I’ve always wondered what shooting a destination wedding would be like and now I don’t have to! Sam and Bri chose to get married in Outer Banks, North Carolina and they brought me down to photograph it! It’s always an honor to be the one to document a wedding in the first place, but having someone bring me with them states away from home, that’s just the coolest feeling in the world!

I knew from the moment Bri and I launched into conversation over Instagram DM’s that we’d be fast friends! We met through my siblings who’d worked at the YMCA with her. Soon after, I met both of them for coffee at a favorite spot in Dayton one Saturday morning and it didn’t take long to just know that we’d not only work well together, but also that this was going to be one fun wedding day! Sam and Bri recounted all the stories about their relationship and life and soon the coffee was gone, but our conversation we could have kept talking on for hours!

Bri is a detail bride through and through! I saw it start to come through in all the little things she included in their engagement photos, from their love of craft beer and selection of a favorite brewery as a location to the fact that she wore a hat to her session because she liked it and knew that I loved photographing them! From there, she shared all the things she was putting together for her wedding day and I was astounded! If you see all the invitations and the paper menus and the signage from the wedding, just know that this girl handmade all of those! Don’t they all look designer? All of her vendors were gushing over the things she put together all day long! (Oh! And I can’t forget those wax seals, she made those, too!)

My favorite part of this entire wedding, though the details were stunning, was the feeling of joy that carried us through the unexpected rain and created the sweetest parts of the day! Sam and Bri had a more intimate guest list, mostly because of Covid, however, it was so special to have close friends and family to surround them for their wedding day! Sam and Bri love their people and that love was appreciation was expressed for them in so many little ways throughout the day, from speeches to welcome gifts to all the things that Bri did to make everyone feel at home! And they’d even thought through how to include family that couldn’t be there by having a commitment ceremony in Dayton for the grandparents who weren’t able to make the trip as well as live streaming their ceremony for family back home and outside the country! It was such a joy to get to meet all those who’d walked with these two and helped them get to this point in their journey!

Having a wedding states away from home isn’t the easiest thing because of all the unknowns, especially with this last year! Sam and Bri braved all of that so well! And a big reason for why the day went off without a hitch was because of the incredible vendor team they’d compiled! Not only did we feel so welcome by Sam and Bri’s family and friends, but the vendors embraced us so wonderfully and it was fun to be a part of their OBX vendor fam for just that little while!

I could go on and on about this day, but at this point I hope your excitement to see their photos has abounded! Sam and Bri, I cannot thank you enough for bringing MD and I down with you to Outer Banks to photograph your wedding! Walking with y’all throughout this entire experience has been such a joy and I’m most thankful for gaining two friends along the way! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Fintel!!

I have to give so much credit to this vendor team for pulling everything together for Sam and Bri! Y’all are truly amazing!

Venue & Catering | The Currituck Club

Planner | Southern Hospitality Weddings & Events

Videography | Swell Productions

Florals | Honeysuckle Events

H&MUA | Glimmer Hair & Makeup

Gown | Louise Christine Bridal

Gown Designer | Essense Designs

DJ & Band | SOULone

Cake | Patty Bakes

Bridesmaids Dresses | David’s Bridal

Grooms & Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse & Tie Bar

Rentals | Aramanth + Artifact

Donuts | Duck Donuts

Reception Lighting | Renee Landry Events

Officiant | I DO OBX Weddings and Events

Transportation | Corolla Trolley