Looking back at Logan and Davis's wedding last fall still makes me emotional, and it remains one of the most personal, detail-rich weddings I've had the honor of photographing. They were married at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary in Whitsett, North Carolina, a 165-acre eco-conscious venue in the Piedmont Triad known for its wildflower meadows, pine and hardwood forests, and fern-lined trails. Every single detail of their day had thought and personality behind it, and a year later I still think about how much heart went into it.
Forest wedding ceremony at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary in Whitsett, NC
A Ceremony Wrapped in Home
Logan and Davis said their vows beneath a wooden arbor deep in the trees, and running up the structure alongside the forest ivy were pothos cuttings from their own home. It's such a simple detail, but it meant the plants that live in their space together were literally part of the backdrop as they got married. If you're looking for a way to make a ceremony site feel like yours, bringing something green from home into the greenery is such an easy, meaningful way to do it.
Pothos cuttings from home woven into the ceremony arbor
A Necklace With History
Logan wore a heart locket necklace that Davis had given her earlier in their relationship, long before they were engaged. Seeing it in nearly every photo from the ceremony was a quiet reminder that the story didn't start on the wedding day, it started years before.
The heart locket Davis gave Logan years before the wedding
A First Look Made for Family
Before the ceremony, Logan had a first look with her dad, her stepdad, and her brother. It's not something every couple thinks to do, but the emotion in that moment was every bit as real as any first look I've photographed between a couple.
Logan’s first look with her dad
Small Personal Touches, Everywhere
This wedding was full of the kind of details that only make sense once you know the couple. They served hand-made oatmeal cookies at the reception instead of a traditional dessert table. Their wedding cake was decorated with actual polaroids from the day. And cardboard cutouts of their cats' faces made an appearance at the reception so their cats could technically say they were there too. None of it was over-the-top, it was all just deeply, specifically them.
Wedding cake topped with a polaroid from the day
Polaroids and wedding rings from Logan and Davis’s day
Cardboard cutouts of their cats made it to the reception
Golden Hour in the Fall Woods
Timberlake's grounds are stunning any time of year, but catching Logan and Davis under the fall color for portraits was one of my favorite parts of the whole day. Soft light, red and gold leaves underfoot, and two people who clearly adore each other made for some of my favorite images from any wedding I've shot.
Fall portraits under the red and gold leaves at Timberlake
Logan and Davis at golden hour in the fall woods
Why Timberlake Earth Sanctuary
Timberlake Earth Sanctuary sits on 165 acres in Whitsett, between Greensboro and Burlington, and about an hour from Raleigh-Durham. It's an eco-conscious, inclusive venue with several distinct outdoor ceremony sites, wildflower meadows, forest, and fern ravines, all in one property. For couples in the greater Piedmont Triad looking for a wedding venue that feels like a retreat into nature rather than a traditional ballroom, it's absolutely worth a visit.
Walking the wooded trails at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary
Congratulations, Logan and Davis
A year later, this wedding still stands out to me for how much love and personality was woven into every detail. If you're planning a wedding at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary or another forest venue in the NC Piedmont and want a photographer who will notice and document the small, meaningful things, I'd love to hear from you.
Logan, Davis, and their people celebrating under the string lights
