Caitlin & Juan’s Wedding at The Carolina Barn at McCormick Farms

Do you remember these two from their engagement session with their precious puppy and the cows? Well, we were back at McCormick Farms on Saturday for their wedding at The Carolina Barn and it was an amazing day. Make sure to read all the way through for touching tributes to dads and grandfathers, the cutest little tissue boxes, a mom who finally gets a daughter, a Smirnoff icings, a full moon, and more!

The Carolina Barn Wedding Team

Venue: The Carolina Barn at McCormick Farms
Planner, Catering, & Florals: BNB Inc.
Hair & Makeup: Lauren Osborne
Wedding gown: Nicole Spose from Bridals by Lori
Officiant: Ray Garrison
DJ: Ward Productions
Cake: Marci’s Cakes and Bakes
Video: Light Cannon Films
Photo: that would be us! Kivus & Camera 😀

The Carolina Barn Wedding Photos

The Carolina Barn wedding photos – getting ready

Y’all, The Carolina Barn is gorgeous! Way to bring it McCormick Farms team! The two getting ready suites both have lovely light and plenty of space. Catie and her girls took over the east wing and Juan and company were in the room over the entrance to the barn.

Catie had sweet gifts for her mom and her almost mother-in-law. And look at the back of her dress!!! Doesn’t she look amazing?

Meanwhile, the guys got into some very dapper blue suits with monogrammed suspenders – just wait for the suspenders’ appearances on the dance floor later. They make an EXCELLENT dance prop. 

Back inside, Catie shared a first look with her father, and then he walked her down for a first look with her grandfather. She surprised them both with a sweet addition to her dress: their military name tags sewn into the hem of her dress, symbolizing that they would follow her into her new family with Juan. LOVE.

These ladies killed the Bridesmaids poster look, and hello to both of these two ready to get hitched. Looking fantastic!

But first, some gifts and letters for one another before the ceremony:

The Carolina Barn Wedding Ceremony

Featuring one of those adorable little tissue boxes!

Post Ceremony Portraits

I always like to include family portraits in the initial blog posts, because these are the people who shaped the couple. I love Juan’s family photo especially, because his mom Rita finally has another lady around. She has six sons!!! And they all seemed really great, so she and Juan’s dad too are clearly doing something right. 

How great are these wedding colors?! The blue of those suits with that vibrant red? Perfection. 

And now for the newlyweds. Us photographers are suckers for a great veil, and Catie’s did not disappoint. 

The Carolina Barn Wedding Reception photos

The reception details were delightful, from the chandeliers all the way down to the flip-flops available for the dance floor.

After dinner, everyone settled in for toasts. The last “toast” was a special family tradition involving a Nurnberg Bridal Cup. You can click there to learn more about the origins, but according to the relative who presented the cup to the couple, whoever finishes their side of the cup first wears the pants in the relationship. Check out Catie’s victory celebration!

If you have a venue like this, please, please, please include time to sneak out for sunset portraits. Look at this magic!!! It was really humid, so my lens was fogging up at first, but that just gave the early images a little extra dreamy feel.

After sunset it was back inside for special dances. Juan and his mom kicked things off, and then Juan surprised his mom by calling his dad up to the floor, so the two of them could dance. Juan’s parents never got to have a first dance when they got married, so this was the sweetest surprise. After Catie & her dad’s dance, the newlyweds took the floor, and then the party got going.

Party time. Look closely behind Catie in that first image.

I love when people get into the bouquet toss. Those expressions!!!

Juan surprised Catie with a bit of a dance before dropping to get the garter, but he wasn’t the only one with a surprise. I loved all the reactions as Juan found a Smirnoff Ice tucked into Catie’s garter. 

After a little bit more dancing, we had a brief break for sparklers, and then headed back inside for *more* dancing.

We also managed to grab a couple quick nighttime portraits with the moon, which was a great cap to the evening.

Thanks y’all! And I hope you’re having the best time in St. Lucia!!