camera, long before this blog even existed, I photographed the first bride in this group of friends. Funny thing is, I think she was the only one that’s actually FROM Eden, but the name has stuck & the Eden streak has continued for the past 5 years. So as you can imagine, these gals mean a lot to me. All six of them, along with their hubbies, have a special place in my heart. Every time I photograph one of their weddings its a big, happy reunion. So it seems only fitting that Anna & Chris are my Spring Feature. Anna is an Audrey Hepburn-style beauty…timeless & graceful. She was an absolute vision in her Amsale gown, and Chris couldn’t take his eyes off her as she made her way down the aisle. They share a love of the NC coast, so Bald Head Island was the perfect spot for them to share “i dos.” Their wedding day was the perfect blend of vintage & classic. Kim Fisher combined stunning, soft pink florals and tiny succulents for the centerpieces, and large planters filled with sea oats and magnolia leaves adorned the aisle. Every detail was beautifully executed thanks to the staff at the Bald Head Island Club and Kim Fisher’s vision. And I may just have a new favorite wedding cake, thanks to Flower & Flour ( check out their beautiful work below..)

Its tough to choose a favorite moment from a day as beautifully heartfelt as theirs was, but one does stand out to me… Anna’s dad Fred pulled double-duty during the ceremony, not just walking her down the aisle, but also officiating the ceremony. The moment before he announced them as husband & wife, he paused & you could see the tears welling up..it was as if the gravity of letting go hit all at once & his face says it all. It was one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever photographed. You’ll have to watch the slideshow to catch that moment, but its worth it…promise :)

To Anna, Chris, Georgia & Fred…thanks for having us. Lots of love to you all.

Venue- Bald Head Island Club
Dress- Amsale
Bridesmaid Dresses- Amsale
Flowers- Kim Fisher Designs
Cake- Flower & Flour
Band- The TFC Band
Hitched Banner- Etsy
Donut Favor Bags- Shop by Minimega and Le Papier Studios
Second Shooter- my uber-talented brother Ben

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To see more of Anna & Chris’s wedding day, click play below. Music by Cat Power.

Comments: 29    leave a comment

  1. Great pix Kel! Congrats again Chris and Anna :)

  2. I have had the pleasure of sitting here with Anna and Chris while looking through these pictures and we’re overcome! We’ve looked through them 80,000 times already and they just get better–and we’re only on our first bottle of wine! It’s an honor to know such an amazing couple, with two amazing families. Kellie-you know i think you are pure genius but I have to think these two made it pretty easy for you! BTW, that Chris, what a super stud! (he said to write that) xoxo! Delisa (Eden Girl #3) ;)

  3. I knew I was going to love these, and I knew working with you was going to be magical. Thank you for capturing all the beautiful moments of the day! Getting to relive them all now is surreal. Those pictures on the beach are amazing…the pictures of my parents are breath-taking. Love the ones of my bridesmaids! You’re amazing, thank you thank you thank you! :) BTW, that Chris, what a super stud! (he said to write that!)

  4. We three just looked at the pictures and slideshow…it takes us back to that perfect day of Anna and Chris’s wedding. Kellie, you have an amazing talent of capturing the moment, and we thank you for spending that precious day with our family. Caroline just said…”I want Kellie to do my wedding!” Thanks for getting those precious details…the flowers especially! These are wonderful! Lots of love to you from all of us! Two more Rose wedding to come!

  5. 1. Not only are you one of the best photographers on the planet, you write with an eloquence that simply astounds me. Like your photos, it draws me in and captivates me. Killer combo

    2. You deserve your Eden girls and they’re lucky to have you. :)

    3. KILLER coverage on an absolutely stunning wedding! You’re in a wonderful place when that’s what we’ve all come to expect from you. Awesome is your norm! Great job, Kellie. :)

  6. LOVE LOVE LOVE! The first looks pics are amazing! Job well done… AGAIN:)

  7. AMAZING :) And I knew they would be! So glad to get to see these amazing images that include some people I’ve known my whole life! Very cool. Beautiful work, as usual Kellie! Loved every bit of it and hope I get to work with you someday! xo

  8. Sigh…I always love the songs you choose for your slideshows. My faves? The bouquet shots (always), the one of the bride & her father walking down the aisle (amazing), and “Hitched”. Much love!

  9. Kellie, Your talent is amazing!

  10. Wow, simply amazing, Kellie! Makes me want to get married again, to Chip, of course :) so you can capture our day. I know Anna and Chris are thrilled with these!!

