Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer


“Blueberries! I see blueberries!”, Everett began to shout and point from the lofty view on his Daddy’s shoulders.

“Where?!”, the rest of us asked puzzled. Between the four of us, we hadn’t yet spotted the wild berries, but as we continued to walk closer to the area he was leading us toward, he became more insistent that they were there.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

We finally walked up and saw the bush that he was steering us to. Everett had a good eye, although what he spotted from afar were blackberries not blueberries.
Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer
Still, it required a pit-stop so that he could sample nature’s sweet treat! Naturally, everyone else joined in to savor the tangy-sour fruits, too! It was such a tender moment to witness them pick the berries and then share with one another.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family PhotographerThe Pennington Family Photography Adventure took place at the Valle Crucis Park. It’s a gorgeous outdoor area not too far from Boone that offers walking and running trails, a playground, covered pavilions to have picnics, fishing on the Watauga River, and they also host live music every weekend during the summertime as free entertainment for families!

When these four are looking to have an adventure close to home it’s one of their favorite places to make memories as a family, so they frequent this outdoor area pretty regularly, which is why they wanted to have their family photos done at this magical place!

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

The Pennington’s were one of the families I selected that WON a Choose Your Adventure Family Photo Session in the flash giveaway I did a while back.

Didn’t know I was doing that? Well, it was exclusive to subscribers of the Weekly Wander!

Click the link to join the list for updates, news about future giveaways, and other exclusive offers! It's also where I share behind-the-scenes tidbits and secrets about me that you won't see/read anywhere else online.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer


We had to reschedule on two different occasions due to the unpredictable Boone weather.

It’s always tricky when you’re doing outdoor family portraits because the weather can change in an instant here in the mountains, so flexibility is key.

Our back-up plan was to do an “At-Home Adventure” if it rained this time, but the sun finally cooperated on our third attempt!

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

As we continued to make our way around the perimeter of the Valle Crucis Park, the sun played a game of hide-and-seek. I was hoping that it would keep shining because I was looking forward to shooting during “golden hour.”

Halfway through our session we set-up a blanket tucked in a shady, wooded area where light filtered through the trees when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. It was a secluded spot where the family of four cuddled up and played airplane with the kiddos.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

The little daredevils even did back-flips with the assistance of their parents, it was a lot of fun watching this playful & silly family interact with one another.

When we were done hanging out amongst the trees, we made our way to the stretch of Watauga River that hugs the park to continue the adventure.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

Landon showed Everett how to skip rocks along the creek.

Everett hurled them as far as he could.

Cassie and Maya slipped away for a potty break, so the boys daringly rock-hopped across the river while carefully avoiding missteps on the slick rocks.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer



Maya and Everett were both brave, adventurous little souls.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

We started and ended our adventure at the Valle Crucis Park playground.

The parents pushed the siblings in the swings to kick off the fun.

Everett kept yelling, “Higher, higher, Daddy!”

He was so tickled to be gliding through the air alongside his sister.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

Two-and-a-half year old, Everett, also had no qualms about climbing up the ladder alone to go down the slide all by himself.

I was nervous watching him do this on his own, but his parents were laid-back and allowed him to be as playful and independent as he wanted to be.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

Of course, they were also supportive and helpful when he needed them, but they also gave him his space and room to roam while they watched from a distance.

The swings, slides, and other playground equipment were a great way of getting them warmed up for the photosession and then wearing them out at the end!


As daylight began to fade, we wrapped up the family photography session with some quick portraits of the happily married couple.

I love how at the end of a shoot people usually look so relieved.

My question is usually along the lines of, “Was it as bad as you thought it would be?!”

They tend to chuckle and tell me that they had fun, surprisingly enough.

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer
That’s when I hand out high-fives because infusing fun into photosessions is my sneaky way of helping people become comfortable with being in front of the camera.

When you are enjoying yourself and having a good time, you don’t worry about me playing paparazzi—I'm a stealthy ninja like that!

Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Park | Boone NC Family Photographer

My goal as a family photographer is to ensure that having your family portraits made is a fun experience for everyone, even Dad who hates "posing" for family photos!

That's why I focus on helping you create new memories with an adventure that is made just for you!

Ready to book your exclusive Choose Your Adventure Session?

Simply send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com or message me through my website contact form and I'll get you on the schedule ASAP! Availability is limited, only 10, 8, 5, 3 spaces left for family photos in 2014!


