Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding

– Chris and Jennifer –

The “Roaring 20’s” lives on in modern times as one of the popular wedding themes of the past few years. It is a decade full of energy, optimism, and details ripe for weddings. For the modern bride and groom, It allows for both of them to be equally creative. While the bride is usually the focus of most themes, the “Roaring 20’s” allows for the grooms to be just as involved. They can be dapper or as elegant as the bride. Chris and Jennifer’s Melrose Knitting Mill wedding had it all. From the gilded bridesmaid’s dresses or the Art-Deco inspired cake, their wedding details were all given great thought.

Not Melrose

What’s funny is that these first two images aren’t actually at Melrose Knitting Mill. Chris and Jennifer wanted to shoot in front of the Vintage Church in downtown Raleigh. I just don’t want anyone to think that this is part of the venue, it is about a three-minute car ride away. I love using doorways as portrait spots, depending on the size it forces the subjects to interact and be close.

the bride and groom standing in separate door ways at the Vintage Church in Raleigh

the groom putting his hands around the brides waist as the pose in front of the Vintage Church in Raleigh

Meeting Chris and Jennifer

When I first sat down with Chris and Jennifer to talk about their wedding plans. They were very excited about their “roaring 20’s” wedding theme. Over the years wedding themes come and go. Those themes usually revolve around the bride and her bridesmaids and usually leaves the groom with the same old options. Chris was just as excited as Jennifer. He was doing the traditional black tuxedo, but he knew he was going to have a pocket watch on a chain. And he was going to dance! Jennifer was having her bridesmaids dressed in gold and black, and she was excited about their getaway car. We even incorporated the theme into part of their engagement session. We shot the last half of Chris and Jennifer’s engagement session at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC.

A couple dressed in 1920s clothing during their engagement session at the American Tobacco Campus

A couple kissing while dressed in 1920s clothing during their engagement session at the American Tobacco Campus

Expressions of Love provided some great floral pieces for the bridal bouquet and the wedding altar.

Bridal bouquet leaning on a bar stool inside of Melrose Knitting Mill

White draped alter shot at Melrose Knitting Mill

detail shot of the flowers and anniversary box at Melrose Knitting Mill

Bride and her bridal party dressed in gold and black dresses, posing on the stairs of Melrose Knitting Mill

bride standing in front of the red curtains at Melrose Knitting Mill

The First Look

There are many opinions on doing a “First Look” for the bride and groom, and I won’t go into any of those in this blog post. What I want to talk about is the “Father Daughter First Look.” During the rush of the wedding day, it is a quiet moment of great emotional value. I have heard it described as a mini family reunion. Often the father of the bride is in the background of the wedding day. A “first look” can be the way to bring him back and to have some alone time with his daughter. It is a perfect opportunity to set up a priceless emotional moment. With Jennifer and her dad, it wasn’t only her dad’s reaction that was priceless, but it was hers as well. They had a great quiet moment on the lower patio of Melrose Knitting Mill before the ceremony started.

bride tapping her father on the shoulder during their first look

Bride being very excited as her father sees her as they see each other at their first look

bride and her father being very excited to see each other for the first time at Melrose Knitting Mill

Bride getting a kiss on the cheek from her father after their first look.

Over the years I have noticed the trend of never giving the groom creative portraits. The groom and his groomsmen often get mediocre traditional portraits. Usually, this is because the groom is uncomfortable with posing or the photographer doesn’t know how to pose him. to go out and “do something.” I make it my goal at each wedding to capture the groom stylishly and traditionally. Even with the stiffest groomsmen, you can take boring posing to a different level with some simple tweaks. Chris and his men did a great job in their traditional black tuxes.

black and white formal portrait of the groomsmen and the groom at Melrose Knitting Mill

the groom and his groomsmen posing for a formal portrait at Melrose Knitting Mill

black and white image of the groom talking with his groomsmen

The Ceremony

Windows on the left and white drapes on the right, Chris, and Jennifers Melrose Knitting Mill wedding was intimate and sweet. Chris had to hold tears back when seeing his new bride for the first time.

Wedding guest waiting for the wedding to start at Melrose Knitting Mill

groom looking at the bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle

bride and her father with their backs to the camera as they walk down the aisle

a wide shot of the bride and groom kissing for the first time at Melrose Knitting Mill

bride and groom holding hands during their wedding ceremony at Melrose Knitting Mill

the groom placing the ring on the brides hand at Melrose Knitting Mill

groom kissing for the first time as the minister and the maid of honor watch

the groom grabbing the bride around her neck as they kiss for the first time at their Melrose Knitting Mill wedding

After a quick bustling by wedding planner Chad Biggs, we went outside to shoot the formal portraits with the bridal party and family. I took the new bride and groom to take some portraits around the venue. You cant pass up the red curtains or the bar at Melrose Knitting Mill. They make for some stunning backdrops.

Chad Biggs bustling the brides dress before she walks out to take portraits at Melrose Knitting Mill

bride and groom kissing with their bridal party standing around them after their Melrose Knitting Mill wedding

bride and groom kissing in front of the red curtains at Melrose Knitting Mill

The bride and groom standing between the red curtains at Melrose Knitting Mill

bride sitting on the bar as the groom stands beside her at their Melrose Knitting Mill wedding

The Wedding Reception

A “Roaring 20s” themed wedding is full of details, and Melrose Knitting Mill makes it just that much easier to have the desired look. The florals, the gold, and the brick and the wood transform the old building to a spectacular wedding venue. There was great dancing, not just by the bride and groom but also by the wedding guest. At one point the dancing was going so strong I thought the building was going to come down.

We ended the evening with a great sparkler exit in front of the venue. Chris and Jennifer had a great vintage care take them off into the night.

the sweet heart table at Melrose Knitting Mill decorated with an opulent floral piece and gold linen

Melrose Knitting Mill decorated for a wedding with the chandelier turned on

interior shot of Melrose Knitting Mill decorated for a Roaring 20's wedding with white ups lighting

desert croissants set out at Melrose Knitting Mill

Grooms engraved pocket watch, wedding bands, and the brides engagement ring detail shot.

bride feeding the groom cake as he makes a face before he closes his mouth

bride and groom holding up their hands together as the enter their Melrose Knitting Mill wedding reception

bride spinning in her wedding dress as she dances with the groom at Melrose Knitting Mill.

the groom leading the bride to the dance floor to start off the dancing after dinner at Melrose Knitting Mill

Floral centerpiece at Melrose Knitting Mill with purple and gold up lights behind it

bridesmaid in a gold dress raising her arms up on the dance floor at Melrose Wedding Mill

wedding guest dancing at Melrose Knitting Mill

groom and wedding guest tasting beers and wine glasses

bride and groom coming down the stairs at melrose knitting mill for their sparkler exit

bride and groom walking through their sparkler exit at Melrose Knitting Mill

vintage car pulling away from a Melrose Knitting Mill wedding at night

Finally after the wedding was over, I meet Chris and Jennifer at Boylan Bridge to get a night shot of the city behind them.