  11. Seriously Kellie, you are fantabulous. Goosebumps and tears as I watched the slideshow! You’re amazing Kellie you said I would love this wedding and you were correct…not helping the fever AT ALL. What a lucky couple to have you capture moments of their special day. Lots of love xoxo.

  12. Another BHI special event. Once again, “Picture Perfect”!!! Kellie-Girl YOU Rock, these are gorgeous!!!!!!

  13. …after all your talking about the BH wedding, i was getting very high expectations and you met them…and of course the bride and groom so precious and beautiful!!! fabulous blog posting and slideshow…love the brightness!

  14. Nicely done! Love it

  15. So so so incredibly gorgeous. I feel so lucky that I got to be there to see it in person, but the pics are truly fabulous!

  16. che bella ;)

  17. Absolutely beautiful!!! LOVE them AND the couple!!!

  18. Beautiful!! I can not imagine how hard it will be for Anna and Chris to decide!

  19. Wow! So beautiful!

  20. These are tremendously stunning! Anna and Chris are going to forever treasure each and every image! I can see the tamborine escapade replaying in my head right now! haha! Kellie, your talent is simply AMAZING! Cannot wait to see who the next “Eden girl” will be…the tradition must continue! Can’t wait to see you at the next big event!! Love love – Eden girl #4

  21. Beautiful stories always make me cry. Kellie, you are a master artist. I can’t believe how many details of this weekend you captured so gloriously-the couple,the wedding,their families, the island. We’re so happy we shared this blessing with Anna and Chris. You guys look like models, seriously.

  22. This are some of the most beautiful wedding photos I’ve ever seen. Congrats to Anna and Chris :)

  23. Absolutely beautiful pictures! And congrats to Anna and Chris!

  24. Kellie, you are such a beautiful storyteller (with your words, of course, but I really mean with your images.) I was there for almost all of these events, but I still found myself watching and rewatching the slideshow over, and over and over. It never grows old. Cheers to you and to a beautiful couple! Anna and Chris are forever in my heart as well. xoxo

  25. OH MY. These photos are so lovely. Applause for Ms. Kano and the happy couple on such a stunning photographic event.

  26. I love these photos! You have a beautiful way of capturing the intimate moments as well as the overall joy clearly shared by the entire wedding attendees. Anna looks exquisite, as well as her entire wedding party. Thanks for creating this beautiful “picture book” of their magical day. I would recommend you to any bride. PBarbour

  27. How thrilling to relive a very beautiful weekend! The pictures are perfectly beautiful. Kellie, I’m sorry we don’t have any more children to marry or you would be the one to photograph it all!!!

  28. […] With Love, directional sign: The Bride’s Cafe, old truck: Jose Villa, couple with banner: Kellie Kano Photography, plates: undefined via Pinterest, pie cake: Style Me Pretty, barn: Jose Villa, baby’s breath […]

  29. […] everything beautifully and you can read and see more about Anna and Chris on Kellie’s blog here. Thanks also to Shauna at The Bald Head Island Club for her continued exceptional event planning […]

So much can change in a week. Thanks to the uplifting emails, voicemails & tweets I received from clients, colleagues, blog readers & friends over the past week… I’m back in a happy place. To all of you who took the time to send love & thoughts…thank-you. Here’s a squeeze from me to you..xo

The past 2 weeks have been so jam-packed with good news ( as in game-changing, cartwheel-inducing news ) it would take me 3 blog posts to include it all, and since there aren’t enough hours in the day to write 3 separate blog posts, I’m working on cramming it all into one. Hoping to share early next week, so keep an eye out. And in case you’re curious…I really DID do a cartwheel last week. Lets just say my acrobat days are long gone. In a word…ouch.

So my real purpose of this post? Jackie & Brandon. Their mountainside wedding in Little Switzerland was a little slice of heaven with a double dose of heart. It didn’t surprise me a bit that every element of their wedding day was crafted with love. From the stunning ceremony arbor, to the whimsical bouquets, Jackie’s mom Patricia added her designer touch to every detail. As breathtaking as the view from the mountainside was, I found myself drawn to the connections that exist within this sweet family. If you know Jackie, you know how warm & wonderful she is. She’s the type of person who makes you feel like a million bucks the very first time you meet. Being around her makes even the cloudiest of days cheery & bright. She found the perfect match in Brandon. He is the yin to her yang. They balance each other out perfectly. Brandon has 2 great loves…his camaro and Jackie ( though not necessarily in that order ;) and over the past year I’ve found that having those 2 things around is the best way to get him to smile. His face lit up when he saw Jackie round the corner for their first look, and the hug they shared was one of my favorite moments of the day ( see below ). Their ceremony was filled with laughter & tears…and the party that ensued was one of the most fun I’ve ever photographed. From start to finish their wedding day was beautifully homespun, heartfelt & an absolute blast for everyone in attendance.

