It’s every photographer’s dream to be able to shoot a cherry blossom wedding. And this time, I was graced with the opportunity to do so– at least in part! This wedding took place in Montreat, which is a small but beautiful town in North Carolina. Its downtown consists entirely of stone buildings, with quaint Lake Susan at its center. Most people would never even know about this place, or even hear about it, unless they knew where to look. The name Montreat is a portmanteau of “mountain” and “retreat”, which is certainly an apt name!
Eleanor and Justin decided to get married in Black Mountain Presbyterian, a church where Eleanor grew up. Her father was the pastor there, and I thought that was so sweet to have that part of their wedding in a place that was so formative for her.
Loving and Sacrificial
Eleanor and Justin are the kinds of people that when you meet them for the first time, you feel like you’ve known them for years. They’re laid back, welcoming and hospitable. They specifically went out of their way to make sure that my job was easier on the wedding day. Not only that, but when my second shooter and I arrived on site, they offered my second shooter her own hotel room! It’s a pretty long drive from where we came from, and that gesture was an unheard of offer and very touching to my second shooter and me. They were so loving and ready to help, and it touched us in a way that I’ve never experienced before from any clients!
The girl and guy next door
They originally met in North Carolina State University and were in the same dorms but didn’t meet until a year later. Believe it or not, they were in the dorm rooms next door to each other, sleeping literally feet from each other for a long time, before they even met. How amazing is that?! They were literally next door neighbors at college and then they got married!
They loved their people, and their people loved them
We pulled up to the area where everyone was getting ready, an expansive Airbnb that they rented. They had the ladies getting ready on the top floor, and the guys getting ready on the bottom floor. I walked in and was surprised to find Justin and Eleanor together, instead of staying apart from one another, as tradition usually dictates. That’s just the kind of people they are and the way they want to operate as a married couple! As Justin puts it, they do everything together, for better or worse. And that included getting ready on a wedding day!
That light and love was felt by everyone there getting ready, and the entire process was community driven. Eleanor and Justin loved their people, and their people loved them. Finally, the time came for Eleanor to put her dress on, and they remained separated until their first look.
A cherry blossom wedding
They decided to do a first look on Lake Susan, underneath the cherry blossom trees before the wedding ceremony. Cherry blossom trees are a wedding photographer’s dream come true! It was the absolute sweetest moment when Justin saw his bride-to-be in her dress for the first time, and it was a true delight to capture that moment for them!
After some sweet portraits, it was time to prepare for the ceremony.
They decided to only have siblings of honor. There were no traditional bridesmaids or groomsmen. Eleanor had her “Brother of Honor” and Justin had his “Sister of Honor.” And that was it! No one else was with them. And that speaks to just how important family is to them. They wanted to honor and treasure those relationships this day, and they found the perfect way to do it!
The ceremony and after
During the wedding, they performed a tradition where they held hands and their joined hands were wrapped in a stole. They did this to symbolize their connectedness and their union. Afterwards, they sang a beloved hymn, Be Now My Vision, which was important to them and a reminder of the direction they wanted to take their marriage.
Afterwards, we took lots of family portraits before heading out to take couple’s portraits around Montreat. We were grateful to have cooperative weather, since this wedding was in early April.
The perfect reception
They were married at The Barn. It’s not typically used as a reception hall, but, Eleanor and Justin found the space that would accommodate them the best in Montreat, and this was it! They decorated the space beautifully. I loved the fireplace that they got to sit in front of. There were flowers everywhere, and the entire space was perfect for them.
The most exciting part of the reception was when Eleanor changed out of her wedding gown, and changed into a bridal jumpsuit. She came out and lip synced “Death of a Bachelor” by Panic at the Disco! But, it wasn’t the original version of the song, but the version of it that Justin sang when he was a part of an a cappella group at NC state. Everyone was all smiles for Eleanor’s performance, and Justin certainly loved every moment of it! He just pulled up a chair, sat down, and just watched his wife in obvious amusement.
The last song of the night was Piano Man. The entire family stood in a big circle, and sang the song together. You could truly feel the importance of family and friends, and just the love that everyone had for each other.
A unique wedding exit
They ended their night with a flower petal toss to end their wedding reception. You could see the joy on their faces as they left the building! And I heard Justin mutter as he got into the car, “This was such a great idea! So much better than a sparkler exit!”
At the end of the night, everyone was content. It was such a special moment that Justin and Eleanor won’t soon forget!
Eleanor and Justin, from the bottom of my heart: may your marriage be more beautiful than your wedding!
Fantastic Vendors
Bridal Dress – Maggi Bridal
Bakery/Cake – Analia Sarver (828) 368-2673
Livestream Services – Sam Webber of BMPC
Bartending – Perfect Mix Bartending
Wedding Planner/Coordinator – Julia McKinney
Florist – Anna Elliott
Caterer – Victor Aguilar (828) 458-7578
Decor – Classic Event Rental
Hair and Makeup Artists – Kristine Pittman
Photography – Jenn Eddine
Vendor Team
Planner: Julia Nicole Weddings & Events
Venue: The Barn
Florist: Anna Elliott
Hair and Makeup: Kristine Pittman
Caterer: BTM Foodtruck
DJ: Spin NC
Rentals: Classic Event Rental
Bartender: Perfect Mix Mobile Bartending
Officiant: Katherine Rick-Miller
Cake: Analia Sarver
If you liked this blog post, check out:
How to Make Your Wedding Uniquely Your Own
What to Wear to Your Engagement Session
Childress Vineyards Wedding (Tyler + Cortney)
Greensboro Wedding Venues to Consider
Jolo Winery Wedding (Koy + Melissa)
Oh my goodness! What a beautiful couple! Loved the way you wrote about their special day, Jenn! The venue, the cherry blossoms, the jumpsuit, the emphasis on family – love it all! Congrats Eleanor & Justin!
Thank you, Kami! It was such a glorious day from start to finish!
Wow, I LOVE these photos!! The colors are amazing… and those cherry blossom wedding portraits are a dream. Fantastic job with these photos, you are so talented!
Thank you so much, Reed! It was a gorgeous day. The cherry trees made for such a perfect spot for portraits!
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