Laura+Mike’s Lakeside Backyard Summer Elopement

Laura and Mike got married in the backyard of their new home on the shore of Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina, on a beautiful late summer day.

We arrived at the house in the early morning, greeted by family and friends working together to set up the festivities. At this point in the day, the air was still cool and crisp, with a nice breeze blowing across the lake. We started by introducing ourselves to everyone and collecting the details for flat-lay photos. Laura was getting ready upstairs while Mike was on the main level.

Although they decided against doing a couple’s first look, Laura did want to do a first look with her father as well as take some teaser photos with Mike before the ceremony.

The Ceremony

Once everything was set up and ready to go, it was time for the main event. Like the rest of the day, the ceremony was warm, heartfelt, and intimate. They featured elements special to them such as written vows, wedding bells, a champagne pop, and of course their Aussie baby, Lady, as ring bearer.

After the ceremony, we snuck the newlyweds away for photos while the guests worked together to transform the backyard into a summer garden party brunch.

The Afterparty

As the morning became afternoon, the weather started warming up, bringing light rain. Laura and Mike had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon with their guests on a party boat on the lake. So far, the day had played out flawlessly, but if you know anything about Southeastern summers, the weather can turn on you in the blink of an eye. It soon began to pour, and unfortunately, the boat ride didn’t work out.

One of my favorite things about Laura and Mike’s wedding was how they embraced the unexpected. Many of the guests had traveled across the country to spend the weekend celebrating, and a little rain wasn’t going to stop them. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but as long as you remember what the day is truly about, you will be creating lifelong memories.