Cameron's Harley Davidson Bridal Portrait + Raleigh, NC

When Cameron called and told me about her idea of doing her images on her then fiance's Harley Davidson I was so excited. We had it planned for when he had to go out of town for business for two days. We had it all set, and just in case he asked, which he did, we told him we were going to the Tobacco Company to do her portraits. With Ashley good friend in on the top secret plan we were off to the country club in Raleigh near Cameron's home to do the photographs. The first day we had rain, but were all set with an extra day and we were blessed with warm weather and sunshine. It was quite an adventure going to do the photographs and we all had a laughs about how Ashley would never know about the portraits. We had lots of ideas and had a lot of fun, but one we couldn't resist doing was having the person who helped make this all possible to "appear" in one of the photographs! Here are just a few of Cameron's and my favorites from her day! Thank you so much Cameron for an extraordinary time and for just rolling with the ideas I had!


Cameron's Bridal Photograph that was displayed at the wedding...







The following photograph tells Cameron's husband Ashley how we got his Harley around town!

North Carolina Wedding Blog features Jennifer and Brandon's Wedding.

Congratulations to Jennifer and Brandon for getting their wedding featured on the North Carolina Wedding Blog. You can check out their post by clicking here! We are honored to have our photographs featured!

2 Chicks and a Venue + JH Adams Inn

The JH Adams Inn is a Italian renaissance styled mansion that was built back in 1918. I have had the pleasure of photographing a few weddings and bridals there and I just adore this beautiful historical home. My friend and chick, Jennifer Ball of Knot Your Average Events would love to do a small intimate wedding of a 100 guests or less to allow guests more room to move around this beautiful place. Although the JH Adams Inn has had events with up to 200 people.
Jennifer and I agree that there are so many options for areas for ceremonies, cocktail area, dinner and dancing space. The hotel staff and their gorgeous rooms truly make you feel as though you are at home, away from home. They offer afternoon tea and cookies to all guests staying at the hotel. There is an on site restaurant to offer snacks/meals as well as a full bar. Your guests can take advantage to walk away at nights end from your party with a just a few steps to their hotel room.
The exquisite JH Adams Inn patio area is the perfect setting for outdoor ceremonies and dinner receptions. The places in which to do photographs are endless and just think about dancing the night away under the stars! Talk to Leahann Bowen-Schmitt at the JH Adams inn at 336-882-3267 or visit their website JH Adams!















Check out our work at JH Adams

2 Chicks and A Venue + Starlight Meadows

Starlight Meadow's is just a short drive off of Highway85/40.  This venue offers the perfect back yard wedding vibe. This rustic open sided barn will definitely pull the country out of your guests. It demands your attention as you walk up the whining brick pathway. Small latern lights will light the way for your quests durning the evening. The ceremony comes with the cutest white benches for your guests to await your arrival from your private dressing area.


There are a ton of options for layouts as to where the cocktail area and/or dinner area could be set up. Jennifer Ball of http://www.knotyouraverageevents.com loves the different antique white farm chairs available for the dinner seating, but that have standard folding white chairs if you want something a little more formal. Jennifer see this venue full of mason jars, bales of hay, wild flowers, yard games, add some rocking chairs and late night smores bar.

Jennifer would love to find a bride who’s got boots under her dress along with all of her bridesmaids to take advantage of all the photo opportunities this venue has to offer and and Michelle Robinson of michellerobinsonphotography.com couldn't agree more. At Starlightyou found a perfect meadow for your wedding any day or night. You can reach Starlight Meadows at Jeremy@starlightmeadow.com  or visit their website here:  http://www.starlightmeadow.com. Please leave us a comment below and don't forget to check back for JH Adams Inn!

2 Chicks and a Venue + Haw River Ballroom

Although it was a dreary cold winter day that we toured the Haw River Ballroom, the true “Art” of this venue shinned. Jennifer Ball of http://www.knotyouraverageevents.com/ had a lot of comments to make on this venue.  "As an event coordinator, my ideas were flowing from the minute I stepped out of my vehicle. There is a small arboretum that provides seating for guest for an outdoor ceremony. With lots of potted plants, fresh flowers and possible pipe draping the ceremony would be beautiful. I would recommend having cute blankets in your wedding colors for those guests with young children to sit on the lawn seating area".