Boone NC Wedding Photographer | Wayfaring Wanderer | Jessica MacedaHi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Featured LINKS }

» No More Boring Family Photos! | Choose Your Adventure Family Photography
» Hersey Family Reunion Adventure on Lake James, NC
» Scott Family Hiking Adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Coming Soon: Boone Bride Guide | Wedding Planning Resource | Boone NC Photographer

"I have learned how complex and overwhelming it can be to plan a wedding! It's not easy that's for sure!"

I've heard on numerous occasions how overwhelming it is to plan a wedding from my brides. They share nearly the same sentiment every time I check in with them as we get closer to their big day.

Another confided, “Honestly, I'm overwhelmed at this time trying to pull the wedding together, find a job, and take care of a sick pet and mother.”

Wedding Dresses from South's Clothiers at Smithmore Castle in Spruce Pine, NC | Boone, NC Photographer


The planning process is really stressful because there are so many different elements that need to come together in order to make it happen. It’s difficult and time consuming to search for vendors and ideas to make your big day special. And that’s all supposed to happen while you’re living your "normal" everyday life!

I mean, that's what wedding planners are for and why it's a brilliant idea to hire one to help you but sometimes being on a budget makes that impossible so you have to do it yourself.

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE

As a newlywed myself that just got married 2-months ago, I know how mind-boggling it can be to bring everything together, especially since our wedding was planned in less than 3 weeks! It was no easy feat but I made it happen, and with minimal stress, if you can believe that! 

You can read about it in last week's blog post:
Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding

People thought I was nuts. Frankly, you have to be a little crazy to do something like that anyway. But I embraced the challenge and overcame obstacles like a champ! 

What I'm hoping to do is provide a useful resource to assist my couples with wedding planning instead of allowing them to get swallowed by stress that can be created as a result of organizing such a special day. 

Basically, I want to make wedding planning less painful and a lot more awesome for my brides! 

Wedding Dresses from South's Clothiers at Smithmore Castle in Spruce Pine, NC | Boone, NC Photographer


A NEW NORMAL

Your wedding day is a reflection of your distinct personalities as a couple, so it’s important to do things YOUR WAY instead of how people think you should be doing things. 

What I love about being a wedding photographer is that no two weddings are alike because they are all unique to the couples I have the pleasure of working with.

Some brides plan a year in advance for their weddings, which seems to be the standard these days, and then there are folks that procrastinate while others just choose not to devote unnecessary time and energy to making it all happen.

Whether you are ready to begin, in the middle, or near the end, the Boone Bride Guide will help no matter how far along you are in the wedding planning process!

Simple sounds so much better than complicated, right?! 

Wedding Dresses from South's Clothiers at Smithmore Castle in Spruce Pine, NC | Boone, NC Photographer


CUSTOMER CARE MATTERS TO ME

I set out to create this wedding planning resource because once a couple books me as their wedding photographer, I like to keep the communication lines wide open! Yes, that may mean additional emails, but I’m interested in starting a dialogue with my brides to find out more about them and where they are in the planning process.

I try to be as helpful as I possibly can in the months leading up to their wedding day. I welcome them to ask me questions via email, text, or a good ol' fashioned phone chat  if they need any assistance with anything, especially if they’re planning from afar, which the majority of my brides are. 

So, with the various questions that I answer on a regular basis, I figured why not create an online resource that I can send them that has all of the information they need in one place! The wedding magazine I designed and send out to my couples is filled with lots of good stuff but the website will be JAM PACKED with goodness that I will be adding to on a regular basis!

Wedding Dresses from South's Clothiers at Smithmore Castle in Spruce Pine, NC | Boone, NC Photographer


SHARING THE LOVE

In the Boone Bride Guide, I plan to use the new space to showcase local wedding vendors and business owners that I really enjoy working with and highly recommend.

I’m also hoping to share interviews and stories behind why they do what they do because behind-the-scenes sneak peeks are awesome, and so are people's stories!

When I got married at the end of June, I didn't want just any vendors contributing to my big day, I wanted people who share similar values and were kindred spirits because it makes planning a whole lot more fun when you like the folks you’re working so closely with!

LOGO DESIGN PROCESS SNEAK PEEK

It’s been great to have this personal project to work on to keep me inspired even though I’m nowhere near being finished with everything at this point and I’m supposed to launch at the end of August. Hopefully, I'll be able to knock out some pretty big chunks of work over the next week to meet my deadline. 