Thanks to Jackie & Brandon for having us…you guys are the best. Lots of love to you both.

Dress: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Hair: Salon Icon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Calvin Klein
Suits: Adolfo
Florals: designed by Jackie’s mom Patricia
Band: Rubberband

Comments: 34    leave a comment

  1. OH MY LOVE! Jax… beautiful, just beautiful. Kellie… always a rockstar. Love the pics. oxo

  2. Oh Lordy, Lordy. These are just too sweet! I can’t wait to hear about your big news!! XO!

  3. Absolutely beautiful pictures Kellie!!! Jackie and Brandon you both look incredible…congrats again to the both of you!

  4. LOVE these!! Beautiful! Jackie you were a Gorgeous bride!!!

  5. Kellie – you’re amazing! How you manage to snap these pictures in the middle of a spontaneous moment is genius. Thank you thank you for your talent and your being a part of J & B’s day. These photos evoke every emotion I felt in my heart and head on May 7…can’t wait to see the rest. XO!

  6. BEAUTIFUL! I teared up just looking at these! :)

  7. Love love love love them!!!!!! Breath.taking.photos. Can’t wait to get started with you!!

  8. Kellie!!! AWESOME AS ALWAYS :) It felt like I was reliving the wedding all over again!! J&B we are so happy for you guys! We Love you both! xoxo

  9. Beautiful!!!!!

  10. Love it! So beautiful. You have such an amazing gift that brings so much happiness to others. A special gift that no one else can give a newlywed couple and their families memories that will last a life time! I love the LOVE I can feel coming through my computer screen. Lots of love! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the news! xo!

  11. A-mazing!!! Every picture was more beautiful that the one before!

  12. Awesome pics…love them!

  13. How beautiful!!! I am so sad that we missed it!! the pictures are amazing and capture every emotion!

  14. These pictures are absolutely beautiful!!! Jackie and Brandon you both look amazing! I am so glad I was able to share your special day with y’all! Xoxo

  15. GREAT PHOTOS!!! You all look AMAZING!!! Best wishes to you both! I LOVE YALL!!!!

  16. In LOVE with these pictures!! You captured every beautiful moment of this beautiful couple’s special day! Can’t wait to see more :) Love you Jack and Bran!

  17. The light is perfection during the ceremony. Ahhh! Beautiful job.

  18. Kellie, these are stunning. That first look is EPIC and the dance/reception shots are too amazing. Beautiful beautiful shots!

  19. Kellie. There are absolutely just no words to explain the happiness I felt in my heart when I saw these on your blog. You are the most amazing photographer, and I was blessed to have you there on the biggest, most special day of our lives; which you captured exactly. Love you!

  20. Ahhhh I love these!! Jackie you are so gorgeous!!!!

  21. Great Pictures, I cried after looking at them

  22. GORGEOUS!!! Always creative and always in the right place at the right time. You’re clients are lucky to have you!!! xo

  23. So beautiful!!! I love the pup picture :)

  24. $weet pic$ Jackie!! The back-lit $hot$ look awe$ome

  25. These are stunning! I haven’t ever witnessed another bride as happy as you! Everything about that day and these pictures are perfect! xoxo

  26. Love the ring shot! So beautiful Kellie!!

  27. All I kept saying when I saw these pictures were oh my gosh these are the most beautiful pictures i have ever seen oh my gosh these are the most beautiful pictures i’ve ever seen. The wedding was amazing, Jackie you look so gorgeous, and the moments were captured perfectly.

  28. Gorgeous!!!! Congratulations!

  29. Love your pics! They are so beautiful! :)

  30. Biscuit, these are AMAZING! I love every last one of them.. you and Brandon are the most perfect couple and I’m glad you have so many breath-taking shots of your big day. I can only hope that Kellie is still in the photography business when I finally get married. Lol. Love.

  31. Wow…the shot of him lifting her up and the mountains in the background…GAVE ME CHILLS!!! Super job Kellie. LOVE IT! She’s absolutely gorgeous too. Love her hair and dress. Everything.

