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Kevyn Dixon
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Hotel Concord Wedding | McKenzie and Jacob

For Brides

March 12, 2019

This weekend’s Hotel Concord wedding was one that felt like I have been waiting forever for. I had the pleasure of knowing McKenzie’s family as I was growing up, and reconnecting for her engagement session, Bridal portraits and wedding was so much fun.  McKenzie and Jacob are two of the most sweet and fun people I know, and they are perfect for each other. They met through Appalachian, and I may be a little bit biased but I think all of the best couples meet in the mountains! 😉

At their engagement session I realized that so much of the love that they share with each other stems from sharing a great sense of humor and smiling endlessly. That definitely carried over to their wedding day and it was so fun to see!

On their wedding day, everyone was getting ready at the Hotel Concord in downtown Concord, North Carolina.  It is one of my favorite venues, and actually the venue where I shot my first wedding EVER so it holds a pretty special place in my heart.  The girls had a cute little apartment to get ready in! McKenzie’s bridesmaids were some of the sweetest bridesmaids I had ever been around; they were totally focused on the bride and her needs all day long. They all had the cutest little matching outfits and mimosas to complete the morning! So fun! 

McKenzie’s mom, Michelle, and her sister Bailey helped her into her dress. Her dress from Poffie Girls was absolutely stunning with lots of beaded detail and the most beautiful line of buttons going all the way up the back. Michelle had a crochet hook to aid with the buttoning- such a good idea!

We went downstairs to the hotel ballroom and McKenzie was greeted by all of her bridesmaids who were seeing her for the first time! This is always one of my favorite moments at weddings.  We had lots of really fun bridesmaid pictures and then McKenzie shared the sweetest first look with her dad. I just love when tears are shed and smiles are shared during moments like that!

Then, I got to spend some time with the guys who were such a fun group!  I could tell that they were all so close and so supportive of Jacob and MacKenzie’s relationship.  One of the groomsmen even flew all the way from London on the day of their wedding and arrived just before we started the group pictures!

The Ceremony

After photos, the bridal party boarded the cutest trolley ever to transport them to Forest Hill United Methodist Church right down the road.  McKenzie and Jacob exchanged letters before the ceremony to privately share some sentimental thoughts with each other. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful.  The church organist played beautiful songs as the bridal party and finally McKenzie and her dad slowly walked down the aisle. McKenzie and Jacob both had the sweetest smiles on their faces as they saw each other for the first time that day. My heart!

During the ceremony they did a sand unity ceremony to symbolize that God is the foundation of their relationship and that both of them bring so many hopes, dreams, thoughts, ideas, and potential to their relationship.  They even had a family friend sing the Lord’s Prayer over them during the ceremony. After they walked out as husband and wife, we celebrated by taking some photos with family and their bridal party. Then, it was time for my favorite part of the day: bride and groom portraits.  Even though we had gotten a lot of rain the past couple of days, we brought our own sunshine. The white blooms on the dogwood trees were absolutely working in our favor!

The Reception

They rode from the church back to the hotel in the super cute trolley and we took a few more photos in downtown Concord right after that.  Her bridesmaids worked as a team to bustle her dress perfectly before she was announced into the reception with her new husband!  They share the sweetest dance together as a friend of theirs played guitar and sang. What a special treat!

After a dance with McKenzie’s father and a dance with Jacob’s mother, it was time for dinner, and man did they have a feast prepared! The food was so delicious and everyone shared a beautiful time of eating with the newly married couple!

As dinner was wrapping up we had a time for toasts.  McKenzie’s father shared a beautiful speech about how much she meant to him as his first daughter.  He talked about how he prayed constantly for a man like Jacob to enter McKenzie’s life. It brought everyone including me to tears.  Trust me when I say that I cry at every wedding I shoot, and it is always because of sweet words like these! 

McKenzie’s sister and maid of honor Bailey shared a wonderful toast that was both emotional, bringing us to tears yet again – and hilarious. Job well done Bailey! Jacob’s best man and best friend Tim shared the story of how they met  which was so funny. He had everyone in the room laughing and brought so much joy to the day.

Throughout the evening there was lots of dancing,  cake cutting, bouquet tossing, and just plain old celebrating.  The ballroom was filled to the brim with love and support for McKenzie and Jacob.  It is always such an honor for me to be present at moments like this to share and being a witness to true love! 🙂

At the end of the night, guests lined up outside the hotel for a fun sparkler exit! McKenzie and Jacob had no idea, but there was a huge surprise waiting for them – a gorgeous teal Chevy Bel Air!!! WOW! It was the perfect send off for the perfect day!

Thank you McKenzie and Jacob for trusting me to be your wedding photographer – it was truly a wonderful day and I’m so excited for what your future holds!

Vendor Love

Venues: Forest Hill UMC and The Hotel Concord

Wedding Designer/Coordinator: Lynn Neal

Dress: Poffie Girls

Hair/Makeup: Dana Wagner and Macy Skaggs

Florals: Chelish Moore

DJ: Virtual Sounds

Cake: The Sweet Life

Catering: PB&J’s Catering

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Brideside

Groomsmen and Groom Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Invitations: Minted

Officiant: Dale Jenkins

Transportation: Old South Trolley Co.

Second Photographer: Kieran Claire

 


If you love McKenzie and Jacob’s navy and silver Hotel Concord wedding, you might also like to take a look at McKenzie’s Ritchie Hill bridal portraits, Lydia and Michael’s Farmstead Wedding, or Joanna and Jacob’s beautiful Grandover Resort Wedding! 

  1. Hannah Murrill Warren says:

    I don’t think I’ve seen more beautiful pictures of such a beautiful wedding! Everything is perfect. Congratulations to both MacKenzie and Jacob!

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