Lake Rouse and Alexandra (Alex) Karpuk were married in September of 2022 at The Distillery in Garner, North Carolina. I photographed the June wedding of Mutinta and Adolly at this venue, and - no surprises here - I am still besotted with the place. Chad Biggs is a consummate event planner and host, and the day was amazing for Lake and Alex, and for the other vendors as well. The Distillery is truly a special place to capture couples on what is really their first BIG public day together.

This barn interior takes your breath away, whether it is draped in florals and decor, or pared down with simple elegance. I loved the golden, glittery elements chosen for this wedding, what Alex described as “modern metallic boho.”

Preparations

Gold, coral, pink, amber, terracotta, and white details were carried through everything from the gowns and formal wear, the invitations, the florals and the decor at this wedding. Even the outdoor pizza scene and the cake were in this palette. It was gorgeous. Autumn is this couple’s favorite season and it showed. All of the details were so thoughtfully planned.

First Looks

The bride shared first looks with her father and step-father, both of whom are close to Alex, and with her husband-to-be. All of these moments were so incredibly tender and personal, and there were certainly tears. The bride and groom-to-be also read their vows to each other, and cried a bit more.

This pair met as teenagers and dated through college (they were two hours apart during those years), and they even survived the COVID chapter with grace, having picnics in their yards, socially distanced of course. They fell more in love during this period and knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Reading their vows to each other privately got them ready for the ceremony itself.

The Ceremony

A Bride & Grooms Gallery

While blogs tell a visual story, my job as a wedding photographer is also to capture images of the couple and their bridal party at the venue, and in real moments of beauty. These are the shots that are framed, shared and become heirlooms. I love this part of my job so much, and doing this for Alex and Lake was so much fun.

The Details & Reception

Above: yes those are s’mores!
Below: Carolina Crust Pizza Truck was a HUGE hit with everyone.

In between cake cutting, toasts and speeches, the bride and groom were able to spend time with guests, and the weather was perfect.

Congratulations to this beautiful couple whose wedding was one of the loveliest I’ve photographed. I wish these two nothing but happiness for decades and decades to come.