Boone Bride Guide | Wedding Planning Resource | Moodboard | Inspiration
What I've done so far is created two different mood boards for the Boone Bride Guide which helped me to develop concepts for the logo designs. One was whimsical and flowery while the other one had more of a tribal vibe. 
Boone Bride Guide | Wedding Planning Resource | Moodboard | Inspiration
After the moodboards were completed, I then did some sketches to flesh out the logo ideas that I had as a result of the inspiration. Once I was done doodling, I then tackled creating digital mock-ups on the computer. I designed a total of 8 logo mock-ups based on my sketches for the Boone Bride Guide. 

Boone Bride Guide | Wedding Planning Resource | Logo Concept Sketches by Wayfaring Wanderer

I’m really pleased with some of the early concepts that were formed and I’m looking forward to refining a few further so that I can choose a FINAL logo design because the next step is starting on the website that I hope to complete in a week! Is it just me or do I love these tight deadlines?! haha

Boone Bride Guide | Wedding Planning Resource | Logo Design Process | Mock-ups

Since this is something that I don’t typically do, I thought it would be fun to give you a behind-the-scenes look at why I decided to build the Boone Bride Guide and how I take concepts and create designs digitally.

Please keep in mind that these are just preliminary concepts and that they all need refining before they can be used as a logo. Variations will be created for each design if I choose to use that concept and refine it further. These are just to give me an idea of what direction I might like to go in based on the vision I have for the Boone Bride Guide! I'd love to get your input.

Which three are your favorites? Please vote in the comments because I would love to hear your thoughts!

If you’re interested in learning more details about the Boone Bride Guide as they are announced, I invite you to sign up for the Weekly Wander where I will be releasing information about this new wedding website to subscribers first!


Boone NC Wedding Photographer | Wayfaring Wanderer | Jessica MacedaHi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Featured VENDORS }


1180 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: (828)264-8977

Make-up
Beautiful Bride on Location
(Marion Edwards)

NC Wedding Venue
Smithmore Castle
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Phone: 904-509-5095

Featured LINKS }
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» DIY Down-Home Backyard Wedding: Emma + Alex
» Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Wedding Styled Shoot @ Camp Sky Ranch
» Wedding Dresses from South's Specialty Clothiers at Smithmore Castle
» FREE Wedding Magazine When You Subscribe for the Weekly Wander

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding

Have you set a date yet?”, curious friends would often ask.

At first, our response was, “YUP! We’re getting married on June 29th, 2014!

I came up with this date because Cody's birthday is on April 29th and my birthday is on September 29th, so I thought it would be awesome to get married on June 29th, smack dab between our two birthdays!

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography

It was a cute idea and all, but the closer we inched toward that date, the less confident we became about whether or not this was really going to happen.

We've had an extended engagement without any solid plans (other than a date) to make it official because Cody and I thought we hadn't saved up “enough” money for a proper wedding.

That was, until we began to question what our idea of a “proper” wedding was.

After seeing some dear friends get married their way at the end of April, Cody and I were inspired to create our own little celebration befitting of the commitment we wanted to make to one another.

I realized upon witnessing their heartfelt ceremony that the only thing that was really important was that he and I were married at the end of the day.

It was the commitment that mattered the most. 

My expectations suddenly vanished when that realization washed over me and we decided to plan our unconventional wedding that was organized in a few weeks!

Yep, you read that right. A FEW WEEKS!

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography

THE UNIVERSE INTERVENES

I confided in a wedding industry friend that Cody and I were waffling about getting married this summer but that I was hoping we’d be able to find an affordable outdoor wedding venue to get the ball rolling.

Out of nowhere, she generously offered to allow us the use of her rustic barn, creek, and field if we wanted to come check it out.

I could barely believe that Desi was willing to do such an enormous favor for us, but I was ecstatic because her property sounded pretty close to what we had on our wedding wish list!

We fell in love with the picturesque outdoor setting and I knew instantly that it would be perfect for our unconventional *FLASH* wedding! Desi's Farm was the venue we were looking for!

I envisioned having our intimate ceremony tucked in the woods on the edge of the creek followed by a reception at the open barn surrounded with an expansive field and mountain views. It was dreamy!

A rustic-styled wedding with a few DIY elements was what we had in mind, but I wanted nature’s beauty to do most of the decorating for us, so my plan was to keep everything as simple as possible.