  32. Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! Jackie & Brandon, we call this “Kellie Kano Magic”!!!!!!! We are so happy for you both, thanks for including us in such a special day! We love you guys!!!!!!!!!!

  33. The wonderful memories live on through these beautiful pictures! They capture the feeling of the night. Congratulations and best wishes Jackie and Brandon!

  34. These pictures are wonderful!!! I have never been to a wedding that was filled with as much love and happiness as Jackies and Brandon’s. There was laughter, smiles, tears and pure happiness all around. The pictures of the first look are the most amazing pictures I have ever seen. What an amazing photographer Kellie is!!! All I can say is WOW!!!! Love you Jackie and Brandon!!!!

Its been a tough week. The world lost a bright light last Friday. One of my brothers very best friends…a boy I watched play drums in his basement ( a zillion times…) A boy who made my husband laugh. A boy who loved computers & knew all about the new “icloud” operating system months before Steve Jobs announced it. A boy who lived every minute with passion. A boy who I JUST photographed at a wedding last fall. A boy whose wedding I will never get to shoot. A boy named David…who I will miss dearly.

So anyway…that’s where I’ve been. Wrapped up in my little blanket of grief & unable to blog because..well, I just can’t fake it. I take the intros to these blog posts as seriously as I do the images that accompany them & need to be in a good place to write them. I can honestly say I’ve never been happier to be swimming in heartfelt, beautiful moments…so here’s a thank-you to my clients for allowing me to tap into their joy. That joy ( along with the smiles & hugs from my little boys) has kept me afloat for the past week.

I would normally be nervous to write something so personal at the start of a wedding post, but that’s just how perfect this couple are for me. There are a million and one reasons why Sarah & Andy are my ideal couple..starting with the fact that every time Sarah has dropped by the studio to pick up prints, we end up talking for hours. She’s an open book & has a heart the size of Texas. There’s no guard up with Sarah…and that’s a big reason why I love photographing her & Andy so much. They are so at home with one another, and rather than treating their wedding like an 8-hr. portrait session, they focused on family & friends…and really allowed us to document their day. I love that they planned their first look in the exact spot that Andy proposed. The Creek Club was more than just a pretty place to say ‘i-do’…it holds a lot of memories for them, and I was honored to be there to add to those memories…

I called Sarah yesterday to let her know her gallery was online & ready to view…and you’ll never guess what she said, “I want to wait for the blog post, I want to see your take on it, Kellie….”

Sigh. THAT’s how amazing this couple is. I hope they’re at home snuggled up in front of the computer, sharing a glass of wine reading this right now. Thanks for an unforgettable day, guys..lots of love to you both.

Dress: Amsale
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Earrings ( wedding gift from the groom): David Yurman
Coordination & Design: Hannah Alexander with WED
Venue: Creek Club at I’On
Hair Fascinator: Twigs & Honey
Hair & Makeup: Chris King from Salon Aqua
Flowers: Sara Grimshaw Designs
Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor
Suits: Berlins in Charleston
Ties: Vineyard Vines Ties

**A huge thank-you to my incredible second shooter Jennings King, who blew me away with her contributions to Sarah & Andy’s story. Much of her work can be seen below.**

Comments: 33    leave a comment

  1. So, so sorry to hear about David. Many hugs to you. Beautiful wedding to serve as a bright spot. :)

  2. You have certainly captured in these photos the feelings of the day…love and happiness, family, and faith. A new and exciting journey has begun for these 2 very precious kids!

  3. Kellie, the reason you are so amazing is that you put your heart and soul into everything you do. This couple is so lucky to have you. Love and prayers to David’s family and your family. I know this was a huge loss for you and your brother. We are thinking about you.

  4. Oh Kellie… I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dear friend. Please know that you are always in our constant thoughts and prayers and I pray that our God who knows all the hurts in our heart will be with you now. :) The wedding is just gorgeous, as alway! Kudos to you and Jennings! :D

  5. We are amazed….they are all so wonderful!! Words cannot express the way these pictures make us feel. It’s like we were able to relive the entire day all over again. We know that this past week has been very difficult for you and your family. We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you again for this special gift.
    love- Sarah and Andy

  6. Beautiful, that about says it all

  7. Saw your tweet and ran to find my lap top. I know what a rough week it has been for you guys and you know my heart is with you and so are my thoughts and prayers. What a beautiful couple! They have such a joy about them that just glows even through a computer screen. I love every single moment you captured. What a lucky couple to have you. :) You never EVER cease to amaze me. Your strength, passion, and pure love for what you do is an inspiration. Your images capture memories, memories are priceless. Lots and lots of love. xoxo

  8. Kellie – all i can say is sigh sigh sigh! mmmmmm! You know how i feel, one of the best experiences of my life and career, thank you “friend!” Andy & Sarah – such a beautiful and precious couple, thank you for making our job easy as pie! Best Wishes to you both for a long and happy life together!

