Fall Garden Wedding in Lancaster, SC 

This past November I had the joy of photographing James and Deb’s wedding at The Ivy Place, near Fort Mill, SC. Deb is an old friend from college, and I was ecstatic when she reached out to me about photographing her fall wedding! I am always honored when a friend asks me to photograph their wedding. I have to admit something, though. When she told me that the wedding would be in November at a garden venue, I wasn’t sure how it would photograph. When I think November, I think cold and grey. Am I ever going to remember that November in the Carolinas is one of the most gorgeous months of the year? The weather was perfect and the colors were bright. We even had a few flowers blooming! This goes to show, The Ivy Place makes a great wedding venue, even in the late fall!

The Sweetest First Look

Deb and James chose to share a first look, and the Ivy Place had the perfect spot for it! (Side note: whenever a wedding takes place after daylight savings ends, I recommend a first look. That way you have time for portraits before the sunset! You can read more about my first look recommendations and thoughts here: Should I do a first look at my wedding?)

The Ivy Place has a small field surrounded by trees that provide a nice, private backdrop for the first look. It’s simple, yet beautiful. The moment James saw Deb for the first time was so sweet! All his nerves just melted away! They each read letters to each other, and then we moved onto portraits. First we did their bride-groom portraits, and we followed with the wedding party. This left only family portraits to be done after the ceremony, and Deb and James got to enjoy part of their cocktail hour!

Garden Ceremony on the Lawn

The ceremony was held on the lawn in front of the main house. There was a chance for rain that day, but thankfully it held off! In the second week of November, the fall colors were really showing off, and the temperature was perfect! Honestly, all of my November weddings this year had better weather than October. If you’re getting married in the Carolinas (with the exception of the mountains), you might as well skip the vendor scramble for October dates and go for early November!

After the ceremony, we took family portraits and a few more of Deb and James together. Then it was time to party! Here are a few of my favorite images from across the wedding day. Make sure you scroll to the end to see all the vendors who worked together to make this Ivy Place wedding a huge success!

Kind Words from the Bride and Groom

Megan is the photographer you want to capture your highest highs and all the candid in-betweens! She was our photographer for engagement and wedding day photos. James and I are a little awko-taco with taking pictures, but Megan was so thoughtfully instructive with fun, playful suggestions as well as working with the elements around us. In the thick of a Carolina summer, Megan helped us find the most scenic spots at Jetton Park and magically disguised the glistening sweat! Her sweet enthusiasm made a photoshoot feel easy and natural. On wedding day, she was so clear and firm with giving everyone directions of portrait combinations, stance suggestions, and creative poses! She captured a vast array of moments, making reliving each emotion so instantaneous. We loved working with Megan, and we are so thankful she was our photographer!!

The Vendor Team:

Venue: The Ivy Place

Planning/Coordination: Morgan Williams Weddings

Florist: Charlotte Flower Market

Hair & Makeup: Megan Oliveri Artistry

DJ: Diamond DJs

Catering: The Smoke Pit

Photography: Yours Truly, Megan Nicole Photography