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography



LESS PLANNING, LESS HEADACHE

As crazy as it sounded, I thought that planning procrastinator-style would help us finally take the plunge! While the venue was worked out sometime in May, the rest of the details didn't begin falling into place until 2-3 weeks before the wedding day.

It didn't leave much time for planning, I know! And people thought I was NUTS for even thinking about attempting such a crazy feat, but we were ready and we didn't want to wait any longer!

There are many instances where I should have been freaking out HARDCORE, like when the dress I ordered online didn't get here until 3 days before the wedding or the fact that I didn't get a wedding photographer booked until 2 days before our big day, but I wasn't.

I kept reminding myself that Cody and I would be married at the end of the day and that everything else would be a *BONUS*! This became my mantra.

We didn't want to keep holding off until we had a certain dollar number saved up. It might have been a few more years before that would've happened! Plus, we’d like to be homeowners in the not-too-distant future!

So, with managed expectations, we planned something super simple, laid-back, and low-key, just like us!

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography

GETTING CREATIVE WITH A BUDGET WEDDING

It was decided that we would take the slender $1,000 budget we had saved and tap into the relationships & resources available to us here in the Boone community to bring everything together!

This took a ton of trust (or blind faith) and reaching out to others (countless emails were sent) but I was determined.

Many arrangements were made to barter & trade services for some of the major cost factors (as you may know, I'm a wedding photographer & graphic/web designer) while other items were donated and lent to us by friends, colleagues, and family.

I didn't think this was possible, but we ended up spending LESS than $1k with all of the support we received from family, friends, and folks in the community, which was pretty unbelievable!

I think it would have been impossible to have a true DIY budget wedding without receiving help from others. 

Maybe everyone doesn't have the same skills and/or resources available to them but you really have to get creative to make it work when you are paying for a wedding yourself.

Allowing others to help was one of my biggest hurdles but in the end it was the ONLY way we were able to make this spontaneous fĂȘte happen!

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography

TERRIFIED ON THE INSIDE, EXCITED ON THE OUTSIDE

Cody and I were excited about making this life-long commitment to one another even though it was scary as hell to just “let go” and hope that everything would come together in the end, but that’s exactly what we continued to do over and over again every time we felt anxious or overwhelmed.

It took a shit ton of surrendering to make it through, but planning a wedding in three weeks has given us this we-can-do-absolutely-anything attitude and our lives are changing for the better!

I’m not going to lie, though, the idea of planning a wedding in such a short period of time is downright insane. But it’s possible because we did it!

Yes, it was a little crazy for a few weeks leading up to (and after) the wedding, but I managed to handle everything fairly stress free the entire time even though loose ends were still dangling days before we said I DO!

Everyone kept saying, “I can’t believe how laid-back you’re being about everything?!?!”

But I continued to remind myself that the only thing I cared about was being married to Cody at the end of the day and everything else was a *BONUS*!

Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding | Image by: Kimberlee Edwards Photography
Photography by Kimberlee Edwards Photography

LET THE MAGIC HAPPEN

We packed so much in that abbreviated time frame, and with the help of a great team and others in the community, things came together pretty seamlessly!

In fact, I totally felt like I cheated in the end because it felt too easy!

Our wedding was an absolute blast, it was an incredible day that far exceeded my hopes! My favorite part was definitely our heartfelt ceremony down by the creek where we exchanged rings in the rushing water. It felt like I was in a fairy tale as cheesy as that sounds!

We watched snippets of the video a friend shared with and we laughed and cried all over again while watching it! I look forward to sharing more from OUR WEDDING ADVENTURE as I continue to relive our special day here on the blog, so stay tuned and get connected if you want to see more!

If there’s any aspect of the wedding planning process that you’re particularly interested in hearing about, please don’t hesitate to send me any suggestions you may have by commenting below! I'd love to hear from you!


Boone NC Wedding Photographer | Wayfaring Wanderer | Jessica MacedaHi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Featured VENDORS }
» Desi's Farm | Desi's Floral & Design Studio (Venue, Coordinating, Flowers, etc.)
» Kimberlee Edwards Photography (Wedding Photographer)

Featured LINKS }
» DIY Down-Home Backyard Wedding: Emma + Alex
» Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Wedding Styled Shoot @ Camp Sky Ranch
» Wedding Dresses from South's Specialty Clothiers at Smithmore Castle
» FREE Wedding Magazine When You Subscribe for the Weekly Wander