Becky & Michael are Married!

June 22, 2018

Based in beautiful North Carolina, I’m a wedding, family and senior photographer with a heart for real moments, golden light, and the kind of love that makes your chest feel full.

Photography, for me, isn’t just about pretty pictures. Though, don’t worry, we’ll get those too. It’s about creating a space where you can be fully present and comfortable, while I document it all in a way that feels natural and true to you.

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Where do I begin? Becky & Michael’s wedding on the MerleFest Stage in Wilkesboro, NC last week was so unique! It was a day filled with the essence of Becky and Michael. There were personal details, loving moments and tons of laughter. I will try to do it justice through my words and pictures.

Their love story is newsworthy. It is one of my favorites to tell. I was so excited about it I think my husband heard it one too many times!

Becky and Michael met at MerleFest. They were introduced through a mutual friend and were inseparable from the beginning. A group of artists covered the entire Eagles Greatest Hits album (how cool is that?) while they got to know each other.

Later in the evening the rain started pouring and they sat talking under umbrellas. They exchanged numbers and Becky said: “Little did I know, that I found my future husband at the 29th MerleFest. He is my serendipity.”

Their “first date happened 2 weeks after we first met. Michael picked me up and we went to eat at Foothills and then went to a Winston Salem Dash baseball game. Our first date was a day after his birthday. I wanted to impress him, so I made him homemade whiskey cupcakes with his favorite whiskey, Defiant. Michael claims this sealed the deal.”

Keeping with the music theme, their proposal happened in Nashville. They were visiting some of their best friends. The day before July 4th they wandered to see all of the murals around town. They ended under a sunflower mural (Becky has sunflowers in her bouquet) where Michael got down on one knee.

At this point Becky says: “Michael loves to add in this part that I said NO first. Let me clarify! I was saying NO as in NO WAY! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! I held my hand out ready for the ring, but Michael wasn’t slipping it on my finger until he heard a YES.” Tell me, how much do you already love these two?

It starting raining soon after he proposed! On another of their big days they ended up under an umbrella. This time they were Facetiming family members to tell them they were engaged! After leaving Nashville they traveled to San Francisco and Napa Valley and got to spend time enjoying their engagement.

Becky wrote some amazing things about her wedding day and she tells their story so eloquently. Before I tell you about their day I will let you hear some of her words about why they chose the Doc & Merle Watson Theatre as their ceremony site. “It made sense to go back to where it all began to say I DO. We are very excited to exchange our vows on a stage where artists like James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, The Doobie Brothers, Robert Plant, Vince Gill, not to mention Doc himself, have performed. That’s just to name a few! While we are having the wedding at a place over 75,000 people flock to every year, our ceremony will be small and intimate including only immediate family and closest friends. We hope the day will be somewhat reflective of MerleFest, doing the stage justice, while still having our personalities and story shine through. We couldn’t be more excited.”

Their wedding invitations were created by Shoe String Studios. They look like concert tickets and say General Admission on the side. They also sent VIP tickets to their rehearsal dinner. It is the raddest idea for a wedding invite!

Their big day began at their house. You can read more about their house on their engagement blog here. The girls were getting their hair and makeup done and the guys were relaxing downstairs. Becky and Michael showed no signs of being nervous. They were both full of joy.

We headed to the theatre for their first look. Becky had the idea to exchange handwritten vows during this time. This was such a special moment that I will never forget. They both poured their hearts into their words and you could see how much they love each other. Part of Becky’s vows were a pinky promise, an inside joke for their relationship, that was so adorable to capture.

The ceremony took place on the stage under an arch that was made by Michael and Becky’s Dad, Andy. The wood they used was salvaged from her late Granny Faw’s house. There was a scalloped part on top that was from her kitchen!

Also, the Bible used was from her late Papa Joe McCollum. He married all the grandchildren besides her so she said this was her way of including him in the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony guests threw wildflower petals as they walked down the aisle!

During the reception Roanoke (a band that they love and that has played at MerleFest) played a two hour set. They are a phenomenally group who not only played their own music they played a few covers too! Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac, Jolene by Dolly Parton and Tennessee Whiskey the Chris Stapleton version. After they played the band stayed and celebrated with Becky and Michael.

Becky and Michael ended the night leaving in a limo for Charlotte. They drank wine that they got in Napa after they were engaged. The next day they headed for their honeymoon in Greece!

A few more special details during the day were on Becky’s bouquet and Michael’s ring. Becky and her sister’s bouquet had pendants made with lace from her Grandmother’s wedding dress. The inside of Michael’s wedding band is made with a spiral from his favorite distillery, Defiant Whisky.

Michael’s family owns a Krispy Kreme franchise and they had a doughnut table. The sign said “Doughnut Mind If I do!” The last ‘O’ was an engagement ring! They also brought the Krispy Kreme hats. My awesome second shooter Kristin grabbed the hats and a doughnut for their sunset pictures. I LOVE these pictures.

Becky and Michael had a special cake topper too. The MerleFest mascot is a raccoon named Flattop. Their cake topper was a bride and groom raccoon!

On their wedding day it astonishingly didn’t rain one drop. There were barely any clouds for most of it. We were blessed with perfect weather and amazing memories.

Becky and Michael, I wish that your ten days in Greece feels like a hundred and you soak up every minute of it. I have no doubt you two are living in the moment like you do so well. You deserve every ounce of happiness and it was such an honor to get to know you both. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.

MerleFest Wedding Wilkesboro

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~Jessi Paige