Michelle Robinson of http://www.michellerobinsonphotography.com/ agreed that there were  awesome areas for photographs following the ceremony that will separate you and your guests for efficiency. The patio area offers plenty of room for an outdoor cocktail area before heading inside to a rustic floor plan. There is a small intimate coffee shop in the entrance of the foyer and Jennifer would recommend having that open all day! Want to change dresses to something a little more fun in between your ceremony and reception? There is room just for the bride to change in prior to the ceremony or throughout the event.

There is a lot of beautiful light that streams in venue throughout the day, something that Michelle loved. As lighting is such an important part of your day. The areas are have endless photo opportunities. Lots of different textures, staircases, and the rustic feel around the entry of the arboretum as well as to the fire pit next to the Haw River. The possibilities are endless.
There is plenty of room for almost any quest list, just make sure you provide your own table and chairs to give your event a customize and personal look. The lighting at night gives great atmosphere to dance the night away. Have fun throwing your bouquet from the balcony into a crowd of single ladies or take a break on one of the cute park benches inside. No matter what, this venue will definitely keep your quests talking long after the lights go down and the party ends.  You can contact the Hall River Ballroom at tom@hawriverballroom.com, http://www.hawriverballroom.com/.

Would you like 2 chicks and venue to visit your place? Email us at info@2chicksandavenue.com! 2 Chicks and a Venue can't wait to show you Starlight Meadows, JH Adams Inn and Millikan Farms. We love comments, so please leave us yours!

2 Chicks and a Venue

So recently you may have seen some Facebook posts about 2 Chicks and a Venue, a new fun adventure we are going on. We have been teasing you about some of the great venues we have been off visiting and getting lots of great details so we can share them with all of you!  So our first post we thought it be great to tell you all a little bit about how this all started.

“2 Chicks and a Venue” truly started as a joke over an idea Jennifer Ball of Knot Your Average Events and Michelle Robinson of Michelle Robinson Photography during a lunch at Chili’s. Jennifer had an idea to check out local venues to get her name out but at the same time to let other vendors and couples planning weddings learn about all the “honey” spots this area has to offer. Michelle quickly added if she needed photographs of these venues that she would happily tag along to view these properties first hand. They quickly started brainstorming about local businesses, facilities, barns, and venues that would be a perfect to start their adventure. But why stop there? Next the idea for a blog, photographs and even business cards….but how could we sum up this year-long project? Easily = 2 Chicks and a Venue was born. So 2 Chicks and a Venue has been busy, as we have been  visiting the Haw River Ballroom, Starlight Meadows, JH Adams Inn, Millikan Farms and many more are on our list.  We will posting quite soon about Haw River Ballroom and we can't wait to show you this sweet rustic venue.  Until then do you have a venue you want us to visit and tell you all about?  Email us at info@2chicksandavenue.com. 

Happy New Year - 2013

Happy New Year, may 2013 be the best year yet! It is hard to believe that 2013 is here. 2012 has been an amazing year with a son getting married and a daughter who just recently got engaged. Our family is growing with a daughter in law and soon (2014) a son in law. We are with high hopes that we will be able to have my mother in law soon with us. This past year, I have photographed a weddings in so many new places like Miami, Florida with my friend Michelle, Bald Head Island, the Carolina Theater, and the Aqueduct in Chapel Hill. Traveling to Las Vegas with my friend Jennifer to go to the Wedding MBA convention was fantastic, and in three days, we saw the world (well Vegas style). I have reached quite a few goals that I set this past year and thought I set some news ones and begin sharing them with you here on the blog. So as this day comes to a close, I hope your first day of the New Year was filled with lots of laughter and joy. More than that, I wish you a new year filled with lots of adventures and endless possiblities! Happy and Blessed New Year to you!


A few goals I have...

1. Help my daughter with her wedding preparation
2. Date nights with my hubby
3. Blog More :)
4. Volunteer my time
5. Donate more to my favorite charities
6. Laugh more
7. Lose weight
8. Exercise more
9. Get my Passport
10. Travel to Europe
11. Read more books (I have a bunch stacked not including those on my iPad)
12. Save my pennies
13. Visit my sister in California
14. Paint with my daughter
15. Keep learning an growing
16. Share my knowledge
17. Decorate my home
18. Get published
19. Photograph an international wedding
20. Enter my work in more competitions