LOVE, FUTURE, & FAMILY

One of the best things about being a wedding photographer is that I get to celebrate special days with so many different and unique couples. Dana and Paul are no exceptions to that rule. Both from Buffalo, New York and self-identifying as ‘hipsters,’ they are a unique pair who hosted the most incredible sustainable, urban farm City Roots wedding last month!

Paul and Dana are genuinely best friends (you can read about how they met and fell in love below!). They wanted to center their wedding day around their love, their future, and their family. Most of their guests traveled to City Roots in Columbia, South Carolina from across the country, so it was clear to me that the couple had only invited those most precious and dear to them. That made for an intimate event where it was clear why everyone was there; solely to celebrate this incredible couple and their marriage.

A TRULY SUSTAINABLE CEREMONY

I could honestly go on and on and ON about how much I enjoyed being a part of Paul and Dana’s wedding day. From the moment I arrived until the moment I left, every little detail fell into place perfectly. It was a beautiful day, and City Roots did not disappoint. F2T Productions served up delicious cocktails, yummy appetizers, and a stunning 3-course meal. From their wildflower bouquets to a pair of socks the bride gave the groom, everything about this sustainable farm wedding turned out perfectly. Dana and Paul’s ring bearer was a sweet pup named Beckett, and she did her job perfectly when delivering the couple their rings during the ceremony!

I hope you enjoy just a few of my favorite images from Paul and Dana’s wedding day at City Roots in Columbia, SC with planning and coordination by F2T Productions. Congratulations, once again, to the happy couple! Keep scrolling to see their full wedding day, the story of how the couple met and fell in love, and much more.

VENDORS

We started out by photographing the bride and her wedding day details as she carefully applied her makeup and did her hair. 

Dana had a unique, sustainable wedding look and style. One of my favorite parts of her outfit were these incredibly cute blue shoes!

Her mom helped her into her dress, and her girls were wowed and moved to tears the first time they saw her all dressed up.

Dana and Paul decided to give each other gifts before seeing one another on their sustainable, urban farm City Roots wedding day. Paul gifted Dana a unique antique locket with a kiss inside. 

Dana gifted Paul a pretty AMAZING pair of socks to wear on their wedding day and a bracelet with the coordinates to their first date engraved in it.

Yes, you read those right. The socks say, “I’m Getting Meowied,” and Paul rocked them all day!

After a few photos with the groom’s details, he was ready to see his bride!

THE FIRST LOOK

One thing I loved about Paul and Dana’s First Look at City Roots is that both of them were able to have that ‘reveal’ moment. Paul kept hidden his wedding day attire and style from Dana, just as many brides normally do! So when they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day, both Paul and Dana were seeing each other’s attire for the first time. How cool, right?

The both excitedly showed off their outfits to each other, and of course, Paul had to prove he was wearing his new pair of socks!

CITY ROOTS

We took a few minutes before the ceremony to photograph the couple together around the sustainable farm property of City Roots in Columbia, South Carolina, and I adore how the wildflowers from the farm framed so many of these images.

City Roots and the fantastic team from F2T Productions created bouquets and boutonnières for the wedding party from the flowers on the farm, and they did not disappoint!

HOW THE COUPLE MET:

 From Paul: “Back in the misty eons of 2015, I had just defended my dissertation and was working for a software company in Buffalo, NY. In the spirit of crowd-sourcing, I had told my friends that they should keep an eye out for any of their friends, acquaintances, etc. who were hip cats willing to go on a blind date with the narrator of this tale. Luckily, most of them were terrible at their job.

On what had seemed to be a Tuesday in May like any other, I went to a local bakery started by some friends to pick up a bread share. It was near closing time, and I was one of the last to show up, so two of the bakery founders had time to chat. They had this friend, you see, who might be persuaded to go on a date with me. She was reported to be just my type of nerd, you see. Little did I know, she was the One to Be.”

LET’S MEET FOR DRINKS

“After some To: ing and From: ing, we agreed to grab a drink at a little Irish bar called Shannon’s Pub. We had no trouble at all passing 3 or 4 hours over beer and Gin & Tonics. All the while, we accidentally kept revealing hints of our shared interests. That summer was pretty amazing: hikes, talks, drinks, cooking together. I remember telling my sister very early on the one thing that was so great about Dana. It’s that topics that are usually tough to talk about with other folks seemed natural with her. We spent the fall, winter, and spring months sharing time hanging out, playing with cats, or watching Dr. Who.”

THE ACCIDENTAL PROPOSAL

   “Another fall, winter, and spring flew by. She started grad school and quit a job while I lost and found a job. We provided support for each other throughout all the weird and new that came with the transitions. We also took a road trip around Western and Central NY to see friends. During the trip, I accidentally proposed to her in a car instead of on the hiking trail near a waterfall like I’d planned. This was because of a slightly hilarious (and to be expected) confluence of my planning, our friends’ similar ideas, and just plain luck. Despite all that, I managed to convince her to move to Charleston, SC with me to start a new life for my new job.”

Then their sweet City Roots ceremony began! With their closest friends and family overlooking the farm, Dana and Paul promised each other their forever.

Their canine ring bearer, Beckett, performed her duties flawlessly as she ran up the aisle to deliver the rings to the couple.

Just look at that content smile on her little face!

After Paul and Dana exchanged rings, their close friend Tori pronounced them husband and wife. And just look at these happy smiles on both of their faces once she said the words! Finally and officially, married!!!

Dr. & Mrs. Heider, everyone!

Wedding parties are better if they have a four-legged member. It’s official. Beckett even wore a dress to the wedding, y’all! It doesn’t get much better than that!

Oh Dana, my sweet friend, you’re so beautiful.

THE RECEPTION

After we wrapped up with the wedding party and couple’s portraits after their wedding ceremony at City Roots in Columbia, the couple headed into their reception. Dana and Paul’s sustainable reception was one for the books. It was complete with local craft beer, a three-course meal at farm-style tables, and a few hilarious toasts from close family.

After F2T Productions served all three courses, the couple cut their cake and kicked off a night of dancing!

Once the party started, many guests made their way to dance floor to enjoy the last few moments with the couple. Then the bride and groom ended their sustainable, urban farm City Roots wedding day under a shower of sparklers and cheers!

Then, they promptly turned right back around to head back to the party once I photographed their exit! 

I hope you enjoyed a look at Paul and Dana’s sustainable, urban farm City Roots wedding and that you leave the couple some love below in the comments! Congratulations to Dr. & Mrs. Heider!

To Paul & Dana,

Where do I even start, y’all?! I not only had the chance to photograph the coolest couple at the raddest wedding ever, but also that I gained two life-long friends! How on earth I found myself so lucky as to be your wedding photographer, I’ll never know. But with all of my heart, I thank you. Thank you for inviting me into your home for your engagement portraits. Thank you for accepting Ranger and me as friends over tacos during our first meeting. And thank you for having little ‘ol me photograph your incredible wedding day. I truly hope to find a love like yours one day, my friends. Your story and love are so very special. I cannot wait to see what adventure you two embark upon next!

Love Paul and Dana’s sustainable, urban farm City Roots wedding day and want to see their engagement photos? Check them out HERE after you leave a comment below for the couple!