Meredith & Jason’s Raleigh backyard wedding

As I predicted back in early April, Covid19 has really changed the way weddings work. It will be interesting to see how long-lasting the ripple effect is, but for now, I’m focused on my couples who have made the pivot to intimate, micro-weddings, like Meredith & Jason. They celebrated their love with a small group of family and friends at their Raleigh backyard wedding this weekend.

Though the day was not quite what they’d envisioned since they got engaged (that would have been a larger church wedding followed by a larger house party), it was perfect regardless. Meredith & Jason’s house is in a beautiful tree-filled neighborhood in North Raleigh, and their backyard (plus its lovely deck and terrace), shaded from the afternoon sun, worked out wonderfully as their ceremony backdrop.

Jason and his twin sons suited up after making sure the music was plugged in, Meredith’s parents got all of the catering organized while she finished putting on her gorgeous gown, and once everyone was ready, each family took a turn meeting with the pastor for a prayer before the ceremony. The ceremony itself included involvement from the kids, a blessing from all of the audience, a reading from Meredith’s sister, a little bit of sweat in the summer heat, and plenty of laughter.

The sky got a bit darker during the ceremony and the wind picked up a bit, but the rain held off until everyone could get under cover, and even then it only rained for about 10 minutes. That rain just served to cool off the backyard, and after Meredith & Jason’s friends set up some tables where the ceremony had taken place just 20 minutes before, everyone enjoyed a bit of BBQ, cake, and donuts in the shade of the house.

I loved how much time Meredith & Jason had with one another and how much time they had to interact with their closest loved ones. Weddings can feel overwhelming and at times stressful, and I think one benefit of the micro-wedding is that it slows that pace down simply because there are fewer moving pieces to control.

I’ve got another, even smaller, wedding this week, and I’m really enjoying it! So if you’re thinking about the micro-wedding route, let me know and we can chat about it. In the meantime, some images from Meredith & Jason’s Raleigh backyard wedding:

Jason’s twin boys were a big part of the day, and I loved how they helped their dad get ready!

The masks came off for pictures, but everyone had them! Good safety precautions here 🙂

20 percent of those in attendance were kids! And look how sweet these four are.

I loved this pure joy and celebration right after the ceremony – that oh my gosh we’re married feeling! And the way the boys were included just makes your heart swell, right?

You can’t really tell in these images (maybe a few stray rain drops on suits), but this is when it started raining. We got in some quick portraits outside, but then went in to do a couple around the piano while we waited out the rain.

Cake & donuts? Yes yes yes! Who even needs dinner first?

A few more portraits outside, with damp ground, but sunny skies…

And then dinner on the lawn with friends!

Congratulations Meredith & Jason!! Your house was such a perfect venue and now that backyard holds some of your most important memories!

We believe that love is bright and colorful, and your wedding photographs should be bright and colorful too.

Kivus & Camera are Raleigh Wedding photographers who create bold, colorful, magical memories of your wedding day with beautiful, artistic portraits AND enthusiastic, genuine moments. Your unique love story deserves to be told through unforgettable, breath-taking photographs that stand out from the crowd. Kivus & Camera love creating that magic. After all, as past bride Courtney says, we’re photography sorcerers.

And though we call ourselves Raleigh wedding photographers, we definitely photograph Durham weddings, Chapel Hill weddings, Cary weddings, etc. We’re all over the Triangle area, and we’re happy to head to the beach or mountains and even to places outside of North Carolina! Just let us know where your love story is headed.

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