Ali and DJ’s wedding was quite an adventurous affair for me…and probably for a few others. The day started at The BEAUTIFUL Greenbrier Resort in WV. I had heard about how BEAUTIFUL this place is and BOY IS IT! I arrived early so I could scope out some photo locations and just look around…and let me tell you, I could have walked around that place for hours. The landscaping, the architecture, the decor, the colors, the flowers…it’s all so BEAUTIFUL! It was an extra special treat for me as a photographer to be able to photograph Ali and her bridesmaids getting ready at such a unique venue.
After The Greenbrier, we headed to the “sticks”…and I use that word in a good way! The ceremony and reception were held at Ali’s family’s camp along the river in Renick, WV. We were 30 minutes from Lewisburg, WV and about 15 minutes away from a main road. The last seven miles of the trip to the camp was a gravel, narrow, windy road…and I wondered where in the world I was going a few times! But being tucked back away from reality and civilization, among nature and along the river, was so peaceful and pretty. Another unique venue for a wedding!
It also POURED down rain and left us with puddles and puddles of mud and water to deal with, but that didn’t stop Ali and DJ from having a wonderfully beautiful day…
I was told that Ali’s flowers were done by THE florist at The Greenbrier and they were gorgeous!
I’m so jealous of Ali’s curls! So tiny and perfect and beautiful!!
Now for some portraits inside The Greenbrier…eeeekk!!!
Time for their first look! Ali had a little bit of a walk to where DJ was hiding and while she walked, she made sure she looked good. I loved watching her stop and fix and dress…and just prepare herself for what was about to happen. 🙂
Ali’s dad passed away less than two years ago…she remembered him by making a bouquet wrap out of one of his shirt cuffs…
We got all those portraits done BEFORE the rain! Thank goodness they did a first look!
Ali was so relaxed and calm during the rain storm. The delay and sudden rush of water didn’t bother her at all. She definitely helped keep everyone calm and at ease…thanks Ali! 🙂
The beautiful ceremony arbor!!!
The sun came out and shined gloriously at the end of their ceremony!
Had to hop over some mud…
And now for the reception details! Despite the wind, rain and mud, Ali’s team managed to put together a beautiful reception spot…
They had BBQ!!!
This was some of the best wedding food I’ve ever had! The mac n cheese was to die for!!! I was a happy and very full photographer!!!
Ali and DJ…thanks for a bunch of things. For putting together a beautiful wedding day…for inviting me to capture it all…for not losing your cool when the rain came in…and for taking time for so many pictures! I had a wonderful time working with you two and I wish you many years of love and happiness…on that river! 🙂
Scenes and thoughts from deep creek
Well hey now! I thought for sure it had been more than seven months since I blogged last! Wish I could do it more…and plan to as soon as the new JFP website comes out.
I’m not sure I’m starting anything consistent here, just sharing some random thoughts and scenes from Deep Creek on this random Wednesday…
- Dani
Jessica is amazing and she made us feel so comfortable! Having her capture our wedding was like having my best friend with me for every moment! Jessica's photos are fun, whimsical, and sophisticated!
We are not a stoic couple and did not want posed (or trying-too-hard) photos! Jessica was able to capture our personalities and the elegance of the day! I can't stop looking at our photos!
- Jessica and brandon
The best decision I could have made for my wedding was hiring Jessica Fike as a photographer! I was in a wedding prior that she was a photographer for and seeing how organized and easy and strategic she was to work with is what convinced me! She makes you feel so comfortable and helps teach you how to pose and smile and look so natural! She keeps you on schedule throughout your day and captures so much emotion in her photos. She is worth every penny plus more!
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I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that the photos you took of Ali & Danny’s wedding were absolutely beautiful! I loved the ones from the Greenbrier! I as of yet have not visited there, so it was nice to get a sneak peak! I loved the fact that you captured such wonderful moments of their ceremony through the sunshine & the rain. Thanks to your work, they will be able to have a photographic memory of their very special day for many, many years to come! Well Done! 🙂
After speaking with a cdiade and coming to the understanding that that these folks are not wealthy and that their incomes are not fixed, we decided to rent our home to 6 cdiades at a rate of under $60/day. These folks have limited funds to travel to various tournaments and if their golfer does not place in the top 10, the have extremely modest allowances for living expenses.Unfortunately, greed runs rampant in this community. We moved here from a larger city a few years ago and have had multiple incidents where we have had money stolen from us from unethical or deceptive practices. Rather than become cynical in our outlook, we continue to remain positive, but are certainly more careful with our money and choices. Putting your full faith and trust in any local person or business is a recipe for disaster. If you should have an incident, do not count on any consumer protection as you will find none in WV.As far as I can understand, some of the reasons for the greed and materiality that pervades this culture are: 1.) There is a dichotomy in Greenbrier county that goes back over 100 years where wealthy landowners from the South would come to the Greenbrier to excape the heat, humidity and disease back in the day. Local folks were not people of financial means as a general rule. This created a culture where there are 2 distinct economic groups the haves and have nots . There is no middle class.2.) The have nots have lived next door to folks with nicer homes, better cars, clothes, etc. for years and ultimately have compromised their morals and ethics to justify the extortion of wealth from those that they perceive to be of means. If you are middle-class, you are likely to be mistaken for a person of means as has been our experience. Many folks in the county are poisoned by an entitlement mentality and feel that they are owed a standard of living greater than what they are willing to work towards. In addition to those on the lower end of the income scale, you will find that this type of thinking is found in many folks with higher paying jobs in the few service sectors in the County.To be fair and honest, not everyone in the county subscribes to this philosophy, but to illustrate the broader truth, generalization necessary.This is why the rents are so out-of-whack vs. what you are seeing in other geographic areas. Until Greenbrier County attracts jobs for middle-class folks who have diverse educational and economic backgrounds, this phenomenon will continue to play out. The area could desperately use some value-creating manufacturing facilities that employ a vast and diversified work force. Until then, people here will continue to remain the center of their own universe and you need to understand that it is all about them when you are here.
GREAT PICTURES, BEAUTIFUL WEDDING AND BRIDE