Erin and Lewis

These two said I do in the middle of a hurricane, and it was still the perfect day. Erin and Lewis had a beautiful fall wedding at one of the area’s newest wedding venues, The Upchurch, in Cary!

Erin and Lewis met in grad school at Virginia Tech. They dated long distance for 3.5 years, and after 4 years of dating, Lewis proposed to Erin at Duke Gardens. They are both so relaxed, bubbly, and fun to be around. Getting to photograph their engagement photos and their wedding day was an absolute dream!

Wedding at The Upchurch

They had their fall wedding at The Upchurch, a historic home built in the early 1900s that was restored and designed for the perfect wedding space. The main house was the perfect atmosphere for their cocktail hour, with cozy fireplaces in almost every room. They originally planned to hold their ceremony on the lawn with a view of the conservatory in the background, but Hurricane Ian changed those plans for them. They had a beautiful indoor ceremony at the conservatory, with candles lining the aisle and white rose petals. Talk about a beautiful backup plan!

One of my favorite things from their wedding day was Erin’s outfit change!! After their first look, she surprised Lewis with a whole new look when she walked down the aisle. She had a long tulle skirt that she added to her dress, and a pearl wedding veil. I loved this surprise so much!!

Rain on Your Wedding Day

I know that sometimes rain can be stressful on your wedding day, but it’s an old wives tale that rain on your wedding day is good luck. It is said to be good luck because it signifies that your bond is strong and your marriage will last. As for your wedding photos, all I need is a good dry spot on a porch or two to get you guys some beautiful natural light photos! We found the perfect spot on the porch that was dry and protected from the high winds to get their photos done, and do a private first look together.

Just before the reception was starting, the power started flickering and then went out from the strong winds and heavy rain. This was the first time I had been to a wedding where the power went out! It conveniently happened at a good time, because the guests had time to find their seats and eat salads while the venue broke out their brand new generator to get the DJ up and running.

During their reception, they surprised their guests with Two Roosters Ice Cream! One of Lewis and Erin’s favorite thing to do together is to travel and find the best ice cream shops everywhere they go. This was such a fun idea for them to incorporate on their wedding day!

I could go on and on about how sweet Erin and Lewis are, how great and supportive their friends were on their wedding day, and how much their amazing vendor team stepped up to the plate for them. A HUGE shout out to their vendor team for making such a beautiful wedding possible in a hurricane. It was absolutely incredible. For their full vendor list, scroll to the bottom of this blog post!

“Getting married in a hurricane was something I never could have imagined would happen, but now I cannot imagine it any other way, it was truly the most perfect day.” – Erin

Erin and Lewis, thank you for choosing me to photograph your special day! I know you’re off celebrating on your honeymoon in San Diego (and I hope you find some great ice cream while you’re there), but here is a full recap of some of my favorites from the best day ever!

Thank you to all of their vendors!

Venue: The Upchurch 

Planner: Something Fabulous Weddings

Photography: Sarah Hinckley Photography

Videography: James Ryan Films

Hair and Makeup: I Do Style

Florist: Rebecca’s Silver Rose

Dessert: Two Roosters Ice Cream

Catering & Bar: Rocky Top

Rentals: Curated Events Raleigh

Signage: Lex Lettered 

Dress: Simply Blush Bridal

Shoes: Kate Whitcomb

Bridesmaid Dresses: Kennedy Blue

DJ: Willis J Entertainment

Groomsmen Attire: Jos A Bank

Officiant: Reverend Kathie McCutcheon

Stationary: Marry Me Paper Boutique

Transportation: Great Raleigh Trolley