After an incredibly busy fall in which sessions, orders, and Christmas cards edged blogging out more weeks than I’d like (I really don’t want to know what week of the 52 Project I’m on), I’m excited to start 2012 with a juicy wedding blog post for an awesome couple whose wedding I photographed this fall ~ and whose album I’m working on right now.

Amanda and José’s Rose Garden Wedding and reception at Caffé Luna in downtown Raleigh truly incorporated the best of everything to celebrate their marriage ~ a perfect fall day, rose bushes overflowing with blooms, food that was to-die-for, and especially family from near and far that came to support A+J, to offer toasts that were among the most touching (and in some cases hilarious) that I’ve heard, and to *dance.*

Here are some of my favorite images from their day. It was a privilege to photograph your wedding, and I’m enjoying working on your album.

Getting Ready at Amanda’s (antique filled) childhood home.

Color and smiles dominated the sun soaked reception at the Raleigh Rose Garden in Downtown Raleigh.

I love it when the bride and the venue are flexible enough to allow me a spot where I can catch the first moment that the bride sees her groom…

And the first moment that the groom sees his bride…

And grins like crazy.

And from their fantastic reception at Caffé Luna in Downtown Raleigh ~ great food, great toasts, and some serious dance moves.

A great shot of Amanda’s dance with her father ~ by my awesome second shooter, Libby Hubscher of Gallant Fox Gallery:

I am processing a bumper crop of newborns, seniors and families that I photographed in September, but Amanda and Jose are headed out of the country shortly, and I wanted to get the tiniest of sneak peeks up for their families as soon as possible.

Their lovely wedding had a fabulous combination of perfect fall weather, abundant roses, and a fun and happy family ~ in short, it was a real celebration. Thank you so much for letting me share in your day.

I promise a full blog post soon (and lots of posts for my patient September families), but I wanted to share just one of my early favorites with you as you head to lands far, far away.

This wedding was full of wonderful: Fun, artsy couple, beautiful dress, to die for venue, and a chance to second shoot for a photographer I’ve long admired — Allegra of Allegra’s Studio in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kate and Mark had both their ceremony and their reception at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, which has a special place in my heart, as Jonathan and I spent part of our honeymoon there as well. Any couple that begins married life at The Jefferson is automatically off to a good start as far as I’m concerned.

I learned in chatting with Kate that she and Mark met when she took accordion lessons from him, so I was delighted when he not only produced a vintage, fully restored accordion, but proceeded to pick it up and play a bit as he was getting ready. Great music was a theme woven throughout their wedding, so it seems appropriate to begin and end this first blog installment with images of him relaxing before his wedding and then serenading his new wife.

It was great to see the relaxed, happy relationship that the two of them share, and the appreciation that each of them has for the other’s creative talents.

Here are a few of my favorites from getting ready through M&K’s first moments as Mr. & Mrs.

All of these images are (c) 2011 by Beth Wiley for Allegra’s Studio in Lynchburg, Virginia.

I had a great time about two weeks ago at a shoot-out with a group of local wedding photographers. We each got to enter two images into a competition sponsored by the hotel, and this is my favorite of the ones that I didn’t enter. The model, Megan, was gorgeous and did a fantastic job. Can’t say enough good things about the amazing dresses generously loaned by Tre Bella Bridal. We actually had four models, and each had a stunning couture gown. Of course I’m biased, but Megan’s dress was my favorite : )

Having a hard time choosing between the color and the b&w (cropped) image, though. Which do you prefer?

I love it when I visit people who have their wedding album out on the coffee table or mantel. Looking at a great wedding album evokes the anticipation, preparation, emotion, and excitement of the day, and it doesn’t matter to me a bit whether I was there or even knew you when you got married. If my hands are clean and I can figure out a polite way to ask, I’m absolutely going to page through your wedding album, oooh-ing and aaah-ing like it’s the 4th of July in your living room.

When I photograph a wedding, I love knowing that part of my role is to create a book that will tell the story of the day that this new family was born. I enjoy choosing images, polishing each one into a finished product, and combining them into a cohesive whole that shows how a love affair inspires a marriage.

Can you tell that I cry at weddings? Not ugly crying where I smudge my viewfinder or miss the big kiss. But I almost always tear up at the realization that two people who are much loved by their families and friends have assembled the dearest people in their lives to watch them make a profound promise. Usually the welling up happens during the toasts, actually, or during the mother-son dance. Sometimes both.

Did I mention that I love everything about wedding albums? Here are a few of my favorite pages from L&A’s album:

Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your wedding — it was long anticipated and much enjoyed, as your marriage will be.

I know how much energy the two of you devoted to making your day a delightful one for your guests, and I think that that kind of effort deserves a little (nearly) instant gratification, so here is a tiny sneak peek of your wedding photographs. Many more to follow soon.

As always, feel free to copy these images for digital use (email, FB, etc.). Please leave the watermark intact. They will not make acceptable prints.