Corey and Kelly’s wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House paired a classic spring palette with plenty of personality. There were pale blue details, an outdoor ceremony surrounded by white flowers, portraits in the porch rocking chairs, and a dip-and-kiss on the way back up the aisle.
The setting was beautiful, but their expressions are what stand out most in the photographs. They smiled, laughed, and looked comfortable together—and that gave the entire gallery its character.
Getting Ready at Merrimon-Wynne
Kelly wore a strapless gown with a draped bodice and full skirt, paired with a lace-edged veil. Her pale blue bow heels were one of my favorite details. They added a little color and worked well with Corey’s patterned blue tie and charcoal suit.
Inside the house, the tall windows provided lovely light for getting-ready photographs. I photographed Kelly’s dress hanging beneath an ornate wall sconce, close-ups of her shoes and jewelry, and the finishing touches as she got ready.
These photographs help set the scene, but I also leave room for whatever is happening around them. A photograph of the dress matters differently when you see it alongside the people helping you get into it.
Portraits on the Porch and Around the Grounds
One advantage of photographing a wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House is the variety of portrait locations close together. For Corey and Kelly, we used the porch, the greenery around the grounds, and the brick walkway in front of the house.
The rocking-chair photographs are a particular favorite. Sitting down and turning toward each other gave them a chance to settle in, and the resulting images feel relaxed. We also made time for portraits that showed Kelly’s full gown and veil against the house’s white exterior.
As a Raleigh wedding photographer, I’m looking at light, backgrounds, and composition throughout this part of the day. I’ll give direction when it helps, while leaving space for couples to interact naturally. Corey and Kelly’s gallery has a good mix of both: composed portraits and the smiles that happened between them.
An Outdoor Ceremony on the Lawn
Corey and Kelly’s ceremony took place on the lawn, with wooden chairs, white parasols, and small white flowers lining the aisle. A floral arrangement beneath the trees marked the ceremony space.
The white flowers looked fresh against the green lawn, and the parasols added shade for guests during the sunny ceremony.
Some of the strongest photographs from this part of the day are the interactions: a guest reaching up to Corey’s face, Kelly smiling as she walked down the aisle, and the two of them looking at each other during the ceremony.
Their exit brought one of my favorite moments. Corey dipped Kelly into a kiss in the middle of the aisle, with guests cheering around them. It’s a photograph with a lot going on—the dress, the veil, the flowers—but their happiness is what you notice first.
A Carriage House Reception With Soft Blue Details
The celebration continued inside the Carriage House. Soft blue table linens carried the color palette into the reception, while the white beams, chandeliers, and window light gave the room a bright, clean look.
During their first dance, Kelly’s skirt moved around her as Corey turned her, with their guests watching from the tables nearby. Photographing those wider views helps show what it was like to be in the room, alongside closer images of the couple.
There were fun personal details, too. Corey and Kelly posed with illustrated dog cards—one of those small additions that gives a gallery more personality and deserves to be remembered.
Wedding Photographs That Include the People and the Place
Looking through Corey and Kelly’s gallery, I love the variety: the architecture of Merrimon-Wynne, the details they chose, portraits together, and candid photographs with their guests.
My approach is to give all of those things attention. I want couples to have beautiful portraits, photographs of the setting they put thought into, and images of their people being themselves.
You can read more about my approach and coverage on my wedding photography experience page.
Planning a Wedding at The Merrimon-Wynne House?
If you’re planning a Merrimon-Wynne wedding and looking for photography with natural moments, thoughtful portraits, and a clear sense of the day, I’d love to hear from you.
Inquire about your wedding date here, and tell me what you’re planning.