  9. […] Kellie Kano is from Sarah’s home town and we were THRILLED to hear she had already hired her before we even knew we’d be working together because Kellie is one whose work we absolutely admire. And what a fantastic person to have around on your wedding day… it’s no wonder at all that she also became good friends with Sarah and Andy. […]

  10. Kellie, these are stunning! You did such a brilliant job of capturing the sweetness of this night. I love them all!

  11. By the way….the pic of the nephew Jack running towards you totally melts my heart.

  12. So sorry to hear about your loss Kellie. These are beautiful photographs and you are a master at capturing the warmth of couples and their families, just beautiful!

  13. What a gorgeous wedding! The details are impeccable – love the pink shoes! I’m so sorry for you loss, Kellie, but it’s a beautiful thing to see you sharing your heart through photos AND words. This may be one of my favorites yet.

  14. Stunning dress! She was made for it! I love all the happiness you can feel from them! Amazing job!

  15. Kellie ~ tears streamed down my face as I read your journey this past week. I’m glad that looking thru Sarah & Andy’s beautiful pics of their wedding day has brought your heart some comfort. I’ve followed your blog for a while and was at this wedding, it’s unbelievable how you captured the amazing moments between them. Amazing work! Prayers to you, your family & David’s family as you all work to heal.

  16. A masterful use of light. You never cease to amaze me. You know you can’t have a tree branch running through the middle of your photo…no wait…YOU can, and make it beautiful. I wish everyone had a fraction of Dave’s passion for life. He is sorely missed by those who love him.

  17. Kellie, David sounds like a wonderful guy and I know he is cherished, loved and missed. This post is amazing and beautiful, everything I know your work to ALWAYS be. Thanks for being real – something I’ve always loved about you and wish more people would be. :)

  18. GORGEOUS!!! They look so happy!!! Once again, job well done:)

  19. Absolutely stunning!!! Kellie, you captured the special day so perfectly! These are the memories to treasure for a lifetime. I’m so deeply sorry for your loss – you are in my thoughts and prayers!
    xoxo to Sarah and Andy!

  20. Kellie, the pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to see the rest. Thank you for doing a beautiful job.

  21. Beautifully captured! sending extra xoxox to you Kellie!

  22. Oh gosh Kellie. I’m so sad to hear of the loss of your friend. Keep your head up and bask in the love of your family and sweet clients. This wedding is a ray of sunshine for sure. So much joy and love in the photos. Your work is always so heartwarming and genuine. I love the lanterns and ribbons in the trees and those shoes Sarah chose are to die for. Perfect little pop of color. Beautiful all around my friend.

  23. Sarah and Andy’s pictures are so emotional and gorgeous – you’ve done it again :) words cannot express how wonderful that I think you are, and how you touch so many lives. I am so sorry to hear about your friend’s passing.

  24. These pictures are a beautiful testament to your perfect day and new life together! I love that these pictures helped Kellie through a difficult time. I love them all!

  25. I was so unhappy to have missed being at Sarah and Andy’s wedding, but now i don’t have to feel that way, because you captured it so perfectly. The light and the love. Beautiful, brilliant photos. All the best to the happy couple.

  26. Words cannot even begin to describe how perfect these pictures are… I have looked at them so many times and find them absolutely stunning! Thanks for capturing so many wonderful moments!

  27. These photos are all absolutely gorgeous! I was honored to be part of such a special day and, Kellie, thanks for capturing it perfectly! Lots of love to Sarah and Andy :)

  28. The photos of Sarah and Andy’s wedding are amazing! Such a apecial day for the couple and you did such a fantastic job capturing that! :)

  29. gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous (photos, bride and day!) love all of these!

  30. These pictures are absolutely amazing. Sarah and Andy, you are so lucky to have such wonderful memories captured that you will cherish forever!

  31. Wonderful pictures of the Perfect Wedding!

  32. So good, Kellie. The getting ready shots are gorgeous, and I love the sparkler ones at the end!

  33. Hate I missed the wedding, but the photos are amazing!! Best of luck to the cutest couple, The Sheltons : )

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