Wake County Justice Center Wedding | Downtown Raleigh, NC
October 26, 2023
~ Lively courthouse wedding in Downtown Raleigh with a vibrant mural ~
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of photographing Christina and Mariah’s courthouse wedding in Downtown Raleigh. This ceremony was so much fun to capture as the group was quite energetic and excited to experience the union of such a wonderful couple. After the ceremony, we ventured to the Marbles Kids Museum to take some stunning pictures in front of a beautiful mural.
Arriving Downtown
To ensure everyone could be a part of the celebration, Christina and Mariah thoughtfully rented a Sprinter van, allowing the entire wedding party to travel together from the courthouse to the reception venue. This was a great idea and is an awesome tip for those who plan to be at multiple locations on your wedding day. This way everyone arrives at the same time, and it makes parking a whole lot easier! Once everyone arrived at the courthouse, we found out that unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions, not everyone could be present in the courtroom. Luckily Christina and Mariah’s family and friends who couldn’t join during the ceremony were able to wait in a spacious, windowed room while the ceremony took place. We were able to snap a few group shots in this room before heading into the actual courtroom. After the ceremony, we made sure these friends and family were able to get some photos with the newlyweds.
Wake County Courthouse
The wedding day began at the historic Wake County Courthouse, I loved shooting at this courthouse as it really let the couple and their interrogee shine. The venue’s charm added a special touch to the ceremony, making it a unique and memorable occasion. The atmosphere inside the courthouse was filled with palpable excitement and anticipation. Luckily, Christina and Mariah were allowed to have their bridal party join them inside the courtroom. Even the magistrate couldn’t help but comment on the joyful and spirited nature of this group that Christina and Mariah brought with them. Not only did this energy make for a great wedding but resulted in some wonderful spontaneous shots. One of my personal favorites is Christina and Mariah’s friends and family cheering as the couple shared their first kiss. Having such a vibrant and energetic group of people makes capturing these special moments even easier. It’s clear from these photos how much Christina and Mariah are loved by their friends and family. So much celebration and happiness filled the courtroom during their ceremony, and I was honored to be able to capture it. Its sessions like these I am just thrilled to be able to capture such a special courthouse wedding. Christina, Mariah, and their friends and family were able to keep the energy high and make the time fly by. Being inside a courthouse can feel very serious and even nerve-wracking so it was very important that Christina and Mariah had such a great support system standing with them on their special day.
Couple Portraits
After the courthouse ceremony, we stopped outside the courthouse to take some portraits before heading to a colorful mural. Upon a first glance you might not expect the outside of the Wake County Justice Center would serve as a great backdrop for some portraits, but it did just that. Luckily the justice center’s grays and beiges allowed for the couple to pop in their white outfits. We were able to capture some shots full of smiles and laughter. I had a lot of fun working with Christina and Mariah during this part of the session. They made it very easy to capture their love and joy as we walked around outside the courthouse.
Downtown Mural at Marbles Kids Museum
Once we were done with the portraits, the newlyweds and their entourage proceeded to the Marbles Kids Museum Mural in downtown Raleigh for some additional photos. This mural had a completely opposite vibe from the courthouse. From the beiges and grays to the vivid reds, blues, and purples from the mural, we were able to capture a wide variety of shots in this session. The mural’s bright, vibrant colors perfectly mirrored the day’s cheerful atmosphere. This spot turned out to be a fantastic backdrop for capturing the love and energy of the newlyweds and their fabulous crew. At the mural, we were able to capture more photos with those who were unable to attend the ceremony due to the courthouse’s COVID-19 restrictions. The vivid hues of the mural added an extra layer of charm to these photos. This mural is a great gem in Downtown Raleigh and is a perfect spot to take photos.
Read full blog post here: https://vidrphotography.com/post/732288164456284160/energetic-wake-county-courthouse-wedding
