Family Lifestyle Session - Mike, Kelly, + Girls

Somehow I overlooked featuring Mike, Kelly, & their two adorable daughter's late spring session!  And here it is officially fall already! We got together one evening in May at Guilford College in Greensboro where Kelly's dad is one of the tennis coaches.  I've actually known Kelly for quite a few years now, as she was business partner with her now retired mother, Sue McCain, of the Wedding Galleria by Bella and Bella Wedding & Event Planning. 

It was great seeing Kelly again and meeting Mike finally. And those little girls...absolutely precious! Such sweeties, we had quite a bit of fun!  The campus offers up a nice backdrop & we had beautiful weather as we often do here in North Carolina in the spring. Fall is a beautiful time of year here too! And on that note, NOW is the time to schedule your session too - family, couples, head shots and more!  Please contact us for additional info & to book here!

images © elizabeth larson photography - 2017

Mandi's Bridals - The Gardens at Gray Gables

Mandi chose to have her bridal session at The Garden at Gray Gables, where she and Adam were married this past Sunday.  What a stunning bride she was, and I'm excited to finally be able to share her photos from the session we did back in July. What a difference about 6 weeks makes in the weather - hot, humid the day of her bridals and crisp and cool on their wedding day.  Fall is in the air!  Enjoy a few of my personal favorites - it was not easy choosing just a few!  Please check back for a blog post coming soon featuring their wedding and be sure to take a look at their engagement session posted last week on the blog here!  

Location - The Gardens at Gray Gables

Wedding Gown - Bella Adriana Bridal Collection

Bride's Bouquet - Abba Design

all images © elizabeth larson photography 2015

the gardens at gray gables - stylized garden vintage photo shoot

As the temps "soar" into the 20's today & its threatening to snow, I'm thinking back on a stylized photo shoot I collaborated with Sue McCain of the Wedding Galleria by Bella on last summer. The Gardens at Gray Gables, a beautiful 1890's victorian home & wedding and event venue in Summerfield, NC was the setting for our shoot. I love this venue, with its beautifully landscaped gardens, koi ponds & fountains, and mature hardwood trees. It never disappoints!

Sue did a fantastic job of pulling everything together, along with Danielle & Keith, both of the Gardens at Gray Gables. Thanks to all of the other vendors who put a lot of effort into making this possible too. Everything looked great & our models Annika & Matt were naturals in front of the camera! Grand Rental Station supplied the table linens, chair covers, china, flatware, and the family style farm table & chiavari chairs. The yellow & purple flowers in the blue vases added a pop of color to the centerpieces on all of the tables. Sue did the styling for the cake & sweetheart tables under the gazebo as well. Sue certainly has a keen sense of style. I loved her idea of the garden vintage victorian theme - it suits the venue perfectly!

Many of you may recognize some of these images, as several appear on the Garden at Gray Gables' new website & in their marketing materials. Also The Wedding Galleria is several months ahead of me, as they posted a few of their favorites to their blog back in August!  So my excuse is for posting it now {rather than last summer!} is that this coming Wednesday evening, February 18th {weather permitting} The Gardens at Gray Gables will be hosting an open house and wedding show with over 30 vendors participating.  Its from 6-9pm free of charge. Bundle up and come on out and see for yourself all while enjoying complimentary appetizers, beverages, or a cocktail of your choice. Please stop by our booth to say hello - hope to see you there!

venue - The Gardens at Gray Gables

rentals - Grand Rental Station

florals - Oak Ridge Florists

cake - Amy's Cakes & Candies

styling - The Wedding Galleria by Bella

sweetheart & cake tables/chairs - Southern Vintage Rentals {at the Galleria}

wedding gown, accessories, & men's formalwear - The Wedding Galleria by Bella

bride & groom {models} - Annika and Matt

all images © elizabeth larson photography 2014

leslie + matt - wedding inspiration board

one of my favorite inspiration boards i've created from leslie +matt's fall wedding in the west virginia mountains - it looks fabulous printed as a 16x16 canvas gallery wrap - please ask me how i can create one from your wedding, event, or session with elizabeth larson photography!

lovely - vibrant - cheerful 

© elizabeth larson photography 2014

suzanne+matt - an intimate greensboro wedding

suzanne and matt traveled all the way from their home in toronto, ontario to celebrate their intimate may 19th wedding with close friends and family in greensboro. although suzanne is originally from this area, she met matt while he was in greensboro several years ago and the rest is history!  matt is a former professional hockey player & now they are both real estate brokers in the greater toronto area.

suzanne was such a striking bride in her unique white wedding gown accented in black lace and satin. i loved how they included their two australian shepherds in their wedding day festivities too.  ziko and kyzer were so handsome, both wore bow ties and were so well-behaved. and for good reason - suzanne and her family are also professional dog-trainers!  the boys reminded me so much of my two doggie nephews, who are also aussies.

we dodged a few rain-drops, however it held off long enough for suzanne and matt to have their ceremony out on the patio and for us to take some wedding party photos outdoors as well. the most memorable part of the day is when the minister announced suzanne & matt as husband and wife, their guests clapped which made the dogs bark in happiness too!  everyone celebrated with dinner and dancing on the screened in porch immediately following the ceremony in the clubhouse. it was the perfect setting for a small intimate wedding and it was nice that the venue was dog friendly, so ziko and kyzer could be included in the wedding day festivities too!

although i met suzanne and matt for the first time just two days before their wedding, i knew they would be wonderful couple to work with. they were not only gracious and appreciative to me, but to all of their vendors they worked with. a special thanks goes out to sue mccain and her team at bella wedding and event planning.  because of them, this wedding wouldn't of come together so smoothly in such a short period of time! a wedding planner & coordinator are worth every penny.

venue {ceremony+reception} - bur mil clubhouse
catering - thyme 2 cater

cake+cupcakes - delicious cakes  

floral design - abba design

music- drake's dj services 
planning, coordinating, + design -
bella wedding & event planning
 the wedding galleria by bella

all images © elizabeth larson photography