The best weddings are those in which the style of the day matches the couples' personalities. We all know that weddings have lots of supposed tos. Every culture has its own traditions that make weddings so recognizable. Everyone's supposed to get dressed up. The bride and groom are supposed to feel and act very somber for the lifetime commitment they are about to make. There's supposed to be this, there's supposed to be that.

Over time, we've seen traditions change as couples decided the supposed tos aren't for them. Church weddings became beach weddings. Guest seating charts became tent cards, which became creative favors with names attached. At indigosilver, our favorite weddings are those in which the couple finds ever more unique ways of representing themselves in the celebration of the day, rather than sticking with the cookie-cutter method. For Toria and Denny, it meant injecting a little lighthearted irreverence into a day traditionally heavy with seriousness. A quick look at the couple's Facebook pages will tell you serious isn't for them - in their profile pictures, they're wearing masks and wigs; Toria's recent status update lets the world know, "I love driving through puddles."

The wedding day was no different, and it shows in the photographs! Sassy pictures for the camera were barely taken with a straight face. The couple's emotional reveal was quickly followed with bursts of laughter and silly poses. All smiles throughout the ceremony. No fancy guest book with a feather pen; instead, the couple left out a pile of assorted postcards for guests to sign and place in a decorated mailbox. Guests were encouraged to have a good time on the dance floor by being provided "Flip Flops for Floozie Flingin'". Props from the couples' photo booth floated around the room and encouraged the silliness.

Ed. note: since Toria and Denny booked their wedding, indigosilver has created the indigobooth, which is available for rental!

Here are our favorites from the wedding day, including both the serious and the silly. Enjoy!





Here's what Toria had to say on our Facebook page Reviews about working with us:

BEST IDEA EVER! You guys were my first vendor that I went with for the wedding. Now, I just think of you guys as friends. The creativity, the personalities and just all around experience has been outstanding. Jeff, Lori and Lesley have just blown me away! I know that we will keep coming back for more and keep recommending you guys....amazing!!

We had a great time with you, too!

The Wedding of Toria and Denny, starring...
Bride: Victoria Wagner
Groom: Dennis Freytag
Gown: David's Bridal
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Hilton Wilmington Riverside
Day-of Coordination: Haleigh Beyer, Hilton Wilmington Riverside
Officiant: Penelope Morningstar, Coastal Carolina Ceremonies
Flowers: Moxie Floral Design Studio (click the link to see our Vendor Spotlight on Moxie)
Music: DJ Brian Hood
Bakery: Imaginary Friends Bakery

...and photography by indigosilver!
 

When we meet with couples for the first time during their consultation, we always ask, "Tell us about your wedding plans." Some couples have the whole wedding envisioned in their heads: the colors, the theme, the location(s), how many guests, what their cake will look like. On the other hand, some couples have little more than a date (and some don't even have that). One recent couple, Sarah and Clay, were not even sure in which state their wedding was going to be! However, the word we hear most often from our clients is that they want their wedding to be fun.

"Fun" means different things to different people. Weddings can be elegant and fun. They can be casual and fun. They can be unique and fun. We can all remember a wedding we attended (probably as a child) in which we were forced to sit still, be quiet, eat bland food, and wait for our dinners while the couple posed for endless altar photos for the photographer. Today's couples want their weddings to be a celebration! They want laughter and love and good food and good friends to be what their guests remember.

How you incorporate fun into your own wedding is entirely up to you. Mike and Marquita gave their wedding the personal touch: The bride and groom each had a "signature cocktail" on the bar menu. Tables were named for locations pertaining to the couple's history. Mike and several guests participated in a fraternity ritual during which they place Mike's fraternity pin on the ruffle of Marquita's dress. Mike and Marquita both brought numerous guests to the dance floor and kept the dancing going throughout the evening.

As a studio, we worked with Mike and Marquita to design a custom guest signature book using Mike and Marquita's engagement portraits.

We also worked with the couple to plan the day in a way that did not keep guests waiting long at the reception. Like many of our couples, Marquita and Mike chose to create a special "first look" or "reveal" prior to the ceremony to see each other for the first time. The reveal itself is always a great opportunity for romantic images, and also allows the couple to complete all the bridal party images early in the day, rather than rushing during the cocktail hour. The day runs much more smoothly, and the result is great (and fun) images, and a couple who is relaxed enough at the reception to have fun with the guests!



Start the day right with a photography itinerary from indigosilver!



A pre-ceremony "reveal" or "first look" is an emotional moment and makes for a more relaxed couple throughout the day.



The hard part's over, now it's time to have fun!



Personalized guest book



Here's what Mike and Marquita had to say about us on WeddingWire:

I loved Jeff & Lori's photography style from the first time I viewed their website. We went in for a consultation and we were sold! They are very personable and their chemistry when working together is awesome! We had our engagement pictures taken by them and they came out beautiful. They really captured us and our personality. Super easy to work with, which made us become very comfortable, very quickly. Our wedding day was wonderful! They blended right in, taking lots of pictures without interfering with the event. Having a good photographer was one of my most important things on our wedding day since once it's all over, all you have are memories and pictures. We definitely chose the right photographers to capture that special day so that we can relive it through pictures for decades to come!

The Wedding of Marquita and Mike, starring...
Bride: Marquita Latney
Groom: Michael Sellman
Gown: The Bridal Boutique
Hair: Jamie Warzel
Ceremony Venue: Kenan Chapel, Landfall
Officiant: Michael Miller
Reception: 128 South (Click the link to check out our Vendor Spotlight on 128 South)
Day-Of Coordination: Christie Brogan, 128 South
Catering & Beverages: 128 South
Flowers: Fiore Fine Flowers
Bakery: Carolina Cakes & Confections
Transportation: Lett's Limousine

...and photography by indigosilver!