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The Machaven Rocky Mount NC Bride and Groom Veil Toss Photo

Ashlynn & Dylan

August 28, 2021

The Machaven | Rocky Mount, NC

Oh Ashlynn & Dylan! This will go down as one of my favorite weddings of all time. Any time a couple chooses me to photograph their wedding it is such an honor, but when a fellow wedding industry chooses you, it’s truly one of the greatest honor. I am lucky enough to have photographed several other wedding photographer’s weddings throughout the year, but this one was extra special. Ashlynn was one of my senior spokesmodels in 2016- 2017, back when I still did 50/50 seniors and weddings. I have known & kept in touch with her since, watching her go to college & start dating Dylan. Dylan is a wedding videographer & photographer in the area, and Ashlynn started shooting with him shortly after they started dating. They are extremely talented!

Ashlynn shares my love of color & bright images, so it was a perfect fit style-wise, and if you can’t tell personality-wise we were a complete match. There’s probably some very interesting video footage, as we are way comfortable with each other after almost 6 years of knowing each other.

They pick a bright & colorful mix of colors with jewel tones and hot pink, while still keep southern & vintage flair. Complete with vintage plates they collected as favors. A lot of the details Ashlynn hand did herself, including the invitations and place settings. The personal touches were everywhere throughout the day. Ashlynn had more rings than most, each representing a different special part of her life. There was of course her engagement ring & wedding band, but also Dylan’s mother’s wedding band who had passed away, a ring that was made of melted down rings of Ashlynn’s grandparents, and of course, The Onyx, which everyone in the Raleigh area knows is the signature touch of a Meredith College graduate. The Machaven was the perfect backdrop for them, as it was a restored mansion in Rocky Mount, NC with tons of window light and bright white space.

Ashlynn shared a first look with her bridesmaids, Dad and Grandpa. Dylan and Ashlynn shared a first touch that included reading personal vows with each other before their ceremony. They shared a short & sweet ceremony outdoors in front of the house, perfect for a hot August afternoon wedding. Their one year old golden-doodle combs, walked down the aisle with Ashlynn’s maid of honor and the flower girl. He behaved so well! Dylan teared up as Ashlynn walked down the aisle, telling her later that he tried so hard not to cry, but he couldn’t stop himself. Cocktail hour was held inside the house with two floors to explore throughout the house. They had a tented reception outdoors on the beautiful lawn.

Dylan & Ashlynn shared a private dinner during cocktail hour inside the house, so that they could take sunset pictures as the rest of the guests had dinner after their introductions & first dance. One more unique to them touch, was for their cake cutting & toast, Dylan and Ashlynn had Dunkin Donuts iced coffee (as well as had hot & ice coffee available for their guests) in special bride & groom tumblrs. Ashlynn being a dancer, dance teacher and all around dance lover could not wait to get on the dance floor, and she did not stop until the very end!!! They were sent off with a sparkler exit, running through until the sparklers were gone!