Jill and Andrew’s spring wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House felt like stepping into a refined garden party — formal, classy, and beautifully upbeat. With a full weekend of celebration and ten hours of wedding day coverage, this elegant garden party wedding was filled with emotion, elegance, and intentional details from start to finish.
Set in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina, the historic Merrimon-Wynne was the perfect backdrop for their “elegant garden party” vision. Florals bloomed under soft natural light, while rattan hand fans and garden umbrellas added charm and comfort to their ceremony setup. Guests were greeted with champagne upon arrival, setting a joyful and elevated tone before a single vow was spoken.
Before the ceremony, Jill shared first looks with her bridesmaids, her father, and finally with Andrew — who couldn’t hold back his tears in the most heartfelt and unforgettable moment of the day. Capturing that kind of emotion — real, raw, unrehearsed — is what I live for as a photographer.
Throughout the day, the celebration was filled with rich sound and movement: a string quartet during the ceremony, a live saxophone player at cocktail hour, and a band-DJ combo that kept the reception lively all night long. During cocktail hour, we made time to photograph signature bites and a standout oyster bar, one of the couple’s favorite personal touches.
Jill and Andrew wanted a mix of documentary-style images with refined, styled moments — and their timeline gave us the perfect flexibility to create both. We focused on candid joy, quiet glances, and the kind of natural movement that tells the full story of a day like this. Every detail, from the garden-inspired design to the stunning desserts, was thoughtfully chosen. (Fun fact: Jill’s family owns a bakery and made the entire cake + dessert spread!)
They ended the night with a ribbon streamer sendoff, heading to their getaway car under a wave of cheers, color, and energy — the perfect closing scene for a day that was equal parts polished and full of heart.
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